"The whole battalion's whereabouts are unknown."

"The guards near the border found no clues."

"Your Majesty, give us orders to send troops to search for Sir Honorary Knight personally."

The palace was busier than usual, but today it was much more chaotic.

Three days ago, a battalion had been sent to guard the southern border against the enemy kingdom.

It was a dangerous mission, which was why the war strategist had insisted that Shin Kataino, the kingdom's only Honorary Knight, lead them.

Under Shin's command, the battalion moved to scout the borderlands, planning to return by evening. Yet morning had arrived, and still, no trace of them could be found.

In the throne room, ministers argued fiercely.

Some demanded a search party. Others claimed resources must not be wasted in such critical times, where every second mattered.

The world itself was already trembling.

The Five Calamities were locked in a fearsome struggle, and now another being had emerged, calling itself the Demon God.

Unlike the Calamities, the Demon God spared no one. Women, children, the weak—none were safe.

Every kingdom, great or small, stood on high alert. One misstep, and an entire nation could be erased from the map.

Because of this reason, most ministers opposed sending help for Shin and his battalion.

"No doubt, our Honorary Knight was brave," the King finally spoke, after hearing them all.

"But…"

The room stilled. Every ear leaned toward him.

"If you think on behalf of Shin, do you believe he would want us to send a troop to rescue him? Would he even allow that?"

The opposing ministers clenched their fists, already expecting this answer. Those in favour of abandoning Shin grinned.

"Absolutely amazing judgment, my lord," one said, bowing. Their bellies swelled against their robes, their faces glowing with smug brightness in such grim times.

"The decision has been made," the royal shoulder declared to all present.

"Taking into account the disappearance of Sir Shin Kataino and his eighty-seven battalion men, the kingdom hereby revokes the search operation. Another battalion will be deployed only to secure the region. As of this day, Sir Shin Kataino shall be declared dead in royal service. His family will receive financial compensation once the war ends."

The four ministers who had supported the search clenched their fists in silence, watching how a commoner was discarded so cheaply.

Shin Kataino was a commoner, admitted to the royal military only three years ago when the kingdom was in mandatory recruitment of young blood.

He had served as a knight in the estate of Duke Balator, at the time when the king had tried proposing a marriage between his son and one of Balator's daughters, Lumina. The only daughter of his who inherited the Balator family's arts and techniques.

That time, she had refused the proposal.

The king gave up easily, as the prince had found a better suitor.

One minister leaned lazily on the cushion of his chair and muttered, "Well, a commoner being an Honorary Knight cannot last forever anyway."

Another smirked, "They said his family will be compensated."

A third cut in with a grin, "But Sir Shin… was an orphan."

The fourth chuckled, "Then the finances will simply return to the kingdom's treasury. Haha."

It was pathetic to speak this way in the king's presence, but the king did not seem to mind.

"Shameless."

The single word rang louder than any shout. Every whisper died.

A man seated opposite them rose halfway from his chair. Young, with white hair and piercing blue eyes. Duke Arlond.

"He has done more for this kingdom than all of you combined," Arlond declared. "If he is dead, as you so foolishly claim—"

"Duke Arlond!" The guard raised his sword, the sharp tip aimed at the duke's throat.

Arlond did not flinch. Instead, he smiled thinly. "What is this supposed to mean?"

The king raised his hand. His voice carried through the silence.

"Put down your weapon."

The guard obeyed, though his glare lingered.

Arlond stepped forward, eyes fixed on the throne.

"Your Majesty, are you truly willing to stain your rule by casting aside the man who saved your crown more times than you can count? A knight who bled not for power, but for the people?"

The king's face remained calm.

"Duke Arnold," the king said, "your loyalty is noted. But…"

He continued.

"…passion must not cloud judgment. The kingdom cannot risk chaos for the sake of one man. Even if that man was Shin Kataino."

Arlond's fists tightened, his jaw locked. Frustration and disgust burned in him, yet he stood firm.

The king leaned back on his throne. His words fell like a verdict.

"This matter is closed."

Three months pass in the blink of an eye.

