Niveus's journey from the fortress to the village was a half-day trip, a brief but significant passage through the remote regions of Salhju County.
Nestled in the northernmost part of the Chrysantheus Kingdom, Salhju was a harsh winter land, far removed from the heart of the kingdom's capital.
As he stared at the village's silhouette, his thoughts drifted to the world of Lunara he currently lived in, a place that shared many similarities with the game's setting, which was inspired by mythologies from Niveus's—or Rey's—former world.
Lunara was a world divided, not just by culture or distance, but by realms themselves.
Above the mortal lands of Lunara, Actlane, was Celestia, the realm of Gods. Meanwhile, below lay Pandemonium, the chaotic domain of Demons.
Although it said the world was divided into three realms, no one ever knew the location of Celestia as they never intervened with the mortal realm or the demons.
So, for the mortals, Celestia was considered a fairy tale. Even though they didn't believe the realm of Gods existed, it didn't mean they didn't believe there were no Gods.
Between these two extremes, Actlane stretched wide, home to four great continents: Vyrmoria, Aetheris, Sylvaris, and Thalundra.
The Chrysantheus Kingdom, though powerful in its own right despite its small territory, was part of a much larger whole.
The kingdom had long been a part of the Empire, a large and powerful force that dominated Vyrmoria, the largest of the four continents and the heart of Actlane.
Everything up to this point was similar to the game's settings.
But when Niveus heard about the Empire's development progress, he couldn't help but accept it was a different world and marveled at the contrast between the different lands of Actlane.
The Empire, driven by the presence of the Global Alliance, had surged ahead, developing technologies that mirrored the 19th century of Earth, but with fantastical twists—steampunk airships and clockwork machines that seemed almost magical.
In contrast, the other nations, including Chrysantheus, remained in a more medieval state, their progress slower, their lives simpler.
As he neared the village, Niveus recalled the stories Nono had told him about the Alliance.
Despite the rapid advancements, the Empire was guided not by humans alone, but by the wisdom of the Elves.
The Elves, with their long lifespans, wiseness, and a deep sense of fairness, had become the de facto leaders of the Alliance, ensuring that peace was maintained throughout Actlane.
Under their guidance, the races of Actlane had avoided conflict for centuries, their focus on cooperation rather than conquest—well, except for the Monolith's conquest, which was a danger for the realm.
As the village came into view clearly, Niveus focused on the task ahead.
A few moments later, the carriage passed by the village's gate.
As the group arrived in the village center, they were greeted by the sight of anxious villagers. The village was small, with only a few dozen homes clustered together, surrounded by dense, snow-covered forests.
The tension in the air was palpable, and the villagers' eyes were filled with a mix of fear and hope as they looked upon the knights.
The village head, a frail man with a feathered face and white hair, stepped forward, supported by his cane. His voice trembled slightly as he addressed Niveus and his companions.
"Thank you for coming, knights of Glacend. We have been living in fear since the Monolith appeared nearby. We don't know when it will crack and the monsters crawl out from it."
Niveus nodded solemnly. "We understand, elder. We'll do our best to clear the Monolith and ensure your village's safety."
The village head and his villagers were happy to hear that.
Seeing that the tension was lifted, Eliana couldn't help but smile. 'With only a few words...'
"But, if this is not much to ask, I'd like someone to deliver a message to the Alliance branch outpost three days away from here for me."
"Of course, it's not much of a problem, sir knight," said the elder. He turned around and faced the villagers. "Anyone want to volunteer?"
At first, no one was raising their hands, making the elder worry he couldn't fulfill Niveus's request.
Niveus stood silently, observing the villagers's expression, until...
"I will do it!"
A young man's voice was heard in the village, but the elder couldn't see their hands. A moment later, everyone stepped aside, giving the volunteer a spotlight.
As the young man walked in the direction of the elder and the knights, Niveus studied everything about him, how he walked, his expression, and others.
"Oh, isn't it Amor? You're already this big?"
"Haha, yes, elder."
"Good, good," the elder looked at Niveus. "Sir knight, this kid's name is Amor. He's a bright lad with a big dream."
"I can see that."
Amor addressed Niveus as politely as possible. "What message do you need to deliver, sir? I will do it as fast as lightning!"
Niveus took out a scroll from his bag and handed it to the young man.
"Something important and urgent, so make sure this message gets to the branch leader."
The young man stared at the scroll with sparkling eyes.
"Understand, sir! I will set out immediately!"
Amor approached the villagers who brought Niveus and his companions to the village, asking them to lend him the horse.
"Now, I know that we want the Monolith to be cleared as soon as possible, but I can't force our village's hope to work while they're tired."
The village head and other villagers welcomed the knights warmly, they gifted Niveus and the others several gifts like homemade cooking or flowers they picked up from their gardens.
The villagers were making sure their hopes were prepared and in the best condition to clear the Monolith. They even held a dinner party to celebrate an early victory of the knights, trusting fully their capabilities after Eliana told the villagers about Niveus's position in the Glacend fortress.
"He's that young but already the strongest knight in the fortress? And a little brother of the commander at that? That lad's amazing!"
"Mama, I want to become like him when I grow up!"
"If you want to become like that, you need to eat more. Here, ahh..."
"We're talking about the lad, but where is he?"
Hearing the question, Eliana looked around but didn't find Niveus.
'Niveus?'
===
The horse steps echoed through the quiet forest. Riding it was a young man covered in a robe to protect him from the chilly winter weather.
His vision was focused on what was ahead of him until he stopped the horse and dismounted it when he arrived near the frozen river.
"A message to the Alliance? So he knows about this but didn't tell anyone? What a fool, haha!!!"
The young man stood in the center of the frozen river, announcing himself like a conqueror.
"This is I, Ammund, your king!" He stared down. "After I release all of you, you will obey my command!"
Amor pressed his index on the surface.
'Hmm, I'm actually curious what the message is about...'
Pausing on what he was doing, Amor took out the scroll and opened it only to find a 2-word long that made him go cold.
"Caught you."