Summary

Hecktor Freidhelm reflects on his portrayal in history books as he peruses an old library, contemplating writing an autobiography to set the record straight about his past.

Abstract

In the dim candlelight of a library filled with the scent of aged books, Hecktor Freidhelm, once hailed as a hero and champion, now a lone survivor, muses on the inaccuracies of his historical depiction. As he dusts off a worn book detailing his own life, he chuckles at the accolades attributed to him, recognizing the stark contrast between his legacy in ink and his lived reality. With no one left to recount his tale, Hecktor considers authoring his autobiography, tentatively titled "How Hecktor Freidhelm Performed Global Genocide," to offer a more honest narrative of his actions and the resulting global catastrophe. The narrative invites readers to contribute to a Medium project called "100 Stories by 100 Writers," presented by Smillew Rahcuef, potentially becoming part of Medium's history or contributing to what might be seen as a publicity stunt.

Opinions

Hecktor views the historical accounts of his life with skepticism, highlighting the discrepancy between his public image as a brave hero and his personal experiences.
There is an underlying irony in Hecktor's amusement at being called "Hero," "Champion," and "Brave," given his awareness of the true nature of his actions.
Hecktor's contemplation of writing an autobiography suggests a desire to correct the record and provide his perspective on events that have been misrepresented or oversimplified in historical texts.
The suggestion that history is shaped by survivors implies a critique of historical narratives, which may be biased or incomplete due to being filtered through the perspectives of those who remain after conflicts.
The invitation to participate in the "100 Stories by 100 Writers" project, framed as either an opportunity to make history or partake in a publicity stunt, presents a duality in how such contributions might be perceived.

Fiction | Dark Fantasy

#6 - One for the History Books

History is written by victors.

I slowly strolled down the aisle as I breathed deeply of the musky aroma the old books offered. Illuminated only by candlelight I reminisced of days long gone, of people long gone.

My eyes landed upon a particularly worn book that time had ravaged, the poor thing. My fingers delicately traced its cracked spine as I wiped away the years of dust.

History of Hecktor Freidhelm.

A smile broke across my lips as I cracked open the book. The worn leather groaned from the maneuver as I thumbed the pages. My eyes skimmed the pages quickly as I picked up on certain words.

Hero. Champion. Brave.

I couldn’t help but chuckle. It’s been a long time since anyone had ever called me that. It’s a damn shame they put it in ink, too. I’d tell someone the history books were wrong if there was anyone left to tell.

I placed it back on the shelf and shook my head. Maybe I should write an autobiography and tell the real story. History isn’t written by the dead. It’s decided by the survivors.

I’d name the book How Hecktor Freidhelm Performed Global Genocide.

Interested in participating in 100 Stories by 100 Writers? You can follow the link to read the rules on how you can participate and be a part of Medium history… or a crazy publicity stunt by Smillew Rahcuef. Either way, why would you turn it down?

Would You like to Be Part of Medium History?

100 Stories by 100 Writers — Vision and submission guidelines

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