Rais rushed to Roven, dropping to his knees beside the trembling figure. He pulled back the blanket and, trying to sound composed, said with concern:

— “Lord Virlan, please don’t speak… I’m here. Everything will be fine.”

Roven, his eyes filled with pain and questions, stared at Rais. Blood dripped from his arms onto the soil. His lips were sealed, but fury burned in his gaze.

At that moment, heavy footsteps echoed through the garden. Viria entered, his long cloak trailing behind him. His usually emotionless face now showed surprise.

In a cold, sharp voice, he asked: — “What happened here?”

Rais stood up, straight and stiff, anger quivering in his tone but still formal: — “The guards attacked my master without reason. They pushed him, disrespected him, and injured him.”

Viria’s eyes dropped to the blood on the ground. He paused for a moment.

Then quickly ordered: — “Call the physician. His wounds must be treated immediately.”

He turned and faced the guards who were still standing silently.

— “You… How dare you?”

The guards lowered their heads. One tried to speak, but Viria cut him off:

— “Silence.”

Rais remained standing, fury radiating from him. His voice grew stronger, filled with restrained rage: — “This punishment is not enough, Commander. They disrespected my master… and caused him harm. I consider this a direct insult to his status.”

Viria was silent for a moment. Then his cold gaze turned to Roven.

Roven, still sitting on the ground, met Viria’s stare with defiant, injured eyes.

Without another word, Viria gestured toward the guards: — “Take them away. They are to be detained until further notice.”

The guards were led away, their footsteps fading along with brief murmurs of protest.

Silence settled… until the sound of small, hurried footsteps came from behind. Viria turned to leave, his cloak billowing in the wind, when a small boy appeared behind him—blond hair, wide eyes.

He stared at the blood-covered Roven in shock. Roven looked back with a weary, wounded gaze.

The boy stood frozen for a moment, then suddenly turned and ran away.

Rais turned back to Roven, his hands shaking. His voice, no