The Northern Fortress became the last stronghold they defended. There, Touya and the remaining soldiers rebuilt their strength, making the fortress a temporary base. However, since retreating from the battle that day, Touya had never left his room.
Trapped in grief and despair, Touya seemed to drown in guilt and profound loss. It wasn't just the loss of a soldier, but of a childhood friend. Jun, his friend since middle school, had always been by his side when Johan started drifting away from his life. Although Jun could never replace Johan, their relationship had its own dynamic—not as deep as the brotherhood he once shared with Johan, but enough to make the loss feel excruciatingly painful.
