Silva found herself alone, surrounded by towering trees and thick mist, with no sign of Eclipse anywhere.
The haunting silence of the forest was only interrupted by the occasional snap of a branch or rustle of leaves.
She clenched her fists, irritation mixing with a rare flicker of worry as she scanned her surroundings. The Mist Forest, she knew, was unforgiving to those caught off guard.
"Where am I, anyway…" she muttered, exhaling sharply, her usually composed tone wavering. She cursed inwardly.
This trial, the one she'd prepared for so carefully, seemed to have discarded every rule she knew, shattering her hope of doing her job.
And then there's what Eclipse is trying to say. Did he know about this? Did he know they would be separated?
He said something where he is going, right?
"... Dammit, I didn't catch that last part," she whispered to herself, touching her weapons.
Five hours later…
A low growl rumbled from behind her, deep and menacing.
Slowly, she turned her head and caught sight of the creature stalking her—a massive black bear with glowing red eyes, its muscles rippling beneath its coarse fur.
The beast's eyes were fixated on her, its gaze hungry, sizing her up as it sniffed the air and took a cautious step closer.
Silva's gaze narrowed, her hand drifting to one of the concealed knives strapped to her thigh, her fingers brushing the cold steel.
She took in the details of her attacker with a cool glance: massive paws with razor-sharp claws, fangs glistening in the shadows. Her resolve hardened, and her posture shifted into a defensive stance.
I just had to throw blades into its eyes, then it'd leave me alone, she thought.
The bear crouched, its muscles tensing as it prepared to pounce, its claws raking against the ground with an audible scrape.
But just as it sprang toward her, a shimmering yellow shield materialized in front of her, intercepting the attack with a burst of light.
The force of the impact pushed the bear backward, leaving it disoriented and wary.
Silva's eyes darted to the source of the shield, and through the dissipating glow, she saw a figure emerge from the mist.
A young woman stood before her, dressed in a light paladin suit that glinted in the soft light filtering through the trees. Her golden hair fell in waves over her shoulders, and her bright yellow eyes reflected both strength and gentleness.
She held a slender sword at her side, her stance both ready and serene.
The shield shimmered around her for a moment longer before fading.
The bear, now eyeing the newcomer with a mixture of caution and recognition, snarled but ultimately decided that the confrontation wasn't worth it.
With a low growl, it turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving the two women alone.
I didn't need any help but whatever, it's better this way. Not showing what you can do around people has always been Silva's best strategy.
Silva regained her composure and offered a small bow, her voice returning to its customary calm. "Thank you for your assistance."
The girl, clearly flustered, waved her hands in a panic. "It—it's all right! There's no need to bow! I'm only a commoner."
"So am I," Silva replied smoothly, her expression neutral.
Tessa's eyes widened. "But you're the maid of a Warbringer… Eclipse himself."
Silva looked up, studying the girl's face carefully.
Tessa, though a commoner by birth, had a certain presence about her, one that hinted at the holy aura surrounding her.
She had been discovered by a wandering priest as a child, chosen for her innate purity and trained to wield holy powers.
Her remarkable performance and unwavering dedication had earned her a place at the Academy, where she was training as a paladin.
Of course Silva knew about her. The girl who always visited the Underground trying to help those poor people. The place where she was born. The place she would rather not remember again. All that pain.. All those tears…
Silva shook her head.
Tessa glanced around, her gaze flickering nervously as if expecting more threats. "Is… Eclipse here with you?" she asked hesitantly.
Silva shook her head. "No. We were separated when the trial began."
A look of relief washed over Tessa's face, though she tried to hide it. "I see."
Silva raised an eyebrow, noting the subtle shift in Tessa's expression. "Are you scared of my master?"
Tessa shook her head quickly, her expression earnest.
Her eyes dropped, and her fingers twisted nervously around the hilt of her sword. "I made a mistake earlier. I just thought… maybe he hasn't forgiven me yet for it."
Silva remained silent, her face a careful mask.
She wasn't here to delve into the personal issues of others, and Eclipse's affairs were not her concern.
"Oh, I'm sorry for bringing that up," Tessa said, shaking her head as if trying to banish her thoughts.
"That's quite all right," Silva replied, her tone neutral as she scanned their surroundings. "Thank you for your help but I must find my master as soon as possible."
Tessa glanced up at the sky, where the sunlight was already dimming, casting long shadows across the forest floor.
"Are you… alone?"
"Is there a problem with that?."
"It's almost nightfall," she said, her brow furrowing with concern. "I don't think it's safe for you to go searching on your own."
"Thank you for your concern. Well then…"
Silva was about to turn before the girl stopped her.
Tessa hesitated, a hint of worry in her eyes. "At least let me help you," she offered.
Before Silva could respond, Tessa knelt, placing her sword and belongings carefully on the ground.
She clasped her hands together and bowed her head in prayer, her voice soft and steady as she invoked a blessing.
Silva watched quietly, her gaze shifting to the various items Tessa had set down.
Among them, she noticed three distinct herbs: Bloodfern,Silverroot, and Shadowbloom. These were the very plants they needed to pass the trial.
She found it that fast? Now that's something...
Now, if she was Tessa, she would simply repeat the headmistress's name to trigger her return.
She doesn't have any more reason to stay here, Silva thought. Yet here she is… still helping people when they never asked for it.
Tessa finished her prayer and opened her eyes, her gaze steady as she pointed at a direction.
"I asked for guidance, and my Lord directed me to your master. He's heading south, which is… a little unusual."
Silva frowned, Why is he…
Silva straightened, offering a small nod. "Thank you. I appreciate this. I'll be sure to put in a good word for you with Eclipse. He may yet forgive you."
Tessa's eyes widened, and she lowered her head in gratitude. "Thank you… truly. You didn't have to do that."
Silva took one last look at Tessa, who was gathering her things, her gaze determined. "Are you heading back to the Academy?"
Tessa shook her head, gripping the hilt of her sword once more. "Not yet. My Lord told me to go North. Something is about to happen."
And Eclipse is heading south… Now, now… does Eclipse know about this? Who is he around these days?