Post by Raion Kido on Nov 5, 2022 17:06:16 GMT -5
“Since losing the XWF Universal Title, I have won every match I have had. And yet… I don’t feel like I have made any progress. Nor does it look like my latest work for the World Series of Wrestling has caused the right impression…”
Dawn breaks over the City of Sin, specifically over the apartment where Raion Kido and Ryleigh Dixon live when he’s on the road.
“... But I’ll be damned if I let these feelings of impending doom get in my head! This is the time to get back into the fight. This is the time… for the cosmos to burn!”
The sun rises through a few, scattered clouds, and with it does the Lion, as he rises from the bed he shares with his girlfriend. He gives her a tender look as she sleeps, and gets up slowly, careful not to disturb her.
“No use delaying it any further - time to get this done!”
Going down the stairs of the bedroom, the Lion heads to the kitchen, clad in a simple black tank top and blue jeans, and starts preparing coffee and scrambled eggs, both for himself and for Ryleigh. It isn’t long before breakfast is done, and so he sits down to have his morning coffee.
“Such a sorry state…”
He draws a deep sigh as he gazes at his Golden Cloth, the shining armor, crafted in the shape of a lion, that he wears for his stage entrance and any other time his appearances require it - the symbol of a Saint of Athena, and his own source of pride. And yet, as the golden lion in front of him shines in the morning light that filters through the window blinds, a latticework of cracks can be seen upon a closer look. The majestic Cloth is now battle-worn and lifeless - although its dignity is yet intact.
“But I suppose that such, perhaps, is the same with me. Even the hardest, sturdiest armor has its limits, and every one of us has their own limit as well. But it’s time to get back into the fight!”
Through January until now, the Lion has been in constant battle, and though he has won the triple that he lost, the losses were not to be forgotten. And in the same manner as armor may be dented and cracked after months of constant battle, so too happened with men - from the lowliest to the mightiest. And the Lion was determined to be counted among the latter.
“Alright, now is the time. Soon they shall see the Gold Cloth of Leo shine once more!”
The sun has now risen fully and the birds are chirping outside. Ryleigh would not wake up for a bit longer, but the Lion had work to do. He opens the entrance door and heads outside…
Dawn breaks over the City of Sin, specifically over the apartment where Raion Kido and Ryleigh Dixon live when he’s on the road.
“... But I’ll be damned if I let these feelings of impending doom get in my head! This is the time to get back into the fight. This is the time… for the cosmos to burn!”
The sun rises through a few, scattered clouds, and with it does the Lion, as he rises from the bed he shares with his girlfriend. He gives her a tender look as she sleeps, and gets up slowly, careful not to disturb her.
“No use delaying it any further - time to get this done!”
Going down the stairs of the bedroom, the Lion heads to the kitchen, clad in a simple black tank top and blue jeans, and starts preparing coffee and scrambled eggs, both for himself and for Ryleigh. It isn’t long before breakfast is done, and so he sits down to have his morning coffee.
“Such a sorry state…”
He draws a deep sigh as he gazes at his Golden Cloth, the shining armor, crafted in the shape of a lion, that he wears for his stage entrance and any other time his appearances require it - the symbol of a Saint of Athena, and his own source of pride. And yet, as the golden lion in front of him shines in the morning light that filters through the window blinds, a latticework of cracks can be seen upon a closer look. The majestic Cloth is now battle-worn and lifeless - although its dignity is yet intact.
“But I suppose that such, perhaps, is the same with me. Even the hardest, sturdiest armor has its limits, and every one of us has their own limit as well. But it’s time to get back into the fight!”
Through January until now, the Lion has been in constant battle, and though he has won the triple that he lost, the losses were not to be forgotten. And in the same manner as armor may be dented and cracked after months of constant battle, so too happened with men - from the lowliest to the mightiest. And the Lion was determined to be counted among the latter.
“Alright, now is the time. Soon they shall see the Gold Cloth of Leo shine once more!”
The sun has now risen fully and the birds are chirping outside. Ryleigh would not wake up for a bit longer, but the Lion had work to do. He opens the entrance door and heads outside…
—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*CLINK!*
A hammer strikes into metal, a hard, yet melodic sound - not a sound of destruction, but rather one of creation, in a constant, rhythmic repetition.
*CLANG!*
One more time, the head of the hammer impacts against the metal plate, burning red-hot on an anvil.
