The Tower of Cards

It is quite early in the morning in Priština - and little ten year old Branimir rubs his eyes and walks to his father's bedroom.

"Papa, can I get a deck of cards?" he asks innocently. His father is slightly outraged but conceals his anger.
"You are too young to play with cards!!" the father retorts.
"Ne ne, not play, papa - I want to build something." Brani responds.
"Build what?!" his father is still confused.
"A tower of cards." says Brani.
"You mean like the one you see on TV? One card on top of another?" questions his father.
"Da." little Brani says with confidence.
"But you know son, building a tower like that takes a lot of concentration and a lot of patience. Even the slightest wind will shake the tower and tear it down." says his father reacting to his son's whim.
"But it is definitely worth trying, papa." says Brani with a hopeful smile.
"OK. I will buy one deck of cards for you. But you must promise me not to learn gambling games. Promise?" says his dad.
"I promise!" says Brani gleefully and trots back away to his room.

And since that evening, little Brani spends hours building his little tower of cards. First with two cards, then with four. The tower crumples. But Brani still patient continues building. By nightfall, the tower is two stories high - but a little scarce. A strong wind through the window brings it down with one gust. Brani is disappointed - but he builds the tower again... and again... and again.

The Betrayal, The Vengeance and The Emptiness

He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.

- Nietzsche, Aphorism 146

When was the last time you questioned your trust in someone whom you knew for a very long time - someone who you admired for their intellect and talent? Probably never... right? But what if that trust went against you - what if it enchained your reason? What if questioned you to rethink everything right from the beginning? Traumatizing, isn't it? Or even heartbreaking. 

Betrayal of trust. The demise of friendship and good will. I have walked upon that road full of thorns and shards of broken glass. It consumed and filled me with nothing but vengeance. But what when vengeance is fulfilled - what does it leave behind? Nothing but a void. Just an empty void...

Our own Perkūnas - Our own Baltic God of Thunder

November 2nd, 2007 was a sad day. Our metal brotherhood lost one of its most promising artists. Witold "Vitek" Kieltyka was the drummer of Polish death metal band Decapitated. At 23 years of age, he had impressed all his peers in the death metal community with his unique drumming style and innovative techniques.

Some wounds will never heal fully. In every metal concert, in every screaming mosh-pit and in every insane headbanging, we will miss you brother - and remember you always.

R.I.P.

When Luke met Regina... twice

This is not your usual love story. The boy does not get the girl. He had two shots to get it right but failed miserably on both counts. Luke first met Regina when she was 14. He was 19 then. Both were young and immature - both made mistakes and then parted ways. Fast forward: nine years. One would think that after years, the situation would be different. At first it did work, Regina forgave Luke for his mistakes and both fell deeply in love. So much love, that it tore them apart. The reasons - the equation of karma always remains balanced. Both Regina and Luke had to deal with their own demons. So much so, that it killed every shred of respect that they had for each other. But maybe, that is how it was supposed to end... some questions are better left unanswered.