Luno sighed heavily as he ascended the stairs, the weight of disappointment pressing down on him. The conversation with his family and extended family had been long and fruitless, leaving him feeling more exasperated and misunderstood than before. The thought of going on the run and hiding for the rest of his life was growing more tempting each day. Only Iduberga, his sister, seemed to believe him when he talked about his stalker, but Luno suspected that she was simply humoring him... The rest of the family either dismissed his claims or grew irritated by his constant rambling about someone they did not believe existed. To make matters worse for Luno, his entire family in the castle had begun to consider him completely insane. They whispered the cruel nickname Luno the Lunatic behind his back, and he had overheard it more than once. The hurtful words cut deep, adding to the growing pile of pain and suffering he faced. It didn't matter that the nickname was ridiculous; it still stung.

Luno paused at the top of the stairs, his tired gaze drawn to the vast night outside through a large window. The tranquil scene offered a brief respite, but the beauty was lost on him. All he could think about was the constant nagging feeling of something—or someone—lurking just out of his line of sight. No matter how many times he checked, the paranoia remained. Leaning against the window, Luno whispered to himself, "I'm not crazy... I swear."