The air was thick with tension as the group moved deeper into the fog-covered land. The eerie silence left behind by the creature's defeat hung over them, broken only by the sound of their footsteps. Even Wild, still breathing heavily, kept to himself. His gaze was distant, focused, but quiet as always—his silence now felt like a barrier. The others had noticed it more than ever, that calm, unshakable exterior of his. It was the silence of someone who had been trained in the most grueling of ways—the silence of a Royal Knight.
Wind, though recovering, was still rubbing his head, his eyes glancing back at Wild with a mixture of awe and curiosity. He had seen Wild fight before, but never like that.
"I've never seen anything like that, Wild," Wind said finally, his voice barely breaking the stillness. "You were like... a beast."
Wild didn't respond, his eyes locked ahead. But the others had noticed how much he'd snapped into action—how the battle had shifted once he engaged. There was an unspoken understanding between them now.
Warriors walked up beside Wind, his shield resting on his back. "That's not just raw instinct," he said quietly, his tone thoughtful. "It's discipline. That's how a Royal Knight fights."
Wind turned to him, surprised. "You think so?"
Warriors nodded, his eyes narrowing as he watched Wild. "I know it. I've been trained in the same way. He knows the field. Knows the moves, the patterns, the timing. No hesitation. He's one of us."
Twilight, walking ahead with Sky, looked back at the conversation, raising an eyebrow. "You're saying Wild's a Royal Knight?"
Warriors glanced at Wild, who was now staring ahead at the dense fog, seemingly unaffected by the heavy conversation unfolding around him. "I don't know the details, but I'm sure of it." His voice softened, not wanting to disturb Wild's quiet, but it was clear he was certain. "That fight wasn't just about skill. It was a way of thinking. A way of living."
Legend looked over at Wild too, his expression unreadable, but his gaze was sharp. "He doesn't talk much. I guess it makes sense now."
They continued in silence, the tension settling like a weight on the group. But as they ventured deeper, a strange unease began to creep over them. The fog had thickened again, much denser than before, and the temperature had dropped drastically.
Then—
A faint, eerie glow appeared ahead.
It wasn't like the flickering of a fire or the light of the sun breaking through. This was a sickly green, unnatural and unsettling. The group paused, eyes narrowing.
Wild's instincts kicked in. His fingers tightened around the hilt of the Master Sword, his shield raised slightly.
"What is that?" Sky whispered, his voice tense.
Warriors stepped forward cautiously, his shield raised. "We should approach carefully."
But before anyone could take another step, a sudden whisper echoed through the air.
It was soft at first—then louder, as if it were coming from every direction.
"Leave."
It was a low, raspy voice, distant yet somehow close. The air seemed to hum with its presence, sending chills down their spines.
Wild's expression didn't change. He stood tall, steady, but the others could sense the danger now, the weight of the moment pressing down.
Warriors drew his sword slowly. "We've been warned. Stay alert."
The voice came again, this time more urgent, almost desperate. "Leave this place. You are not meant to be here."
Wild stepped forward, the sword at his back now, shield raised, his stance perfectly measured. He wasn't about to retreat. This wasn't the way of a Royal Knight.
But then, the fog parted, revealing a figure.
A cloaked figure, tall and shrouded, with glowing eyes. It wasn't human. Its form was twisted, like something born of nightmare. The figure held its hands out, as if welcoming them—but it wasn't welcoming. It was a warning.
The voice, now coming directly from the figure, was sharp, almost mocking. "You dare challenge the land of the forgotten?"
Wild's grip tightened on the Master Sword. The sword's glow flickered briefly, reacting to the malevolent energy in the air.
Warriors stepped forward, his sword held low but ready. "We're not leaving until we know what's going on here."
The figure laughed, the sound hollow and cold. "You cannot defeat what has already been lost."
The air shifted.
The ground beneath them trembled. And before anyone could react, the shadows surged again, but these were different. They twisted into horrific, half-formed creatures, their limbs far too long, their eyes glowing like embers.
The group braced themselves, weapons drawn. But even as they prepared to fight, Wild's silence was absolute.
He wasn't just waiting.
He was ready.
The fight would begin.
