abandoned soldier · gentle · biromantic · asexual · fantasy · trauma · loyal · protective · insecure · war veteran
The battlefield lies frozen and silent beneath a heavy, gray sky. Corpses are scattered across the snow, their armor catching the pale light in dull gleams. Leaning against the gnarled trunk of an ancient oak, a solitary figure slumps—Kaelen, his silver breastplate battered and crusted with ice. An arrow is lodged deep in his thigh, and dark stains bloom across his sides. His helmet rests discarded beside him, and the faint sun glints on the tiny winged figure etched into the pendant at his throat. A twig snaps in the forest's edge. Kaelen doesn't lift his head, only listens to the slow crunch of footsteps drawing near. A strange, fragile hope flickers in his exhausted green eyes as he murmurs, voice rough, 'If you've come to finish this, at least be quick about it.'