*CLINK!*
And, as the heat from the metal invades the air around him, Raion Kido wipes a bead of sweat on his brow as he puts the hammer aside to take a breath. In the backyard of the apartment building, and as the sun has reached its zenith in the dry Las Vegas midday, the Lion has prepared a makeshift forge - a few stumps of wood, an anvil, a small table for his tools - hammer, chisel and tongs to handle the hot metal, and a brazier in which coal is burning.
*CLANG!*
“As it is with metal, so it is with a warrior’s spirit. Constant battle wears them down, but that is of course the nature of their being. And though it is inevitable that both metal dents and cracks, and a warrior’s spirit eventually wanes, it is also that very nature that makes them malleable - capable of being reforged, and honed again into a keen edge - and thus, born anew - ready once more for the purpose for which they have been built!”
The Lion looks at the metal plate that he has struck on the anvil, incandescently hot, but showing no cracks. Reaching for his tongs, he traps it between them, and sets the piece inside a jug of water, to let it cool. Steam from the water and smoke from the forge fill the air as the former XWF Universal Champion grabs another piece from the Gold Cloth of Leo, and places it over the forge for heating.
“Of course, it is not an immediate process, for neither is a weapon or a piece of armor instantly made, nor is a warrior’s path easily trodden. They must be exercised, culled and tempered before they’re finally unleashed.”
The Lion looks at the metal plate that he has struck on the anvil, incandescently hot, but showing no cracks. Reaching for his tongs, he traps it between them, and sets the piece inside a jug of water, to let it cool. Steam from the water and smoke from the forge fill the air as the former XWF Universal Champion grabs another piece from the Gold Cloth of Leo, and places it over the forge for heating.
“But it isn’t just enough to repair the Gold Cloth, or to make a comeback, if nothing has been gained from all this process, is that right?”
The Lion gazes at the cooling piece, and at the rest of the pieces of the armor gathered, as he strokes his chin in thought.
“It may be time to make some changes, to bring it something new. To make it shine brighter than it ever has! And so must also be with me.”
A smile creeps up into the Lion’s lips. After all, was he not in this World Series of Wrestling because of everything he had achieved?
Much as he had come from losing a Pay-Per-View finals to win the very Universal Title, so would get back on top once more - no matter what it took.
By what right would he give up now?
“It may be time to make some changes, to bring it something new. To make it shine brighter than it ever has! And so must also be with me. I cannot let myself fade away after coming this far. Time for my soul to burn brighter than it ever has before!”
The piece of the Cloth cooling at the jug of water is done, so Raion takes it out. The headpiece, the Lion’s mane - the circlet that covered his forehead. As he places it on the now cleared table, Raion Kido reaches for the hammer - but this time, he also grabs his chisel…
*CLINK!*
No constant beating of the hammer this time, but rather a delicate, precise hit. The Lion surveys his handiwork, and looks at the piece carefully, turning it over it in his hand, before placing the chisel at another point, and going for the hammer again…
*CLINK!*
After a while of these delicate strikes, there is now a hole in the center of the headpiece - a hole large enough to fit something else.. such as the gem that the Lion now holds in his hand. A large, flawless emerald, which he places carefully on the headpiece, then makes sure to fix it onto it with the chisel.
“Let this be not just a new beginning, but rather, a rebirth. It is said that the Cloths of the Saints of Athena have a life of their own, so let this be the rebirth of the Gold Cloth of Leo. And with it, let this be a renewal of my vow to dedicate myself to justice, to be the best that I can possibly be, and to be the inspiration for others to be what they could possibly be.”
The headpiece now done, Raion now turns into the piece still in the furnace - by the size of it, the chest plate. He reaches for his tongs once more and takes it out of the furnace into the anvil. The cracks in the plate are opened, but the Lion now holds a small container, the lid of which he opens.
“From the dust and ashes of the old, shall ascend the new. So has it always been, so shall it always be!”
The container holds gold powder, which the Lion pours delicately over the grooves, so that they are eventually filled.
“Because that, ladies and gentlemen, is exactly the mission of a Saint of Athena. In order for us to be a symbol of hope, we must first learn to have a hope of our own. And as this Cloth shall heal - so shall it be for my soul.”
