They moved silently through the dense forest, the soft rustling of leaves underfoot the only sound.
The formation was tight, with Aldrich placed safely within the center, the stronger knights forming a protective outer ring around him.
Their eyes scanned the surroundings constantly, hands ready on their weapons—alert for any danger lurking in the woods.
"First rule of hunting, squire," one of the knights said quietly, his voice low and steady. "Always keep your eyes sharp."
Aldrich nodded, though his mind was elsewhere.
He had no intention of sticking to this formation for long.
He kept his gaze alert, but not just for threats.
What he really sought was an opening—a chance to slip away from the group and venture into the wild alone.
Safety wasn't what he needed; danger was.
"Got it. I'll keep that in mind," Aldrich replied, his tone casual.
The knights pressed forward, cutting deeper into Veridon's Maw, a forest known for its many dangers.
And those dangers were exactly what Aldrich needed.
The plan to have him hunt alongside Duncan and his knights wasn't going to help him unlock his bloodline power.
It will only be awakened by real peril, something that couldn't happen under the watchful eyes of these experienced soldiers.
Suddenly, a rustling in the bushes caught Aldrich's attention.
His muscles tensed as a wild boar emerged, its massive form crashing through the underbrush.
Before he could react, one of the knights closest to the edge of the formation acted swiftly.
He summoned a spike of earth from the ground, impaling the boar before it could even get close.
The beast let out a final squeal before falling limp, skewered by the stone spikes.
Just like that, it was over.
Aldrich sighed inwardly. 'So much for that.'
If the knights kept killing every threat before it could even get near, how was he supposed to face the danger he needed?
"Eyes open, everyone," Duncan's voice called from the front, urging the group to move forward.
Aldrich's hopes fell with every step they took deeper into the forest.
The knights swift response to supposedly dangerous situation was making jg difficult for Aldrich to cope with, even putting him near frustration.
'This is not going to work.'
Aldrich's mind wandered back to his training, remembering the stories of Predator-ranked Deamans—vicious beasts that would tear through even skilled knights.
If he was lucky, they might encounter one of those.
It would give him the chance to break away, and more importantly, the danger he needed.
'A Predator-ranked Deaman…' he thought.
'That should do it. If only a predator ranked Deaman appeared in multiple drove, I guess even the knights would have their hands full and I get the escape route I need.'
The deeper they ventured, the more signs of dangerous creatures appeared.
The air felt thicker, more oppressive, as though the forest itself was warning them of what lay ahead.
Occasionally, they came across Beast-ranked Deamans, lesser creatures compared to the Predators, but still dangerous.
Yet, every time, Aldrich's frustrations only grew.
The knights dispatched them with ease.
An earth spike here, a burst of flame there—each beast felled quickly and without challenge.
Aldrich clenched his fists.
'This isn't good.'
The knights were too strong, their coordinated attacks leaving little room for any real danger to arise.
How was he supposed to unlock his Casuality Gaze if the knights keep dealing with every threatening opportunity so easily?
"We're getting closer to the heart of the forest," Duncan said, his eyes narrowing. "Stay sharp."
The group pressed on, and as they went deeper, the battles began to grow more challenging.
The Deamans they encountered were tougher now, closer to Predator rank.
One particularly large wild boar required two different arts to be taken down—first an earth spike to slow it, then a flame art to finish it off.
Aldrich took note of the struggle.
This was what he had been waiting for.
The creatures here were stronger, more dangerous.
If they kept going, it was only a matter of time before they encountered something that could give him the opportunity he needed.
He glanced at the knights surrounding him.
They were strong, no doubt, but even they were starting to show signs of effort.
Sweat beaded on their brows as they moved deeper into the forest, their steps more cautious now.
Aldrich's heart raced. This could be his chance soon.
If they encountered something strong enough, the knights would be too occupied to stop him.
He could slip away, head into the heart of the forest alone, and face whatever challenge lay ahead.
He just needed the right moment.
---
The deeper they went, the more dangerous the forest became.
The once easy kills were now requiring more effort from the knights.
Aldrich watched carefully, his mind racing with possibilities.
If the next Deaman was strong enough, it might distract the knights just long enough for him to slip away.
Every rustle in the trees, every snap of a twig, sent a surge of anticipation through him.
He could feel it—the moment was coming.
The forest was alive with danger, and soon, it would reveal itself.
---
And then, it happened.
A distant roar echoed through the trees, low and menacing.
The knights froze, their eyes narrowing as they scanned the treeline.
Aldrich's pulse quickened.
That sound wasn't from any Beast-ranked Deaman.
Duncan raised his hand, signaling for the group to stop. "Everyone, stay close," he commanded.
His voice was steady, but there was a hint of caution there.
The knights shifted, forming a tighter circle around him, but Aldrich barely noticed.
His mind was focused entirely on the noise, on the danger that was surely closing in.