Wolfwood – Departure Toward Greenwood
Lazuro, the Adventurer, had arrived just in time.
The news he brought about the demons hit Wolfwood with such weight that the next morning the castle courtyard looked far more like an army preparing for a campaign than a noble delegation heading to a Royal Hunt.
The ranks of the Wolf Knights stood in perfect formation, their armor catching the morning sun. All one hundred knights had been outfitted with expanded gear: alongside their swords they now carried bows with six arrows, shields, and a sharp hunting knife at their belts. They looked as though demons might descend upon them at any moment.
Beside the knights stood the twenty Wolf Hunters — Wolfwood's finest. They were no ordinary hunters: scouts, trackers, elite archers whose eyes could spot the slightest movement even in the densest forest. Their leader was the legendary Hawkeye Beela, whose gaze was so sharp even the knights were wary of him.
The hundred knights were divided into three units:
The Main Column – 60 knights under the command of Anita the Whirlwind, whose very presence demanded discipline.
The Right Wing – 20 knights led by Jula.
The Left Wing – 20 knights under Xaba.
Three mages accompanied the force:
Master Florian, the Wolf Mage
His two apprentices: Noelle, the Magical Maid, and Fireburp, the overeager novice clutching her staff as if ready to prove himself at any moment.
Representing House Wolfwood:
Bandorn Wolfwood, head of the house
His personal bodyguard, Janos Wolf
Carla Wolfwood, watched over by Ironclaw
And finally Andras Wolfwood, whose bodyguard was the feared and respected Andrea Wolf.
Young Wolf — as always — refused to sit in the carriage.
He rode his own horse, savoring the fresh air, the open land, and the freedom only the saddle could give him. The medieval countryside stretched before them in peaceful green hills, forests, and winding streams, as if the world itself pretended nothing was wrong.
But Wolfwood knew better.
And soon, Greenwood would know as well.
On the Road to Greenwood – Wolfwood Meets Silverwood
Halfway to Greenwood, the Wolfwood delegation met the riders of Silverwood. The knights of the two noble houses exchanged respectful nods, then matched their pace and continued the journey side by side.
At the front rode Christina Silverwood, and beside her Andras. Their horses' hooves beat a steady rhythm on the forest road as an easy conversation flowed between them.
The Wolf Knights and the Silver Knights advanced together toward Greenwood — and though neither side knew what awaited them in the depths of the forest, the air carried a faint, ominous tension.
The two delegations rode along the wide woodland path, sunlight filtering through the leaves in golden patches. The banners of Wolfwood and Silverwood fluttered side by side in the breeze.
Christina rode with elegant posture, while Andras sat his horse as if he had been born in the saddle.
She glanced at him, eyes sparkling with playful mischief.
"You brought an entire century of knights with you?" she asked. "I thought this was a hunt, not a battle. I only brought fifty knights — plus my six elite lady‑knights who accompany me everywhere. I brought hunters too… but only ten."
Andras shrugged, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"As you can see, the King loves his hunts. I just hope the demons don't end up hunting him."
His tone darkened.
"If they reached Wolfwood, they'll be in Greenwood too."
Christina's expression tightened, her grip on the reins firming.
"You think they'll attack? Should I have brought more knights?"
"I don't think so. I'm certain," Andras replied. "If you wanted to kill a King, where would it be easier? In his fortified castle… or during a hunt, in a foreign forest?"
Christina paled.
Andras continued:
"As for numbers, don't worry. The King will bring at least two hundred Royal Knights. And all of Greenwood's Green Hawk Knights will be at our disposal. If it comes to a battle, we won't be outnumbered."
Christina exhaled, slightly relieved.
"That's reassuring. Good thing my brother hates hunting — he stayed home."
Andras glanced at her.
"Then who's in your carriage, if Lord Silverwood stayed behind?"
"Only my niece, Amelia."
"Does Lady Amelia enjoy hunting?"
Christina smiled, a hint of mischief returning.
"Oh, of course. She came for a certain young man."
Andras laughed.
"Then that young man will have to protect her if demons attack. We'll form an evacuation team for her."
"Near the King?" Christina asked incredulously.
"Far from the King," Andras replied. "He'll be the main target. And between us… I think he has the brains of a pheasant."
Christina burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! I'll keep that between us. So you're not a fan of this Royal Hunt either?"
"That's not it," Andras shook his head. "I don't mind fighting demons. But a foreign forest is the worst battlefield against Fire Demons. Forest fires are almost guaranteed… and that means casualties."
Christina's expression darkened again.
"I'm starting to hate this Royal Hunt more and more. And it hasn't even begun. I hope you're wrong and the demons don't attack."
"Better to be prepared," Andras said. "Then nothing will surprise us."
Christina rode in silence for a moment, then spoke again:
"Is this your first time in Greenwood?"
"Yes," Andras nodded. "And it seems I'll visit Greenwood Castle before I ever see Silverwood."
Christina's smile softened into something genuine.
"You're welcome in Silverwood anytime."
Andras looked ahead, where the dark lines of Greenwood Forest were already rising on the horizon.
"Once we defeat the Demon King, I'll have more time to see the world. Until then, we won't have a single peaceful day."
The two riders continued in silence as the combined forces of Wolfwood and Silverwood approached Greenwood — and the hunt that might become far more than a royal pastime.
Approaching Greenwood – The Green Forest
As they drew closer to Greenwood, the landscape slowly changed. After the wild, shadow‑drenched depths of the Wolves' Forest, the Green Forest felt like an entirely different world. Though nearly as vast as Wolfwood's domain, its spirit was nothing alike.
Few wolves lived here.
This land belonged to creatures of the earth element: massive stags clad in stone‑like armor, boars with hides harder than iron, and beasts whose skin surpassed even the finest armor forged by human hands. A wolf's fangs would snap before they pierced such flesh.
Predators avoided this region.
The Green Forest was calmer — but no less dangerous.
Simply dangerous in a different way.
Yet the scenery was breathtaking.
The canopy shimmered in deep shades of emerald, and the sunlight filtering through the leaves made the forest seem to glow from within. The air was fresh, rich with the scent of soil and moss. A true natural treasure — the kind of beauty humanity might have seen only in the Age of Dragons.
And in Neptunia, dragons were not mere legends.
One of them was Andras's maid, who had only recently learned how to breathe fire.
But in Greenwood, dragons were not the threat.
The demons were.
Andras was prepared for their appearance — but nothing could have prepared anyone for the brutal carnage the Mad Demon had unleashed on Harpies' Island. That devastation surpassed every imaginable horror.