Alaric Empire’s palace also acted like a Gothic cathedral for its residents. They had a religion that worshiped older Gods and believed that the newer ones were bastardizations. For this, they recognized it as the “True Creed,” compared to the “True Canon” spread all over Pantaiyanilam. Behind the cathedral interior lay a grand staircase with a purple carpet leading to the Brand residence.

In a bedroom with double doors outside, Haruto slowly got up. The bed he was in was perfect for his age, and beside the nightstand was a leather notebook. Throughout the room, canvases of paintings were laid. They were depictions of different people of all ages holding olive branches with both hands. What was very peculiar about them, however, were the backgrounds. It resembled a roaring inferno, despite said people smiling with eyes closed.

Haruto was unsettled by all this and was startled when he heard the doors open in front of him.

It was the emperor himself, “Wonderful work, aren’t they? My son would never show anything else.” Haruto walked to him, “W-What do they mean, sir…?” he asked nervously.

Adel looked at the paintings, “That I do not know. My son would never tell me. What I do know… is that these people were once living. So perhaps it is a commemoration for them….” He further explained to Haruto how they lived their lives in the front lines against Coelestis and the Prosperity Triangle. As they conversed, the emperor began to see his son within Haruto.

Adel smiled, walking closer, “You and my son will be friends like no other, Haruto…. In fact… I wish for you to become his retainer.” he patted Haruto’s head in a fatherly manner; he did not like it much, fixing his hair. Before walking out of the room, Adel turned around, “Oh… I’ve almost forgotten. Here….” using Runic Art, he pulled out a basket of melonpan, “Please regain your strength. You will need it, my son.”

Haruto was baffled why an earthly confection existed in the otherworld, but either way, he helped himself with one serving. After his meal, he walked out of the room to talk with Adel, asking him a favor.

Back at the open confinement, misery struck one of the sorry people harder. The weakened grandfather of a little girl was now in his final hour. She cried for help endlessly, yet all was denied as there was nothing the guards could do for his health. “Please…. Save him from tragedy….” she begged on the ground, tears flowing out.

The little girl’s pleas were stopped, but not by the guards. She moved back to where her grandfather collapsed on his side as she held his left hand with both. Her tearful pleas were denied once again, as the elderly man said his last words, “Never… harm… family….” with that, the light finally left his eyes with a smile.

The little girl did not utter a single word and began clawing deep in the dirt. She breathed heavily, narrowed eyes showing a deadly glow.

That day, the world spat on the little girl.

She dug her fingers deeper, tears flowing out more, “No… I cannot do that…. My soul refuses to do part on that…. Even for you… grandfather. So please… forgive my disobedience….” she slowly stood up.

In a tearful rage, the little girl pounced on the guards. She proved to be quite dangerous, throwing one guard far away with one hand and destroying the ribcage of another. The little girl grabbed a nearby giant hammer, bloodily obliterating the same guard. The others, however, were able to minimize the damage that would have dealt them grievously, but the girl continued her hate-filled crusade.

More guards stood their ground in front of her as they all panted in exhaustion. The other slaves stood by bewildered, pausing their duties.

The still tearful little girl slowly walked closer, dragging the hammer behind, “Is this ‘love’?! Look around you! Our backs ache from your steps! What could have been so wrong to give us the same love you bathe in?! For our love for you never died… even when we said no to the bloodshed!” she panted and clutched her chest tight, “And now… my heart is filled… WITH UNENDING RAGE!!!” she continued her crusade, screaming.

Fortunately for the guards, they managed to subdue the girl. She grunted as she struggled. One of the guards threw a straight punch to her stomach. Now unconscious on the ground, another guard pointed a crossbow at the little girl’s head. However, another wave of dust due to a strong wind obscured their vision.

Haruto before, the little girl was carried by someone’s arms. This time, the runes that healed her were made of blood. Regaining consciousness, she looked at a boy with otherworldly eyes. Adel’s twelve-year-old son, Rubio, stood by from afar.

Helped by his blonde hair, Rubio’s complexion had all of the expected qualities of royalty, if not a near spitting image of Haruto, all down to his hairstyle. He was even of the same stature as him. Rubio’s princely attire was white all around, excluding a red cape showing Alaric’s emblem.

“Are you alright…?” Rubio asked, still holding the little girl in his arms. Unfortunately, he was not greeted with a welcoming character.

The little girl’s eyes narrowed, grunting, “Release me…! Release me! Death to the royal family! Retribute with your life!” she kept punching Rubio in the chest. The attacks caused devastating shockwaves that leveled the ground behind Rubio; it never fazed him, not even making him budge. Suddenly from afar, Gevär tranquilized the little girl. It shocked Rubio, gasping.

He jumped down and stood in front, “How could you…? I forbade you before….” Rubio’s eyes narrowed slightly in disappointment.

