Virat: Abandoned by Destiny

Narrator:

"Sometimes, the person who saves everyone... is not the one standing in front of the enemy."

"Sometimes, the greatest battles are fought in silence..."

"By those who watch from the shadows."

THUD! THUD! THUD!

The deafening rhythm of galloping hooves shattered the silence of the night.

A cold wind rushed through the endless forest road as a lone horse raced beneath the moonlit sky.

The tall trees stood like silent giants on both sides of the path.

Moonlight slipped through the branches, painting silver lines across the rider's black cloak.

THUD! THUD! THUD!

The horse's heavy breathing mixed with the sound of armor moving with every step.

The rider never looked back.

His eyes remained fixed on the road ahead.

It was...

Alistair.

The quiet guardian of Restart Village.

The man who rarely showed emotion.

The man who watched everything...

And spoke only when necessary.

But tonight...

Even his calm expression carried something unusual.

Urgency.

The wind grew colder.

The road ahead disappeared into darkness.

Alistair tightened his grip on the reins.

"...I hope I'm not too late."

His voice was almost lost beneath the sound of the running horse.

Every second mattered.

Every moment could decide whether a village survived...

Or disappeared.

Several Days Earlier...

The Whisper That Changed Everything

Warm lantern light filled the White family's home.

The smell of freshly prepared food spread throughout the room.

For the first time in many days...

The atmosphere felt peaceful.

Brald White had finally returned from the Holy Kingdom.

Lily smiled as she placed another bowl on the table.

"You should eat more. You always forget yourself when you're busy."

Brald chuckled.

"I missed hearing that."

A small laugh escaped from Lily.

Little Tia sat safely in her mother's arms, playing with a small piece of cloth.

Beside them...

V quietly ate his meal.

The young boy listened more than he spoke.

Across the table sat Alistair.

But unlike everyone else...

He wasn't focused on the food.

His eyes occasionally moved toward the window.

The village.

The forest.

The darkness beyond.

Watching.

Always watching.

Brald noticed.

"You have been unusually quiet."

Alistair slowly looked toward him.

For a moment...

He remained silent.

Then he answered.

"...There are things we need to discuss."

The warmth inside the room slowly disappeared.

Lily looked between them.

"Is something wrong?"

Alistair lowered his voice.

"Not here."

Those two words were enough.

Brald immediately understood.

The cheerful dinner atmosphere changed.

Not because of fear...

But because both men knew.

A guardian never spoke seriously without a reason.

Brald gave a small nod.

"After dinner."

Alistair nodded.

"Understood."

Later that night...

Outside the village.

The moon illuminated the empty fields.

The distant Death Forest stood like a wall of darkness.

Brald and Alistair stood silently.

Neither spoke at first.

Then Brald finally asked:

"Tell me."

"What happened while I was gone?"

Alistair looked toward the forest.

His expression remained calm.

But his words carried weight.

"While you were in the Holy Kingdom..."

"I noticed several things."

Brald folded his arms.

"Start from the beginning."

Alistair nodded.

"Malrik."

The moment that name left his mouth...

Brald's eyes narrowed.

"What about him?"

"He changed."

"How?"

"He began asking questions."

"What kind of questions?"

Alistair looked toward the village.

"He asked about the guard rotations."

A pause.

"He asked where Lily usually collected herbs."

Another pause.

"And he asked about your family's daily routine."

Silence filled the night.

Brald's expression became serious.

"Are you saying he was spying?"

Alistair shook his head.

"No."

"Not yet."

"That's why I waited."

Brald understood.

Alistair never accused someone without certainty.

He continued.

"His actions were suspicious..."

"But they were not enough."

"He never crossed a clear line."

"He greeted people normally."

"He worked normally."

"But..."

Alistair's eyes became colder.

"Everything he did felt calculated."

Brald looked toward the Death Forest.

"What else?"

Alistair's expression changed slightly.

"The forest."

"The Death Forest became silent."

Brald frowned.

"Silent?"

"Yes."

"No wolves."

"No birds."

"No insects."

"Nothing."

The wind passed through the grass.

Even nature itself seemed to disappear.

Brald knew the Death Forest.

It was never quiet.

Not even at night.

"What did you find?"

Alistair answered honestly.

"Nothing."

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"No tracks."

"No battle."

"No monsters."

"Only silence."

Brald remained silent.

