Generation change

ㅤ Rowan never judged by age, but it was hard to deny that he'd made his share of mistakes in his youth. Just as Wingul lacked experience, but was overflowing with self-confidence. But even so, he was worthy of admiration. Rowan saw him as a worthy heir to his knowledge, someone who would one day surpass him, and so he regarded his successes and mistakes with awe. "Your knowledge is as outdated as you are!" The caustic remark didn't offend Rowan in the least. On the contrary, it evoked a chuckle, because Wingul was right. Which didn't stop him from making mistakes himself. He was good. So astonishingly good, it made him dizzy. However, nothing compares to experience. Wingul was on the right track in his judgments, but he missed details that literally caught Rowan's eye. Rowan could only hint at them, because if he said it outright, Wingul wouldn't listen… "Your place is on the front lines, but you betrayed your master and left the battlefield!" Rowan didn't deny it. His spirit had been broken by a cruel mistake, made through stupidity and carelessness. And now he could only wish that Wingul hadn't suffered the same fate: in him and Gaius, he seemed to see himself and Nachtigal. The best versions of them, he wanted to believe… Rowan predicted a bright future for them. And he worked diligently to ensure they had it. He was ready to offer any support, indirectly, if Wingul didn't accept it, or directly, if Gaius allowed it. "No one is counting on you." The right decision. Rowan's time had passed, and it was time for the next generation to shine. He merely watched from the sidelines as the future blossomed, invisibly laying "fertilizer" so that the flowers on his grave would grow enchantingly strong. So that one day he could pass away without regrets… Lord Cline also held out such hope, but a bitter fate shattered his dream into tiny fragments. Rowan's life had been full of loss, and watching the young pass away was especially difficult. That's why it was so gratifying to see such gifted and strong individuals as Wingul and Gaius—those who would survive at any cost, who found a way out of any situation. And it was so sad to realize that Wingul had deliberately put an end to his own life by implanting the booster in his brain… 'There's still time to find salvation, to reduce the harmful side effects,' Rowan consoled himself. Everything was fixable, as long as life still glimmered. Rowan harbored great hope… ㅤ