The pain of separation stung him anew, but there was nothing he could do. He could only watch as she walked away, unaware of his presence.
He first saw her greeting the Empress's , a sight that both comforted and pained him. Even as a soul, emotions he thought long buried surged within him. He wanted to run to her, to hold her, but he knew it was impossible. He had given up everything to ensure her survival, and now he could only observe from afar.
The day she entered the palace was the day his fears were put to rest. He had been worried that danger would follow her, but when he saw the four strongest grandmasters at her side, he understood that she was protected. These were the ones the monk had spoken of—the pillars who would stand by her, the shield that would protect her from any harm.
