A Will of Steel

Kaito's eyes snapped open, the soft sunlight filtering through the window a cruel mockery of the darkness that consumed him. He was alive, yet the weight of countless deaths pressed down on him, the memories of bloodshed and betrayal a suffocating burden.

He couldn't escape the visions of Mary's lifeless eyes, the echo of her final words a haunting refrain in his mind.

He rose from the bed, his legs shaky, his head pounding with a relentless ache. He stumbled towards the wall, his vision blurring, his sanity teetering on the precipice.

He slammed his head against the cold stone, again and again, a desperate attempt to silence the screams in his mind, to numb the pain that gnawed at his soul.

"Kaito!"

Hope's terrified cry pierced through the fog of despair. He turned to see her standing in the doorway, her eyes wide with fear, her small hands clutching her blanket.

"Stop it!" she cried, her voice filled with panic. "Please stop it!"

She rushed towards him, her tiny arms wrapping around his waist. "Kaito, you're hurting yourself!"

The warmth of her touch, the innocence of her concern, broke through the darkness that threatened to consume him. He looked at her, his eyes filled with a sudden clarity.

He couldn't give up, not now. He had to be strong, for her, for Elara, for Mary, for all those who needed him.

He knelt down, his arms enveloping her in a tight embrace. "I'm alright, Hope," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

"Thank you. Thank you for being here."

He held her close, the feeling of her small body against his a grounding anchor in the storm of his emotions.

He had to find a way to protect her, to protect them all. No matter the cost.

A knock on the door echoed through the room.

"Enter," he called out, his voice still shaky but laced with a newfound determination.

Sebastian stood in the doorway, his expression unreadable. "Master Kaito," he said, his voice smooth and polite. "Duke Darius requests your presence in his study. He wishes to speak with you."

Kaito nodded, his stomach churning with a familiar mix of anticipation and dread. But this time, there was something different in his eyes, a spark of defiance, a refusal to be broken.

He glanced at Hope, who was watching him with wide, worried eyes. "Mary," he said, his voice firm, "please take care of Hope while I'm gone."

Mary, who had been standing silently behind Sebastian, nodded. "Of course, Master Kaito," she said, her voice soft.

Sebastian's gaze fell on the blood staining Kaito's forehead. "Master Kaito," he said, his voice laced with concern, "what happened to your head?"

Kaito, remembering his outburst, quickly fabricated an excuse. "I slipped and fell," he said, hoping his voice sounded convincing.

Sebastian's eyes narrowed, but he didn't press the matter. He handed Kaito a cloth. "Please clean yourself up before you see the Duke," he said.

Kaito nodded, wiping the blood from his forehead. As he followed Sebastian through the castle corridors, his mind raced. He had to be prepared for the orc invasion, had to find a way to protect the village, had to become stronger.

He reached the Duke's study, the doors opening to reveal Duke Darius and Commander Gavril waiting for him.

"Kaito," Duke Darius said, his voice grave. "Please sit. I have many questions for you," he said, his eyes fixed on Kaito. "About the attack on Aethelhum, about the orcs in the forest, about you and the young girl."

Kaito took a deep breath, steeling himself for the interrogation. He recounted the events of the past few days, focusing on the attack and his escape with Hope. He omitted any mention of the resets or his own impossible knowledge, the invisible hand still preventing him from revealing the truth.

When he finished, Duke Darius leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. "I see," he said, his voice heavy. "You have been through a great ordeal, young man."

Kaito looked up at the Duke, his eyes pleading. "Your Grace," he said, his voice earnest. "I beg you, allow the Commander to teach me how to fight. I want to protect Hope, I want to protect this land, I want to be strong enough to face any danger."

Commander Gavril snorted, his eyes filled with skepticism. "I see nothing special about this boy," he said, his voice gruff. "He's just a commoner, with no skills or training."

But the Commander's dismissal only fueled Kaito's determination. "Please, Commander Gavril," he said, his voice firm. "Give me a chance. I'll prove myself worthy."

The Commander's eyes narrowed. "Very well," he said, a challenge in his voice. "Prove your skills. Show me you're not just a weakling with a desperate plea."

Duke Darius nodded in agreement. "Go with the Commander, Kaito," he said.

Kaito bowed his head, his heart pounding with a mix of fear and excitement. "Thank you, your Grace," he said, rising to his feet. He turned towards the Commander, his eyes blazing with resolve.

"Follow me," Commander Gavril said, turning and striding out of the study.

Kaito followed, his footsteps echoing through the castle corridors. He knew this was his chance, his opportunity to prove himself, to become the warrior he needed to be. He wouldn't waste it.

He would train harder than ever before, he would push himself to his limits, and he would show them all what he was capable of.

He had to. For Mary. For Elara. For Hope. For himself.