Zaria halted abruptly, her breath catching in her throat. Zeshra, oblivious to the sudden stop, continued forward, pulling Zaria along with a playful smile.
"Hey, don't be scared," Zeshra chuckled, her voice laced with amusement. "We Silarian elves have a keen sense of... well, let's just say we can smell death. It lingers on you, like you're about to die, or you're undead. That's all. No need to panic."
Zaria's stomach churned. She looked up at Zeshra cautiously, forcing a weak smile. "But I'm not undead. Being a Class G with no magic abilities, I guess I'm as good as dead..." The words tasted bitter, a mixture of self-deprecation and a desperate attempt to deflect Zeshra's unsettling observation. The truth was, Zaria had no clue what Khaos was, or whether she was its wielder, or merely a vessel.
"Ohh, now I see," Zeshra said, her smile softening into understanding. "A G rank...honestly, this is a first for me, too. Meeting someone lower than F rank. But don't worry, you're in safe hands with us. We don't discriminate against lower ranks."
She reassured Zaria with a gentle tap on the shoulder, gesturing towards her unit. "You see, my unit was once F rank, just like you guys. As adventurers, we clawed our way up, ranked up to E. And when we all made it, we registered to be knights…" Her expression turned serious, a shadow passing over her features. "…We're a backwater group, practically no family or friends. We only have each other. That's why, as you can see, we don't have fancy armor like you guys. In fact, you guys seem well off compared to us." She looked down, a faint blush creeping up her neck.
Zaria's anxiety eased. Hearing Zeshra's vulnerability made her feel a strange sense of kinship.
"What is your conviction, Zaria? Why risk your life being so weak?" Zeshra asked, her gaze fixed on the city gates that were now looming before them.
Zaria's hand instinctively went to her chest, clenching into a fist. "My mother… ever since I was young, she's been plagued with a mysterious, incurable sickness. Even magic couldn't heal her. My father... bless his soul... became an adventurer, hoping to become a knight and raise enough money to hire a high-ranked priest or healer. But he… he was weak too. Killed in a dungeon when my brother and I were very young." Her voice hardened with each word, her resolve unwavering.
They reached the gate, the heavy wood and iron a stark reminder of the dangers beyond. "So, I have to take up his mantle," Zaria continued, her face etched with determination. "And hopefully, in a couple of years, raise enough as a knight to cure her."
Zeshra nudged her playfully. "Hey, lighten up! You'll manage, don't worry. We might be in different factions, but I can tell you're a good one. It may not be much, but don't hesitate to ask us for assistance. That's what we do, okay?"
Zaria chuckled, a genuine smile gracing her lips. It was rare for a complete stranger to be so understanding. Zeshra's words were a balm to her worried heart.
Both units presented their tags to the guards, who scrutinized them one by one. The air buzzed with the impatience of the long queue snaking behind them – merchants, adventurers, their faces a mixture of admiration and resentment as they watched the knights pass.
Beyond the city walls, the paved streets gave way to a rough, gravel road. The scenery opened up, revealing a vast grassland dotted with sparse trees. The air was crisp and fresh, except when the occasional horse-drawn wagon or carriage that passed by kicking up plumes of dust, momentarily marring the idyllic scene.
The group continued their march under the scorching sun, the occasional breeze a welcome reprieve. As they walked further, the city of Theron shrunk in the distance, its imposing walls gradually fading into the horizon.
Felix, at the front of the group, called out, "Alright, knights! From here on out, it's just us. Be on high alert! Before we reach the village of Cairnwall, where we're meeting the Demon Lord's emissaries, we'll be entering the great forest of Okenshaw… a monster paradise."
Max's booming voice echoed back, "As if monsters can stop *us*! We're ready!"
Felix grinned, pleased with their enthusiasm. "That's the spirit! Now, pair up. Each member of the Black Rose Knights will partner with a member of The Talons of Theron for power balance." He stopped abruptly, bringing the entire group to a halt. A wave of anticipation rippled through the ranks as everyone wondered who their partner would be.
"Max, you're with Thane. Valor, you're with Dua. Luna, you're with Keldorna. Anna, pair up with Fernley. Zaria," he paused, his gaze settling on her, "Forgive me for this, but because of your low rank, you need to team up with someone stronger... you're with Zeshra. And finally, Lily, I'll need you to assist me with information, since you're an expert on the forest and most of its creatures."
There were no complaints. Lily, in fact, felt a thrill of excitement. Assisting their training officer, an S-rank knight, was a privilege. It eased her worries about her non-combat class, and presented a golden opportunity to learn from Felix. She wondered how a normal person managed to reach S rank. As a homunculus, she knew growth was possible, and this was her chance.
The pairs set off, their conversations filling the air, the mood light and camaraderie building with each step. The city, now a mere speck in the distance, was swallowed by the setting sun, which painted the sky in fiery hues of orange and red.
"I'm tired…and hungry," Anna groaned, dragging he feet, her face a mask of exhaustion. "And my feet! They hurt. Can't we stop and rest for a while?"
Felix chuckled. "Well, you signed up to be a knight. Welcome to the good life!"
Anna pouted, her displeasure evident.
"Relax, Anna, I'm joking," Felix said, softening his tone. "We'll rest when nightfall comes. It's not safe traveling at night."
"There's a small grove in the distance," Valor's voice called from the back. "We can spend the night there. The trees will offer cover from the open road." He knew this path intimately, as though he had walked it a thousand times.
"You heard the old man," Felix shouted back, raising his hand to urge them forward. "Let's make our way there and camp for the evening!"
As they walked, Zaria noticed Zeshra was lost in thought, humming a tune that sounded like a battle song. It was the perfect opportunity to delve into the mystery of Khaos.
'Khaos, can you hear me?'
Yes, Zaria. How can I be of assistance?
'What are you, really?'
As I mentioned before, I am the King's Havoc Automata Operating System.
Zaria paused, considering her next question. 'Who is the King?'
[Access Denied]
'What does *that* mean?'
You are not permitted to have knowledge of this.
Frustration gnawed at her. *Are you, or is the headless knight that appeared during the simulation, the King?'
The apparition you witnessed is the soul that recognizes you. I and that soul are different entities. I was dormant until that soul made contact with you. I existed within you. I am part of you.
'Wait… so you're saying you *aren't* that knight?'
Indeed.
'Is there a way I can communicate with this soul? I have so many questions.'
I cannot assist in your request. Even though I can summon and communicate with spirits from the ethereal realm, this one seems not to exist there. It's as if it doesn't exist at all.
A wave of confusion washed over Zaria. If Khaos had lain dormant within her, who or what had awakened it? Why had they chosen her, a lowly G-rank adventurer? The questions swirled in her mind, each more perplexing than the last.
"We're here, Zaria," a voice startled her, and she bumped into the person in front of her.
She looked up to see Zeshra, a knowing smile on her face. "Lost in your own thoughts, hey?" The Silarian elf set down her rucksack beside a tree.
Zaria, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, looked around. They were in the grove. The last rays of sunlight dipped below the horizon, and the first stars began to emerge in the darkening sky.
She quickly set her own pack down, then watched as Anna collapsed against a tree, fatigued and annoyed. The rest of the group were scouting the area they had chosen to camp in.
"Alright, you guys settle in," Felix called out, his voice ringing through the grove. "I'll be back with tonight's meat. Time to show you what an S-class hunter is capable of." He waved, then vanished into the deepening shadows of the forest, his battle axe gleaming in the fading light.