Nathanial of Katera

He was forged to serve. But when duty becomes cruelty, even a weapon can choose to break.

Nathanial was never meant to question orders. As the Emperor's most loyal captain, his life has been one of silence, precision, and obedience. But when a forbidden secret is unearthed beneath the palace-one that threatens not only the enslaved, but his own unit-Nathanial is forced to make an impossible choice.

In a single day, he must confront his father's legacy, protect the men he commands, and decide whether duty is worth the cost of becoming a monster.

A character-driven prequel set in the world of Of Katera, this short story reveals the moment Nathanial stopped being a weapon... and became something more.