Night fell over Bernling Castle like a quiet warning.
Torches flickered along the stone walls, guards paced their usual routes, and the kingdom slept under the illusion that everything was in order.
Everything… except the prince.
Kael sat on his bed, staring at the neatly folded royal cloak beside him.
Gold-lined.
Heavy.
Important.
"…Ugly," he decided.
Across the room, a small bag lay open.
Inside it?
A few simple clothes.
A loaf of bread.
Two apples.
And a dagger he definitely was not supposed to have.
Kael stood up slowly.
"Well… this is either the best idea I've ever had…"
He paused.
"…or the one that gets me hunted across the kingdom."
A small grin appeared.
"Exciting."
A soft knock came from the door.
Kael froze.
"…If that's a servant, I'm asleep."
The door opened anyway.
Sir Dain stepped in.
They stared at each other.
Then—
Dain looked at the bag.
Kael looked at Dain.
Silence.
"…You're not serious," Dain said.
Kael pointed at the bag.
"I packed snacks. That's commitment."
Dain walked in, closing the door behind him.
"You're running away."
Kael tilted his head.
"I prefer the term strategic relocation."
"You're abandoning your duties."
"I'm postponing them."
"You're going to get yourself killed."
Kael shrugged.
"Let's stay optimistic."
Dain rubbed his face.
"I should report this."
Kael didn't respond.
Instead—
He picked up the bag and slung it over his shoulder.
Then he walked past Dain… heading for the window.
"…Kael."
That stopped him.
Not "Your Highness."
Not "Prince."
Just—
Kael.
He turned slightly.
Dain's expression had changed.
Less knight.
More… human.
"If you do this," Dain said quietly, "you don't come back the same."
Kael smiled faintly.
"…That's kind of the point."
Another silence.
Longer this time.
Heavier.
Then Kael stepped onto the window ledge.
Wind rushed in, carrying the distant scent of forests and freedom.
"Stay here," Dain said.
Kael shook his head.
"I can't."
"…Then at least don't go alone."
Kael blinked.
"What?"
Dain walked over, grabbing his helmet.
"I'm coming with you."
Kael stared.
"…Wait, what?"
"You'll die in a day without someone competent."
"I am competent."
"You tried to jump off a balcony yesterday."
"That was research."
Dain walked past him.
"We leave through the west wall. Fewer guards."
Kael grinned.
"…You've thought about this."
"I've prepared for this," Dain muttered.
Moments later—
The two moved through the castle shadows.
Silent.
Careful.
"Why are there so many guards tonight?" Kael whispered.
"Because the prince keeps disappearing."
"…That sounds like a him problem."
They ducked behind a pillar as two guards passed.
Kael leaned closer.
"You know, this is kind of fun."
Dain didn't even look at him.
"This is treason."
"Adventurous treason."
They reached the outer wall.
Tall.
Cold.
Guarded.
Dain pulled out a rope.
Kael raised a brow.
"…You just carry that around?"
"I was hoping I'd never need it."
"Yet here we are."
They climbed.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Halfway up—
Kael glanced back.
The castle loomed behind him.
Massive.
Familiar.
Heavy.
For a brief moment—
He hesitated.
Then—
"Don't stop," Dain whispered.
Kael exhaled.
"…Right."
And kept climbing.
Moments later—
They dropped to the ground outside the walls.
Free.
No alarms.
No shouting.
Just silence.
Kael turned around.
Bernling Castle stood tall under the moonlight.
The only home he had ever known.
"…So," Dain said, adjusting his sword, "where to?"
Kael faced forward.
Toward the distant darkness.
Toward something unknown.
Something dangerous.
"The forest."
Dain frowned.
"You mean the Dort Forest?"
Kael nodded.
"Yeah."
Dain let out a slow breath.
"…Of all places, you pick the one land that hates the Loxleys."
Kael smiled slightly.
"Exactly."
A pause.
Then—
They started walking.
Far ahead—
The trees of Dort Forest stood like shadows watching their approach.
And deep within those woods…
Fate waited.
Unseen.