The forest breathed like a living thing.

Cold winds slithered through the twisted woods, brushing against malformed trunks that resembled the claws of dead giants clawing toward the heavens.

Above, the scarlet sky churned endlessly beneath layers of dark clouds, where streaks of crimson lightning occasionally flashed across the horizon like wounds splitting open in the heavens themselves.

Mist crawled low across the ground; thick and heavy.

And within that dreadful silence, two figures watched the eight exiles from afar.

They stood upon the crooked branches of a gigantic dead tree several meters away from the cave Regaleon’s group had disappeared into moments ago.

Hidden by fog and darkness, they blended almost perfectly into the forest itself.

One of them leaned lazily against the crown of the tree as though he had not a single concern in the world.

He looked to be in his early twenties; with messy brown hair which fell carelessly over sharp green eyes that glimmered with amusement beneath the darkness.

His body was lean rather than muscular, yet there was a subtle sharpness hidden beneath his relaxed posture. Like a wolf pretending to be a stray dog.

He wore a dark leather tunic beneath a loose forest-green cloak, while a slender sword rested by his waist.

Even the way he stood lacked discipline as one leg dangled freely off the branch while his back rested comfortably against the bark.

Looking at him, nobody would believe this was a man capable of surviving six years within the Nether Lands.

His gaze was fixated on the cave entrance. Then he finally spoke.

"This year’s arrival look promising."

His voice carried laziness within it; not the arrogance of nobles nor the coldness of killers. Just pure indifference.

The kind belonging to someone who had seen too much and no longer found reason to be surprised by anything anymore.

Beside him stood another youth.

Unlike the relaxed man, this one stood upright with his arms folded calmly behind his back.

His features were sharper and colder; not the deathly coldness of assassins but the composure of someone who constantly calculated everything around him.

His black hair was tied neatly behind his head while his eyes flickered faintly with a golden light.

Those eyes were terrifyingly focused. Like an eagle staring at prey from the clouds.

He watched the cave entrance on silence before replying calmly.

"They don’t look that strong." His voice carried no mockery; only finality. Like someone speaking facts.

The brown-haired youth turned his head lazily toward him.

"What do you mean?" He asked. "We’ve been watching them since yesterday. Did you see how they fought the Wights? And that armoured one even killed a Drake. I’d say they’re strong."

The black-haired youth narrowed his glowing eyes faintly. "That is exactly my point."

The lazy one blinked. "Hm?"

"The group as a whole is weak," the serious youth explained calmly. "Only four among them possess real combat capability. The rest are relying entirely on the strength of others to survive."

He paused briefly before continuing. "The Knight in armour. The girl in the Cloak. The bulky swordsman. And the fire wielder. Those four are the fighters."

Then his gaze sharpened slight. "But the remaining four are liabilities in direct combat."

The brown-haired youth scratched his cheek thoughtfully. "You are not wrong."

He glanced toward the cave again and said. "There really are only four fighters."

Then a small sigh escaped his lips.

"Only the gods know how they’ll survive in this forest."

"They will." The answer came immediately.

The lazy youth raised a brow and asked, "What makes you so certain?"

The serious youth remained silent for a moment...

Then he spoke. "Because those four are not ordinary."

The golden glow within his eyes intensify faintly as he continued, "You see the one in armour?"

The brown-haired youth nodded. "The Knight?"

"Yes." The serious youth continued. "If my assumptions are correct, he should be from House Valehart."

At those words, the brown-haired youth’s eyes widened slightly. "One of the Great Houses of Valoria?"

The black-haired one nodded. "Only they train knights with such discipline."

Then his gaze deepened thoughtfully.

"The way he positions his group. The way he tracks enemies. The way he observes surroundings before moving. Even the way he fights..." Then he paused.

"That is not merely talent,"

A crimson flash illuminated the forest briefly.

"That is training carved into bone."

The playful youth whistled softly. "So the knight might actually be someone important."

"Perhaps." The black-haired youth continued. "The girl in the Cloak is easier to identify."

"The assassin?"

"Yes." A faint interest flickered across his composed expression as he said. "Her movement techniques are almost identical to House Noctivane’s Shadow Discipline."

The brown-haired youth shivered dramatically.

"Ugh. Assassins." He grimaced. "I hate assassins. They creep me out."

The black-haired one ignored him as he continue speaking.

"She knows how to disappear within the shadows instinctively. That is not something learned overnight."

