The Forest Chronicles

Chapter 10

 "Knolas," Benjamin began, "was an amazing kingdom. One in which all who lived there were treated with kindness, even strangers were accepted into our ranks." He sighed, eyes closing for a brief second. "We, so far, have had 56 kings and 63 queens. The final pair of rulers were Crimson of Knolas and Amelia from the Gelum Plains. Lady Amelia and Sir Crimson were the parents of two great royals; Leslie and..." He paused, "...Victoria."

"The eye necklace that my lady always wears is actually a vial in disguise. It holds Horokro Essence. It can affect the rate of which time passes, which causes a rift in time, causing Victoria to still be alive and well 167 years after she was born."

"The castle of Knolas was burnt down on January 24th, 1433. Victoria, Koibito, and I were the only survivors. Koibito is my sibling, they only visit once and a while, Victoria once tried to tie them up and use their blood for experiments," Benjamin sighed, "now, they're scared to death of my lady." He cleared his throat. "On the night the palace was burnt, Victoria was only 7 while her brother was 10. The location of where the fire was first started is and was completely unknown and unclear."

"Victoria, before the fire completely spread to the other wings of the castle, was in her father's lab, collecting potions, matches, vials, and rope. She had everything she needed she ran. A few minutes before she left, her parents, servants, and brother, save my sibling and I, perished," Benjamin stopped to breathe. "Victoria isn't fond of even thinking of what happened that night."

"When Victoria said that it took her 8 years to build the knight, she wasn't lying. It took her 8 years, but for humans, it took 159 years for the humans around us. Also, Victoria is a human. Humans and Witches can be the same thing but also different. Calling someone a witch is simply a title." Benjamin sighed. "I apologise if this is too much to take in one sitting. Oh- Alexander?" Alexander looked up from his notebook, "Yes?"

"Are you taking notes?" Alexander nodded. "Yes, I am. Please, go on with the story." Benjamin chuckled. "Alright. Jason, are you listening?" Jason sat up, "huh? Erm- I'm up."

"I'm glad you're taking notes, Alexander!" Benjamin cleared his throat. "I'll continue. Also, thank you for paying attention, unlike someone. Anyhoo, back to Knolas and Victoria Knolas! Well, her full title is actually Princess Victoria of Knolas-"

"Where in Veetarin is Knolas?" Alexander asked, grabbing his leather bag and pulling out a small map that unfolded to a huge one. "Knolas isn't in Veetarin," Benjamin replied. Alexander dropped the map, "Excuse me?" Jason kicked Alexander. "I'm trying to sleep- It isn't in Veetarin? I know that the Gelum plains are, but Knolas?"

Benjamin stood up from his chair that he pulled in front of the side of the bed. "I don't know why it's so hard to believe, but it's not in Veetarin. Gods," he rolled his eyes. "Then where is it?" Alexander questioned. "It's in the Relicta Forest." Jason cleared his throat. "Relicta Forest? The abandoned forest?"

Benjamin nodded. "Yes, Relicta Forest." Alexander threw the map into his bag. Jason had the same idea as his friend. Jason grabbed his bag and ripped out Mushroomia Kingdom's Book On Forest Magic. He flipped a few hundred pages in. "'Relicta Forest is a dangerous realm, one in which those who enter,'" he paused. "'Never come out alive.'" A new voice spoke.

It was Victoria.

Benjamin screamed like a little girl. He jumped onto the bed and ran behind Alexander. "Vampire, dear servant, please, come with me down stairs." Benjamin crawled in front of Alexander. "Why- it's dark down there!" Benjamin exclaimed. "Reminder that I can control fire. We own working torches. Torches, vampire, torches." Jason tried to stop himself from laughing, meanwhile Alexander tried to not shout, "don't punish him! I asked to know!"

Victoria grabbed Benjamin's wrist, "we must talk." Victoria dragged him out of the room. "I messed up," Alexander said, "I messed up."

...

"Are you going murder me?.." Benjamin asked. "No," Victoria answered. "Are you gonna hide me where no one can find me..?" Victoria shook her head. "No," she repeated. "Are you gonna quit giving me the sun potion?.." He asked. "No," she replied. "Are you mad at me?"

"Slightly." Victoria took her goggles off of her head and held them in her hands. "I'm sorry!!" Benjamin cried. "Er..I...I forgive you." It sounded more like a question than a reply. "If- If you want to tell them about Knolas, do so, but if you talk about..." She trailed off. "I promise I won't." Benjamin bowed. "You are dismissed now, vampire." Benjamin nodded, he bowed. He started to run up the spiral staircase.

Victoria sighed. She sat down on the floor. "Mother, please, I need this machine to work, I need it to help us." She closed her two-coloured eyes. The Shivering Knight of Knolas stepped behind her. "Sit, my Knight, rest. The blood we collected wasn't enough, tomorrow, I shall hunt for more." Victoria stood once more. The Knight walked back into the place it once lay before the Dust Blood, it laid back down. The lights inside its eyes faded. It was now a lifeless hunk of gears and metal.

...

June 24, 1593

The truth about Knolas has been revealed. If the truth is too, everything may fall apart. Your army is growing, so is the princess's. The Knight has been powered by Dust Blood, yet it needs more. It is not long until both armies are complete and ready to battle.. Don't let her and her army's appearance fool you, she can fight, and so can they.

The entire cast of the Great Sphinx Prophecy is almost complete; only a human and nymph is left. The quest, as you know, started only four days ago, but the ways they have proved to the gods they are worthy is nothing we have seen of mortals their ages.

Please, my ruler, be prepared to fight them.

- Sincerely, your loyal servant, Luminos