[STORY] Grimden

Grimden's people were wandering ascetics who traveled the land, peacefully following the will of the goddess.
So too did his parents follow the will of the goddess.
Though they possessed nothing of value, they were always full of love and generosity toward others.
Know that we are always loved by our Goddess.
Let us emulate our Goddess by continuing to share this love with all we meet.
The boy loved his family and took great pride in being one of them.
He strove to become like them one day, to join them as an ascetic who could truly share love.
But it wasn't long before a man filled with greed and hate kidnapped the boy, ruining any chance he had at happiness.
Hm, of all the potentials that arrived today, you are the best. We don't often see such sturdy individuals. You will become a fine weapon one day.
The boy struggled in his shackles, determined to defy his captor.
This is your escape from an inferior and destitute life filled with misery. You will be reborn into a powerful, beautiful, and faithful existence.
Your re-education won't be easy, but I think we'll manage.
...!

From that day forward, the boy was extensively educated and trained as a merciless assassin under the guide's watch.
The boy sensed that he was slowly losing himself and resisted as much as he could.
But the guide was ruthless. He used violence and brainwashing to reshape the struggling boy's mind.
Eventually, the ascetic child vanished into the darkness...
And a powerful weapon rose in his place.
After that, Grimden was regularly assigned missions for which he claimed countless lives.
The endless pain and brainwashing had completely ravaged his mind.
...Know that... we are always loved... by our Goddess...
As time wore on, he began to suffer excruciating headaches and hear things that weren't there.
One day on a mission, Grimden experienced a blinding pain. He quickly lost sight of his unit and fell behind.

Soon, he discovered someone in need of help and managed to save their life. But his pain became too great, and he passed out.
I don't know if you remember, but you saved me.

When he opened his eyes, he was in a small cabin, with an old woman beside him.
The former oracle tended to him with great care.
She showed him warmth and kindness, and as the days passed, he slowly regained his memories.
He recalled his family, happy childhood memories, and his precious dreams.
But there was a problem.
There was far too much blood on his hands.
A detestable shadow had no right to walk and live in the light of the world.
How could a horrendous killing machine like me be allowed to exist in this world?
The old woman took his trembling hands in her own and spoke.
Whether or not you deserve to exist in this world is for the gods to decide. What's important now is how you live your life going forward.
Devote yourself to goodwill and live the life you've been given.
The gentle, yet determined message touched his heart and granted him the salvation he desperately needed.
But just as he began envisioning a new life for himself, he sensed multiple people surrounding the cabin.
The shadows searching for their straggler had finally found him.
After a fierce battle, the tormentors he thought he had escaped captured him, returning him to darkness.
He once again came face-to-face with his lifelong tormentor.

They brought the old woman along as a hostage, and she lay trembling at the man's feet.
Even after all this time and effort, there's still a part of you that resists me.
I've often contemplated the best way to break you of that for good.
At those words, the man's aides injected something into Grimden's body.
...Aauughhh!
A new kind of pain and madness tore through him.
You will kill this woman with your own hands. Show no mercy. Cut down your final flaw. Destroy the last of your petty will.
...!
The sound of Grimden's sword slicing through air was unmistakable.
But it wasn't the old woman who fell to his blade. It was Grimden's tormenter.
At last, he had overcome the darkness that bound him. He had killed his true enemy.
They rushed to free every child, then set the awful place aflame, so it could never be used for such evil deeds again.
Grimden finally escaped his dark past.
After that, the two spent their days together in peace.
As he made new, happier memories, his ravaged mind slowly healed.
Over time, he recovered and learned to find peace within.
At the old woman's suggestion, he vowed to go out into the world and use his abilities to protect others.
If he could atone for even a fraction of his sins, he could be content.
As Grimden left the cabin that had been his sanctuary for so long, the old woman wished him well.
No matter what challenges lay before him,
he was prepared to face each and every one.