The night was still, moonlight spilling faintly over the sprawling grounds of the Cao manor. The grand estate had long since lost its master, yet it was still alive with quiet activity. Housemaids moved softly through the halls, tending to the lingering traditions of service, as though unwilling to allow the grandeur of the manor to fade with its fallen lord. But outside, beyond the gentle glow of lanterns, silence held dominion.
A short walk from the courtyard lay a secluded garden, its stone pathway winding into a small grove where two graves stood side by side, carved in dark granite and framed by burning torches. The air smelled faintly of incense and the steady hum of cicadas. It was here that Guinevere, clad in a simple cloak draped over her fiery red dress, approached with a lantern in hand.
Her footsteps slowed as she reached the graves. The names engraved into the stone greeted her like old wounds:
General Cao – Pillar of the Pacesetters Academy.
