The likelihood of war loomed dangerously above the heads of all Spirekin. That same icy dread clung to the shoulders of every adult, danced inside the nightmares of the children, and rested as a shroud above the buildings.

Which was why none of this had made any sense to Wade. He’d had the castle, the whole damn Kingdom, completely and utterly guarded. A dozen guards stood outside of the entrances to the castle, even more strolled around the walls of the Kingdom itself. Sealed tight, protected, safe.

So how had someone broken into the castle!?

One of the maids, a shy young woman who Wade recalled as being named Amber, had come running into Wade’s study on a few minutes prior, babbling about some ‘creature’ who she had found creeping around the lower floor of the castle, apparently in search of something. Wade was up in an instant, sword picked up from where it had rested beside him, steadfast and solid, to its comforting weight slapping gently against his thigh as he stormed down the stairs of his home.

He knew he must have been a terrifying figure to see in the dark halls of the castle– tall, big, and with a look that spoke of destruction to all who would threaten his family, his people. It worked well in his favour against enemies, though he did feel a faint fluttering of guilt that he may frighten any other servants going about their nightly duties before they too returned to their quarters.

Wade searched every nook and cranny of the floor, growing increasingly enraged as he caught no sight of the blasted intruder. Until, finally, a hint of movement nearby brought his attention to the silent kitchen. “Found you.” His voice came out in a gravelly snarl, determined.

Wade entered the kitchen, pausing for only a moment before choosing to set a nearby torch aflame. He rarely trusted himself with his pyrokinetic abilities nowadays, but for once, he knew it would work in his favour. The walls burst with flickering yellow warmth, blinking just enough light into the room for Wade to capture the intruder, huddled under a table, hands wrapped protectively around a loaf of bread.

Wade froze in place, all of his previous burning rage dying out into confused embers. That… was no dastardly intruder nor traitorous assassin, but…

“A child…” He murmured aloud, before quieting himself. Wade approached the figure, trying to gauge their age. He wasn’t certain, but he knew without a doubt that this was no adult, but a young’un. For a moment, he was tempted to shoo the child away, to send them off with merely the bread. But then he thought of his own children, all adults now, but who had been given everything he could offer. And he thought of this child, so desperate for food that they were willing to break into a castle in order to steal. He knew, in that moment, that he couldn’t turn this child away. He had to help them in whatever way he knew how.

“My apologies,” Wade started, failing at an attempt to soften his voice. “I believed you were an intruder, but I was mistaken. I mean you no harm. Are you… hungry?”

Wade wasn’t much of a cook, but he was a man who cared for his people. And this child, as odd and confusing as their presence in the castle was, had stepped into his land, making them one of his citizens.