The next day, Dante departed with Silmara to complete his first trial. They were deep in the woods of the Sylvanalia Forest.

"Sister Sylmara, I have said my farewells to my mother and father. Can I ask you a question?"

Silmara was there only as an observer for Dante's trial. This was an ancient rule to verify and legitimize the completion of the Trial. The Verdant Commonwealth of Sylvanalia is a nation that is comprised of a cluster of Druidian and Forest-Dwelling Communities. Tyranny and Marauders centuries ago had united these nature-loving communities to band together to form a powerful nation led by the High Archdruid.

"Yes, my Lord Dante. You may ask?"

"What was your Trial of Illumination? Because mine is really difficult. Are all Trials this hard?"

"No, my lord. My trial was 90 years ago. My Triune Hints were Love, Swift, and Tear. At first, I thought, it was a difficult thing for me to decipher this. But that is the work of us Mystics. The Trial of Illumination tests you on how you listen to the Holy System and hear what is unsaid. That is why, sometimes we think this is what our trial is but the real trial is completely different."

"To listen to what is unsaid? So what was your trial?"

"During my travels to fulfill my trial, I met a Marialian like you. For a young elf such as me, humans were a mystery to me. We had become friends, and he helped me earn money doing mercenary work so I could maintain a steady income as I decipher my trial. I had not realized it but the man had fallen in love with me. I thought, my Trial of Illumination was something grand and epic... but I found out that he was a Disciple Knight."

"What is a Disciple Knight?"

"They are Holy Knights in training. And they are chosen by the Holy System to fulfill a role to play in the cosmic war between heaven and hell. And this handsome young knight had run away from his duties to be with me. He was a member of the Knights of the Swift Wind."

"They're the order of knights that guard the borders and roads of Sylvanalia, right? From monsters and bandits. So... Love, Swift, Tear... that meant."

"For 3 years I did not believe it myself. We traveled all over the continent of Western Ravenna. From Freelandia to Tempestora. We had so much fun together. And I could not fulfill my trial, because I too, had fallen in love with him."

"So because of the Trial, you broke his hea-"

Horses galloped around Dante and Sylmara, as they walked on a small dirt path in the forest. And sounds of swords and screeches of beasts could be nearby.

Sylmara pulled Dante's hand and they checked to see what was going on. And they hid behind the trees.

"Steady men! They are just Shadowspawn Bats. We'll have them cut down in no time at all," the Knight Commander said.

Slash! Slash!

The Shadowspawn Bat is a nocturnal creature that thrives in the darkness of the forested border. It possesses leathery wings and emits a chilling screech as it swoops down on unsuspecting prey, utilizing its sharp fangs and claws.

Three more knights in steel armor adorned with sky blue cloths and rich tapestry for their horse's leather saddle. And their helmets glimmered in the sun's rays.

Slash! A Shadowspawn bat's wing is sliced off. The Swift Wind Knights tore through the barrage of giant smelly bats that charge at them in the light of day.

The knights swung powerful blows with their swords and showed swordsmanship at the highest levels.

"Sir Alaver! Do you not find it suspicious that these nocturnal creatures are attacking us while the sun is up?"

Sylmara panicked when she heard that name.

"Sir Alaver?"

Dante noticed Sylmara's reaction.

"Sister Syl. What is it?"

"He is still alive," she whispered to Dante. "Sir Alaver Amarasil. It's him."

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Dante found it weird how they were just talking about him and he had appeared.

The Knights of the Swift Wind had defeated the Shadowspawn Bats and took a rest to regroup. Sir Alaver Amarasil stepped off his gallant steed. And removed his helmet to take a breather.

He had long white hair that shined like grey moonlight. And his age had already settled. He was more than a hundred years old, but the fierceness and handsomeness had not faded one bit. He looked toward the bushes and noticed a presence.

Dante whispered to her, "He is coming this way! Isn't he like really old? How is he still alive?"

He then thought to himself, "Magic. Probably. Or maybe he is just that tough."

The Holy Mystic Silmara Tavaluna, for the first time in almost a hundred years, blushed like a high school girl seeing him.

Sir Alaver walked toward their direction, as he stepped closer, he kept his grip on his sheathed sword, then closed his eyes.

A young boy's voice could be heard praying, "In the name of the Holy System, I call forth the cleansing radiance of light. Let this purifying light wash over us, dispelling afflictions and purging corruption. May your holy illumination restore purity and bring forth renewal."

[Purifying Light Granted]

A burst of light surprised Dante and Silmara, but Sir Alaver was prepared for it.

