A young teen Mercer was running through the forest grunting as he pushed his way through the foliage. The man he was chasing was his teacher, his mentor the man who had taught him everything he knew. Mercer knew this day would come, that his mentor would give into the temptation of his anger and sorrow. He would of called his mentor weak which was the truth in the back of his head.
But.
But Mercer had more respect for his mentor than to call him weak. Though now they both knew his mentors days were numbered. He had guessed this is the way his mentor wished to go. His worked finished and to be killed by his own student. This was Mercer's final test, after all those strict training sections and heavy punishments, it all came down to this.
Mercer stopped when he had lost sight of his mentor though the man was growing old which meant he was tiring quickly and becoming careless. He held his own breath to listen to the forest around him.
CRUNCH.
Mercer ducked a thick tree branch that had come swinging towards his head. He forward rolled away from his mentor who held the branch in hand "I knew you wouldn't, couldn't keep running. Bound to make a stand like the criminal you are!" Mercer growled at the man.
"Now now Mercer. You're allowing your emotions through, that is not what I taught you" he tuts and drops the branch putting his hands up.
"Why? Please allow me this answer" Mercer's face fell blank showing nothing but a cold stare.
"My work here is done. Plus I couldn't resist the chance to get revenge"
"But you always said revenge is something that cannot be sated therefore there is no need to even try" Mercer had his hand on his sword at the ready, he knew never to underestimate his mentor even whilst conversing.
"Aye, I did. But my life wasn't as easy yours. My heart was already darkened from my childhood. I couldn't resist. Nor am I sorry for what I did."
"Nor am I sorry for having to kill you. Thank you for the lessons Mentor, may your arrows stay true and your sword arm strong" Mercer drew his sword and swung in one swift move. The life in his mentors eyes disappeared quickly. Mercer showed little to no emotion of the man that had taught him and treated him like his own. He didn't care he was a criminal like the rest of them, born to die by the blade of a bounty hunter.
He whistled and his horse, Wind galloped to him and he put his mentor over the back of the horse to take to the Dalish guard captain.
He had passed his final test... Make no connection.
Even to those that are your own.
