Dim light. Chains clinked softly. The cold stone floor echoed as Fenris entered the private chamber where Commander Myrathis Lightweilder was waiting. 

His cape, marked with the Sunfire emblem, shimmered faintly with the Sun Clan's golden energy.

His sword, Blazemark- sheathed- glowed ablaze with Fenris' mana energy like a torch in the gloom.

With a flick of his fingers, Fenris summoned glittering golden light, casting a soundproofing spell over the room. The air thickened with restrained magic.

"You asked for me, Fen?" said the commander while lifting up his golden eyes to meet Fenris' who was standing at the doorstep.

"Did you look at the crowd when they executed... the Duke and the Duchess?" Fenris asked as he walked in and took a seat across from him.

"Yes, I couldn't muster the courage to look at them getting beheaded so I looked in their direction instead. Don't you feel guilty?" replied Myrathis while adding another question.

Fenris exhaled deeply. "Obviously I feel guilty but it's not me who framed them, right? It was someone else's doing. we must find them or else my heart won't find peace. They... at least they weren't bad."

Myrathis gently patted Fenris' hand. "I know it's not okay but everything's gonna be fine, don't worry. Sorry for asking such a stupid question." acknowledged Myrathis.

"Yeah. Time always heals such wounds... though the scar never fades." replied Fenris.

There was eerie silence for a couple of moments.

"Anyway," Myrathis continued, "you asked about the crowd. They cheered—as if they'd slain monsters, not guardians. Skittish fools. Sometimes I wonder if risking my life for them is even worth it."

With a quiet sigh, Fenris pinched the bridge of his nose, his brows knitting together as the weight of it all settled on him and replied, "You seem to finally grasp the truth. They were clebrating while they should have worried about who's gonna rule the empire now. We are the nobles for some reason. We see what they don't. However, I don't think if it's even that worthless to protect this empire. Don't think about those peasantries. Think of those kids' reaction when they saw the elimination." 

Myrathis winced at the memory—children crying, fainting, too young to understand the horror.

Myrathis sighed, "I guess you're right. Protecting those little ones who didn't even do anything is all I can do to feel less terrible."

Another moment of silence dropped, this one heavier. They knew this silence better than anyone else. It meant that more is yet to come.

"You should never know what you deserve..." mumbled Fenris.

"Huh?! You're thinking about that again? Is it even something meaningful or he had said that just to cause an inner turmoil within you so that you wouldn't find peace even after he would be gone. You know he hated you, from the very bottom of his heart you know. His actions justified it clearly. He must've wanted you to never settle down. That little piece of crap!" yelled Myrathis.

"No! He meant that, his eyes, he was sincere. I know him from childhood, Myra. His eyes make him an open book. I must decipher what he meant by those petty words of his. I must." said Fenris.

"He was dying," Myrathis snapped. "People say nonsense when they're dying. He couldn't have thought of anything else so he must have blabbered whatever shit came to his mind. Don't you ever dare to forget what he did to your parents just because he didn't want you to live peacefully!" said Myrathis who was now getting heated.

"Ugh! I know! How can I ever forget that? That man only knew how ruin things. However, you still don't get it, do you? That could have been the reason why he hated me so much. Something he owned but I deserved..." yelled Fenris.

Fenris's hand trembled as he gritted his teeth. He hated him, really much.

"Argh! Anyways, did you notice anything weird or something worth investigation in that mob?" 

"Actually, yeah. The Duchess dropped her pendant. Someone picked it up and disappeared. I tried to follow them, but lost them. And... even the Captain couldn't look when it happened. Maybe we can bring him over to our side. What do you think?" asked Myrathis, his golden eyes glimmering with hope.

"I don't know. We'll think about it later," Fenris said, rising to his feet. "If anyone asks why I was here, tell them we were drinking and celebrating. Make your room look like we made a mess."

Myrathis chuckled weakly. "Will do. Take care, Fen."

------------------------------------------------------------

Fenris walked through the palace courtyard.
The pale moonlight washed the path in dim silver, barely enough to see—but his sword and cape lit the way.

Fenris looked at the crescent moon and mumbled, "Then what was I meant to be? "