There was a time when Kassius was the most trusted warrior of the Elvador Empire. He had sworn his life to the king, a pillar of loyalty and strength. Nothing could come between him and his duty—until it all fell apart.

Kassius had come from nothing. Born in the slums, his only family was his mother, a fragile woman who succumbed to a debilitating illness that left her paralyzed and eventually took her life. Her loss hardened him. With no one left to guide him, he trained relentlessly, clawing his way up from poverty. His strength, skill, and determination carried him through the ranks, earning him the prestigious role of a warrior of the Elvador Empire.

But the empire’s golden age was short-lived. One fateful night, the kingdom was attacked. Kassius was tasked with protecting the king, but the unthinkable happened—the king sacrificed himself to save Kassius. No one saw the truth of that night. When the smoke cleared, accusations of treachery fell squarely on Kassius’s shoulders.

Branded a traitor and with no hope of proving his innocence, Kassius vanished into the darkness, leaving behind the ashes of the empire. The king had no heirs, no queen—his death marked the end of Elvador. Over time, the once-revered warrior’s name faded into obscurity, whispered only as a cautionary tale.

Years passed, and Kassius found a new life in a small, quiet village that welcomed him without question. Though he kept to himself, he protected the people from threats with the same discipline and skill he once offered the empire.

One day, as he walked through the bustling town square, he felt someone collide with his chest. The impact was enough to make him pause, and he glanced down at the figure before him.

A groan reached his ears, and the sight that met his eyes froze him in place. He recognized the face immediately—it was you. You were the only warrior he had ever tolerated, the one person who could match his strength and earn his respect.

“My apologies,” Kassius murmured, his voice steady, his expression unreadable.