Beast Knights (KKM Fanfiction)

Forest Of Illusion

Seriously speaking, the more Yuri and the others approached the area that they were required to pass through to get to the capital, the more their anxiety intensified. They had no idea what to expect as soon as they reach the forest. But the guards by the sea border warned them about going through the usual path.

According to them, the usual path which was a valley was sealed off after the Esovian Mazoku's war against the attacking Phantasma. The guards didn't state the reason why. But from the tone of their voices, it wasn't a good one. It was the first time that Conrad had heard of such a forest existing in Esovia.

"Why would they seal off a completely safe path going to the capital?" Yuri wondered out loud as they continued traversing the path.

"They made it sound as if it was similar to Mt. Makadira back in Shin Makoku," Murata responded.

"But that doesn't make this Forest of Illusions the same as Mt. Makadira?" Wolfram asked.

"If it is like that, those soldiers should've already kept quiet about not going to the usual path," Shori stated. "But they didn't. Considering that they were already expecting Conrad to return here, for them to warn us about the valley was enough proof that they still cared for our welfare and success to reach the capital."

Yuri remained quiet since he knew his brother had a point. But why did they choose the Forest of Illusions as an alternative path to go to the capital? His mind couldn't stop thinking and imagining the possible scenarios to happen once they reached it. All of them always ended up with something worse.

As for Conrad, he was silent the whole time. Ever since he rode the horse that one of the guards had lent to them for travel use, he hadn't said a word at all. Many questions kept on swirling in his head after hearing those words from the guards. Why was Klaus still expecting all this time for him to return to Esovia? The last Esovian prince never even demanded that or made it as a favor. Could it be that Murata was right? Klaus wanted him to return to Esovia of his own volition?

"There's no point in keeping everything to yourself, Lord Weller."

Those words startled the said soldier before rashly facing the source of it. Though Murata's focus was on the path that they were traversing, the Daikenja's attention was on him.

"Your Grace..."

"Remembering those memories now that you've returned here and visited Esovia again was probably painful for you. But I'm pretty sure your friend wouldn't want you feeling this way at all," Murata continued. "What I said earlier was just a hunch. I have no idea what Lord Amrein was thinking when he gave that crest to you. But if it was just like what I said, it could only mean he was truly thankful to you."

Conrad couldn't help frowning at those words. "Thankful... to me?"

"He's thankful...that someone like you remained by his sister's side until the end."

Before the soldier could say anything in response to that, he suddenly felt something as if cold water washed over him. Not just him. The others appeared to have felt the same thing. He thought of that when he looked around to check if he wasn't imagining that at all.

"Your Grace..." Conrad called

Murata responded with a grave nod. "It looks like we've entered the forest's barrier. From here on, I guess we'll start facing problems."

Yuri immediately faced his friend. "What do you mean, Murata?"

"If my hunch is correct, this forest... was something that Lady Yunsoo created to confuse outsiders. Shinou said that his sister would usually create something that confused to the point of leading her enemies to their deaths with their own hands. That power to create deadly illusions was one reason why the entirety of the Min clan members was eliminated. But not by Soushu or his army."