The he shifted slightly upon the tree. "The bulky one is likely from one of the lesser war clans beneath House Valehart’s authority."

"And the Pyromancer?" The brown-haired asked.

The serious one narrowed his eyes thoughtfully before replying. "...That one is strange."

"How so?"

"He fights differently." The golden glow within his pupils flickered again.

"He lacks the battlefield instincts of the others. Yet his control of Aether is unnaturally refined..."

Realization flashed across the lazy youth’s face. "...Is he from one of those places? A Sanctum?"

The serious one nodded. "He is likely from one of the Sanctums."

Silence descended briefly afterward.

Only the sound of distant thunder echoed across the forest...

The brown-haired youth finally let out a low chuckle and said.

"Six years in the Nether Lands and you still remember all those Great Houses and political nonsense."

He then shook his head slowly. "Don’t you think about something else instead? Like finding a way to leave this cursed Lands?"

The black-haired youth didn’t reply immediately. Instead, his gaze remained fixed on the cave, then he finally spoke simply.

"Knowledge is survival."

The playful youth groaned dramatically...

"Ugh! There you go again with your philosophical nonsense."

Still, despite his complaints, there was a faint respect hidden beneath his grin.

The serious youth ignored him once more before speaking calmly. "I think we’ve observed enough."

The lazy youth blinked. "Huh?"

"I will return to the Sanctuary and report to Princess Lytheria."

At the mention of that name, even the playful youth’s expression shifted slightly. Then, he sighed heavily.

"...And here I thought that tonight would finally be peaceful."

The serious youth continued as though he hadn’t heard him. "You will remain behind..."

The lazy youth froze. "... Excuse me?"

"You will remain behind to observe them for one month..."

The lazy one interrupted again as his face twitched. "You’re joking, right?"

"I do not." The black-haired youth’s tone remained calm and absolute as he continued. "If they survive long enough and prove themselves useful, you are to bring them back to the Sanctuary."

The playful youth stared at him blankly before throwing his hands into the air.

"For a whole month?" He groaned loudly. "Do you know how boring observation duty is?"

The serious youth didn’t answer him.

"You really have no heart." He complained but silent answered him once more...

Then suddenly, the brown-haired youth smirked mischievously...

"Ohh!" Then understanding seem to flash in his eyes. "I get it now. You just wanted an excuse to run back to your precious princess..."

There was only silence but he continued as his gaze widened...

"You and your blind loyalty..." Then he leaned closer slightly and whispered. "...Or is it love?"

For the first time, the serious youth’s expression twitched faintly. It was subtle; almost impossible to notice...

But the brown-haired youth burst into laughter immediately before yelling. "Hahaha! I knew it!"

The black-haired one simply exhaled quietly. Then without another word, he raised his hand...

Golden light erupted within the forest.

The surrounding darkness retreated instantly as a massive portal form before him. Ancient runes rotated slowly within the glowing portal while waves of Aether spread through the trees...

A moment later... A beast emerged. It was enormous; half eagle, half lion... A Griffin.

Golden-brown feathers covered it’s body while it’s wings stretched across the forest like moving walls.

It’s talons gleamed sharply beneath the crimson lightning while it’s golden eyes radiated a noble ferocity.

The very air trembled beneath it’s presence as it emerged from the portal...

The playful youth whistled.

"You really love showing off..."

Ignoring him completely, the serious youth jumped into the Griffin’s back gracefully...

Winds exploded across the forest as the beawt spread out it’s massive wings...

Then the black-haired youth finally spoke one last time. "Do not interfere with their affairs."

His glowing eyes locked onto the other youth as he warned. "You are only to observe. Nothing more."

The playful youth waved his hands lazily. "Yeah, yeah. I heard you." He said perfunctorily.

The serious youth’s eyes narrowed as he spoke again. "...And make sure that you don’t mess this up."

With that, the Griffin released a majestic cry that echoed across the scarlet heavens before launching upward violently...

The winds nearly tore the branches apart and within moments... Both rider and beast vanished into the crimson clouds above.

Then... Silence returned.

The brown-haired youth watched the sky for several seconds before sighing dramatically.

"You know..." He stretched lazily upon the branch. "...he really needs to relax more."

Then his green eyes slowly shifted toward the cave entrance far below.

A grin spread across his face as his eyes gleamed with something mischievous...

"Well.." His body suddenly dissolved into the shadows dancing within the fog.

"...I think this is going to be interesting."