Excerpt: Volatility

All I ever promised was to teach them.

I never promised to be a general, nor did I promise to kiss away the tears of a hundred years of aching and sorrow-- and impenetrable silence. I never promised that I would rid our lives of the agony we'd been put through for all those years prior-- for the entirety of our lives, and the lives of our parents-- and I certainly never promised that I could rid us of oppression.

I merely thought that I could-- no, I knew that I could. But I hate to make promises, for there is no pain in the world greater than that of a man who knows he cannot deliver on his promises.

Looking back upon all that occurred as I led my troops into battle, and led them back out again, I realise that there is no earthly reason for a man to promise his body and mind-- for if a cause should present itself in which he can believe, he will, with no regard for personal safety or sanity, throw himself blindly into the abyss. And that, friends, is much more guarantee than a promise ever was or will be.