Thanks to Kurtis's sacrifice, Ultear and Julius escaped. However, half of their knights were slaughtered and annihilated. Others were injured and some still died even after escaping from those monstrous monsters.
Everyone who survived had their eyes filled with terror and lost all hope. They were all thinking that it was the Princess's fault. She only brings them to their grave. It's her fault why their friends and comrades died. However, they couldn't voice out their opinion because of the fact that she's the princess. What will happen to them if they complain to a royalty?
That's what everyone thought...well, except for one person. It was Aubrey. Though she wasn't there in the scene, she get the gist of what happened by observing and asking some of the knights who survived. Commander Julius is still unconscious but he's already out from danger. So, the remaining Commander is Ultear.
"Commander," Aubrey call out gaining almost everyone's attention. Ultear just went out from the tent where the wounded was being treated. "Do you have a moment?" Aubrey added.
Ultear recognizes her as someone who Laurence calls as his sister. "Yes. What is it?"
"May I be blunt and tell you, Commander, that you took a reckless move by going into the Twin Impassable Mountain Ranges without any solid plans? What are you even thinking? Putting the life of your subordinates in great peril. How will you take responsibility, Commander?"
Ultear was speechless for a moment after hearing the things she's been thinking since the revolting scene occured. What Aubrey said is true. Ultear was reckless. She charges in to an unknown territory without any solid plans, even bringing the rest of the knights with her. She's a failure of a Commander. She failed all those knights who decided to follow her.
"I'll take responsibility." that's what the only thing Ultear said before leaving the camp. Kurtis was still in the foot of the Twin Impassable Mountain Ranges trying to held back the rest of the monsters and beasts so that they can escape. But...she just can't let him die there.
Kurtis is also a knight and as part of her taking responsibility of what happened, she's going back to save him.
"Are you out of your mind?" Ultear was taken aback when she heard Aubrey's voice behind her. Ultear was already inside the Sei Forest and just another kilometer, she'll reach the foot of the Twin Impassable Mountain Ranges. "I only ask how will you take responsibility, but nobody wants you to risk your life! You're really reckless, your Highness!"
Ultear can hear the frustration and disbelief in Aubrey's voice as she walk towards her. Her arm was still wrap in a bandage. Ultear stared at her.
"What are you doing here? Go back, Knight Aubrey."
"Not unless you go with me, Commander."
She's stubborn. Ultear thought. After a minute of arguing, Aubrey wins. In the end Ultear could only sigh in defeat as she let the stubborn lady knight to accompany her. They reach the foot of the Twin Impassable Mountain Ranges in no time. And even with just one arm, Aubrey prove herself that she has legit skills, worthy to be called the greatest swords master.
When they arrive the whole place was silent. There were still remnants of the previous battle but none of the monsters and beasts are seen around. The corpses of the knights and monsters and beasts were still lying down. Although some were unrecognizable, there were still those, whose body was intact.
"I'll gather the corpses." Aubrey stated and started gathering pieces of human body parts. "Then, I'll check the surrounding for now. Some knights were missing." Ultear said.
She walk around the whole place, looking and searching for clues of what just happened. Kurtis is missing. He's not dead since his body wasn't found here. He can't be dead. Kurtis isn't that weak to die just like that. But, what if Kurtis is already dead? I...no. I should stop thinking negatively.
As Ultear walk further away, she found a familiar black cufflinks on the ground. It was smeared with red blood. Ultear's heart started pounding as she anxiously stared at the cufflinks. She search around frantically once more. Ultear followed the trail where she found the cufflinks and soon after she was brought to a small village inside the Twin Impassable Mountain Ranges.
The Twin Impassable Mountain Ranges wasn't called Impassable for nothing after all. It was full of steep cliffs, unpredictable weather, and some parts of the Mountain Ranges, landslides occur almost every day and most especially, it was the lair of the monsters and beasts.
But, there was no record of a village inside the Twin Impassable Mountain Ranges. That's why Ultear was flabbergasted when she saw the village.
In her curiosity, Ultear stealthily sneak around the small village to investigate. The more she look around, the more she become anxious, dumbfounded and confuse. She saw the evolved monsters and beasts that attacked them a while ago roaming around the village. But that's not the most surprisingly, what surprises Ultear the most that almost made her lost her footing was the sight of humans living with those hideous monsters and beast. A lot of questions fills Ultear mind. What the hell's happening? Did they tame them? Or rather, did they do something strange, like controlling them?
Before Ultear decided to charged at the Twin Impassable Mountain Ranges earlier, her and Commander Julius already had theories about the anomalies going on with the monsters and beasts. And seeing this peculiarity in front of her naked eyes, Ultear confirm their suspicions.
"What's happening to the world?" Aubrey appear out of nowhere beside Ultear. Though, Ultear wasn't surprised seeing her since she already felt her presence 50 feet away. They were hiding behind a huge boulder. The snow started falling once again.
"This must be the cause of the monster's and beast's odd behavior. We might unveil some secrets here. Let's investigate more."