The forests of the Emerald Wildlands faded behind them.
For two days...
Runa and Leon traveled west without stopping.
No banners.
No army.
No wagons.
Only two of the Silver Kingdom's finest scouts moved through the wilderness like ghosts.
---
The Skybreaker Bow rested across Runa's back.
Her azure cloak blended with the morning sky.
Beside her...
Leon moved from shadow to shadow.
Even Runa occasionally lost sight of him.
Not because he was far away...
But because he was simply that skilled.
---
They had crossed rivers.
Scaled cliffs.
Avoided monster nests.
And passed through abandoned villages reclaimed by nature.
Not once had they been discovered.
---
Runa glanced toward the trees.
"You've been quiet."
Leon emerged from the shadows beside her.
"I've been listening."
She smiled.
"Hear anything?"
He nodded once.
"We're being watched."
Immediately...
Runa's expression became serious.
"How many?"
Leon closed his eyes.
His senses expanded.
After several moments...
"Three."
"They've kept their distance since yesterday."
"They're disciplined."
"They're not monsters."
---
Without another word...
Leon vanished.
His body melted into the surrounding shadows.
Runa continued walking as though nothing had happened.
Minutes passed.
The forest remained silent.
Then...
A faint whistle echoed overhead.
One short note.
Their agreed signal.
---
Runa casually altered her course.
A few hundred meters later...
Leon stepped from behind an ancient oak.
"They're gone."
"Gone?"
"They realized I found them."
Runa raised an eyebrow.
"So they withdrew."
Leon nodded.
"They never attacked."
"They were observing us."
---
Inside Runa's mind...
Her System spoke.
Unknown surveillance confirmed.
Threat assessment... Inconclusive.
---
The pair climbed a rocky ridge overlooking the western horizon.
Both stopped.
Far in the distance...
A massive stone wall stretched across the landscape.
Watchtowers rose above it.
Countless banners fluttered in the wind.
But neither banner belonged to the Silver Kingdom...
Nor to Dennis.
Nor Elena.
Nor Atlas.
Leon narrowed his eyes.
"So..."
"They do exist."
Runa slowly lifted a small crystal telescope from her pack.
She focused on the nearest banner.
A silver phoenix spread its wings across a field of deep crimson.
"I've never seen that crest before."
She lowered the telescope.
"And judging by those walls..."
"This isn't a small settlement."
Leon quietly counted the towers.
"...At least twelve."
"Professional patrols."
"Ballistae."
"Disciplined guard rotations."
"This kingdom has been established for a long time."
Neither scout spoke for several moments.
Their mission had never been to make contact.
Only to learn the truth.
And the truth was now standing before them.
Humanity...
Extended far beyond Eastern Aetherra.
Farther than anyone in the Silver Kingdom had ever imagined.
Leon looked toward Runa.
"We've found what Commander Sam wanted."
Runa nodded.
"Now let's find out who they are..."
"...without letting them know we're here."
Together...
The Phantom Scout and the Skybreaker General disappeared into the forest once more.
Hidden eyes continued to watch the western kingdom.
And somewhere beyond its towering walls...
Someone had already noticed that strangers had entered their lands.