Robin's arms were on fire. Just three push-ups then his muscles gave out. No strength left after that.
Three.
Justin used to push through workouts lasting half a day. Suit strapped on tight. Real blades in play. Facing people out to end him.
Right now, doing even four push-ups was beyond him.
He was flat on the floor, gasping for air, mouth full of dirt and regret. No more alerts came once he'd tried three times by then, even the system had checked out.
Pathetic.
Still, it counted. Next day, maybe four unless he dropped dead first. Both beat wasting away here.
A sound echoed through the old walls. Low, humming in the air. He knew that tone time for supper was near, so folks had better get moving.
Dinner, he wasn't part of that scene. Robin Stark took his meals elsewhere. Likely had done so for ages.
He got up slow, gripping the edge of the bed. Though his legs wobbled, they didn't give out. That counted for something.
The space seemed tighter all of a sudden. Heavy. He'd arrived here, how long ago? Just a stretch of time, really, since he opened his eyes into this mess. The edges were already closing in.
Justin'd been through tougher stuff. Long sieges, dragging on forever. Cold winters when soldiers died in sleeping bags from frostbite. A tiny space? No big deal.
Yet Justin stayed tough and found a way to act on his own terms.
Robin moved toward the door. He leaned close, listening hard. Sounds of steps echoed down the hall, faint, though. Staff hurried around, getting dinner ready.
I gotta check things out, he figured. Gotta wrap my head around this place. This time.
The door was open. Not surprising where could Robin Stark even head? He had no magic, zero power, nobody on his side. Like a kid marked by bad luck.
Robin slowly pushed the door.
The passage stood silent. Torchlight flickered along stony sides, making shadows jump. He recognized this stretch seen it three decades ahead. Part of the staff's section. Dusty chambers, leftover space. Places the fortress kept secrets in.
He left the room. Cold stone touched his soles without a whisper.
Robin edged forward, leaning on the wall to keep steady. He was heading for the big house up ahead. Each move hurt his body resisted hard. The muscles, once firm, had weakened from disuse. Still, he remembered every turn inside.
Turn left. Then head down the tight staircase. After that, move through the hallway linking staff rooms to the central area.
He stepped into a wide hallway.
The gap hit hard. Inside, wall hangings showed Stark wins - wolves tearing into foes. Not just that, flames burned bigger, sharper. On top of it, the rock ground felt slick underfoot.
This is the place where folks counted, thrived.
Robin ducked into a nook when he heard steps coming patrol guards. Since they were near, he stayed quiet, shrinking against the wall.
They walked by without checking. What reason did they have? Supposing they noticed, he was only that unlucky kid no need to say anything.
Once they left, Robin kept moving. Though his legs shook from strain, he didn't stop. He had to know. Had to make sure it wasn't a dream.
There were voices up ahead lots of them. So Robin quickly moved to hide behind a big stone column.
The big hallway led out into a larger room. Peeking from where he was hidden, Robin spotted people lining up. Soldiers dressed in shiny suits of armor. Council members wrapped in fancy cloaks. Then right there in the middle -
The Duke.
Robin's fingers tightened around the column.
Duke Aldric Stark stood out, silver hair tied tight, face smooth with no stubble. His armor? More like a painting than something meant to block blows, carved with the family's wolf, shined till it sparkled in the light. Talking to his captains now, tone relaxed but firm.
"...grain stores should be sufficient through winter, but I want the eastern villages reinforced before the first snow. If there's another breach...."
Your Grace thinks ahead, the advisor remarked.
The Duke gave a quick nod, like he always got such praise. Then his eyes moved across the group standing there.
His gaze flicked toward Robin's pillar, just for an instant.
Robin stiffened, then held hks breath.
Yet the Duke's eyes kept shifting. Still no stop. No notice either. That doomed kid crouched by the column? Like he wasn't even there.
He didn't notice at all. Not a hint of worry showed up. Never crossed his mind. "Where's that younger kid?" or even "Maybe somebody should look into this."
Nothing.
Nothing left except a gap where Robin once stood.
The Duke kept going, with his group tagging along behind. Heading down the hall they went, but the other way toward the side Robin recognized as the Stark family's own space. That's where the real Starks stayed, not that tragic mix-up shoved into some closet-like room.
Robin lingered by the pillar even when they left. His young body trembled not just from being worn out, but from another feeling too. A chill crept through him.
