Outside the grand cathedral, children's laughter filled the crisp air. The boys and girls played on the lush green lawn, their games a blend of improvised challenges and lighthearted mischief. Some chased each other in circles, their giggles echoing off the cathedral's towering stone walls, while others took turns tossing pebbles at a line drawn in the dirt, seeing who could land closest to the mark.
From one of the upper windows, Gareth stood watching. The sunlight reflected off his polished shoulder plates, casting faint glimmers on the stone behind him. His presence was unnoticed, his armoured figure hidden in the shadows of the window's alcove. He had arrived unannounced, preferring to observe quietly rather than disrupt their joy.
