The Salute

I have never understood it.
The salute

I have never tried asking about it.
The salute

I have always taken it as the Armed Force greeting gestures.
The salute

I have always told Zandt that an embrace would always be better than,
The salute.

But the only greeting gestures I have been receiving from Zandt was,

The salute.

Eldrad Van Zandt has always been the Thought I couldn't classified, 

Fierce, strict and truly patriotic.

He used to hate everything about me.

And I used to call him, my most hated Thought in the whole Mayne.

I couldn't remember when exactly things started to change. 

When I started to fight for what is right.

When I stood up against injustice.

When I decided to fight for my right.

When I was wronged but took a step back instead of revenge

When I let go and decided to forget.

When life felt too hard but I keep walking.

 

Zandt was always there.

 

The first time I received a salute from Zandt,

It was on the day I stood alone against the whole Mayne. 

It was on the day where the whole nation Mayne declared war agaisnt me. 

It was on the day I was at the lowest in my life.

It was on the day I was ready to fight to lose.

It was also on the day he handed me the bracelet with the Zandt Emblem.

 

That day,

He looked straight into my eyes. 

In his unflinching expression. 

He raised his hand for the salute.

Stayed in his salutation for around five seconds

Before he stood guarded up front.

Firm, undaunted, unyielding.

I should have known by then.
I should have figure it out back then.
What that salute signifies.
What Thought is Zandt. 

 

That day,

When he broke into the Shadow Castle,

Bracing the darkness of the corridor, 

Exposing himself to the poisonous air of the tower,

Breaking into the prison that kept me locked,

Putting on his oxygen mask on the unconscious me, 

Fighting the Shadow Thoughts that were overtaking me.

 

I should have known by then. 
I should have figure it out back then.
What Zandt has put on the line, 
On the day he raised his hand for the salute.

I should have known by then. 
What that salute signifies.
I should have figure it out back then.
What Thought is Zandt. 

Sincerely,

Precious