"Took you long enough, Eques Noctis.", Eques Lux stated as he observed the dishevelled Young Knight. Although the helm and armour covered the entirety of the Knight his heavy breaths were enough for Eques Lux to realise his expression. Looking back it had surprised Eques Lux at one point as to how the Princess would clearly know the expressions of her Eques behind his helmet. But he too was not any short of the Princess. Every Eques had to improve and his first achievement (this is only for himself to know) was understanding Eques Noctis' expression. All in all it had been sheer luck for Eques Lux to have noticed the glaive, for the cloudy shrouds of the night sky had made sure to hide the identity of its Knight clearly. Meanwhile Eques Relicus too the night' shroud as a foreboding of something dangerous.
"The Princess? Where is the Princess?", asked the Young Knight.
He knew the strategy they had come up with at the beginning of their journey. If for some unknown reason he did not return the following night, the Princess she would move forward but leave discrete traces of her position. Traces which were previously tried and approved by Eques Noctis so that he would be the only one who would be able to find her all the while she moved on to the next location. He would follow. He would always follow. No matter how far behind she left him. He would know how to track and trace the one he claimed as 'His Princess'. Those were the 'Trials' she had to face during her travels, but the 'Valley of Death' was never a part of her 'Trials'. But the Valley and the Eques guarding it was notorious if not anything. Though this information was known only to Eques Noctis for he had been informed of her future previously by the 'Guardian Witch' of the Kingdom. Unfortunately the Guardian Witch had sacrificed her life to protect the Princess while the then inexperienced Young Knight was incapacitated during one of the previous attacks.
He knew the delay in his return was not part of the future he had been told but a part of the prophecy playing out to lead them towards their destiny. The prophecy had informed him of the seven knights to build the Fraterhood. And he had vowed to protect the Princess until the Fraterhood was completed.
"The Princess has already entered the 'Valley of Death'. It is only time until she returns after fulfilling and conquering her 'Trial'.", said Eques Relicus cutting through Eques Noctis' thoughts
The Young Knight who had just recently learned to keep a track of his surroundings and have a better awareness of things was not putting his recent achievement to use as he stood dumbfounded at the sudden interference but none the less an answer to his question. In his need to know about the Princess he had completely forgone his surroundings and set his focus on Eques Lux and had not taken in the presence of another Knight. He had yet to realise that one of the Knight' his Princess was searching for was standing in front of his eyes.
Although Eques Lux stood close to this new Knight showing his trust through the same, he felt distrust towards the unknown Knight. Watching Eques Lux closely he decided to hold off his weapon and relax his stance but he knew he could never drop his guard around this particular Knight. There was a nagging feeling that this new Knight hid something that may make or break the future the Princess was trying to write. His guard had let slip of his mind as Eques Lux, who he was surprised had been able to read him, immediately confirmed the identity of the Knight,
"Frater, this is Eques Relicus. We met while awaiting your return. He is part of our Fraterhood and has the eyes of Antevorta".
Ridden with suspicion Eques Noctis asked, "If you are truly the Knight our Princess has been searching for in the Valley of Death, why are you here? Why are you waiting here with Eques Lux, when you could be protecting the Princess. That is the oath we take as the Fraterhood. Eques Lux has abided by the Princess' command and stood by his promise to await my return, but Eques Relicus, how did the Guardian Knight of the Valley let you leave. Moreso, with the eyes of Antevorta shouldn't you have known the journey to the Valley was one of requirement rather than of compulsion."
"The Princess is young and yet inexperienced to this world. She is guarded by you. She has not known movement of time without you. She is required to complete her Trial by herself with minimum assistance.", stated Eques Relicus, 'without an imposter by her side' was left unsaid as the Eques had yet to decide if he could trust this unknown variable in the form of Eques Noctis
Eques Noctis had understood by now that relying on or trying to make Eques Relicus understand that the Trial were only meant for the Knights was useless and would only delay their journey. His distrust of this new Knight grew little by little by the minute but Eques Noctis decided to let go of the topic as his main focus was to get back to the Princess. Shaking his head he began walking the path towards the Valley leaving his Fraters to follow in his wake.
Meanwhile, Eques Lux who was busy assessing the situation decided to follow Eques Noctis and avoid any further confrontation for he knew that Eques Noctis had more knowledge about the Trials than most of the Knights. Though he knew that none of the Knights would accept that information out loud. It was one thing they all had an equal ego in. That and the fact that her Royal Highness was closest to Eques Noctis. An unfortunate fact by Eques Relicus.
As the trio progressed through the night, the tension between Eques Noctis and Eques Relicus increased. Adding the factor that they had not encountered a single beast on their path made each knight uneasy in their own way. Eques Relicus was relieved while Eques Lux felt anxious. On the other hand something felt different to the Young Knight. There was a fear he felt as he took each step. A fear which made him aware of every small sound. The insects buzzing, the wind bellowing and the silence around them. He abruptly stopped and looked around. The pounding of his heart could be heard in his ears. He licked his lips to feel some sensation other than his surroundings only to hear absolute silence. Eques Lux and Eques Relicus stopped to listen as well only to feel the same uneasiness. Soon fear started to eat at them. Eques Noctis felt fear for the Princess, Eques Relicus felt the fear of not knowing the identity of Eques Noctis but yet having to follow him into the unknown depths of his home, the Valley while Eques Lux felt a fear of the knowledge he gained at this very moment. The fear which made him realise that they did not take even a single night to enter the 'Valley of Death'. The fear which made him realise that the Princess was missing for the past four Solis.