Ashen's dark eyes couldn't leave the sight of those scars. He was horrified, mortified. His years on the battlefield were more than enough to know this was not the result of any ferocious beast, nor accident. Those were the clear, clean cuts only a proper blade could make. He slowly shook his head, unable to understand.
"No," he muttered. "It can't be. You... your brother took you home, to the Castle. You didn't... come..."
"I really wanted t-to," Cessilia cried, brushing her long curls back. "I wanted t-to, Ashen. I d-didn't even t-think much b-before I left. I knew my p-parents would be mad, b-but I d-didn't want to b-be separated from you. When I understood my d-dad and my b-brothers made you leave the c-country, and we d-didn't even g-get to say g-goodbye, I c-couldn't bear it. I c
