The wait for the Young Knight was long as the day passed quite slowly. As the evening set in and the bags were packed, all that was left was the Young Knight to return but the Princess had a unsettling feeling knocking at her heart as the time kept passing but the Knight never returned. As the twinkling shroud of stars covered the sky she felt her eyes fill with tears. There had not been a night when he hadn't returned. The promise he always made to her as he left was never broken. She couldn't help but panic as she heard the beat of her heart in her ears.
Eques Lux and Eques Tempus knew that they could not waste time for the Valley of Death was known as one of the most notorious places as it kept shifting to protect itself and probably the Knight locked within. After quite a deep discussion they came to a stand to start their journey towards the Valley without the Eques Noctis. When the Princess heard of it she made herself being heard.
"We shall not leave without him. How would he know where we are if he does not locate us nearby?"
The concern for her childhood Knight was not hidden in her words but Eques Lux stated,
"Your Highness, it may not be fair to leave Eques Noctis alone but the strategy was planned out by him. If anyone knows the way better it's him. He will reach us before you notice it."
Eques Lux's words did not soothe the Princess. She was worried for this was the first time she had to set foot into the world without her best friend by her side. Her heart clenched as she closed her eyes and made up her mind.
"If Eques Noctis is our best bet at reaching the Valley it would be better to wait for him. But if we do have to leave Eques Tempus and I shall head towards the Valley while Eques Lux, you shall wait for him. I may not be in the position to make commands so I request you. Please stay and wait for him. Bring him to us safely."
Eques Lux and Eques Tempus shared a glance and agreed that the best course of action was to follow the Princess' request for she would not make the journey she needed to make.
"Your Highness, I promise to stay and guard this section of forest where the Eques Noctis had said to return but only until the dip of the Solis on the fourth day. Following the immersion and a couple hours hence I cannot keep my promise for my duty is to follow and protect you. Just as it is the duty of the Princess to follow the journey she has set out on and achieve her goal."
The Princess's eyes glazed over in tears with a hopeful yet sad smile at the words of the knight and embraced him. Now the determination for the journey was set as the Princess looked one last time at the Eques Lux and set foot towards the journey towards the Valley of Death with Eques Tempus.
On the other side of the realm Damon couldn't comprehend the fact that he had been unable to cross over. His days which had flowed like a broken record did not seem suspicious though he kept pondering on a way to leave and come to the Princess. Unable to think of anything he left late at night to cool his mind. That night had been the most peaceful one he had seen for it was his first night in his hometown ever since the age of five. The streets felt unfamiliar under the darkened skies but his heart ached to go back to Atleana. He found a bench in a nearby park and sat down. He raised his head in prayer hoping and wishing the Princess was safe and did not diverge from the set task. He let a small smile grace his lips as he let out a chuckle knowing how stubborn she could get. As dawn approached in Wisconsin, Damon headed back home to his room. But when he had lost all hope to return back to Atleana he realised that his impatience and disruption of mind had led him to be unaware towards the rift in space and time like a lightning bolt which had appeared in his room. A rift to the other realm which he ran towards without a thought but he was too late. As he reached the rift it vanished leaving him wide eyed and in an even bigger state of panic.