The room is very silent. It feels like I have been laying here for hours now. I honestly do not know how long it has been, but it has probably only been an hour.

My shoulder has calmed down to the point now where it just slowly pulsates pain throughout my upper body instead of constantly needle-like sharpness. It slowly throbs lightly and goes dull for a moment before throbbing again. The only way I can help it stay calm like this is laying a certain way and keeping my eyes closed as too keep the light out of them.

After a moment of more silence, soft footsteps approach the doorway and my eyes snap open from being slightly startled as I glue my eyes to the door. I silently wait to see who it is, still slightly worried about what happened earlier. The sun has dropped once again, and evening has fallen. It is beginning winter now and the days are darker and shorter.

When Papa emerges from the darkness outside, he stops and looks over at me for a moment. His gaze looks a bit gloomy and somehow regretful, like he does not want to say what it is he has on his mind. I wonder what is going on. Why has he been acting this way recently. Does it have to do with why Cain asked to speak to him? Maybe it has to do with those Knights from this morning.

But whatever it is, he knows something I don't and now I'm getting the feeling he does not want me to know.

He slowly approaches me and kneels in front of me at the couch. He slides his gaze to my wounded shoulder for a bit before moving them back to my gaze. He appears to be worn out. His dull, dark blue eyes look tired and its not from lack of sleep. He is still wearing parts of his gold trim red armor.

"Cain... has som—"

He stops when he sees my eyes widen so much that I reach up to touch my forehead from the sudden headache that occurred, "Where is Cain, Papa?"

He closes his eyes and sighs softly, "I know you have been wondering about him. Please understand things will not be this way forever,"

I study his eyes as he slowly turns toward the door. What does he mean by that? What is going on here?

When I follow his gaze to the door, I see Cain now standing there. He looks confused, like he is fighting something inside that is bothering him. He steps forward towards me when he sees that I attempt to sit up.

"N—No no, Kitty Kat, I come to you,"

He approaches the couch and glances to Papa who nods and steps away from the couch. My heart speeds up as I study Cain as he looks over me and my wounded shoulder.

"I... I have made up my mind,"

I feel my heart droop inside of my chest as the sadness suddenly pours from his eyes, "About what, Cain?"

He locks onto my gaze, "I—I'm sorry Kitty Kat. I have decided there is something I need to do,"

He pauses and looks like he is fighting with himself deep inside, "A—And Abel and I are leaving the village tonight,"

My heart drops completely out of my chest and a single tear forms in my eye, "W—What? Why? What is wrong, Cain? Where did this come from...?"

My voice comes out just as weak as it did earlier. He does not move his gaze away or anything, "I have to go. I'm... so sorry,"

"W—Wait, please, don't leave me. Why are you leaving me?"

I watch stunned as he stands up and shakes his head once while studying me with a wave of sadness on his face, "I'm so sorry, Kitty Kat. I promise I will see you again. I am glad that you had a good time for your birthday. Your father will be here with you... he will protect you,"

He pauses again and doesn't stop me when I slowly sit up, "As for why... well... you cannot possibly see who this is for,"

His words leave me speechless and helpless. I try to understand what they mean but Cain turns to leave, and my tears begin showing little by little. I cannot find the strength to get up and follow him.

"Cain... please don't go..."

I know he won't hear them, but I say them anyway. How long has he been thinking on this? Why won't he tell me anything?

I turn to Papa and he does nothing. He looks out the opposite window and will not watch me or Cain. Abel appears outside with the horse they let me ride on for my birthday. They both climb up onto her back and then they gallop away without looking back.

The tears fall silently now as I turn back to Papa, "Let me go too, Papa," I whisper softly but firmly.

He snaps his eyes over to mine, "No, Katarina. You are too young. I will not allow you to go,"

"B—But where are they going Papa? What do you mean too young?"

"No. That's final. I'm sorry, but I will not speak of this again,"

He turns away from me and sits down at the table on the other side of the room, "Well then," I begin, "Train me on the lance then, Papa,"

Papa snaps his gaze up to mine once again and something appears in his eyes that I cannot figure out what, "Absolutely not. Leave the fighting to us,"

I feel a tad of anger flare inside, "Why? Because I'm a girl? You're retired, Papa! Why can't I learn to fight too?"

He looks away and a bit of anger flares up in his gaze as well, "I've heard quite enough from you, Katarina,"

Papa looks away, gets up from the table and leaves me alone in the room. The silence surrounds me and chills me to the bone, as everything that just happened sinks in all at once. Papa has never spoke to me like that before.

I lay back down slowly, curl up on the couch and my eyes automatically slide up to the window by the door. Something must have happened that has upset Papa as well. Maybe he is just afraid of training me. I did ask suddenly. But I don't want to never see Cain or Abel ever again.

Tears slowly slide down my cheeks as those thoughts flood my mind. What if Cain is wrong? What if I won't ever see them ever again?

I cannot help but to weep softly. The throbbing has started back up again slightly from my movements, but I don't care about that anymore.

~~~

Nothing happens for a while as I begin to doze off on the couch. I have calmed down quite a bit. After a while, footsteps come from the hallway upstairs and I open my eyes to find Papa slowly climbing down them. His armor is now off, and he has a different vibe coming from him as he gazes on me softly. He approaches me on the couch, gently sets my feet on the floor and sits down next to me, allowing me to lean onto him.

One more moment passes in silence.

"It's about time I tell you about your mother,"