That night, Grim told his story by firelight.
He had once been a Republic soldier. Not mercenary. Not rebel. Loyal.
He was part of an elite unit called "The Nullborn", trained to manipulate inn from birth. But inn doesn't come free.
"They took our childhood," he said, his voice brittle. "They burned our names. I don't even remember the face of my mother — only the cold table and the scent of iron."
Herzl asked, "So why fight for them now?"
Grim looked into the fire. "I'm not. I'm fighting to make sure others don't become me."
Anna sat quietly, eyes closed. "They made us monsters to fight monsters. Now they wonder why we bite."
Herzl stared into the flames and said nothing.
Later that night, as Herzl walked alone under the stars, he heard a whisper in the wind — his own voice echoing back.
"Do you want to be strong, or do you want to be free?".