Thirk Castle always seemed a bit sinister in the night. The ancient family that resided there boasted a noble history but a less thaglorious present. Under the current lord's deliberate low profile over the past few years, the castle had nearly faded into oblivion.

His stood ramrod straight atop the castle walls. With no enemies to guard against, he mostly just stood there, daydreaming. Scott had said it was unnecessary, but as the castle's guard, His remained stubbornly at his post.

He was no knight, not even a squire, but he was paid nonetheless...

Yet at this moment, he failed to notice the faint glow emanating from the eastern tower behind him.

Elen Carvo steadied himself, about to knock on the door when it suddenly swung open, nearly hitting him in the face.

"Scott!" he exclaimed, annoyed.

Moonlight illuminated the smile of the young man opposite him. Scott Thirk stepped forward for a tight embrace.

"Good to see you, Elen Carvo."

"The feeling's mutual, Scott," Elen sighed. "What's happened? You were so urgent in your summons, I half-expected to see an ice dragon standing atop the ruins of a completely devastated castle."

"...That won't happen." Scott seemed uncharacteristically serious.

"Just a jest. What's the matter?"

"Don't rush me, Elen. I've prepared your favorite wine; we can sit down and have a proper drink..." The young man reached out to support Elen, who, despite his lame leg, deftly stepped back, avoiding the touch.

"My daughter is waiting at home. Scott, what is it?" Elen pressed, noting the young man's feigned nonchalance masking an undercurrent of nervousness.

"Alright..." Scott scratched his chin, "I have to leave for a while, starting tomorrow morning."

"A mission with the order of knights?" Elen speculated.

Scott nodded.

"Where to?"

Scott's gaze wavered.

"Scott!" Elen's tone sharpened.

"Stonebridge!" Scott raised his hands in resignation. "I have to go to Stonebridge, and I'm not sure when I'll be back, which is why I sought you out. I need someone to look after Isty!"

"...Stonebridge is at war!" Elen stared at Scott. "You're a paladin, not a knight of the king. Why would you throw yourself into the fray?"

"I'm not looking for trouble!" Scott argued, frustration evident at being treated like a child. "Do you know Ante Boford? He wrote a letter to Sean... Someone spotted a necromancer in Stonebridge."

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"I haven't heard of such things!" Elen said. Despite no longer adventuring, Elen Carvo's friends were still widespread. If a necromancer had appeared in Stonebridge, he would have caught wind of it. It could all be a ruse, and Ante Boford knew what it meant for a paladin to appear on a battlefield.

He wouldn't allow his friend to be used this way.

"Tell Sean you can't go; you have a child to look after," he insisted firmly.

Scott shook his head. "Some knights have children younger than Isty! And Sean is my uncle; I can't always put him in a difficult position."

Elen scrutinized him for a long moment. "...What else are you hiding?"

The easily read paladin awkwardly scratched his chin again. The beard he'd grown did little to mature his appearance.

"I convinced Sean to accept Ante's request," he admitted. "It's a good opportunity to end the war."

"...Have you lost your mind! Do you think the water goddess would approve of her paladin getting involved in such conflict?" Elen couldn't help but shout.

"It's been nearly four years, Elen... If I can be of help, I can't pretend to be ignorant or act in the name of the gods while staying out of it," Scott said calmly.

Elen shook his head continuously. But for Scott to summon him in this manner, at such a time... when that expression crossed his face, it meant his mind was made up, and even Elen couldn't sway him.

"You know it won't be that simple." Elen shifted his weight onto his good leg, holding onto a sliver of hope to persuade his friend. "Are you truly convinced Nea would condone this?"

Scott shook his head. "I never presume to guess the will of the gods, Elen. I follow the guidance of my heart, and I believe this is what Nea would want. I know Ante; he'd make a good king. He just needs a little help to end the turmoil quickly."

Elen Carvo felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness. He was a powerful warrior, brave and strong enough to face any danger with his companions, but a war where humans slaughtered each other for their own gains—he was truly powerless to stop it.

And for some reason, he felt Scott was still holding something back.

"Please, Elen, I'll be back soon. I just need you to look after Isty for a while," Scott pleaded with the same naive and fervent gaze that Carvo couldn't resist ten years ago. He was also well aware that the child needed proper care.

"Where is he?" he asked, resigned. "Is he still... alright?"

"He's fine," Scott grinned. "Just... a normal boy, though not much of a talker. Ever since I left him here for an afternoon, he's been much quieter," he glanced at Carvo guiltily, "perhaps a bit too quiet. He hasn't made any friends here, and I rarely take him out of the castle, but he's never complained."

The young man looked increasingly remorseful. "Maybe you were right; I really don't know how to raise a child..."

"Scott, Scott," Elen sighed, "either we find a warm and cozy spot to sit down and talk properly about raising children, or you tell me where the boy is."

"He's right here." Scott called back, "Isty! Come here."

Elen heard a door open downstairs but no footsteps. The boy silently ascended the spiral staircase, standing beside Scott, looking up at Carvo.

Not yet ten, he was as tall as a typical human boy his age, wrapped in a heavy cloak, clutching a small bundle, silent and pale. His blond hair was lighter than his brother's, almost silver in the moonlight, and his delicate features, almost elven, were set above those light blue eyes, hard yet fragile like gemstones.

Scott ruffled the boy's hair. "Remember what I told you? Listen to Elen; I'll come for you soon."

"Soon?" Isty looked up for confirmation.

"Soon," Scott promised, bending to kiss the boy's forehead, passing his hand into Elen's.

The boy's hand was cold, and Elen knew it might not be just because of the weather.

He squeezed the small hand silently, offering the boy a reassuring smile. "I have a daughter, a year older than you. You'll get along fine."

The boy didn't respond. He followed Elen to the center of the circular room, standing quietly as Elen fiddled with a ring, summoning a faint circular glow from the floor. Isty just stood there, watching his brother wave and smile from outside the door.

—In Isty Thirk's memory, that night marked the end of his childhood.