plays: "Bunker — the hideout for all."

The bunker's dimly lit corridors echoed with the subdued whispers of its occupants, a motley assembly of orphans, war-weary adults, and elderly survivors.

The air within bore the weight of untold tales, and as Rudra made his way through the narrow passages, he could not escape the dark resonance of their collective suffering.

The war left scars not only on the land, but etched deeply into the souls of those who sought refuge within these walls.

“...These civilians...”, Rudra asked in respect of the scars that this war has left around the world.

Even after some time living with the refugees, the knight remained accepting the suspicious looks of the people wherever he was. Rudra understood the thoughts of the civilian refugees, about Magnusson's idea, of sheltering a knight from the tyrannical court of Aleonia in his local secret, with the risk of the place being denounced, as soon as he recovered.

In the common spaces, Rudra explained the resilient spirit of the bunker's inhabitants. The orphans played impromptu games, their laughter a fleeting echo of innocence amid the shadows of conflict.

The adults, scarred by the harsh realities of war, shared knowing looks that knew much about the unspeakable horrors they had suffered.

Facing those figures tormented by the terrors of war affected the knight's psychology, making him compensate for his purpose in every possible aspect.

Rudra, an outsider to this makeshift community, couldn't help but feel a connection forming – a shared burden etched in every glance he met.

A group of children were playing with wooden dolls improvised by a local carpenter, when one of the children dropped the toy from his hand, heading towards Rudra, who crouches down and picks it up as he watches.

"A simple, unpolished wooden doll..."

The child turns to Rudra, while watching him, next to his uniform, and asks about being a knight.

“Are you a knight of Aleonia?”

            “Ye–… Yes…” – replied Rudra, with a certain discomfort.

“Are you going to report us as soon as you leave?”

Rudra felt a strong grip in his heart due to the words of the child in front of him, due to the monstrous figure that the soldiers and knights of Aleonia had in the eyes of the innocent.

"Not me-! No… I’m going to report this place…”

Rudra knelt down in front of the child, and continued his statement.

“I’m not part of Aleonia’s empire anymore, don’t worry…”

Rudra looked at the wooden toy and asked a child.

"Were you the ones who made these dolls?" The knight asked the child, who was playing with his friends.

"Yes! We made them together with Uncle Enkos!" – replied the child, excited.

“Enkos?” – said Rudra.

“Yes, our personal blacksmith and sculptor.” – a voice behind Rudra answered him.

“Yeah, yeah! He did some really cool and amazing things for us!”

“...Maybe I should talk to him at a future opportunity…”

            “...My blade is in a pitiful state…”

the golden-eyed knight returns the toy to the child and returns to his patrol through the veins of the bunker.

As Rudra delved deeper into the heart of the bunker, he discovered a space that served as a sanctuary and impromptu meeting point.

“...” The knight’s silence represented the diversity of sensations faced with that testimony.

There, amid the flickering candlelight, the inhabitants sought solace, a temporary escape from the dark world outside. An elderly woman, her eyes heavy with the weight of countless memories, told stories of a time when the earth knew peace.

Their stories resonated like ancient echoes, reminding Rudra of a life lost to the relentless march of war.

"Ah, young knight, sit with me. Let me count the days these walls were not allowed, when the land breathed with a different kind of life."

"I would be honored, ma'am."

In one corner, a group of children huddled together, their wide-eyed innocence contrasting with the somber surroundings. They spoke of dreams – of a world beyond the confines of that great hiding place, where laughter echoed freely and sunlight danced over untouched fields.

Rudra listened, his heart heavy with the realization that these dreams, fragile as they seemed, held the spark of hope essential for the journey ahead.

A small child moved from the knight, and asked him:

"Sir. Knight, do you think we will ever see a world without walls and fear?"

"I believe we can, little one. It may take time, but our actions now pave the way for that future."

In the quiet moments leading up to the mission, Rudra found himself drawn to the solemn company of the elderly. Their eyes reflected wisdom gained from years of conflict, and their stories painted a poignant picture of survival against all odds.

"Whoa-!"

A man, who was walking with difficulty, ended up tripping over his own foot. Rudra moved quickly and held him.

“Ah…”

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, son… I am.”

“If you want, I can accompany you–”

"Hey-!"

Suddenly, a group of civilians appeared approaching the knight.

“Get your rotten hands off him–!”

"But-! I- I-"

Rudra could barely formulate a single sentence, given the out of context situation in which he found himself.

