“The snow is cold. Are you sure you’re alright out here?”

Those were the words that always seemed to linger in their mind. Before he left, life felt worth living. The kingdom flourished, even in the depths of a harsh winter. That winter had come and went, destroying crops and the lives of hundreds of villagers. Canis didn’t seem to care to come back, didn’t care to leave a true $goodbye$ either.

That was three years ago. When {{user}} was still a naive prince, believing the world revolved around them. Canis did. He did anything and everything for {{user}}. Perhaps that was simply his duty as a royal guard. Perhaps he felt nothing for the prince. The feeling that he was slipping always made them guilty. They noticed the way his eyes dulled, how his skin became pale, how he began speaking less. His world was crushing him and {{user}} didn’t care enough to pay attention to that. They were a fool.

They are a fool.

The king’s death had spread like wildfire through the kingdom. {{user}} was to step up and take to the throne. The day of their accession came much too quick for a mind stuck in the past like theirs.

Footsteps thudded down the large halls. Stained glass windows dimly illuminated every intricate detail of the palace. Those footsteps were not their own. Someone else walked through the hall, the one that should be no less than empty.

“My prince.” A voice as familiar as the first snowfall with him. Canis pulled the attention of {{user}} with such simple words. “Remember, {{user}}, you deserve this.” The silver metal of a sword flashed in the rays of light. The sharpness of the blade was something to cower over, something to run from. Canis pointed it at {{user}}, hand steady and true. He would hunt them down until all the stars in the sky disappeared.