Ronin: Journeys

It was a long time before Ronin decided to write about his life. He kept a few small memories on parchments that he always carried with him. Ronin would never forget the two most important events of his life, when he was born and when he was named. He never found a reason why he should keep constant record of his memories until he realized that he didn't age like a human does. He has walked the Earth since 852 AD, and has not aged a day beyond his birth year. When the computer was created, Ronin foud an easier way to create and carry with him all of his memories. Those small bits of his life in the past were all he had as he roamed the earth in search of something more.

The year is 2007, and Ronin sat in his room to reflect upon recent thoughts and memories.

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I always loved to fly. The cool crisp air against your face. The clouds under your wings. The endless blue of the ocean. How I loved to fly.

I would again, if they would not chase me so. Through my long lived observances, I have been written into many legends and tales of winged men who fly through the air. Some were good, heroes among the people. Some were evil, bringing ill news and stealing small children. This must be the way of humans, to write fantasies about what they cannot understand.

I have always been able to walk among them, mostly unnoticed. Sometimes a long stare could reveal that there was something strange about my appearance...and rightly so. My midnight blue complexion and strangely shaped ears could attract unnecessary attention. With the development of makeup creams and hoodies, I can freely roam about the earth unquestioned.

Oh, but how I would love to take to the sky again. To spread my angelic wings would take me closer to that freedom I desire. However, the chance is too great. I cannot risk being the subject of cruel scientific experiments. Perhaps if I could purchase a seaworthy vessel and journey out into the ocean, I may be free to explore the untouched skies of this world.

It would seem fitting to begin a new journey after the many I have taken through the course of my existence thus far.

In Europe, I was born. From a waving hand of a magician and perhaps by the will of some evil, I was brought into this physical being. I was conformed to the shape of a man, but had the burning desire for freedom of a bird. My master taught me the ways of alchemy and dark magics. In a short lifetime, I learned all that he had to offer. I left my master without parting words. The tour of Europe brought me intellect from Rome, armor from England, and a love of poetry from Greece. It was not easy to live among the humans, keeping the distance of a forgotten student. I knew though that people could not accept me for my true form.

In England they found me...the church. They chastised my existence, rattling on about a God and his disapproval of me. They declared me a demon and was sentenced to death, but I did not hate them. They knew not what they looked upon when I showed my face. They tried to hang me from a rope by the neck. After hanging for a few minutes, I could see that they were only becoming more unhappy with me. Women screamed, making motions of a cross in front of themselves. It was then I knew I must be more careful. I spread my wings and cut the line with a talon. I took to the sky, traveling as far from them as I could. In a small village I found the necessary tools to disguise myself. An old blacksmith with poor vision took me as an apprentice for ten years. He taught me everything. He later died of a black lung disease, the poor man. I created armor to protect from the eyes and axes of man.

When I became bored with Europe, as it was ravaged wth disease in the late 1340s, I moved into Asia. It was Japan and Persia that interested me the most. In persia, I learned to make a type of clothing that was light in weight, keeping me cool in the sun and warm in the night. In Japan, I learned their ways of honor and the sword. Their skills were unmatched by any warrior I had seen.

It wasn't until the late 1560s that I discovered the New World. A band of pirates were setting sail from England in secret to plunder San Augustin in Florida. When I caught wind of such news, I decided to make my skills known to the captain. After my display, he was quite impressed, though he required I take off my concealing mask. I required it be done in private. Captain Walker was the only human that did not shudder or become angry when I revealed myself. He told me many a time that he was glad to have the servants of the devil along side him. With my fellow pirateers, we plundered and looted many of the colonies in the Americas. It was with them I learned the concept of money and wealth. My fellow pirates would spend their gold on pleasantries that I had no need for. I instead kept my shares in a secret place in a port in Georgia. When I decided to part ways and explore the rest of this New World, I took my shares to hide in the western mountains.

For nearly two hundred fifty years following, I slowly watched the differing peoples try to take control of this land. Governments and religions changed, but the people were essentially the same. The banks of America were established in the late 1780s, and I decided to invest my coins as a business owner. From afar, I let my wealth grow, sometimes switching to new financial institutions to ensure its safety. My business was shipping and trade, seeking the treasures of the world to bring to North America. I desired many of these treasures for myself and became an avid collector. I used the capital from my investments to buy the precious items and have them stored away in a very private location in the mountains.

When the year 1852 came, I found myself to be very tired. I had never needed sleep that I could remember, but the feeling of drowsiness was overwhelming. I removed all my wealth from the banks and took it back with me home. In my nicely hidden house in the tops of the Western mountains named the Rockies, I slept. I dreamt of the long thousand years that had passed. It seemed to last several lifetimes.

I awoke, not knowing how long my slumber lasted. I climbed to the roof of my home to look down upon the world. With a mere thought, my wings spread. I took off into the wonderful air, examining the world below. Many things had changed, and the years had gone by more quickly than I expected. I found the year to be 1952. One hundred years I slumbered in my faraway mansion.

As I had done before, I carefully watched this new breed of humans from afar. I would see them try to take photos or video of me as I passed overhead. When I learned of television and its dangers of instant communication, I had to stop using flight. People were looking to the skies more then ever now, trying to explain their own existence. How could I blame them?

From my home, I learned of technology as it grew. The world was much easier to watch when they could send images to me over wires and with wireless signals. It was then, in the 1990s, that I found something called Hunter-net. It seemed there were two distinct species of human. One who was oblivious to the ethereal, and one who could see the things that lie in shadow.

I always knew of these "monsters", but they paid me no mind, and I returned the favor. The humans, however, seemed quite concerned about their existence. They wished to banish them from the earth. One could not blame them for wanting to preserve their species. The monsters were not above torture and murder, both of which were appalling to me.

This world will end sooner or later; that is certain. Even when the apocalypse is upon us, I will do as I have always done...watch and wait. For now, I have a sea vessel to purchase and the skies to command.

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Ronin finished his typing, saving his stories to the flash drive that he carried. He shut down his computer, turning the lights off as he left