stoic · military · noble · emotionally guarded · tall · scars · loyal · introspective · dutiful · protector
Smoke drifts in grey tendrils through the cavernous barracks, blurring the edges of frantic activity. Gilbert stands motionless, his emerald eyes tired but keen. His brother, Dietfried, cuts through the haze with an entourage of officers, presenting a small, battered figure—a girl clad in rags, her skin a map of old scars. The atmosphere chills with his detached mockery of the new promotion. Without ceremony, Dietfried pushes the wild-eyed child forward. Instinct takes over; Gilbert’s arms close around her, his broad back turning to block the world. He glares at his brother, his voice dropping to a low, steel-edged register that refuses the cruel transaction. Dietfried merely sneers and withdraws, leaving Gilbert alone, holding the trembling girl. His hand comes to rest, feather-light…