“If not for my intervention… young master… she would never have stopped. So… what shall we do?”

Rubio walked past him, “You already know the answer to that, Gevär. Home is where she truly belongs….” he looked at her.

Rubio carried the little girl on his back as they walked out to the villages. Their homes and livelihood were simpler than even Vetus, with agriculture being their profession, but none of it was born out of poverty as commercialization was commonplace. Throughout their search for the little girl’s home, Rubio was greeted by familiar faces everywhere, for he was like one of the commoners. After asking so many questions about the little girl’s residence, Rubio and Gevär finally found it up on a hill.

The little girl woke up slowly as she was reunited with her mother. Hugging her daughter tightly while bawling her eyes out, she thanked the prince immensely. The little girl did not cry in joy, however. In fact, her expression turned resentful at it all.

The girl shoved her mother away, walked to Rubio, and slapped him with her right hand, “How dare you…? How dare all of you to show relief when grandfather found none in his final breath! HOW DARE YOU?!!!” Rubio was slapped again, this time on his right cheek. With that, the little girl ran away, covering her sorrows with her forearm.

Rubio did not mind the onslaught for even a second, as he knew he did the right thing but also knew he could not solve the family matters of others.

The little girl’s mother walked to Rubio, prostrating on the ground, “I dearly apologize, young master…. My daughter is such a rebellious maiden… even when my father lived. And when he did… he was her only light in this world.”

Rubio sighed, smiling, “I don’t fault you at all, madame. All I ever wanted was for her to be home, and I accomplished that. And so… I take my leave.” he bowed down, putting his hand on his chest. Even when he said this, however, Rubio knew deep inside he accomplished nothing.

Rubio flash-stepped into the other direction, confusing the family and Gevär. After keeping up with his pace, he questioned Rubio why he would do this. “It’s simple, Gevär…. I’d never abandon anyone crying.” he flash-stepped again.

As the little girl ran away, still crying, residents noticed her briefly. Running further uphill, the girl sat beside a willow tree, covering her face with her crossed arms as she bent her knees close. Memories flashed within the little girl. Her grandfather cooked pork pie for her sixth birthday. The little girl sobbed quietly, “I failed you….”

A river was nearby downhill, with someone unexpected skipping stones in. It was Haruto. He previously asked consent from the emperor to go outside as long as he remembered his steps.

Walking up to the little girl, he kneeled down, “Are you alright…?” Her face was still covered, “Leave me be…. I just want peace….”

Haruto sighed, eyes closed briefly, “Well, you don’t look peaceful to me at all…. You lost someone, didn’t you?” he moved closer.

“Then how would you know?!” the girl looked at Haruto, tears falling down, “How could you fathom the heartache that struck me not too long ago?! I saw Death loom over him as I could do nothing! What could you possibly know?!” Her sorrowful words only made Haruto chuckle softly, eyes closed. The little girl stood up, “You devil…. How could you laugh at someone’s misery!” she moved her hand for a slap.

Haruto caught the hand effortlessly, looking at the girl, “Nothing personal, little miss…. It’s just that I’ve known heartaches even before you were born. I’ve even had physical ones. The point is… you’re not the only one who cries….”

Seeing Haruto’s smile, the little girl found no doubt in his words, yet still, she was reclusive.

The girl pulled her hand away, “Then just leave me be, as I’ve said! If you knew how it felt… you would know very well why I do not accept your presence!”

“Well, sorry, but I can’t just do that….” Haruto shook his head, ”You’ll just keep wallowing in your misery. What good is that? You need saving…. You need–”

“I need not of salvation!” the little girl walked closer, ”And I am not drowning in misery! As I weep right now… I am merely releasing my thoughts of–”

“Loneliness? Is that what you’re gonna say?” Haruto walked closer as well, “That’s the one thing I want you saved from. Please… tell me your name….” he lent out a hand.

Still reclusive, the little girl swiped Haruto’s hand away, declining his offer. She went back to covering her head with her arms and knees, sitting back on the willow tree, “Leave me be for now…. The peace I found here is working….”

Haruto looked at the golden sunset in the distance, seeing a flock of ravens. He sighed, “I guess it can’t be helped….” he walked downhill back to the palace. As he did, however, Haruto heard the little girl speak again. “Rosette Höchsterberg…. That is my name I give to you….”

Haruto turned around briefly.

Moments later, Haruto walked the same path downhill where the little girl ran on before. There, he met two peculiar people standing in front of him. One of them was his companion a while ago.

“Quite the lost cause, wasn’t she, huh? My dad wanted her in battle, but she punched him instead. Can’t say I agree with his punishment, though….” the prince walked closer, smiling. Haruto stood perplexed at his strange eyes, “Who are you?”

The prince walked even closer for a handshake, “Compasión Puro de un Niño Rubio de las Tierras Occidentales Brand. That’s my name, don’t wear it out….” he smirked.