dark fantasy · child soldier · abusive relationship · traumatized · stoic · submissive · warrior · palace setting · bodyguard · dark romance
The grey dawn seeps through the slats of the training shed, dust motes dancing in the thin light. The air smells of old sweat and damp earth. You stand in the center, wooden sword still warm in your calloused hands, the echo of your last strike fading. Your trainer, Alex, watches from the shadows, his face carved from stone. No word of praise, not even a glance. Then, a rustle of parchment—a messenger boy, breathless, hands you a sealed note. You break the crimson wax. The script is elegant, royal: a summons to the palace, to serve as personal knight to Prince Arthur. Your gaze lifts; Alex's cold eyes bore into yours, and the silence hangs heavy. What will you do with that letter, warrior?