Purpose

8.

Damian and Karim observed these developments from a distance. They had fulfilled their mission, brought the sixth island state under the king's control, and saved its people. The war initiated by Damian's brother had finally come to an end. But although their external enemies were defeated, both men felt that a new battle was imminent—one that would lead them to the deepest recesses of their own souls.

The days following the final conquests were quiet. As the islanders enjoyed their newfound peace and began to rebuild, Damian and Karim returned to the castle repeatedly to discuss their plans with Gerhart. With each passing day, Damian grew quieter and more contemplative. The battle might have ended, but a storm still raged within him.

Karim noticed the change in the prince, who had now become a good friend. The memories of his family, whom he had not seen for many years, and especially thoughts of his younger brother Leonel, would not leave him. The conversations he had had with Damian about Leonel kept resurfacing in his mind. Why had Damian been so oddly affected when Leonel was mentioned? Karim could not deny that Damian felt more than he was willing to admit, and it troubled him. The island's tranquility was deceptive, and beneath the surface, unspoken feelings and unresolved conflicts simmered.

One evening, as the wind gently blew through the castle's open windows, Damian and Karim stood on one of the high battlements, looking out over the quiet city below. The lights of the houses sparkled in the darkness like tiny stars, and a deep peace seemed to have settled over the island. But the silence between them was heavy.

"What will you do now, Damian?" Karim asked quietly, staring into the distance. "The war is over. We have won. What comes next?"

Damian was silent for a moment before he answered. "I don't know," he admitted. "It feels wrong to be standing here after everything that has happened. My brother is dead, and we are still dealing with the consequences of his decisions." His voice sounded tired, as if the weight of responsibility was heavier on his shoulders than he was willing to admit.

Karim watched him from the corner of his eye. "And Leonel?" he asked suddenly. "What about him?"

Damian flinched slightly at the mention of Karim's brother. It was a question he had not anticipated, though it was inevitable. "Leonel..." He hesitated, his fingers tightening. "He is... different."

"Different?" Karim turned to him, fixing him with an intense gaze. "Damian, I have known you for almost two years. Long enough to know that there is more to it."

Damian lowered his head, the darkness hiding his flushed cheeks. "I... I don't know myself, Karim," he finally confessed. "Leonel... he won't leave me alone. He is different, yes, but..." His voice trailed off, and he shook his head. "It's complicated."

Karim remained silent, but within him, a new chapter began to form. The war might be over, but the personal battles—those they had to fight with themselves and their feelings—had just begun.

Karim let the silence linger for a moment before he finally asked the question that had been burning on his lips for some time. "Damian," he began, his voice calm and thoughtful, "what exactly do you think about when you think of Leonel? What feelings arise in you?"

Damian flinched imperceptibly as Karim spoke his brother's name. It was as if the question had caught him completely off guard, though it was inevitable. He continued to stare over the city lights, but his gaze was distant, as if he were looking deep within himself.

"I don't know," Damian said quietly. His fingers drummed nervously on the stone of the battlements. "Every time I think of him... I feel something I can't categorize. It's like a mix of admiration, fascination, and... something else. Something I can't name."