The latticework of tiny cracks soon disappears as the hot, expanded metal begins to cool off - and the proverbial wounds on the armor slowly, but steadily, begin to close - much like those would on human skin…
A hammer strikes into metal, a hard, yet melodic sound - not a sound of destruction, but rather one of creation, in a constant, rhythmic repetition.
*CLANG!*
One more time, the head of the hammer impacts against the metal plate, burning red-hot on an anvil.
*CLINK!*
And, as the heat from the metal invades the air around him, Raion Kido wipes a bead of sweat on his brow as he puts the hammer aside to take a breath. In the backyard of the apartment building, and as the sun has reached its zenith in the dry Las Vegas midday, the Lion has prepared a makeshift forge - a few stumps of wood, an anvil, a small table for his tools - hammer, chisel and tongs to handle the hot metal, and a brazier in which coal is burning.
*CLANG!*
“As it is with metal, so it is with a warrior’s spirit. Constant battle wears them down, but that is of course the nature of their being. And though it is inevitable that both metal dents and cracks, and a warrior’s spirit eventually wanes, it is also that very nature that makes them malleable - capable of being reforged, and honed again into a keen edge - and thus, born anew - ready once more for the purpose for which they have been built!”
The Lion looks at the metal plate that he has struck on the anvil, incandescently hot, but showing no cracks. Reaching for his tongs, he traps it between them, and sets the piece inside a jug of water, to let it cool. Steam from the water and smoke from the forge fill the air as the former XWF Universal Champion grabs another piece from the Gold Cloth of Leo, and places it over the forge for heating.
“Of course, it is not an immediate process, for neither is a weapon or a piece of armor instantly made, nor is a warrior’s path easily trodden. They must be exercised, culled and tempered before they’re finally unleashed.”
The Lion looks at the metal plate that he has struck on the anvil, incandescently hot, but showing no cracks. Reaching for his tongs, he traps it between them, and sets the piece inside a jug of water, to let it cool. Steam from the water and smoke from the forge fill the air as the former XWF Universal Champion grabs another piece from the Gold Cloth of Leo, and places it over the forge for heating.
“But it isn’t just enough to repair the Gold Cloth, or to make a comeback, if nothing has been gained from all this process, is that right?”
The Lion gazes at the cooling piece, and at the rest of the pieces of the armor gathered, as he strokes his chin in thought.
“It may be time to make some changes, to bring it something new. To make it shine brighter than it ever has! And so must also be with me.”
A smile creeps up into the Lion’s lips. After all, was he not in this World Series of Wrestling because of everything he had achieved?
Much as he had come from losing a Pay-Per-View finals to win the very Universal Title, so would get back on top once more - no matter what it took.
By what right would he give up now?
“It may be time to make some changes, to bring it something new. To make it shine brighter than it ever has! And so must also be with me. I cannot let myself fade away after coming this far. Time for my soul to burn brighter than it ever has before!”
The piece of the Cloth cooling at the jug of water is done, so Raion takes it out. The headpiece, the Lion’s mane - the circlet that covered his forehead. As he places it on the now cleared table, Raion Kido reaches for the hammer - but this time, he also grabs his chisel…
*CLINK!*
No constant beating of the hammer this time, but rather a delicate, precise hit. The Lion surveys his handiwork, and looks at the piece carefully, turning it over it in his hand, before placing the chisel at another point, and going for the hammer again…
*CLINK!*
After a while of these delicate strikes, there is now a hole in the center of the headpiece - a hole large enough to fit something else.. such as the gem that the Lion now holds in his hand. A large, flawless emerald, which he places carefully on the headpiece, then makes sure to fix it onto it with the chisel.
“Let this be not just a new beginning, but rather, a rebirth. It is said that the Cloths of the Saints of Athena have a life of their own, so let this be the rebirth of the Gold Cloth of Leo. And with it, let this be a renewal of my vow to dedicate myself to justice, to be the best that I can possibly be, and to be the inspiration for others to be what they could possibly be.”
The headpiece now done, Raion now turns into the piece still in the furnace - by the size of it, the chest plate. He reaches for his tongs once more and takes it out of the furnace into the anvil. The cracks in the plate are opened, but the Lion now holds a small container, the lid of which he opens.
“From the dust and ashes of the old, shall ascend the new. So has it always been, so shall it always be!”
The container holds gold powder, which the Lion pours delicately over the grooves, so that they are eventually filled.
