Garik Drekthar, the 10-year-old squire sat in front of a bonfire next to Dante. It was midnight in the inner region of the Sylvanalia Forest. The host of Swift Wind Knights that followed Sir Alaric into the expedition to hunt down the Grove Guardian had camped at a secure spot at the border of the legendary monster's territory. And the Holy Mystic Silmara lay sound asleep inside her and Dante's tent.

Garik kept wearing his heavy steel armor despite the rest of the knights taking a break from the chaos that ensued with monsters behaving erratically.

Dante slouched and looked at the burning flame, and glanced at Garik cleaning his greatsword. His greatsword was twice his size, yet he had no problem swinging it at his height.

"You used [Purifying Light] earlier," Dante asked politely. "And used it to blind an opponent. That was neat."

Garik kept focusing on cleaning his sword with a rag.

"The Holy System blesses us bountifully. It is up to us to make the most of Its generosity."

"Yeah, but that invocation is meant for healing," Dante said. "You weren't able to heal anyone, and only used the side effect of the invocation. My father told me about [Purifying Light] once. He was on a quest to defeat a tyrant king. A king that oppressed his people, and taxed them to starvation and poverty. And used his authority to kill anyone who got in his way."

Garik sheathed his greatsword and took out his Scriptures. It was covered tightly with cloth and he carefully reattached it to his left arm for safekeeping. While he was tying it up, Dante noticed part of the book's cover. It had an exquisite ivory cover adorned with golden plated motifs and sacred symbols. Garik covered it up quickly.

"So? What happened to your father?" Garik asked and surprising Dante with his sudden interest.

Dante looked around and finished his story.

"My father met a man from the enemy king's forces. The man healed him and told him that the evil king would soon die. And that he would take responsibility for his King's actions. After a few days, the evil king disappeared. A new benevolent king replaced him. And my father went back home."

Garik stood up and nodded. "Do you think that man killed his king?"

Silmara interrupted the story and said, "There are many ways to kill. But the way you kill someone will determine your true character."

Dante thought about it and looked noticed a horseman with a lamp headed to their camp.

Garik shouted, "Messenger! Call Sir Alaver."

The messenger was led to Sir Alaver's tent. Garik, Dante, and Silmara followed inside.

The messenger bowed before the Knight Commander and gave him the message.

"The High Archdruid Nidran requests support, Sir Alaver. They are currently in a battle against the Grove Guardian. There have been many casualties. And your assistance is a matter of life and death. They have cornered the monster in front of its cave."

Sir Alaver understood all this and commanded all 50 of the Swift Wind Knights he had with him to move out, and head to the cave as soon as possible. Silmara was still silent and had not said a word about why Sir Alaver ignored her even though they had a history together.

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Garik let Dante and Silmara borrow a horse so they could come with the host of knights dashing deeper and deeper into the darkness of the Sylvanalia Forest.

After three hours, of travelling almost 150 miles. Dante was so impressed by the horses' power and endurance.

"The Knights of the Swift Wind aren't called Swift for nothing," Dante thought. He looked up at Silmara and noticed she look disturbed and restless.

Garik rode his horse fiercely at the front of their party next to Sir Alaver.

They had arrived at the site of the battle, and the area had been wiped out of trees and shrubbery. And left an aftermath of dust, ashes, and dead bodies of Fianna Warriors.

The High Archdruid had brought 200 of them to hunt down and kill the Grove Guardian.

But it wiped out two-thirds of them.

Dante had never seen real war.

Lifeless bodies, both friend and foe, lay scattered across the desolate battlefield.

The air was heavy with the scent of death, mingling with the acrid smell of smoke and charred remnants of what was once lush vegetation.

The once-proud Fianna Warriors, renowned for their skill and bravery, now lay motionless, their Druidian armor stained with blood and dirt.

The scene was a grim testament to the fierce clash of forces and the high stakes of war, a sight that left Dante with a profound sense of the brutal reality he had entered.

"What did all of these?" Dante asked. His arms shivered and the stink of the dead bodies was forcing him to puke, yet he held back as he felt Silmara's body stiffen in sorry.