A young boy in heavy steel armor sprung from the bushes next to them and swung his sword against the old knight. But Sir Alaver quickly parried the boy and countered him with a kick in the chest, sending him back into the bushes.

"What the" Dante exclaimed.

"Sir Alaver! Why do you always kick so hard?" Garik Drekthar complained.

Sir Alaver smiled and said, "If I had not kicked you that hard, you would have hit that rock over there. So I had to increase the distance where you would land."

He then rubbed the boy's hair.

"But good work on using the [Purifying Light] invocation. Using a healing invocation to blind your opponent is ingenious. At least you're using that head of yours, Garik."

"Yeah. Thanks, Sir Garik. I'm still 10 years old but wait till I'm of age, and I'll defeat you in both sword skill and horse riding skill. Anyway, are they friends of yours?"

The squire Garik picked up his sword and pointed it at Dante and Silmara still hiding in the bushes.

Sir Alaver then shouted out, "Who goes there?"

Dante slapped Silmara back into reality, as she was trembling and falling apart in nervousness.

"Sister Silmara! Should we go? Or do you want to stay? Sister!"

Dante deciding quickly as his observer was in a state of love paralysis as he called it, took his Danivio Dwarf Mask from his bag and made Silmara wear it. He then pulled her out of the bushes and showed themselves to the Knights.

The other Knights of the Swift Wind were alert and they unsheathed their swords and surrounded Dante and Silmara within seconds.

Dante walked toward the open space and said, "Please, my good Sirs. Do not be alarmed. We are members of the Verdant Doves. We were simply watching you fight those Shadowspawn Bats from earlier. We mean you no harm," Dante spoke eloquently knowing that Knights valued honor and courtesy. He just didn't want to die so early.

Sir Alaver waved his hand as Knight Commander and they all went at ease. He observed them and put his hand on the young Garik's shoulder as if to rein him in.

"You are of the Verdant Doves?" Sir Alaver asked. "Then you wouldn't mind proving it to us. The Knights of the Swift Wind and the Verdant Doves both believe in the Holy System. But we also share the same branch called the Circle of Nature. Answer this. What is the Unifying Doctrine of the Circle of Nature?"

Dante bit his lips and knew that he could not answer this question. He was a member of the Holy Church but Marvia and Conrad were affiliated from different branches.

Seeing Dante struggle to answer, Sir Alaver waved his hand again, and the Knights raised their swords again.

"Wait... No..." Dante worriedly said.

Sir Alaver's eyes pierced even more fiercely.

"It's a trick question!" Silmara answered firmly. "The Unifying Sectarian Doctrine of the Circle of Nature is that the preservation of the natural world is a sacred duty. The Holy Church of the System is essential for the preservation of the Natural world."

Sir Alaver smiled and said, "Correct! But why is it a trick question?"

"Because the Circle of Nature is a Sect, not a Branch. This nuance is unknown to outsiders. But members of sects such as the Circle of Nature are very particular with this detail."

Sir Alaver called off his men and welcomed Dante and Silmara. Though, Sir Alaver still had not recognized who she was.

"I truly apologize for our manners. I am Sir Alaver Amarasil, Knight Commander of the Knights of the Swift Wind. And this is my squire, Garik Drekthar. He is still brash, but loyal once you get to know him. And very adept in his faith in the Holy System."

Silmara sweat nervously, as this was a meeting she had not expected to ever occur again.

"Yes. It is nice to meet you, my good sir. We are looking for the Grove Guardian. That is all I can say. Well, ummm..." Dante murmured.

Sir Alaric noticed the masked maiden's silence, and replied, "The Grove Guardian. I am aware of the power and formidability of the Holy Mystics of the Verdant Doves, but is it, not too dangerous for only the two of you to go on this journey, young child?"

Garik annoyed at his mentor's curiosity interrupted and said with a serious face, "If you're looking for the Grove Guardian, then you should come with us. The High Archdruid Nidran had made a druidic decree recently."

Sir Alaric then added, "Right. The Druidic Decree, assembled a unified force to hunt down and kill the Grove Guardian. The High Archdruid's daughter had gotten lost in the forest, and she ended up hiding in the Grove Guardian's cave. She sent a distress signal using Druidian magic. And the Knights of the Swift Wind are participating in the expedition."

"Really? Then this must be the Will of the Holy System," Silmara said.

She jumped in excitement and accidentally dropped her mask as it did not fit her.

Her beautiful elven face blushed in red as Sir Alaric's was dead speechless at seeing her.

He picked up her mask and handed it to her.

"You are as beautiful as ever, Sil."