For so long, I convinced myself that all I did, all I sacrificed, was for humanity.
That my sins would one day balance out in the scales of history.
But tonight, here on these cold stone paths, I finally understood.
I wasn't saving humanity.
I wasn't saving the world.
I was only trying to save him...
My grandson.
***
"Fight me if you dare!" I shouted.
My voice echoed in the courtyard, through the rising dust, and even the Kalki paused, tilting its horned head towards me with eyes narrowing into slits of judgment.
I knew I couldn't hope to match its strength directly.
We'd all seen how that fared the last time we clashed.
The creature radiated decades of perfected power.
Every strike, every move it could make would kill men, soldiers, and perhaps only I over here could even try to defend it.
But I had to try.
Not for glory, not for pride, but for Noah.
For my grandson.
The memories of all I had done, all I had sacrificed, weighed on me.
