Crimson Petals: Vlad the Impaler's Gentle Echoes

Previously

…Each move, each new trauma, chipped away at my innocence, leaving me more vulnerable, yet, in a strange and unexpected way, more resilient. It was in those darkest moments, when the weight of the world felt unbearable, that I would feel a familiar presence, a silent strength that steadied me. It was Vlad. He was always there, a whisper of ancient power, a guardian in the encroaching darkness. He never spoke, not in words I could hear with my ears, but his presence was a balm, a silent promise of protection that no earthly force could break. He had been my unseen shield, my constant companion, a silent echo of kindness in a world that offered so little.