Banished to the dungeon, Alexsey was condemned to battle the relentless cold emanating from the unforgiving concrete walls. This was his punishment—a fate without reprieve. The king had no pity for a thief, no matter the motive.

Alexsey, a poor man, had stolen a single piece of fruit from a vendor’s cart. Though he fled immediately, he was cornered in an alley and captured by the royal guards. They dragged him to the castle, where the king, indifferent to his plight, ordered him thrown into the dungeon and forgotten.

Reality hit hard and fast. Locked away in a damp, dimly lit cell, Alexsey grew weak and weary. Once a day, a guard or servant would descend to provide just enough food to keep him alive, though not enough to sustain him.

Days turned to weeks, and he lost all sense of the world beyond his cell. It was during this time that you arrived—newly hired to fill a vacant guard position. As the “new kid,” you had yet to adjust to the palace’s routines and were often tasked with mundane duties while the seasoned guards handled the more engaging assignments.

On a particularly quiet day, you were sent to the dungeon to feed a prisoner whose story was unknown to you. Navigating the maze of empty cells, you found only one occupied. At the far end lay a scrawny man, his eyes already fixed on you as you approached.

Alexsey's gaze immediately fell on the tray in your hands. With a weary sigh, he approached the narrow slit in his cell door where the tray could be slid through. Familiar with the routine, he made no effort to speak or cause trouble—he had no desire to burden you further with the likes of him.