This is how it looked to me, I figured. Not just when I turned into Commander Justin. Not even after all the cheers and fear I caused around. I didn't matter at all.
The Duke never dumped him once he turned risky. Nope, he'd always viewed him as replaceable. Whether Robin Stark or Justin same deal either way. Both were nothing but instruments.
The thing was Justin actually did help out before they got rid of him.
Robin was left behind right after being born.
"Young master?"
Robin turned way too quick. His shaky legs buckled, so he dropped, landing on his palms.
A girl stood by. Young, working as staff. Around sixteen, perhaps. She glanced his way maybe worried, though likely just caught off guard.
You don't belong here," she told me, no harshness, just how it was.
Robin dragged himself up. His arms burned like fire. "I'd been ....
"Lost?" The servant glanced down the corridor where the Duke had gone. "The family's at dinner. You should go back to your room."
I wanted....." Robin paused. What on earth could he even say? To meet his dad? The man who once told them to kill him, way back then? "Just out for a walk
The servant's expression softened slightly. "You look unwell, young master. Should I fetch the physician?"
Rose nearly cracked a smile, what doctor? They'd quit spending cash on healers ages back. His issues, whatever they were, stuck like glue. Nothing could untangle that mess.
"I'm fine."
"You're shaking."
He stood there, shaking all over just trying to stay upright. Getting from his room had wiped him out entirely.
The servant moved nearer. "Take it." She held out her limb.
Robin looked at the thing, some kind of assistance. Wondered how much time passed since someone gave him a chance like this.
He grabbed it. She held him up while moving slowly to the staff area.
"What's your name?" he asked.
She seemed taken aback by what he asked - "Mary," she said, "the boy."
"Thank you, Mary."
She said it wasn't a big deal yet her voice lit up. Maybe thanks were rare here for staff.
They moved without talking. Robin tried hard not to fall down just put one foot ahead of the other. She slowed herself so he could keep up, dragging along like that. Each step felt heavy, but they kept going anyway.
"Why were you really out there?" she asked quietly.
Robin considered lying. But what was the point? "I wanted to see him. The Duke. My father."
Mary's face turned calm, quiet. "Hmm," she said
"He didn't see me."
"No, young master."
"Does he ever ask about me? Ever mention..."
"No." Mary's voice was soft. Almost apologetic. "I'm sorry, but no. The family... they don't speak of you."
Robin gave a quick nod, already aware deep down. Still, hearing it hit hard. The truth never feels light.
They got to his room. After that, Mary walked him over to the bed.
"You should rest," she said. "I'll bring you extra bread tomorrow. You need to eat more."
"That's not necessary....."
"It is." Mary met his eyes. "You're fading, young master. Anyone can see it. Whatever curse or fate brought you into this world, you don't deserve to starve."
She walked off right after Robin opened his mouth.
He was lying on a worn-out bed, eyes fixed on the damp marks above. His limbs throbbed tight from just moving around earlier. Pain shot through each joint after those few steps. Nothing felt right.
Yet her voice lingered in his mind.
You're fading.
Yeah. Robin Stark was slipping away, had been since the day he was born. In twenty-four months, he'd vanish for good.
Unless.
Robin shut his eyes, then tapped into the system screen.
[DAILY QUEST AVAILABLE]
[COMPLETE 10 PUSH-UPS: REWARD +1 STR]
[WALK 1000 STEPS: REWARD +1 END]
[CURRENT PROGRESS: PUSH-UPS 3/10, STEPS 247/1000]
Ten push-ups. But he only got through three till his arms quit on him.
Robin tumbled from the bed landed hard on the floor, then scrambled into stance.
His arms trembled. Breathing hard, his chest rose fast. Each muscle burned like fire.
He managed one push-up just barely. His posture? All wrong. It looked painful.
[4/10]
One more. His arms almost gave out.
[5/10]
C'mon, he told himself. Sure, you've been hurt before way worse than this. Back then, injuries nearly finished you off. Now? It's only about a shaky body.
He got through another, then fell down.
[6/10]
Lying on the floor, tasting dust, Robin smiled.
Next day he'd run seven miles instead.
The Duke might just stroll by his room. Or choose to act like his doomed kid was never born.
Being blind felt like getting something valuable.
Robin meant to make the most of each second because time wasn't waiting.