The world had long since turned its back on him. Mockery and disdain were constants in his life—from the nobles in their gilded halls to the common folk who scorned his meager presence. Dani had no one, no family, no home. He was a shadow in a world that only revered power.
No one, save for her.
"Dani," came a soft voice from behind him, warm and melodic even in the biting cold. He turned, his tired eyes meeting the sight of Evelyn. She was radiant even in the dim moonlight, her golden hair flowing freely over the royal-blue cloak that marked her as the daughter of the King. A prodigy unlike any the realm had ever seen, she was the one in a lifetime talent, a beacon of hope for the kingdom—and Dani's only friend.
"Evelyn," he murmured, his voice hoarse. "What are you doing here? You shouldn't be seen with me. It'll only cause you trouble."
She frowned, stepping closer. "Let them talk. Do you think I care what they think?"
He looked away, ashamed. Evelyn's unwavering support had always been a mystery to him. She had the world at her feet—power, talent, beauty. She could command armies with a word, yet she chose to stand by him, the one man everyone else saw as a failure.
"I heard what they said to you in the market today," she continued, her voice soft but firm. "They're cowards, Dani. They lash out because they see someone trying, someone they can't break. Don't let them win."
Dani chuckled bitterly. "I'm not trying, Evelyn. I'm surviving. There's a difference."
Evelyn knelt before him, her piercing blue eyes meeting his. "Surviving is the first step to something greater. You're stronger than you think, Dani. You just don't see it yet."
For a moment, the weight on his shoulders seemed lighter. Evelyn always had that effect on him. She was the only person who saw something in him, something worth saving. He didn't understand it, but he cherished it.
Later that night, Dani sat alone in the ruins of an old chapel on the outskirts of the city. It had become his refuge, a place where no one bothered to look for him. The cold stone walls echoed with the distant memories of prayers long forgotten.
In his hands, he held a pendant—a simple piece of silver shaped like a crescent moon. It was the last gift his mother had given him before she passed. He traced its surface with his thumb, his mind wandering to thoughts of what could have been.
"I don't know how much longer I can do this," he muttered to the empty room. "I'm tired, Mom. I'm so tired."
The sound of footsteps startled him. He turned to see Evelyn standing in the doorway, her expression unreadable.
"I thought you might be here," she said, stepping inside. She carried a small bundle wrapped in cloth. "I brought you something."
Dani raised an eyebrow as she handed it to him. Unwrapping the cloth, he found a sword—its blade sleek and sharp, its hilt engraved with intricate patterns of vines and stars.
"Evelyn, I can't take this," he said, alarmed. "This is royal steel. It must be worth a fortune."
"You can, and you will," she replied firmly. "You need more than words, Dani. You need a weapon. Something to remind you that you're not as alone as you think."
He stared at the sword, his fingers brushing over the cold steel. It felt impossibly heavy, not just because of its craftsmanship but because of what it represented. Evelyn believed in him. She always had, even when he couldn't believe in himself.
"Thank you," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
She smiled and sat beside him, her presence a comforting warmth in the icy night. "We'll get through this, Dani. Together."
As the first light of dawn crept through the chapel's broken windows, Dani tightened his grip on the sword. For the first time in years, a spark of hope flickered within him. He didn't know what the future held, but with Evelyn by his side, he felt like he might just have a chance.
Far beyond the chapel, forces moved in the shadows, their plans unfurling like the wings of a vulture. But for now, in this moment, Dani allowed himself to believe that he could be more than the world's scorn.
He could be something greater.