A silent night slowly enveloped Arthur's castle. No sound or movement could be heard within its walls since Esther's departure. In a neglected chamber, a boy lay weakly upon the cold, hard floor. His body was thin and frail, his face pale, and his clothes tattered. No light of life shone from his hollow eyes.
Now that boy had grown, and he stood silently on the balcony of his chamber, gazing far towards the city's outer walls. Beyond those giant stone barriers stretched the vast lands of Nightingale—small villages, golden wheat fields, and ancient forests whispering their secrets. But tonight, nothing out there drew his attention. His eyes were empty, staring through the darkness as if hoping to find something—or someone—long lost.
