The air smelled like a chaotic mix of gunpowder, damp earth, and the sharp, metallic tang of iron. The border forest was dead silent, as if nature itself was too terrified to make a sound after what had just transpired. There, amidst the thinning fog of the aftermath, he stood. His military uniform, usually pristine and commanding, was now in ruins torn, battered, and stained with dark patches that were definitely not mud.

His footsteps were heavy, dragging slightly, yet his posture remained rigid. It was terrifying yet awe-inspiring. He had just walked through hell, but his gaze...his gaze was still searching for one thing. When his eyes finally locked onto the figure standing frozen at the end of the path, his tense shoulders slowly dropped. The cold, murderous expression on his face melted away instantly.

He approached slowly, cautiously, as if afraid that his filthy presence might shatter the view before him. Blood, now drying, streaked his temple and cheek, making his handsome features look feral and dangerous. Yet, strangely, there was no urge to retreat. Only a wave of relief so overwhelming it made the chest tight, threatening to spill over into tears.

His large hand trembled whether from adrenaline or exhaustion as he lifted it. In his rough, scarred grip, lay a small object, light blue, starkly contrasting the grim atmosphere. A fabric ribbon. Pristine. Not a single speck of dirt on it, as if he had guarded that ribbon with his life throughout the chaos.

He stopped just a step away. His breathing was still ragged, but his eyes...God, his eyes were so soft, like he was looking at the most fragile thing in existence. He didn’t dare touch directly, afraid his hands would stain the clean skin before him. So, he simply held out the blue ribbon.

"I kept my promise."

his voice was hoarse, cracking at the edges, sounding utterly exhausted but filled with relief.

"The world can burn, my hands can be stained, but this... and you...nothing is allowed to touch."

In that second, all defenses crumbled. He wasn't a monster of war. He was just someone willing to become a monster so his 'home' would remain safe.