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.

and neck had been locked by wooden stocks and their feet had been chained to the platform, preventing them

executioners, both wielding a

so

screaming while pushing away the people, trying

were slowing him down, he got caught by

the soldiers grabbed his head and slammed his body to the ground while

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

pinning him down, he couldn't do

"Start!"

to set him free but to no avail. To his surprise, his

gave their best smiles as the sharp blades sliced their

his heart. He had been doing

how helpless he was without them. The memories about them resurfaced in his mind, making him realize

and regret

thing Noel realized was the soldiers were dragging him away so that they could send him to the Demon Banner

was to avoid making people notice the change in

recognized them as his parents at that

knew everything, he started to wonder what was happening at that

a few peeks at her face to see what kind of emotion she had and

stopped and focused on

as they finished giving them a proper burial, Rose took a deep breath as if trying to push away