–

–

In the same palace hall, a young lady now stood before the throne.

She looked to be in her early thirties, her hair pure white, eyes sharp and red as blood. A full-length gown of snow draped her frame, carrying a white sword on her waist, and with unwavering steps, she faced the king.

Without bowing, without faltering, she declared.

"Majesty, I have a request to make of you."

The king gave a small nod.

"Speak it."

Her voice carried no hesitation.

"I no longer wish to serve this kingdom. I ask to be banished, and to have my title as a noble revoked."

Gasps broke from the ministers and guards.

"Huh?"

"What?"

Even the guards exchanged confused looks, but the king's face remained calm.

"You are Duke Balator's daughter, correct?"

Lumina nodded once.

"Does your father know of this?"

She shook her head.

The king's eyes narrowed, his tone turned heavy.

"This is not a decision to be made lightly. Are you certain?"

"I am," Lumina answered. Her gaze never wavered. "More than certain. I have lost hope in this kingdom's people."

The king studied her, then leaned slightly forward.

"Where do you plan to live after such a decision? Duke Balator is a dear friend of mine… so I must ask, what is the reason behind this sudden choice?"

Lumina exhaled softly, her words threaded with grief.

"I have regrets. I have remorse. For weeks, I have asked myself the same question… would the world be the same if he were not in it?"

Her fingers curled against her gown as her voice thinned.

"For me… I cannot see myself in such a world."

The ministers glanced at one another, their faces pale with confusion, but the king simply tapped the armrest of his throne.

"I see."

He let the silence hang before speaking again.

"Very well. From this day forth, you are to be stripped of your noble status. And, you are to be banished from the kingdom."

Lumina lowered herself in a shallow bow.

"I thank you, Your Majesty."

Without another word, she turned.

Her white gown whispered one last time across the marble floor as she walked out of the hall.

— — —

Leon and Alice fell silent; they exchanged glances as they heard Lumina's story.

Lumina chuckled in grimace, then asked the two seated before her.

"You might think, I am lonely, right?"

She answered herself, shaking her head lightly.

"I was not lonely," she said, tapping her heartbeat, "I had several who tagged along with me. Trusting that the person with them would keep them safe… but fate wanted to provide me with more freedom."

Leaning back at the rock, and glancing up, she said.

"I now have freedom, you see."

Alice gulped.

Leon didn't answer; instead, she let her finish her sentence.

"...I've soon come to a realization…. When nobody wakes you up in the morning, and when nobody waits for you at night, and when you can do whatever you want. What do you call it, freedom or loneliness?"

"..."

Staring at her, Leon answered.

"Neither."

Lumina smiled, glancing at the young man's face. "Then, what would you call it?"

Leon replied.

"Freedom is just an illusion, there's no such thing as true freedom, and the only ones who get true freedom are the ones who are dead."

Alice was listening to all of this the entire time; she didn't want to say anything, as she was never good with.

Leon continued.

"Whereas loneliness is the wrong word, what it actually is… is emptiness, and it is something only the living can afford to carry."

Leon's smile faded as he pushed the topic in hand.

"You could waste your life wondering what name to give your grief. If you truly believe he's still alive, then there's still a chance that he might be waiting for you."

Lumina lightly nodded.

"That is what I always believe. And that is why I ran away in the first place. The regrets, the remorse, it was all unsettling for me, and to live alongside those is… tormenting."

In the game, Lumina and Shin never had a happy ending. Shin died protecting his people, and his lover died searching for him.

In the end, at her deathbed, her eyes would crave just to get a last look at his face. To tell him one thing she always regrets not saying.

"I wish to see him." The swordmaiden muttered, enough for Leon and Alice to faintly hear it.

Lumina's eyes warmly looked at Alice, and then shifted to Leon.

"Would you… Help me see him again?"

As those words left her mouth, a message popped up in front of Leon and Alice's vision.

[The Shattered Sword Maiden]

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"Mhm."

Leon nodded, presenting her with a smile, "Of course."

Leon did not know it yet, but soon… these words of his would bring the greatest shift to his life.

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