"Stop it."

"W-What?"

Then, the elderly man spoke about what happened:

“He didn’t do anything wrong.”

“On the contrary, he held me to prevent me from falling.”

“...” – Rudra remained in contemplative silence.

“Was– was that it?”

“We… We apologize for the inconvenience.”

"It was nothing."

The civilians who had previously approached the knight now retreated, embarrassed by the inconvenience caused.

“Son, would you like to accompany me for a moment?”

“Y–Yes… I will accompany you.”

So, they both walk together through the tunnels while talking:

“I don’t think it’s easy for you to live here, is it?”

“...” – Rudra remains in contemplative silence.

"I understand. Many don’t like the presence of Aleonia’s knights here, especially if it’s an elite knight.”

“!-” – Rudra is surprised.

“How do you know that I am an elite knight?”

Soon, the man points to a silkscreen on his right shoulder, with a coat of arms, which specified the year of manufacture, the rank and the barracks served by the soldier.

"Sir…"

“I understand you very well, Son. I also served in the Aleonia army in my youth.”

“I was a sergeant in the 3rd division at Aleonia general headquarters, so I understood a lot how that tyrannical system worked.”

Increasingly, Rudra felt the warmth coming from his retired companion. More and more, both shared their knowledge and similarities.

“It should be good here.”

The elderly man and Rudra stopped in an area to rest.

“The walk was good.”

"Excuse me, Sir…"

"Hmm…?"

“What do you think of all this?”

“I didn’t understand your question, son.”

“I mean, this decision, Magnusson. Permission for me, a deadly threat who carries the blood of many innocent lives on his hands.”

“Getting a second chance like that?”

The elderly man turns to the knight with golden eyes, and dictates his words:

“At the time, I was immature and inexperienced for the military”

“A long time ago, when I was your age, I enlisted in the Aleonia army, then I was placed in a demoted battalion.”

“There, I had the opportunity to meet many comrades, with whom I made many good memories.”

“It was there that I met my wife, a very talented and beautiful nurse. She was healing my wounds after a turbulent invasion.”

“It was at that moment that I received my new purpose. We met and in the end, we ended up getting engaged and married.”

“And she was pregnant with me, but… one day, a very severe attack happened.”

“The gray bombers destroyed our post, and I ended up losing part of my face due to the constant impacts.”

“When I woke up, I was on a stretcher, with severe burns, with the news that my brothers in arms had succumbed to the ash.”

“And my wife, who was in the middle of the war, ended up perishing due to the brutal violence of the Galèsians.”

Rudra was stunned by the shocking statements received from the elderly man.

“Due to my deplorable condition, I had to retire immediately. Since that day, I have only lived in darkness and fear.”

“…”

"I'm sorry for your lost." – Rudra lamented with his head down, in a tearful voice.

“Don’t worry about it, son.”

"But-"

“In the world we live in, there has been constant loss. Unfortunately, it is not possible to resurrect those who have gone before.”

“I never stopped fighting, making a difference for the most dependent, and now look where I find myself.”

"We need you, Magnusson doesn't choose anything at random."

Those words entered Rudra's heart in a way that the knight would not be able to express.

“Everyone here has had their redemption, from the former knights to the civilians, without exception.”

“Do you need a reason to protect someone?”

As he spoke, Rudra felt a growing responsibility, not just to end the war, but to save the fragile tapestry of lives woven within the bunker walls.

"Son, you carry more than just a sword. You carry the hopes of those who resisted. Make every swing count."

“…”

Rudra looks at his dusty hands, remaining silent for a few seconds, and then speaks again:

"I won't forget, sir."

The past tense and Rudra will become part of this place, helping with chores, listening and sharing stories with the inhabitants, and helping those in need.

In the stillness of the night, Rudra retired to his quarters. In the solitude of his thoughts, he pondered the weight of his newfound purpose.

The monologues he delivered within echoed the collective yearning for peace – a yearning strong enough to transcend the scars of battle and redefine the destiny of their country and their world.

"This place…"

“Why does he bother me so much…?”

The knight constantly reflected on the influence that hiding had on his mind. For a person who lived among blood, loss and swords, all this was new to him.

“…”

As the mission drew closer, Rudra carried with him the stories, dreams, and aspirations of those he came to call his comrades, fueling a determination that would shape the destiny of a war-torn world.

– 14 days had passed since Rudra arrived at the bunker.