System vs Rebirth

Rose started going around the village, finding all the bones and clothes lying on the ground. She picked them up and gathered them in one place. She didn't know whose remains they were, so she gathered all of them in the center so that they could build a simple memorial for all of them.

Unfortunately, there was no telling which one was her father. Rose felt dejected, but there was nothing she could do.

She ended up gathering everyone in that one tomb.

Noel was helping her by digging the soil for all of them, cutting some wood, and bringing some stones for the grave.

While paying his respect, Noel couldn't help but recall what happened in his parents' execution.

…

One year ago.

"Father, Mother!" Noel was running into the city's plaza while being chased by the soldiers the Royal Family had dispatched.

There was a wooden platform in the plaza. They only erected it when they were about to execute a dangerous criminal.

But this time, the ones kneeling on the platform were none other than his parents. Their appearance wasn't a mess. There were some wrinkles on their clothes, but they didn't seem to have been tortured.

The townspeople surrounded the platform. Most of them had sad expressions as if they didn't want this to happen. Some couldn't even bear to watch the execution.

It showed a lot about what kind of leader Luke Ardagan was. He was kind to people and his people loved him.

Yet, it didn't change his fate. He had to be executed.

stocks and their feet had been chained to the platform,

two executioners, both wielding a sharp

were wearing a helmet, so no one could

pushing away the

people were slowing him down, he got caught

of the soldiers grabbed his head and slammed his body to the ground while the other pinned his

of the Ardagan Family, they couldn't help but slightly back away as if trying

down, he couldn't do anything but watch his

"Start!"

free but to no avail. To his surprise,

only looked at him and gave their best smiles as the sharp

Noel felt the excruciating pain in his heart. He had been doing everything at his own

finally realized how helpless he was without them. The memories about them resurfaced in his mind, making him realize he hadn't done anything for them before they left

sadness, pain, and regret

Noel realized was the soldiers were dragging him away so that they

reason why they didn't say anything was to avoid making people notice the change in

Noel still recognized them as

what was happening at that time. Where

few peeks at her face to see what kind

stopped and

a deep breath