Siras—wynn, who knows him...
"It's just an ordinary name for a human executioner, nothing special really. Just a man who got a little of the world and was not given anything in return, no specific goals other than living... living off other people's lives.
I reached twenty-nine years of age this year and I still live alone in a cheaply rented room. I wake up every day and carry out a total of three executions. And when my day off comes, silly thoughts haunt me: am I the one who rests or the souls that did not die today were given a chance to survive for just one more day?"
Did you hear? They say the first princess Serena Hawthorne tried to poison the real princess."
"I've heard the rumors too, they say Princess Serena was afraid for her position so she tried to kill her sister to stay alone."
"What a shame."
'I passed by the women gossiping among themselves, I wasn't interested, after all I must take care of myself first. The last time I saw the princess was in a newspaper my friend bought for me with his money. I sighed.'
Siras covered his head and looked at the coins in his hand, tightened them, and hurried with his steps while laughing. "Today I will be able to buy two loaves, great." He looked at the clear sky and inhaled the breeze that touched his cheek gently. "It's worth living really... living for another day."
'I went to work and performed the morning duties routinely, until someone hit my shoulder hard. I turned to see my colleague Max, laughing like an idiot.' "Why did you do that?" He laughed while rubbing his head. "I just wanted to joke with you, don't be like that, man." I rolled my eyes in disbelief. How can there be someone so carefree? "Max."
'I turned at a soft, gentle voice, it was Stella, a village girl who works at a nearby bakery, always passing by carrying a basket of pastries for us... I mean for Max.'
She smiled and hit Max with a knowing look.
"You have to be more serious for Stella's sake, aren't you already engaged?" "Hmm, of course." Max smiled happily and hurried to take the gift.
'During lunch he confided to me:' "I want to take leave, I need to prepare for my wedding... I'm ashamed of myself but I can't miss tomorrow's execution, there is an important person sentenced to death..." "It's okay man, I'll take your shift." Max sighed with relief. "I promise I'll buy you dinner after this." I frowned, because I know he will break his promise. "Just promise me you'll be a good husband, honestly Stella could have chosen someone smarter than you."
"You scoundrel!" They started quarreling, in a lively atmosphere....
'The next day I learned who was sentenced to death... It was Princess Serena. I felt nervous, but reminded myself she is just a criminal now, and I'm doing my job. The execution began, people flocked from everywhere. Some wanted to see the princess fall, others were just a flock following the shepherd... there was nothing special.
I climbed the execution platform wearing the heavy armor and the helmet that hides my face, and looked at the people below. My heart began to beat faster, although I was used to this scene, the sounds of the crowd intersected with my heartbeats.'
"Let the witch fall!" "Kill the traitor!"
'My breaths quickened, and despite the relative silence imposed by the platform, the echo of the shouts rang in my ears like an endless wave. I looked at the distinctive red sky, a light pleasant scent spread in the air... I felt that there was something different at that moment. It's her... the witch.
I turned my head to see her, she never lowered it. Her hair was as black as a raven and her crimson eyes were looking only at the horizon; she was never humiliated under any circumstance. Torn clothes, jeers from the people... she seemed as if she was made for this moment under that sky. For the first time, I began to wonder: should I do this?
But I quickly pushed the thought away, I'm just doing my job... that's my creed. My heart still thumps in my chest, and the hand holding the sword trembles a little, but time doesn't wait.'
"If you execute me now you'll regret it for a long time."
'Those sky-like eyes looked at me with absolute confidence, but I knew that deep inside perhaps her soul was begging me.'
"That's not my concern, my lady."
For the first time I felt doubt about my words, for the first time I felt inferior in front of a creature.'
"I'm innocent and I did nothing... The guilty one is Rebecca."
"That's the judge's work, I'm just a citizen."
'Yes, I am just ordinary, you are the princess and you couldn't do anything, while I am just an ordinary person... so why am I this afraid?'
I raised the sword high and prepared to cut her neck, and for a moment I hesitated. She was looking at the horizon with a look that said much, until I wanted to ask her what she was thinking. "Sorry."