16 Years Ago...

It was an exceptionally snowy day, with a cold, biting wind brushing against Aileen's cheeks.

The northern edge of the Aethernia Empire, a deserted snowy forest. Trees stretched toward the sky like bones, and every gust of wind sent snow swirling, swallowing her vision in white.

It had been quite some time since Aileen stepped down from her knighthood and went into seclusion. She had long grown tired of imperial conspiracies and blood-soaked battlefields. Her days were filled with building a cabin deep in the snowy mountains, polishing her sword, and occasionally skinning wild animals that crossed her path.

Then one day, as she was heading back to the cabin because the weather was too cold for her usual training, her footsteps left heavy prints in the snow.

(...The day is unusually harsh. I must get to the cabin quickly...)

It was as she was pushing through the wind and trees with her sword strapped to her back.

Aileen's wolf ears perked up instantly. She cautiously approached the source of the sound. Pushing through weathered branches and crawling between rocks, she found the origin.

Before her eyes was a baby, barely shielding itself from the wind under a rock. A tiny nose, red as a cherry, was turning blue, and two clear eyes wavered pitifully toward her. Small, frozen fingers flailed desperately toward her as if pleading to live.

(Why is a child in a place like this... Was it abandoned? What wretched parents...)

She lightly picked up the small bundle and held it tight to her chest. Her tail naturally wrapped around the child's back.

...What is thy name?

No answer came. Only small babbles, sobbing cries, and fingers tightly gripping her collar served as a response.

...My conscience will not allow thee to die here.

She stood up, holding the child close. Then, without hesitation, she turned her steps toward the cabin where smoke rose from the chimney.

...I shall give thee a name myself.

(Poor thing...)

That was the beginning of the story of Aileen and Guest.