After Parabellum's announcement, the atmosphere in the main hall lightened slightly, though a tense air still hung palpably. "We're done for today," he declared formally. "You are all free until tomorrow. Remember, the assembly will start at precisely noon. I expect no delays this time." With these words, Parabellum walked away quickly and decisively, leaving behind a silence broken only by the sound of his footsteps. Elwinner waved goodbye and hurried after him; the deputy of the Wyolands was already far ahead, no doubt with many tasks to handle.

The group began to disperse when Raven, stealthily, approached Marshmallow. Lynx, Samantheye, and the Goat Horse noticing the gesture, exchanged surprised and curious glances. The seriousness with which Raven placed a hand on Marshmallow’s shoulder suggested that the conversation to come was important.

"Marshmallow, do you have a moment?" Raven asked in a low, confidential voice. "I’d like to take a walk with you. There’s something I need to discuss, just between us."

Accepting with a firm nod, Marshmallow followed him. The two walked towards the exit of the main hall and moved away from the main group. Their steps echoed under the high vaults of the castle, blending with the whispers of the companions left behind.

"It's definitely something serious," Lynx remarked, keeping her eyes on the two as they walked away. She knew Raven well enough to understand he wouldn’t call for a walk without a significant reason.

Samantheye and Goat Horse nodded silently, sharing the apprehension but also a certain trust in Raven's wisdom.

***

As Raven and Marshmallow walked along a secluded corridor of the Overblown Castle, the sunset cast its first lights through the wide arched windows. The dull sound of their footsteps was the only noise that could be heard.

"Isn't the light of this sunset amazing?" Raven remarked, gesturing towards the horizon visible from the windows. "Even in a digital place like this, there's a way to capture the natural beauty of the world."

Marshmallow nodded, following Raven’s gaze. "It’s true, there are moments when you almost forget the brutality of this game," he replied, allowing himself a rare moment of appreciation for the tranquility.

Raven smiled faintly, then his face grew more serious. "Marshmallow, I still remember when you served in the army. Your determination in combat was remarkable. It was regrettable to have to see you come home, few possessed that kind of willpower."

Raven's words brought back memories of a past that Marshmallow often tried to forget. He vividly remembered how he had to come home due to his father's suicide. His father, a man he had so much respect for, had always strived to improve himself and those around him. Yet, the war had shown him for what he was—an insecure father peddling cheap self-improvement techniques as a panacea for a serene, successful, and valuable life. He couldn't handle the fear and thought the world was nearing its end.

He had let him down. When Marshmallow was eighteen, his father went mad, fatally wounded his mother, and then killed himself, plunging Marshmallow's family into utter despair. Marshmallow was discharged from the war and left alone to support a family. And soon, they were ruined, partly due to Marshmallow's own gambling mistakes.

He clenched his teeth. Marshall Merson was a victim of the war. Now, it was up to him to find the strength to stand up and start over.

"But we're not here to reminisce about the old times," Raven continued, as a cool late afternoon breeze sighed through the corridor, lightly stirring their hair. "There's a threat among us, BloodLust, a man who deserves nothing but our utter contempt. I have a debt of justice to settle with him, not out of personal vengeance, but because I know the evil he represents."

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Raven paused, looking up at the sky, now tinted with shades of pink and purple. "BloodLust did not directly cause the loss of my leg. I lost it in the war, to a mine. But it represents a kind of poisonous, evil, unchecked destruction. I know who he is. He's a ruthless man without honor, a direct spawn of the devil, something we can't afford to ignore. If he wins the Survivor Game, the power he will gain will be beyond reason and undoubtedly catastrophic. It could be the end of the world.

Marshmallow listened intently to Raven. His posture stiffened as he reflected on his leader’s words. After a brief silence, where the only sound was the soft hiss of the wind sneaking through the arches, Marshmallow spoke up.

"I understand your perspective, Raven, and the danger that BloodLust represents," Marshmallow began, his voice low but filled with unexpected intensity. "But I must be honest with you... I am not driven by the same motivations."

Raven observed him closely, sensing the seriousness in his words.

"I... I am not here for justice, or out of some sense of duty to our world or our homeland," Marshmallow continued, his gaze fixed on the stones of the floor as if searching for the right words. "My life was upended by war, a war I never asked for, which was imposed on us Wyolanders because of their policies. Raven, you surely know what I’m talking about."

Of course, Raven knew exactly what Marshmallow was talking about. The history between Novgovia and the Wyolands was colored by a growing hostility that had persisted for decades. Novgovia's aggressive policies and extreme nationalism had caused unrest in neighboring nations, including the Wyolands. The latter had never hesitated to express their dissent regarding Novgovia's expansionist actions and national-socialist rhetoric, branding them not only immoral but also dangerous for the continent's balance.

This political scenario had been fertile ground for increasingly sharp tensions, with frequent debates in international forums and sanctions aimed at curbing Novgovia's expansionist ambitions. However, verbal condemnations and economic restrictions had only embittered their leader, the Hegemon Valkavich, making the outbreak of open conflict inevitable.

The war, when it had erupted, hadn't been a surprise to those closely following international developments, but it had blindsided many citizens of the Wyolands, including many young people like Marshmallow. He, who had hoped to build a life away from the complications of international politics, found himself catapulted into a bloody and devastating conflict. Political decisions, made behind closed doors and often dictated by alliances and economic interests, had brutally and irreversibly shaped the destinies of countless individuals, turning their lives into pawns on a chessboard far larger than themselves.

Marshmallow's frustration and bitterness stemmed from this realization: that he had been dragged into an unwanted war that saw the policies of the Wyolands as much a catalyst as Novgovia's ambitions. Now, as he reflected on the ruins of his expectations and the horrors of war, his desire to detach from those ideological roots and find new meaning in the chaos of the Survivor Game grew increasingly urgent.

"At first, entering the Survivor Game was a matter of survival for me," he said, his voice low but clear. "I had no choice, it was the only way to protect myself and try to rebuild something from a life shattered by war."

His expression hardened, his eyes fixed on a point beyond the castle windows. "But now... things have changed. Simply surviving is no longer enough. I've seen what this game can do, I've seen what I'm forced to do, and... I've decided that if I have to fight, I want my fight to mean something more."

Raven listened intently, nodding slightly as Marshmallow spoke. Despite the differences in their motivations, there was a mutual respect that was almost tangible.

Marshmallow continued, his voice growing more intense as he spoke of his future in the game. "I want to become a legend, Raven. Not for personal glory, not for revenge... but because being a legend means having the power to change things. To make a difference."

He paused briefly, looking Raven in the eyes. "And if to achieve this goal I have to go through BloodLust, if I have to face that threat of destruction you describe... then I will. I'll do whatever is necessary, not for the homeland or for noble ideals, but to turn this experience into something worth living."

Raven remained silent for a moment, reflecting on Marshmallow's words. The evening wind carried the cool reminder of the approaching night, and the long shadows of the castle's columns stretched even further.

"Then, you have my full support," Raven finally said, his voice low but firm. "And when the time comes to confront BloodLust, you'll be ready. Not just as a fighter, but as the leader that this game and our comrades need."

Marshmallow nodded, feeling the weight of Raven's words but also the potential they implied. It was a burden he was ready to accept, a path that, despite everything, he felt he needed to follow.