"I'm going to kill that monster. I'm not going to let it wreak more havoc than it has already done," Dante said.

Garil rode his horse in front of Dante and Silmara. His face frowning in rage. "How will you kill it, Dante? Show me who you truly are."

They headed to the High Archdruid's command post. And heard the Knight Commander Sir Alaver arguing with the High Archdruid Nidran on equal standing.

"Why did you attack the Grove Guardian too early? The Expedition Forces had agreed to attack at the same time and overwhelm it. Now, more than half of your forces are dead, without the support of healers, mages, and archers. The Fionna Warriors are strong, but they have weaknesses that have to be supported."

Sidran replied, "And you will have me wait for them while my daughter could die at any moment at the hands of that monster! Do you not understand the love of a father? And she is my daughter. She will someday become the next High Archdruidess. Her life is that valuable to the nation of Sylvanalia and its future."

"And news about the Alchemist Merchant League's reinforcements. Where are they now? And when will they arrive?"

A Commander of the Fionna Warriors loyal to the High Archdruid replied, "They will arrive in three days, Sir Alaver. They had promised thousands of mercenaries to assist in the expedition. Though, reports from our intelligence claim that there was no evidence of any Mercenaries that arrived in Sylvanalia's ports. Not even in the capital city of Ambershade."

Sir Alaver recovered himself and walked back.

"We cannot change what has happened now. Pray to your Tree of Life that the dead's souls may be saved and had not died in vain. For the Knights of the Swift Wind will not participate in this Expedition. You have almost no warriors left. And the Alchemist Merchant League has failed to send reinforcements. What you are doing now is suicide. This expedition is a failure. We are leaving."

Nidran then warned, "I will not forget this, Alaver! You, Swift Wind Knights, will pay for abandoning us here. You Holy System worshipers are all the same! I should have banished all of you a long time ago! My daughter's life is in danger! Do you not understand!"

Sir Alaver left the tent, passed Garik, Dante, and Silmara, then said to them, "The Knights of the Swift Wind are leaving. If you wish to stay, stay. But you are always welcome to come with us, and we will bring you safely to your home in the Verdant Dove's Sanctum."

Dante replied, "We are staying, Sir Alaver. Thank you for your hospitality."

Silmara avoided looking at the Knight Commander, and she held Dante's hand.

Garik then said, "I'm going to stay with them, Sir Alaver. And keep them safe."

"Very well. I shall hope to see you all again someday."

Sir Alaric climbed up his warhorse, and all of his Knights followed him. With them, leaving a trail of mud and horse tracks, and disappearing into the distance.

Dante was concerned and asked Garik, "If what they said is true, is there still a way to kill the Grove Guardian, Garik?"

"When Sir Alaver said, it was suicide. He was right. And the High Archdruid had planned it all along. I've heard only stories about it, but they say the High Archdruid's life is connected with the Grove Guardian of the Sylvanalia Forest. The members of the Druidian Faith knew that the Expedition to kill the Grove Guardian also meant the death of the High Archdruid himself. And he has come here to die."

"So, Sir Alaver knew that even without the Knights of the Swift Wind, the expedition would succeed."

"The Nation of Sylvanalia was founded by Druids a long time ago. And the land was plagued by monsters and beasts that made living here impossible. Only thanks to the appearance of the High Archdruid and their lineage, had the druid and forest-dwelling communities here able to fend off the monsters of the forest," Silmara said.

Dante had only heard about this, and his mind had revisited his visions from the Ritual Ceremony of the Trial of Illumination again.

He fell into the mud, and had visions surge into his mind, and Garik held him up,

Silmara caught Dante and whispered into his ear.

"Listen to the Holy System, Dante. Do not cloud your mind. Listen to what is unsaid."

"Dante! Dante!" Garik shouted. "Are you alright?"

Dante opened his eyes. And felt true illumination. He had been dwelling all the time on his Triune Hints of Grove, Guardian, and Safe. And realized what it meant.

"Garik," he said. "I need your help."

Garik smiled and said, "Help for what? To kill the Grove Guardian?"

Dante smirked. "Nah. We're saving a princess."