The next morning, Victor and Gizel wake up to find the distraught girl looking at them and shaking. Victor approaches her slowly, but she moves away from him.
"Don't be afraid. We are not here to hurt you. Do you remember what happened last night?"
She opens her mouth to respond but has second thoughts and closes it.
"My name is Victor Bloodgrave, and this is my partner, Gizel Freewing. We are travelers, and we just arrived here from Fryden. I went out for some fresh air and heard a struggle. When I went to investigate, I saw you were surrounded by six figures who wanted to have their way with you. Fortunately, you won't have to worry about them anymore. I brought you back here afterward."
Her eyes widen after Victor tells her what happened, and she gets embarrassed.
"My... my name is..... Gwennith Fryden. My father is the king of Fryden."
Gizel walks up to her and sits on the bed.
"What are you doing all the way out here, princess?"
After a few minutes of silence, Gwennith speaks.
"My father has changed to the point that I don't even recognize him anymore. He used to be loving and kind, and he treated his people the same way. Then, one day, I think it was last year. A strange figure came to speak with my father and his advisors about a coming calamity. From there, father started to change more and more. He used to always hug me when he greeted me, but he stopped doing that. Whenever I wanted to speak with him, he always said there was no time. The kingdom comes first. I watched him fall into a pit of darkness like someone was controlling him. When I couldn't bear it anymore, I fled from the castle in the hopes of finding someone to help me. That is why I came here."
She catches her breath as she realizes how much she's said to complete strangers. Victor speaks to her in a calm, cold tone.
"Can you remember the name of the figure that came to visit your dad or what they looked like? Did they have any markings on them?"
Gwennith thinks for a while, trying to remember. Then she remembers something.
"The figure that came to visit my father had a snake marking on his arm and was wearing a necklace depicting a crescent moon with a snake wrapped around it."
Victor looks at Gizel with a questioning gaze.
"Sorry, Victor, I don't know anything about the markings she described."
"That bastard really did make his move."
"Shadow!? Do you know who was behind the execution of my father?"
"Indeed. There is only one god who is capable of such complex manipulation. He is known as the god of manipulation, Dolos. All his servants have snake markings on their body along with that necklace."
"I see. So he's the one to blame for killing my father. I'll make sure he pays."
"Relax, boy. You're still far too weak to consider fighting him. He has hundreds if not thousands of minions and soldiers at his disposal. It would be wise to stay hidden for a time."
"By the way, Shadow, do you have any idea where my mother's village is?"
"It's a four day journey north towards the expanse forest. It is somewhere in that region."
"Ok, everyone, let's gather supplies. We need to be heading north. It's going to be about a four, five day journey. So we should leave as soon as possible."
Gizel and Gwennith look at him in confusion.
"How do you know that? Did you even ask anyone?"
"Yes, I did. It was someone who went by the name Shadow. He wants to converse telepathically to not reveal his identity."
"That was quick thinking on your part."
"Shut up!"
"And where exactly did you meet this Shadow?"
"In Fryden. He came and spoke to me while I was in the infirmary recovering."
"Can we trust his information?"
"With our lives."
"Very well. You'll be coming with us to princess. No complaining."
Princess Gwennith is speechless and can not fight back. She sheepishly agrees to go with them. After packing their gear, Victor and Gizel take the princess to the outer wall that they will pass through. The guards at the gate ask for their tokens, and when they are satisfied, they open the gate.
"Hey buddy."
Victor turns to look at the guard.
"What?"
"Be careful out there. Terrifying monsters live in the vast stretches of wilderness between the towns."
Victor gives a curt nod and heads off to find his mother's village. While walking in front, Gizel asks Victor a question.
"What did the guard say to you back there?"
"Just a friendly warning to be careful of monsters that live in the wilderness."
Gwennith is nervous as she thinks what could happen to them if they were attacked. Victor puts his hand on her shoulder, causing her to jump.
"Relax. It's only me. Why are you so scared?"
"Because I absolutely hate monsters. The site of them is too scary, and they're very powerful."
"Well, with the two of us here, you don't have anything to worry about. Few things can phase us."
"Oh!? Ok, well then. I'll keep you to your promise."
They continue on the path that will lead them to his mom's birth village. Victor immediately signals everyone to stop.
"What is it, Victor?"
"I don't know. But whatever it is, it intends to kill us."
A figure rushes towards them out of nowhere, and Victor moves to shield Gizel and Gwennith.
"Grand Shield!"
A gigantic barrier appears, causing the figure to crash into it and fall to the ground. When the dust clears, they are able to see the creature. Long sharp spikes cover its whole body, claws like that of a drake stick out from its paws, and a head shaped like that of a tiger. Victor stands ready with his sword drawn while Gizel prepares to launch magic attacks.
"You're not going to use magic, Victor?"
"Not for this one. It's been far too long since I've used my sword arts, so I need to sharpen my abilities before we proceed."
The unknown beast charges them with blistering speed, causing Gwennith to run away. Victor notices her runoff and clicks his tongue.
"Stupid girl."
When the beast is within striking distance, Gizel casts a spell to trip it, and then Victor charges forward, raising his sword.
"Fires Fury!"
A powerful wave of flames slice cleanly through the beast, incinerating it in an instant. Victor sheaths his sword and walks back towards Gizel.
"Let's go find her before she causes unnecessary trouble."
"Agreed."
They head in the direction Gwennith ran at full speed. Victor uses his sense of detection to try and find her. After a short while, he picks up a faint signature deeper into the woods and calls Gizel.
"She's over there, but for some reason, it's like she's frozen in place. Let's head there right away."
When they arrive, they find Gwennith passed out in front of a beautiful jewl lined gate with writing in an unknown language. Victor tends to Gwennith but feels drawn to the gate and leaves her.
"Victor, where are you going?"
No response is heard from Victor as he stops in front of the gate and places one hand in the center. The writing lights up and rearranges itself into a language that only Victor can understand.
"Only those with the blood of Divine Mages can open this gateway. If one returns after ages have passed, you will not be well received and considered a danger to the kingdom."
"We have no other choice. Gizel, will you still follow me even though we might get treated as outsiders or, worse, enemies?"
"I made a promise to your father, and I will honor it till my final breath."
Gizel picks Gwennith up and follows Victor as he makes his way through the gate to enter the birthplace of his mother.