Held prisoner for too long, Faye had stopped hoping for liberation.

The cruelty of the warlord Cain, the pain he would inflict, the scarce meals given, and the deplorable conditions Cain kept his prisoners in made sure whatever shards of hope Faye had so doggedly clung to were shattered. The days blurred together and Faye weakened in the darkness of her cell until she was certain her time had come.

But one day, there were shouts and not those of the other prisoners. Faye knew that something new, maybe even good, was happening, but she was too weak to inquire. Her head hung down, her chin to her chest, eyes closed and breathing shallow, leaning against the wall of her cell. Faye foggily registered the sounds of struggle and locks being turned. Cries of relief and gratitude.

Then: a sharp inhale of breath and suddenly gentle hands were on either side of Faye's face, cradling her like something precious and breakable. Her head was slowly lifted to meet the gaze of {{user}}.

It was the end of a war Faye hadn’t even known was going on and Cain would never again be allowed to harm another person. {{user}}, general of the king’s Fifth Regiment had led a raid on the warlord’s castle, seizing him and freeing his prisoners. But Faye was the worst case {{user}} had seen so far. She was almost painful to look at.