It was a rare sight, a road clinging to the edge of a massive mountain. On the left, a sheer drop vanished into a sea of clouds, making it impossible to see what lay below. Along the road, abandoned carriages and scattered skeletons lined the path, human and horse alike.
"Is this some kind of story... or what the hell is going on?" Nathan muttered.
"I don't know… but it's scary," Lilo said, her voice tight.
Scene after scene, the forest seemed to show them glimpses of a forgotten tale. Maybe it was the story of a long-dead empire. Or maybe something else entirely... something they hadn't discovered yet.
"Let's move, Lilo."
"Yeah. Just… be careful."
They stepped cautiously through the wreckage. Nathan studied the ground, hoofprints were on the dirt, combined with dried blood.
"Were they running? Or-"
"I think they were headed toward the village,"
"Yeah... makes sense."
The direction of the carriages, the way the horses had fallen, it was clear. They had been going toward the village. But whoever invaded it had already passed through, meeting them here on the mountain.
"They were caught by surprise."
"..."
"Poor horsies..." Lilo mumbled.
Nathan kept walking. Lilo followed, the atmosphere had grown heavy, weighed down by too many ruined scenes just like this one.
"Hm?"
"That carriage looks expensive."
Ahead of them stood a fancy carriage, its body white, with precious stones. The horses' skeletons still wore white leather armor. But the most striking sight was the trio of armored skeletons lying in front of the carriage door.
"Knights," Nathan said quietly.
"I think I'm gonna be sick…"
"Then wait here. I'll check it out."
Lilo didn't argue. She hovered back as Nathan knelt beside one of the knight's bodies. White armor. A finely crafted sword. He took it, leaving behind the crude blade he'd taken from the demonic worshiper earlier. This one was far better.
He glanced back. Lilo gave him a thumbs-up.
Nathan nodded and opened the carriage door.
Inside, the carriage was luxurious red velvet, dark polished wood. One skeleton sat slumped in a corner, dressed in fine clothes. Nathan stepped in and inspected the body.
"C. Noburgin... sounds like a noble name. Or maybe not."
The name was engraved inside a golden pocket watch he'd found on the body. Digging further, Nathan discovered a folded piece of leather tucked in the coat's inner pocket.
He looked around, searching the carriage thoroughly. Finding nothing else, he stepped outside with the letter in hand.
"Lilo! Come here! I found something."
"Coming!"
She flew to his side as Nathan opened the letter, no guilt in his expression. The owner was long dead, after all.
To Duke C. Noburgin of the West Marches,The village of Dornwatch lies exposed. You are hereby ordered to secure its defense with immediate effect.Hold the line. No retreat. No delays. The border must not break.By Order of the White Throne,Emperor Kaelen Dravaris IIAurelion Empire
The letter confirmed their theory. The soldiers had been en route to defend the village… but they'd been ambushed along the way. Too late.
"Aurelion Empire... Emperor Kaelen Dravaris the Second… and Duke C. Noburgin."
"So the one in the carriage was the duke," Lilo said.
"Great. What's next? A palace?"
"I've never even heard of the Aurelion Empire. Just how old is this place?"
"I don't know, Lilo. We just keep moving."
Nathan walked on, the road still littered with the wreckage of a battle long past. Carriages, armor, bones. It painted a vivid picture of the chaos. They knew the story now... but the invaders? Still a mystery. Who could have breached the border of such an empire?
"Lilo… those knights must've been strong."
"You think so?"
"Didn't you see the marks on the ground?"
"No...?"
"There were slash marks deep in the stone. Same kind I saw when that black entity used my body to fight that beast."
"You mean... they could use aura?"
"Yeah. And they were guarding a duke. That says something."
"But only three? For an invasion, that's barely anything."
"Right? Especially for such a long convoy…"
They walked in silence for a while. The mountain road gave way to a forest again, and still the convoy stretched on. Skeletons everywhere. It had been a slaughter.
"The battle must've been insane."
"..."
"You okay, Lilo?"
"Just feeling a little sick…"
"Then we're lucky, we're almost there. Look."
Ahead, another thick wall of bushes stood. A transition point. Another scene. The forest was telling them something, like chapters in a forgotten story.
"I'm going first this time,"
"Wait," Lilo said softly. "Let's go together."
"What?"
"Let's just… go together this time."
"Oh. Alright."
She floated lower and gently grabbed his hand. It was a little funny, how small she was, but he was glad. He knew facing all this alone would've broken him by now.
"Alright then… let's see what's next."
Together, they stepped through the wall of green, into the next chapter.