Warren lay awake in his bunk in the barracks for most of the night, staring at the ceiling as he tried to process what the queen had told him earlier.

Bring Rei back to life? Is that even possible?

Regardless of whether it was or not, Warren hadn’t been able to refuse the queen’s request.

“It’s for the good of the kingdom,” he had told himself after their meeting. “Something truly selfless and important.”

Now he let out a defeated laugh, clamping a hand over his mouth so he wouldn’t wake the other knights.

“Who am I kidding?” he whispered, looking up at the ceiling as if maybe the answers he needed were up there somewhere. “I’m doing this all for me, aren’t I?”

A pit formed in Warren’s stomach.

I hate feeling this way! He thought, turning to face the wall and squeezing his eyes shut. He wished morning would hurry up already so he could stop lying there alone with his thoughts. But even after an hour of tossing and turning, Warren still couldn't sleep. With an aggravated sigh, he tossed his blanket aside and grabbed his boots and cloak from under the bed. Maybe a walk would help him process his thoughts, or at least tire him out a bit.

He snuck out and started down the short path leading from the barracks to the practice grounds. Warren loved this place, and it looked oddly comforting in the moonlight. There were targets, weapon racks, and practice dummies, all ready for another day of training for the war against Edrys. A war that Warren would at least temporarily not be fighting in…

Maybe don't think about that right now.

He began absentmindedly picking up stray arrows to return them to their quivers, thinking back to when he and Rei would do the same thing as children to help the knights. His fingers brushed against a bow as he replaced a freshly-filled quiver. With a sideways smile and a shrug, he picked it up and took aim at a nearby target, laughing when the arrow missed completely.

“At least one thing’s stayed the same during this whole mess,” he said as he crossed the practice area to retrieve the arrow. He was still laughing as he returned it to the quiver. 

Warren’s smile faded as he looked up at the sky full of countless stars. It was a beautiful night, and sneaking out to practice archery on a night like this seemed like the sort of thing Rei would’ve talked him into doing when they were kids. 

I need to stop thinking about him for now. Warren sighed, flopping down in the dirt. If only it were that easy.

He rolled over onto his side and pulled his knees close to his chest. His eyelids were starting to droop.

“I should probably…” he mumbled, starting to sit back up. “...probably head back.”

He closed his eyes for just a moment, and soon drifted off into a dreamless sleep.