CHAPTER 13: Loyalty for Shelter

Elsewhere in the castle, two small figures stood hidden in the shadows of a long, echoing hallway. Rain and Brain, dusty and thin from the streets, pressed their backs to the cold stone wall near a grand door—just enough ajar to let the voices inside leak through.

"You heard that, right? He said he wants to make Gardiyan emperor!" whispered Rain, his wide eyes glowing with a mix of shock and excitement.

"Yeah, I heard him," muttered Brain, arms folded tightly. "But he sounds completely insane. Who starts a war just for fun?"

Rain leaned closer, practically vibrating. "Isn't this our chance? If we help in this crazy war, maybe they'll adopt us for real this time!"

Brain stared at him. "Are you out of your mind? That man would toss us into battle and forget our names by dinner. He doesn't care if we live or die!"

Rain's voice dropped to a whisper. "Then what choice do we have? Go back to sleeping in alleyways? Stealing scraps? I'd rather die fighting than rot out there."

Brain was silent for a long beat. Then he sighed, eyes heavy with reluctant resolve. "Fine. But this is the last try. If this doesn't work, we move on to the next house."

Meanwhile, in the grand hall of the castle, Yiren and Gardiyan were engaged in one of their many pointless—but somehow intense—arguments.

Before either could escalate the bickering, the hall doors burst open with a dramatic creak. Rain stormed in with a clumsy bow. "Sir!"

Yiren blinked, mid-sip. "Oh, it's you two again? And how exactly did you get in this time?"

"We've made a decision!" Rain said, chest puffed out. "We want to join your war. We can do magic. We'll do whatever you ask!"

Brain, clearly less certain, nodded after a beat. "Whatever it takes."

Yiren stared, then glanced over at Gardiyan. "Thoughts?"

Gardiyan took a slow sip of his tea, his voice calm. "They're desperate. Reject them."

"Obviously!" Yiren grinned. Then, leaning in with a gleam in his eye, he asked, "Are you ready to lose everything for this?"

The boys hesitated for only a second, then nodded in unison.

"Excellent!" Yiren clapped his hands, practically glowing. "From this moment forward, you're officially part of my glorious, deranged little army!"

Gardiyan didn't look up from his tea. "You were going to say yes regardless. Why ask me?"

"Army?" Rain asked, scanning the empty hall. "Where's the rest?"

Yiren pointed dramatically to Gardiyan. "He's right there. That's the army."

The boys looked at each other.

"Wait... a two-man army?" Brain asked, eyebrow twitching. "You're not serious."

"Oh, not two." Yiren smirked. "Four. Me, Gardiyan, and you two. Dream team. Can't lose."

Gardiyan finally stood, adjusting his robe with visible irritation. "If you think I'm going to be dragged into chaos with untrained children, I refuse."

"Gardiyan!" Yiren whispered to the boys theatrically. "He's just pretending to be mean. Inside, he's extremely soft. Win his heart, and he'll guard you with his life."

"I can hear you. And that's completely inaccurate," Gardiyan said coldly.

Yiren just laughed again, but then his expression changed—becoming more serious than either boy had seen before. He stood tall, back straight, eyes sharp.

"Alright. Since you're so eager to join, you'll need to pass a test first."

Rain's excitement faltered. "A test?"

"Of course!" Yiren said cheerfully. "You can't just join the army without proving yourself. The test is simple...kill someone."

The room fell silent.

"K-Kill?" Brain stammered. Rain's bravado faded into uncertainty.

"Of course it's dangerous!" Yiren barked, suddenly stern. "So is war! If you can't handle one kill, how will you survive the bloodbath to come?"

Rain licked his lips. "...Will you at least tell us who?"

"Where's the fun in that?" Yiren grinned. "You choose. That's part of the test."

Gardiyan sipped his tea. "He's stalling because he still hasn't even finished the war plan."

Yiren gave him a look. "Shush."

The boys exchanged a glance—tension crackling between them. Then Brain nodded slowly. "We'll do it."

"That's the spirit!" Yiren beamed, clapping again. "You have until sunrise. Impress me."

And with that, the two children turned to leave—hearts heavy, but eyes set.

Gardiyan finally spoke, his voice low. "You really intend to throw them into this?"