That answer was more disturbing than an attack.

An enemy that attacked could be fought.

An enemy that hid...

was harder to understand.

Alistair continued.

"Then I noticed something else."

"People were watching the village."

Brald immediately turned.

"Who?"

"I don't know."

"They never entered."

"They never attacked."

"They only watched."

"From the trees."

"From the hills."

"They changed positions whenever I moved closer."

Brald's eyes became sharper.

"You couldn't catch them?"

Alistair slowly shook his head.

"No."

A rare answer.

From Alistair.

Someone had escaped his observation.

That alone was concerning.

"Someone is hiding their presence."

Brald said quietly.

Alistair nodded.

"Yes."

After a long silence...

Lily's name came up.

Brald's voice became softer.

"And my family?"

Alistair looked toward the warm light coming from the house.

"I watched them."

Brald looked at him.

"You protected Lily?"

Alistair nodded.

"From a distance."

"I changed patrol routes."

"I watched anyone who approached her."

"I made sure she was never truly alone."

Brald remained quiet.

He understood.

This was Alistair's way.

No announcements.

No praise.

No recognition.

Only action.

A shadow protecting from the darkness.

Brald finally spoke.

"Why didn't you tell us earlier?"

Alistair answered immediately.

"Because I had suspicion."

A pause.

"...Not proof."

"I didn't want fear spreading through the village because of something I couldn't confirm."

"I chose to watch."

The night wind passed between them.

Brald closed his eyes briefly.

"You made the right choice."

Alistair looked toward him.

"But if I'm correct..."

"We may not have much time."

Brald opened his eyes.

The calm expression of the village chief disappeared.

Only a protector remained.

"Then we prepare."

"No panic."

"No rumors."

"We protect the village."

Alistair nodded.

"That's why I came to you."

Far away...

Beyond the trees.

Deep within the Death Forest.

A shadow moved.

Silent.

Invisible.

Watching the two guardians standing beneath the moonlight.

A voice whispered:

"So..."

"The shadow has noticed."

The figure disappeared.

Leaving behind nothing.

No footprints.

No sound.

Only darkness.

Back at Restart Village...

Brald and Alistair returned quietly.

Everyone slept peacefully.

Unaware that danger was slowly approaching.

But two guardians stood awake.

One protected the village with authority.

The other protected it from the shadows.

And neither of them knew...

That the first move had already been made.

"A shadow guardian does not strike at the first sign of danger..."

"He waits..."

"He observes..."

"And when the truth finally reveals itself..."

"He moves without hesitation."

The days after that night passed quietly.

Too quietly.

Restart Village continued its peaceful life.

Children laughed in the streets.

Farmers worked in the fields.

The sound of daily life filled the village.

But behind that peaceful appearance...

Alistair continued watching.

Every morning.

Every evening.

Every night.

The Death Forest remained silent.

The same unnatural silence that had troubled him before.

The birds had returned only slightly.

The animals still avoided certain areas.

And the feeling of being watched never disappeared.

Alistair stood on the wooden watchtower, looking toward the distant forest.

His eyes narrowed.

"Something is coming..."

But he still had no proof.

Only instinct.

And instinct alone was not enough.

Then...

A new person arrived in Restart Village.

A man wearing expensive clothing.

A calm smile.

A confident voice.

He introduced himself as—

"Minister Lazim of the Holy Kingdom."

The villagers welcomed him.

After all...

A representative from the Holy Kingdom was someone they respected.

Even Brald listened carefully.

But one person remained silent.

Alistair.

From the moment he saw Lazim...

something felt wrong.

Not because of his words.

Not because of his appearance.

But because of something deeper.

A person who truly carried authority...

did not need to prove it.

Yet Lazim constantly reminded everyone of his position.

His title.

His importance.

That alone made Alistair suspicious.

That night...

While the village slept...

Alistair stood inside his hidden room.

Several small papers were placed on the table.

Each one carried a different symbol.

His intelligence network.

For years...

Alistair had quietly built connections.

Travelers.

Merchants.

Guards.

People who noticed things others ignored.

He picked up one paper.

Then another.

Finally...

he sent the message.

"Investigate Minister Lazim."

"Confirm his identity."

"Search every official record."

The papers disappeared into the darkness.

The answer came faster than expected.

Before sunset...

a messenger arrived.

Alistair opened the report.

His eyes moved across the words.

Then stopped.

