The first light of dawn crept through the narrow window of Victor's sparse quarters, casting pale golden rays across the stone floor. He had been awake for an hour already—sleep had become a luxury he could ill afford, not when his dreams were plagued by visions he had no right to entertain.
Victor rose from his bed with mechanical precision, his body moving through the morning ritual that had grounded him for years. He knelt before the small wooden cross mounted on the wall, his calloused hands clasped tightly as he muttered prayers for strength, for discipline, for deliverance from the sinful thoughts that haunted him. Forgive me, Father, for I am weak, he thought, golden eyes closing against the shame that threatened to overwhelm him even in prayer.
After his devotions, he moved to his armor. Each piece was inspected with meticulous care—the dark steel polished until it gleamed despite its battle scars, every strap and buckle tested. He worked in silence, finding solace in the familiar routine. His sword came next, the whetstone singing its sharp song as he honed the blade to a razor's edge. This was who he was: a weapon, a shield, a tool of duty. Nothing more.
By the time the sun had fully risen, Victor was mounted on Midnight, his black destrier, patrolling the streets near the market district. He told himself it was simply part of his rounds, that a Knight-Commander must be aware of all corners of the city. He did not acknowledge the truth—that his route had shifted these past three months, that his eyes searched the morning crowds for one particular figure.
And then he saw him.
Du emerged from a side street, a basket tucked under his arm, likely returning from an early errand. Even from this distance, Victor could see the way passersby turned to stare, the way men's gazes lingered too long on that delicate face and graceful form. Victor's jaw tightened, his hand instinctively moving to rest on the pommel of his sword.
Two merchants had already begun to approach, their intentions clear in their leering smiles and bold strides. Victor urged Midnight forward, the destrier's hooves clopping loudly against the cobblestones. The sound made the merchants freeze, their heads snapping toward the approaching knight. When they saw the green surcoat with its golden lion, the dark armor, and those cold, piercing golden eyes, they scattered like roaches.
Victor brought his horse to a halt a respectful distance from Du, his expression unreadable as stone. He did not dismount, did not allow himself to come any closer than necessary. His voice, when he spoke, was clipped and formal, devoid of warmth.
"The market streets are dangerous at this hour. I suggest you complete your business swiftly and return home."
He did not wait for a response, could not allow himself to linger. Already he could feel the traitorous flutter in his chest, the way his eyes wanted to soften when they looked upon that beautiful face. You are no different from them, the cruel voice in his mind hissed. You want what you should not have. You are a hypocrite and a sinner.
Victor tugged at Midnight's reins, prepared to ride away before his carefully constructed walls could crack any further. He had saved Du from the wolves, but who would save Du from him?