Yiren didn't answer at first. Then he looked at the teacup in his hand and said quietly, "Everyone needs a reason to fight. Sometimes it's survival. Sometimes it's madness. And sometimes... it's to stop feeling alone."

Gardiyan studied him for a long moment, then looked away. "Just don't expect me to clean up the mess."

Yiren grinned. "Wouldn't dream of it."

The following night, Yiren was lounging on a couch, nibbling on biscuits while watching the clock.

"Little Gardy, do you think they'll succeed?"

"They'll most likely return empty-handed—or not at all," Gardiyan replied flatly, his eyes fixed on the window. "But don't worry. That won't stop you from starting the war, right?"

"Of course not," Yiren answered with a smile, adjusting his posture. "Still, watching them try will be entertaining. I like those who challenge the impossible."

Before Cardiyan could respond, the door burst open—

And the two boys stepped in.

*******

The moment Rain and Brain stepped out of Yiren's strange, crumbling palace, the weight of the night settled on them like a damp cloak. The streets were quiet, choked with fog, and the flickering lanterns gave everything a ghostly hue.

For a while, they walked in silence.

Then Brain muttered, "So... are we supposed to kill a thief? A bandit? What exactly counts?"

Rain didn't answer right away. His jaw was clenched, and his eyes scanned the narrow alleys. "Someone worse," he finally said. "We find someone who deserves it."

"And if we don't?" Brain asked.

Rain stopped walking. "Then we come back with blood on our hands, even if it's ours."

Brain didn't reply. He just swallowed hard and followed.

They searched for hours—through the slums, down crooked paths no city guard dared patrol. And then they heard it.

A muffled cry.

They pressed themselves against a crumbling wall and peeked around the corner. A man—large, bearded, with a whip dangling from his belt—was dragging a terrified child into a dark shed.

Brain's breath caught. Rain's hands curled into fists.

They waited until the man was alone, stepping out of the shed to light a lantern. That was when Rain moved. He didn't hesitate—just rushed forward with a rusted dagger they'd found earlier. The man turned too late.

The struggle was messy. Violent.

Rain got in the first stab, deep into the man's side. But the slaver fought back hard—punching, kicking, roaring like a cornered animal. At some point, he swung a broken wooden board, slicing Rain's arm open. The blood ran hot and fast.

Brain, panicked but furious, joined in—grabbing a stone and slamming it into the man's skull once, twice, until everything went still.

Silence.

Only the sound of their breathing remained, ragged and uneven.

Rain clutched his arm, blood seeping between his fingers. "Is he...?"

"Dead," Brain whispered. His voice trembled, but not from fear.

They looked at the shed. The child was gone—escaped, maybe. Or hiding.

Rain staggered back, eyes hollow. "Let's go."

*******

Yiren's eyebrows shot up in delight. He popped another biscuit in his mouth and sat up. "Well, well. You didn't die. I must admit—I'm impressed."

Gardiyan finally turned to face them, giving them a silent once-over. "You're bleeding," he noted, gesturing vaguely to Rain's arm.

"It's not serious," Rain muttered.

Brain stepped forward, holding something tightly in his hand. "We did it. The task you gave us."

Yiren leaned forward with obvious interest. "Did you really? And who was the poor soul?"

The boys exchanged a brief look. There was hesitation—just for a second—before Rain answered.

"A slaver," he said quietly. "He was hurting kids. No one will miss him."

Silence fell for a breath too long.

Then Yiren clapped his hands together, grinning from ear to ear. "Fantastic choice! Morally ambiguous, heroic even—how dramatic! I knew I liked you two."

Gardiyan's eyes narrowed slightly. "You manipulated them into murder under the guise of a test."

Yiren tilted his head with mock confusion. "What's your point?"

Rain and Brain didn't say anything. They just stood there, tired and shaken—but standing.

Yiren stood, arms wide, voice theatrical. "Welcome, my brave little monsters, to the beginning of chaos. From this moment on, you're officially soldiers of Yiren Madness!"

"You named it that?" Gardiyan asked, deadpan.

"It's a working title," Yiren said, unconcerned. Then, turning back to the boys with something surprisingly close to sincerity in his tone, "Rest now. You've earned it. Tomorrow, the real games begin."

And for the first time, Rain and Brain allowed themselves to breathe.