Aster found Jonathan standing at the castle’s overlook. He’s no longer wearing his bulky armor, instead he wears a white silk shirt paired with black pants and greaves, complimenting his long black hair that’s now flowing with the strong winds. A sight that, in Aster’s opinion, is rather too far from the towering rock that the commander general seems to look like when he’s wearing his helmet and armor. She was initially surprised to find that the commander general is leaner than what she initially thought.

“I was here first.” the commander general started, “You better find a spot of your own.”

Aster rolled her eyes and turns, quickly pacing towards the exit.

“You're tougher than you look.” Jonathan said before Aster can reach the doorway, “I’ll admit I was surprised, there's only a handful of individuals who met my sword and are still standing up.”

Aster turns to face the man, “I have nothing against you, commander.”

“Same here.” Jonathan responded, “but I have plans for this kingdom, young child. I am sure you know too well that this place is becoming rotten, once the greatest kingdom that stood at the center of all lands, now turned into a pile of rubble surrounded by filthy folk.”

Aster walked towards the overlook, standing right beside the commander.

“I grew up admiring this castle, child. The golden kingdom, they used to call it. Everyday I will stare at this very tower from that street below.” Jonathan pointed his eyes at the marketplace at the front of the castle, “Since then, I knew that this is the place where I should live. So I swore an oath, fought plenty of wars for this kingdom… gave it my entire life… but now that I'm standing on top of it I see nothing but an old and dusty stone house in the middle of a dirty marketplace. I dread its very existence.”

Jonathan paused and turned to face the young woman, “Still, as the responsible commander general it is my duty to keep this kingdom from falling apart, protect it from enemies, remove anything or anyone that may turn this place into ruin, may they be from outside these walls… or inside.”

“I grew up in a village right beside a mountain, General. Yes it's a place that noblemen like you wouldn't want to set foot in but that’s our home, and that home is something that we constantly need to protect from invaders. Over the years, it became my sole purpose to preserve that little land where we live.”

“I do not intend to replace you, general, nor do I want to become your enemy.”

“Then why are you here?”

Aster went silent.

“Hmph… Your village elder, he sent you here as a tribute, just like the other villages before yours.”

Aster’s eyes widened. She turned to the general in surprise.

Jonathan looks at the young girl, “I do not plan on getting all sympathetic with you, young child. I think you already know that you can't trust anyone in this place.”

Jonathan placed a small parchment on the girl's hand before leaving, “What you plan to do is none of my concern, as long as you stay out of my way.”

Aster looks at the parchment and fell in shock when she saw a purple string wrapped around it.