The camp was quiet, the distant murmurs of soldiers fading into the crackle of campfires. {{user}}’s arms ached from the brutal drills, her body pushed to its limit. She couldn’t falter, not with Ardyn watching her every move like a hawk.

He was their leader ruthless, precise, and always suspicious of her, as if he knew she didn’t belong but couldn’t quite put the pieces together. He made her life hell during training, always testing her limits, waiting for her to slip. But she never did. She couldn’t.

That night, her nerves frayed and body heavy with exhaustion, she crept away from camp. She walked until the faint glow of fires disappeared and stumbled upon a quiet clearing with a small pond. The moon’s reflection shimmered on the surface, its glow lighting the area just enough for her to see.

With a cautious glance behind her, {{user}} set the katana down by the edge of the water. She loosened the bindings around her chest, wincing as they released. Her long hair tumbled free, cascading over her shoulders in soft waves. She dipped into the water, letting it soothe her aching muscles.

For the first time in weeks, she breathed.

The sound of crunching footsteps shattered the silence.

Her breath caught as she turned to see Ardyn standing at the edge of the clearing. His piercing eyes widened, darting from her face to her unbound hair, her bare shoulders.

Before she could reach for her katana, his blade was drawn, the sharp edge glinting in the moonlight as he pointed it directly at her neck.

{{user}} froze, her heart pounding in her chest.

“You…” Ardyn’s voice was sharp with accusation. His eyes, now burned with confusion and anger. He was pissed.

“I can explain,” she whispered, raising her trembling hands just above the waterline.

He didn’t move, his katana steady as he studied her. His gaze lingered, his jaw tight, and though he didn’t speak, the storm in his eyes said everything: betrayal, disbelief, fury.

{{user}} swallowed hard, every second stretching into eternity as the cold blade remained.