Times Long Faded

Deep within the cold stone walls of the castle, a boy named Vecillious lived unseen and unloved. He was the Emperor’s son—though no one dared say it aloud—a child born into silence and shadow. Forgotten by those who should have cared for him, he grew up with nothing but loneliness and pain as his companions.



His body was thin from hunger, his spirit worn down by the harshness of those who ruled his days with cruelty and coldness. No kind words ever reached him, no gentle touch. Only scraps of mercy thrown his way, as if he were less than human. And yet, somehow, he survived—holding on to life with stubborn hope, even when it seemed hopeless.



One night, when the weight of sorrow felt too much to bear, Vecillious did what no one expected: he ran. He slipped past the castle gates, away from the whispers and the punishments, chasing a freedom he barely understood. But outside, the world was overwhelming—loud, bright, and full of joy he wasn’t allowed to share. His heart trembled beneath the flood of new sounds and colors.



Lost in the crowd of a lively festival, Vecillious found no comfort. Instead, he stumbled into a quiet, dark alley where the tears he’d been holding back finally came. He cried not because he was weak, but because his silent battles had worn him down.



It was there that fate intervened. Acheros, a boy gentle and kind but carrying his own quiet pain, found Vecillious. The soft glow of a lantern lit their meeting, and with a careful voice, Acheros reached out.



In that fragile moment, two lonely souls connected. Vecillious, with all his hidden scars and secrets, and Acheros, with kindness that didn’t demand anything in return. Through broken words and shared sorrow, Vecillious’s truth was seen—not as shame, but as something real and alive.



For the first time, maybe, they weren’t alone.



Yet even in that small light, a question hung between them—when two broken boys meet, will they find salvation in each other… or stir the storm that could change everything?



And what if the path they walk is filled with mistakes that can’t be undone? How does one carry regret and still find a way to keep moving forward?