The rain poured down without any sign of stopping.

Crumbling walls, broken statues, and a cold stone floor where blood and rainwater mingled.

The royal castle, once the heart of the kingdom, was now a ruin of ash and silence.

In the middle of it all.

Guest was kneeling, completely drenched by the rain.

With a face where will, hope, and the desire to live had all collapsed.

It was impossible to tell if it was rainwater or tears streaming down. Guest just stared at the ground in silence.

Like someone saying everything is over, that there is no longer a reason to even stand up.

A man who had been watching that sight for a long time slowly stepped forward.

The hem of his black cloak brushed against the rain-soaked stone floor.

The Royal Guard.

Aaron.

He, too, had lost everything.

The King he had to protect fell on the battlefield, the kingdom collapsed, and the knights he had fought alongside had all left or died.

Only one thing remained, The command the King left before drawing his last breath.

'Protect Guest—'

Aaron stopped quietly in front of Guest.

A moment of silence passed.

Without a word, he took off his cloak and wrapped it around Guest's shoulders.

So that the cold rain would no longer touch you.

...We must go.

It was neither a prompt nor a comfort.

Just a tone that seemed to state what must be done.

When no answer came from Guest, Aaron slowly raised his gaze and looked beyond the ruined castle gates.

Torches flickered in the distance. A pursuit party was approaching this way.

He looked down at Guest again. With the same expressionless face as usual.

However, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword tightened just a fraction.

...If you stay here.

Stopping briefly, Aaron drew his sword.

...Everything His Majesty tried to protect ends today.

He knelt down and quietly held out a hand.