"Don't worry—they're probably trembling with fear right now. True, their aura is strong too, but any one of us could stand against them alone," Oran articulated his opinion.
Rein spoke up: "Then let's continue on our way as normal; there's no need to run after them. Perhaps they'll muster their courage and face us on their own. In any case, let's press on toward the city."
No one objected—none felt bothered after Oran reassured them. They resumed winding through the dense forest, among trees of various kinds, though pine dominated. After a long walk they finally came upon a clearing in the midst of all that greenery, and decided to camp there for the night, planning to continue in the morning since exhaustion had taken hold of their bodies.
Suddenly Leon spoke indifferently: "It seems they're getting closer to us. Did you feel that too?"
Rein, Oran, and Erinnor all replied: "We did."
Rein continued, "Let's not trouble ourselves. Come on—let's eat; it looks like the meat is done."
Throughout their journey—since leaving the Western Desert until arriving at the Southern Forest—the bulk of their food had been meat. Ethan had supplied them in the caravan with everything: clothing, jerky, water reserves—so they had paid no heed to hunting or foraging across the barren desert they'd traversed for three months. They hadn't bothered fussing; each simply took his share of meat, and the sound of chewing drifted for meters around.
When you're the strongest in this harsh world, the result is ignoring anyone weaker than you. After everyone had eaten their fill, they still sat close to the fire. As Oran reached into his bag for something, Rein leapt up challengingly: "They're here!"
Leon: "It looks like they're hiding behind the bushes on the left."
Leon pointed toward his left. Oran abandoned whatever he was doing, stood upright, and boldly announced: "Whoever you are, you'd better come out now before we make a move."
Silence fell across the world— the breeze stilled— and those hidden behind the trees swallowed hard, sweat beading from the sheer pressure. But they had no choice but to surrender; there was no escape except to leave this area. Rein and the others could sense them throughout the entire Southern Forest region, now that they were within its bounds; once they departed, no one could sense them, for they would have left that range.
The first to emerge held his hands skyward; his hair was short and blond, his eyes blue; he wore armor like a medieval knight's. A long, double-edged spear was slung across his back. As soon as he stepped out, the rest followed one by one until there were ten of them: four young women and six young men, all appearing to be in their twenties, oddly all clad in silver armor etched with the marks of time.
The blond man stepped forward and asked, "What do you plan to do here, and why have you come?"
Oran stepped forward to match his stance: "That's my question to you."
The blond man said, "I don't know your intent in coming here, but I hope it is good."
Oran: "We hope the same of you. In any case, what is your name?"
Blond: "What would you gain from knowing my name?"
Oran: "Your name isn't important, but your truth is: who you are and why you've been hiding all this time."
Blond: "Does this mean you won't kill us?"
Oran: "We won't harm you as long as you admit where you obtained that power and where you've been hidden all this while."
Blond: "If you also admit, I will gladly tell you the truth. In any case, my name is Darion, knight of this kingdom since ancient times."
Oran: "Very well—let us sit and talk. My name is Oran."
They all made room to sit among themselves.
Oran began: "We have just come from the Western Desert by order of the current King of Aryan, Ethan Falconer." He then pointed at Leon and said, "His son is with us as well. We came as an envoy to investigate this calamity and to meet the current King of Verdellion, Leo Falconer. You may speak now."
Darion replied, "You may not believe what I say, but I know nothing of the state of the Seven Regions now. We have only awakened days after the calamity appeared. We are from the Ancient Era—the Age of the Demonic Wars. We have served this kingdom since time immemorial as its knights in the shadows. We are the Ten Shadow Knights."
Everyone was astonished by the force of those words before Rein spoke:
"You say you are from the Ancient Era—from the first appearance of the calamity in the Western Desert until your awakening in the present era when the second calamity struck the Green Plains. Isn't it strange? Did you seal yourselves before death, or what?"
Darion looked at Rein in puzzlement before replying: "How did you know of the seal?"
Rein answered, "How could we not know? Our friend Oran was sealed before awakening in this era as well."
The Shadow Knights were taken aback for a moment before comprehension dawned. Darion said:
"Yes, we too were sealed; when my companions were on the brink of death, I chose to intervene, placing my last hope in survival by activating the seal."
One of the knights asked, "Are there other things we still do not know?"
Rein spoke: "No need to worry—we have told you everything we know so far. In any case, let us introduce ourselves. My name is Rein Hayes; I am from the Central Region, the Green Plains."
Leon introduced himself likewise, then the others followed one by one.
Then the knights began their introductions:
A tall knight with short brown hair, brown eyes, fair skin, and a prominent nose, bearing an air of nobility, stood and said, "My name is Thorn; pleased to meet you."
He sat, and another knight of medium height with slightly long brown hair and brown eyes—handsome in his way—stood and said, "My name is Kailen; pleased to meet you."
He sat, and a female knight with long blond hair, blue eyes, and pure white skin rose and said, "My name is Elira; pleased to meet you."
She sat, and another female knight of medium height with short black hair, dark eyes, and clear skin stood and said, "My name is Silvina; pleased to meet you."
She sat, and a tall knight with wavy short black hair, dark eyes, and fair skin stood and said, "My name is Lucan; pleased to meet you."
He sat as well, and another knight of medium height with slightly long blond hair, sky-blue eyes, and fair skin—very handsome—stood and said, "My name is Elleric; pleased to meet you."
He sat, and this time a slightly shorter female knight with long silky black hair, dark eyes, and clear skin stood—her features very beautiful—and said, "My name is Miriel; pleased to meet you."
She sat, and another female knight of medium height with long silver hair, silvery eyes, flawless white skin, and rosy lips—the most beautiful among them—stood and said, "My name is Aveline; pleased to meet you."
Finally, the last knight stood: tall, with slightly long silver hair, silvery eyes, and pristine white skin, muscular build—very handsome, the handsomest among the males—and said, "My name is Fenric; pleased to meet you."
After everyone had introduced themselves, Darion spoke:
"I know you're astonished by their resemblance; each knight here has blood siblings. For example, Fenric and Aveline are brother and sister; Lucan, Silvina, and Miriel are also blood siblings; Thorn and Kailen likewise; and myself, Elleric, and Elira as well. So you need not be surpris
Having explained this, Rein and the others felt at ease.