The Night of the Knight

No beast could stand him, for he tamed beasts -
His bare hands kept bears as bay.
No man could best him, for he ravaged men -
His sharp mind cut deeper than any sword.
Strength his sibling, power his mentor, fear his companion,
Was he legend? Indeed, legend he was - the knight of the night
Yet, he had no identity.

I wandered towards the forbidden forest
Where no light could penetrate the depth of darkness
Where no shadow could accompany the field of black
Where even the elements were sealed
There was no path, there was no direction - only an innate desire to fulfil my destiny
I knew not my purpose but my soul ventured onwards
Into a place beyond recognition
Rocks suspended in mid-air,
Craters the size of mountains,
Trees which grew downwards - almost as if in search of light
I knew then, that in this place, nature was inverted

Fear clutched his heart, for what he saw was inexplicable:
An entire island, small yet large, levitating and pulsating with corruption
Green wisps of smoke encircled the edges - and yet an edge there was not
Upon the centre stood ebony darker than himself - the blade of the night
He took a step into the blackness and approached the embodiment of death,
Lighting lashed him
Thunder slayed him
Rain revived him
Grass scorched, trees withered, life leeched,
The elements overtook his being
Blood boiled, veins burst, skin blistered

Eyes laden with agony, arms denser than lead
He fell to his knees, tendrils of shadows shrouded him
And then he knew, life was death and death was life

Fire. Fire. FIRE!
A flame ignited deep within my being
A new beginning
I knew my purpose at last - my identity
I knew my name
I am the Dark Saviour
I am cruel to be kind
Only by encompassing darkness in its entirety, can there be light
I am the living sacrifice
I am the Dark Saviour

He awoke - fire cleansed him, air cooled him, earth strengthened him, water calmed him,
Clenched within his claws was the living extension of his being - the blade of the night
He began his conquest to restore light in darkness
He wielded the sword with such ease, that he knew the sword required no master

Prodigious arcs formed with great precision, the sword was justice.
Plated in ebony, painted in blood, pointed with calamity
Screams smothered by the glint of steel
In the midst of darkness, walked the scarlet man accompanied by the blade of the night.
He, was the Dark Saviour.