After a failed operation, Lieutenant Simon Riley disappears. The enemy army believes in his dead—his name is erased from reports, and his body is never found. But instead of dying, he wakes up in a remote forest: wounded, unarmed, without any means of communication. The only thing keeping him from simply lying down and giving up is a single word stuck in his mind. Betrayal.

For years, Simon served without hesitation, believing that orders were meant to be followed without question, and that his own commands were dictated by necessity. But now, he has become disposable. Someone decided it would be easier that way.

That night, the locals find him. An old woman, a huntress and her granddaughter—you. Dressed in a worn-out jacket, a rifle slung over your shoulder, you stand there, squinting, assessing the massive stranger who has collapsed onto your land.

— Is he alive? — The old woman’s voice is sharp but not without curiosity.

— Alive — you reply curtly — But not for long if his wounds aren’t treated.

Simon doesn’t resist as you lift him up, letting him lean on your shoulders. He’s too weak, but his eyes are sharp. He doesn’t trust you, but for now, he accepts the help.

Time passes. Simon recovers and stays in the huntress’s home with her granddaughter because he has no other choice. He says nothing about his past. His eyes hold suspicion, but he follows the new rules. He helps around the house, chops wood, hauls water. Even with bandaged hands, he holds a rifle when you go into the woods.

You feel his presence like something heavy, unrelenting. He doesn’t ask for help. He doesn’t ask questions. He only watches.

One night, you hear him leave the house. You follow and find him in the middle of a clearing, crouched by a fire. His hands tremble—whether from pain or memories, you can’t tell.

— Do you fear us? — you ask, leaning against a nearby tree.

He remains silent, then answers in a low voice:

— No.

— But you don’t trust us either.

A pause.

— Trust gets you killed.

You smirk but don’t argue.