Silence filled the room.

"...Impossible."

The report was clear.

There was no Minister Lazim.

Not in the Royal Court.

Not among the official ministers.

Not in any record of the Holy Kingdom.

Alistair slowly lowered the paper.

"So..."

"He was never who he claimed to be."

For the first time...

his suspicion became certainty.

That evening...

Alistair immediately met Brald.

The room was silent.

Rain tapped softly against the windows.

Brald looked at the report.

Then at Alistair.

"So..."

"He was lying from the beginning."

Alistair nodded.

"Yes."

"This is no longer just suspicion."

Brald's expression darkened.

"An enemy who uses the Holy Kingdom's name..."

"...is not trying to negotiate."

"They are trying to control."

Alistair remained silent.

Because he knew.

The attack had already started.

Brald walked toward his desk.

For several moments...

he said nothing.

Then he opened a hidden drawer.

Inside...

was a carefully sealed document.

He placed it on the table.

Alistair looked at it.

"What is that?"

Brald answered:

"The reason they need my signature."

He slowly removed the seal.

Inside was a contract.

Not a copy.

Not a rewritten version.

The original document.

The parchment carried the official mark of the Holy Kingdom.

The royal seal.

The proof that made the contract appear legitimate.

Alistair's eyes sharpened.

"So they forged an order..."

"...but used the real appearance of authority."

Brald nodded.

"Exactly."

"They wanted the villagers to believe this was approved by the Holy Kingdom."

"And once everyone signed..."

"The village would lose its right to refuse."

Silence filled the room.

Brald picked up another envelope.

This one carried his personal seal.

"My letter."

Alistair looked at him.

"To the Holy Kingdom?"

Brald nodded.

"Yes."

"I don't know how deep this goes."

"But if someone is using the name of the Holy Kingdom..."

"The King must know."

He handed both documents to Alistair.

"The original contract."

"My letter."

"Take them there."

Alistair accepted them carefully.

These were not simple papers.

They were the truth.

For a moment...

Neither man spoke.

Then Alistair asked:

"And you?"

Brald looked toward the village.

"I will stay."

"My family is here."

"My people are here."

"And if they come..."

"They will find me standing."

Alistair understood.

This was why Brald was respected.

Not because he was the strongest.

But because he never abandoned those who trusted him.

Before leaving...

Alistair stopped near the White family's home.

The lights were still on.

Inside...

Lily was with Tia.

V was practicing with his wooden sword outside.

For a moment...

Alistair watched silently.

Then he turned away.

A guardian did not need thanks.

A guardian only needed to protect.

That night...

A horse stood ready at the edge of the village.

The cold wind moved through the fields.

Brald stood beside Alistair.

"Come back alive."

A faint smile appeared on Alistair's face.

"I intend to."

Brald looked toward the dark road.

"Then hurry."

"Before the shadows reach us."

Alistair nodded.

He mounted the horse.

The original contract and Brald's sealed letter were secured safely.

The village slowly disappeared behind him.

THUD! THUD! THUD!

The sound of hooves echoed through the night.

The shadow guardian had finally moved.

Not because he had all the answers...

But because waiting was no longer an option.

Far away...

Inside Restart Village...

A man watched the road where Alistair disappeared.

A cold smile appeared.

"So..."

"The guardian has left."

The figure turned toward the village.

"Now..."

"The real game begins."

Darkness covered the land.

And Alistair rode toward the only place that could reveal the truth.

The Holy Kingdom.