“Because that, ladies and gentlemen, is exactly the mission of a Saint of Athena. In order for us to be a symbol of hope, we must first learn to have a hope of our own. And as this Cloth shall heal - so shall it be for my soul.”
The latticework of tiny cracks soon disappears as the hot, expanded metal begins to cool off - and the proverbial wounds on the armor slowly, but steadily, begin to close - much like those would on human skin…
—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The sun now begins to set over the improvised workshop of Raion Kido. This time, there is no sound but for the evening breeze, the jug is now empty, and the forge no longer burns. But as the Lion sits on one of the stumps, he looks at the pieces of the Golden Cloth. Now the cracks are fully gone on greaves, gauntlets, waistguard, chest plate, and shoulder plates. The young Saint of Athena, now holding a rag on his hand, and drenched in sweat after the hard day’s work, is polishing the headpíece.
“It is said a knight in shining armor is a man who has never had his metal truly tested, but I say this is not always so. There is a difference between the one that hasn’t had a test and the one that has had it, come out victorious, and has been reforged, stronger and brighter.
And as I said at the beginning, both with metal and with a man’s spirit, they are eventually worn and faded, as everything in nature is. But both can, and are meant, to be repaired, and renewed.
So this, my friends, shall be my testament for today. I am living proof that someone can rise again from the very depths, that the dulled and cracked metal may be reforged, that the most worn out spirit might be restored.
And if you shall not take my word for it, I shall now show you further proof. Here is my Golden Cloth that has been reborn, not just to its former glory, but to something even greater than that. And so shall it be for me, in the XWF, in the World Series of Wrestling, and everywhere else where I am required.
For I am the Gold Saint of Leo - and I am a warrior of hope!”
The Lion moves over to the table, and starts putting on the armor - greaves, waistguard, chest plate, shoulder plates, gauntlets, and finally, the headpiece. Once he is done, the camera zooms over his reborn Gold Cloth - not just repaired or healed, but something completely different - a beautiful, ornate, majestic golden armor, a bright ruby on the chest, and an emerald on its headpiece.
The look, indeed, of a knight in shining armor - of a Gold Saint of Athena.
“So make yourselves ready, my friends - for you shall soon see the stars burst again, and that shall serve as the sign… that Raion Kido has arisen once more!”
Smiling ear to ear, a defiant look in his eyes, the Lion throws a punch in front of the camera - the shining fist giving the impression of carrying the stars themselves in its motion.
And so, the Lion makes a final roar that echoes in the open air. With a bright armor, a renewed confidence… and a brighter soul.
“Burn, cosmos!”
Fade to black.
2000 words (wordcounter.net)
“It is said a knight in shining armor is a man who has never had his metal truly tested, but I say this is not always so. There is a difference between the one that hasn’t had a test and the one that has had it, come out victorious, and has been reforged, stronger and brighter.
And as I said at the beginning, both with metal and with a man’s spirit, they are eventually worn and faded, as everything in nature is. But both can, and are meant, to be repaired, and renewed.
So this, my friends, shall be my testament for today. I am living proof that someone can rise again from the very depths, that the dulled and cracked metal may be reforged, that the most worn out spirit might be restored.
And if you shall not take my word for it, I shall now show you further proof. Here is my Golden Cloth that has been reborn, not just to its former glory, but to something even greater than that. And so shall it be for me, in the XWF, in the World Series of Wrestling, and everywhere else where I am required.
For I am the Gold Saint of Leo - and I am a warrior of hope!”
The Lion moves over to the table, and starts putting on the armor - greaves, waistguard, chest plate, shoulder plates, gauntlets, and finally, the headpiece. Once he is done, the camera zooms over his reborn Gold Cloth - not just repaired or healed, but something completely different - a beautiful, ornate, majestic golden armor, a bright ruby on the chest, and an emerald on its headpiece.
The look, indeed, of a knight in shining armor - of a Gold Saint of Athena.
“So make yourselves ready, my friends - for you shall soon see the stars burst again, and that shall serve as the sign… that Raion Kido has arisen once more!”
Smiling ear to ear, a defiant look in his eyes, the Lion throws a punch in front of the camera - the shining fist giving the impression of carrying the stars themselves in its motion.
And so, the Lion makes a final roar that echoes in the open air. With a bright armor, a renewed confidence… and a brighter soul.
“Burn, cosmos!”
Fade to black.
2000 words (wordcounter.net)