"Peace Frater. I am Eques Relicus, the knight of the future.", he said with a slight bow.
Continuing he said, "I happened to foresee your journey towards the Valley of Death with our Commander. How could I stay away when our Royal Commander has decided to gather the Fraterhood. This is why I made my way towards her and although I am glad to have chanced upon you, may I ask where is our Commander and why Eques Lux has decided to abandon his position by her side?"
Eques Lux felt uneasy with the way this new Eques called the Princess Commander. As if the Princess title didn't matter. It felt as though Eques Relicus saw the Princess as merely a weapon for war and not as a human. His skepticism rose as he scrutinized the Knight from head to toe. He looked like a member of the Fraterhood but he couldn't be sure. There was a part of the prophecy stating that there would be a knight who would deceive the Fraterhood. Although Eques Lux could feel that the power radiating from Eques Relicus was similar to Eques Tempus, it felt different from ordinary. He held power over the future yet he had asked about Eques Lux' abandoned position. An Eques Relicus would know of the missing Eques Noctis. Thinking of his Frater, a sudden realisation dawned upon Eques Lux who had completed four solis'. His eyes widened as he raised his sword to the young knight's chest. With a fierce expression on his face he asked,
"If your vision of the future lead you to us then why not show yourself before. Why wait until the Princess is in the Valley of Death to show yourself.", he said with clenched teeth.
Things were getting too complicated. A Frater was missing. While a new one made his presence known when the Princess was not where nearby. Although the Fraterhood recognised each other, it was the Princess who could feel the bond the best between her knights. Moreover, Eques Relicus did not face any trial or maybe he would face one in the Valley of Death.
'Whatever. I'll keep an eye on him for now.', Eques Lux mumbled to himself. 'I need to focus on the present not on the future possible trial.', he continued speaking to himself under his breath
"Frater Lux.", Eques Relicus called attention to himself
"Instead of pondering or assuming things why not just ask?"
"You see the future. Why not come sooner?"
"The future I see are probable futures. Nothing is set in stone until the Princess or any one for that matter work towards the future. I understand that even knowing the possibilities of the future may help but that is not how this works. We each have our responsibilities. I am here to protect the Commander no matter what the future holds for the remaining of our Fraterhood"
Listening to Eques Relicus, Eques Lux came to the realisation that he would have to keep an eye of his Frater much longer than he would have liked. Thinking of the 'Trial' made him think of something he had read years before. "The Trial of Knights". It was a trial made specifically for every knight. Testing them. Breaking them. Checking their loyalty. Although the book called it a myth he knew better than anyone that Eques Noctis had more information on the trial. He had knowledge passed down from the Royal Guards themselves. And he had heard Eques Noctis mention the trial to the Princess in passing.
"Frater, you worry too much. You have already faced your trial of unconditional loyalty as you await for four solis for the return of Eques Noctis. He too has succeeded in his first trial. I have no greater knowledge regarding the 'Trials' than you, but as and when they are completed my visions become clearer. Now it is time for Eques Tempus and the Princess to pass their Trials in the Valley."
Listening to Eques Relicus enlighted Eques Lux as he finally understood the reason he had to stay back. Eques Noctis had become the means for his trail. And by staying loyal to his word and his promise to the Princess, he had already set his future in stone. Now the only thing that concerned him was the Princess' safety through her Trial.
"The Trials are for Knight belonging to the Order under the Princess' rule so why does the Princess need to complete them?", he asked as he lowered down his sword and sheathed it.
"The Princess indeed needn't undergo the Trials, but what is a Commander without any Trials. She must set her future in stone as soon as possible. She has to be the one to lead us into battle. She cannot do that by being protected. Now shall we wait for Eques Noctis. I am sure he shall return by hac nocte."
Eques Lux thought of Eques Relicus' words. The time he had set for his wait had been completed. But on the other hand, Eques Noctis was the closest person the Princess had to a family. That was all it took to make his decision as he sat with Eques Relicus waiting while the Princess and Eques Tempus made their way into the Valley.
As time passed Eques Lux noticed with scrunched eyebrows that Eques Relicus kept closing his eyes. At first, he thought his Frater was not used to burning the night oil but soon he realised that his frater' eyes always glazed over when he did so. He tilted his head to understand the situation when Eques Relicus said with a smile,
"My eyes glaze over when a vision of the future comes through. It doesn't matter if I have a relationship with the person. As long as they are part of our united future, I have the ability to see theirs."
Soon Eques Relicus noticed the relaxed self of Eques Lux and felt his smile widen for he too had been observing his frater knight. He understood the alertness in the knight's eyes as he observed his surroundings with a piercing gaze unlike a certain Eques Noctis who had only recently learnt the lesson. As both the knights kept within themselves a rustle of leaves was heard. They immediately stood back-to-back with their swords raised and eyes sharp as adrenaline rushed through their veins. They were about to attack when Eques Lux noticed the glaive which Eques Noctis held at all times. Both pair of eyes widened as the Young Eques Noctis came into their line of sight panting for breath with a defensive stance. The moment their eyes made contact, they shared a knowing look.
What both knights failed to observe was the shocked expression on Eques Relicus' face as he watched the Young Knight converse with Eques Lux. He could not believe his eyes for he has seen the future of many but as far as he knew "Damon" was not the "Eques Noctis".