"A single truth may appear powerless...""But when it reaches the right person...""It can shake the foundation of an entire kingdom."THUD! THUD! THUD!The sound of galloping hooves echoed across the endless plains.The moon slowly disappeared behind the horizon as the first light of dawn approached.Alistair continued forward without rest.The horse beneath him was exhausted.Its breathing had become heavier.Yet it continued running.Because the rider on its back understood one thing.Time was not waiting for anyone.The first kingdom on his path...was the Kingdom of Spades.If he could receive help from them...Restart Village could be protected before it was too late.As he approached the massive black walls of the kingdom...Alistair quietly released a small paper doll onto the road.Then another.Then another.To ordinary eyes...they looked like meaningless pieces of paper.But each one carried a message.A connection.A promise.Before Alistair even reached the gates...the Kingdom of Spades already knew he was coming.The gates opened.The guards immediately recognized him.Inside the royal palace...an old friend was waiting.A minister of the Kingdom of Spades."You always arrive when things become complicated."The minister gave a tired smile.Alistair simply replied:"I wish this was a peaceful visit."The minister's expression changed."That serious?"Alistair nodded."Very."Inside the throne room...Alistair stood before the King of Spades.He explained everything.The fake minister.The suspicious contract.The movements near Restart Village.The danger surrounding the village.The throne room remained silent.The King listened carefully.But after hearing everything...he slowly shook his head."I cannot send my army."The minister beside him looked surprised."Your Majesty?"The King stood and walked toward the large map of the kingdoms."If I move soldiers against someone claiming to represent the Holy Kingdom...""...without undeniable proof...""It could become a war."His finger touched the map."Thousands could die because of a decision based only on suspicion."Alistair lowered his head.He understood.The King was not refusing because he didn't care.He was protecting his own people."I understand."The King looked at him."I am sorry."Alistair only nodded."You gave me your answer.""That is enough."Outside the palace...The wind blew across the empty streets.The minister followed Alistair."I'm sorry.""I wanted to help."Alistair looked back."You already did."The minister was confused.Then Alistair pointed toward the road."Your honesty saved time."A small smile appeared on his face."Thank you."Alistair mounted his horse again.Before leaving...he touched one of the paper dolls hidden near the palace wall.A faint light appeared.FWOOSH!In an instant...Alistair and his horse disappeared.A moment later...they reappeared far away beside another paper doll.The journey continued.Hours passed.The road toward the Holy Kingdom stretched ahead.Beside the path flowed a familiar river.Alistair looked at the water.His expression became serious."This river...""It begins in the Kingdom of Spades.""It crosses the Death Forest.""And Restart Village purifies it."He looked ahead."Then it continues toward the Holy Kingdom."A thought crossed his mind."If Restart Village falls...""The damage will not stop there.""Many kingdoms will suffer."Finally...the towers of the Holy Kingdom appeared in the distance.The massive capital stood proudly beneath the sky.Alistair rode straight toward the royal gates.The guards immediately noticed the seal on the letter."Restart Village..."One guard's expression changed."Take him to the Royal Court."Immediately.Inside the grand throne hall...The King of the Holy Kingdom sat upon the throne.Alistair entered.He bowed respectfully."Your Majesty."The King looked at him."You come from Restart Village.""Yes.""And you carry something important."Alistair placed the sealed letter forward.Then...he placed the original contract beside it.The hall became silent.The King opened the documents.His eyes moved across every line.Every signature.Every condition.Every detail.Then...his expression changed."This..."His voice became colder."This was never approved."The ministers looked shocked."Your Majesty?"The King lifted the contract."This document carries my kingdom's name...""But I never gave this order."Silence.A heavy silence.One minister stepped forward."Your Majesty...""Restart Village is under the protection of multiple kingdoms.""No official has the authority to take control of it."Another minister looked at the contract carefully."The seal...""The appearance...""Everything was designed to make it look real."The King slowly tightened his hand.Someone had used his authority.His name.His kingdom.For their own plan.The King stood.His anger filled the entire hall."Someone has acted in my name."No one spoke."Someone has tried to destroy the trust between kingdoms."He looked toward Alistair."How much time do we have?"Alistair answered honestly."I don't know.""But if my guess is correct...""Restart Village may already be under attack."The King's expression hardened.Immediately...he turned toward the soldiers."Sound the royal horns."The guards froze."Your Majesty?"The King raised his voice."Mobilize the Royal Knights.""No innocent life will be sacrificed because someone hid behind my name."BWOOOOOOO!!The royal horns echoed throughout the capital.Across the city...soldiers gathered.Armor clashed.Horses prepared.Royal banners rose into the sky.An army assembled.Before leaving...the King approached Alistair."You protected your village.""Now...""Allow us to protect it with you."Alistair bowed deeply."Thank you, Your Majesty."The gates opened.Thousands of footsteps shook the earth.The Royal Knights began their march toward Restart Village.Far away...A small village fought without knowing what was coming.The villagers still believed they were alone.But through the darkness...hope was moving.Because sometimes...the person who saves everyone...is not the one holding the sword.Sometimes...it is the one who refuses to stop riding through the night.Narrator:"A guardian's greatest victory is not defeating an enemy...""It is reaching the battlefield before the last light disappears."

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