The wait for the Princess' Young Knight was longer than anyone had anticipated. The day tested their patience. Each time they thought that their Frater had returned it would turn out to be an illusion. The illusions used the heat of Solis to trick the Eques but for reasons unknown the Princess was never affected. It was like someone tested their patience, they determination and their loyalty. Soon the illusions gave way to the wind as each illusion faded. At this point in time the only movements they started encountering were of the leaves and bushes. But even if not tested, the patience of the Princess soon wore thin for she has thrived on the promises her Knight had given her since her childhood. The closer they came to the rise of Luna the more antsy she became. A sliver of fear crept into the depths of her heart.
'Am I about to lose my right hand. My teacher. My protector. My m …', her eyes widened as she stopped her thoughts in their tracks. She had never thought of her Young Knight as anything other than her friend. Her guidance and her protector. She had never realised when she had given him the title of 'belonging to her'. Shaking her head, the Princess cleared her thoughts. Eques Noctis had been correct to not lose ones' mind in moment like these.
To add to the misery of the Princess, Lady Fortuna may have frowned quite deeply at her for even after an eternity had passed and Eques Lux and Eques Tempus had made themselves ready for the next journey, there had been no sign of the Young Knight. As Lady Luna rose the silver of fear the Princess held started becoming into an unsettling feeling dread. The feeling kept rising in her heart and soon she felt the weight of absence of the Young Knight. Even after the evening hue of the sky turned darker and the stars formed a canopy of constellations above them, the Knight never appeared. Eques Lux was possibly the most impressed by the preparation and instructions Eques Noctis had left him. While the Princess was busy Eques Lux was taken to the corner of the clearing by his Frater,
"Eques Lux. I trust you with the life and the safety of the Princess. Please take care of her in case I may betray the promise I have made to her."
"How you say so? I have heard stories as if legend of your determination and loyalty to the promise you made to our Princess. How could you say that you would betray her?"
Eques Noctis had smiled and patted Eques Lux' shoulder. Then with eyes on the Princess he had said, "Prepare of the journey ahead for my trail may as well start at day break."
Eques Lux had promised his Frater to be prepared but had never expected that such an unlikely event would ever occur. The Eques Noctis had not risen with the night. Although the stars glistened in the night sky, their reflection could be seen in the sheen of pain in the Princess' eyes. Her tears ready to spill but only held back due to her resolve to be stronger. There had not been a night when her Knight hadn't returned. Her Young Knight had always told her that if a time would come where she would have t journey alone, she should be strong. If not for herself then for him. For he shall always come back to her but she had to be safe and stronger to meet him there. That silent promise that he always made to her as he left was never broken until today. But as the night drawled on the Princess couldn't help but feel her heartbeat quicken. Time became equivalent to her anxiety.
Eques Lux and Eques Tempus knew that they could not waste time for the Valley of Death was known as one of the most notorious places as it kept shifting to protect itself and probably the Knight locked within. As Lady Luna made its first endeavour to sleep, Eques Lux shared their Frater' plan with Eques Tempus. After quite a deep discussion they decided to start their journey towards the Valley without the Eques Noctis. When the Princess heard of it, she made herself been heard.
"We shall not leave without him. How would he know where we are if he does not locate us nearby?"
The concern for her childhood Knight was not hidden in her words but Eques Lux stated,
"Your Highness, it may not be fair to leave Eques Noctis alone but the strategy was planned out by him. If anyone knows the way better it's him. He will reach us before you notice it."
Eques Lux's words did not soothe the Princess. She was worried for this was the first time she had to set foot into the world without her best friend by her side. Her heart clenched as she closed her eyes and made up her mind. But she held the promise she made to Eques Noctis in her heart as she said,
"If Eques Noctis is our best bet at reaching the Valley it would be better to wait for him. But if we do have to leave Eques Tempus and I shall head towards the Valley while Eques Lux, you shall wait for him. I may not be in the position to make commands so I request you. Please stay and wait for him. Bring him to us safely."
Eques Lux and Eques Tempus shared a glance and agreed that the best course of action was to follow the Princess' request. For the Princess as sweet and childlike she would be for her Knight she yet had the rigour and the ability to command armies if need be. But for now she needed to take the next step towards her journey.
"Your Highness, I promise to stay and guard this section of forest where the Eques Noctis had said to return but only until the dip of the Solis on the fourth day. Following the immersion and a couple hours hence I cannot keep my promise for my duty is to follow and protect you. Just as it is the duty of the Princess to follow the journey she has set out on and achieve her goal."
The Princess's eyes glazed over in tears with a hopeful yet sad smile at the words of the knight with an embrace. Now the determination for the journey was set as the Princess looked at Eques Lux for the last time that night and set foot towards the journey towards the Valley of Death with Eques Tempus.
On the other side of the realm Damon couldn't comprehend the fact that he had been unable to cross over. His days which had flowed like a broken record did not ever seem suspicious. He had always pondered on a way to leave his life in Wisconsin and stay with his Princess permanently. He had never thought the opposite could happen. He steeled his mind for he knew there was no way he could figure the situation out with a weak resolve. He had made a promise to his Princess and he would keep that promise no matter the case. Unfortunately for him, he was unable to think of anything so he walked into the night to cool his mind. That night had been the most peaceful one he had seen for it was his first night in his hometown ever since the age of five. The streets felt unfamiliar under the darkened skies but his heart ached to go back to Atleana. He found a bench in a nearby park and sat down. He raised his head in prayer hoping and wishing the Princess was safe and did not diverge from the set task. He let a small smile grace his lips as he let out a chuckle knowing how stubborn she could get. As dawn approached in Wisconsin, Damon headed back home to his room. But when he had lost all hope to return back to Atleana he realised that his impatience and disruption of mind had led him to be unaware towards the rift in space and time like a lightning bolt which had appeared in his room. A rift to the other realm which he ran towards without a thought but he was too late. As he reached the rift it vanished leaving him wide eyed and in an even bigger state of panic. He may have lost his chance to meet his Princess this night.