When Dawn meets Dusk

Chapter 7: The Hidden Truth

Raymond's eyes fluttered open, his vision blurred as he struggled to make sense of his surroundings. He groaned, his body aching from the force of the impact. Slowly, he pushed himself up from the forest floor, feeling the soft, damp earth beneath his palms. His head throbbed with the remnants of battle, and for a moment, he struggled to remember where he was.

As his vision cleared, Raymond took in the sight around him. He was no longer on the battlefield, surrounded by the chaos of war. Instead, he found himself in a forest-a place he had never seen before, yet somehow felt familiar. The air was cool and filled with the scent of fresh pine and blooming flowers. Sunlight streamed through the canopy of trees, casting a soft, golden glow on the forest floor. The trees were tall and ancient, their trunks thick with moss, and their leaves seemed to shimmer with a faint, magical glow.

Raymond's breath caught in his throat. This was no ordinary forest. He was in the Evergreen Woodlands, a place known for its magic and life, a sacred realm that few ever ventured into. The legends spoke of the woodlands as a place of healing and mystery, where the balance of nature and magic intertwined seamlessly. It was said that the trees themselves held the wisdom of ages and that the very air was charged with the energy of the earth.

He slowly stood up, feeling the weight of his armor and the exhaustion from the battle still lingering in his bones. His mind raced, trying to piece together how he had ended up here. The last thing he remembered was the fierce battle, the clash of Hebe and Brendan, and the sudden collision between Cheryl's attack and Hebe's defense. The force of that explosion had knocked him out, and now, here he was, far from the chaos of war.

Raymond's heart tightened as the memories of the battlefield flooded back to him. He remembered the intensity of the fight, the way Cheryl's Phantom Scythe had clashed with Hebe's Triumph fan. But what had happened after that? How had he been separated from the others? His mind raced with questions, but one thought stood out above the rest-Hebe.

He clenched his fists, his knuckles white as he recalled the moment of the explosion. It had been so sudden, so violent. He had no idea what had happened to Hebe after that. Had she been hurt? Was she still fighting? The thought of his leader and friend in danger gnawed at him, and he felt a deep sense of urgency to find out the truth.

But as he took a step forward, the soft, tranquil atmosphere of the Evergreen Woodlands seemed to hold him back. This place was not like the battlefield-it was a realm of peace and life, untouched by the darkness that had consumed the war. The air felt different here, almost protective, as if the forest itself was watching over him, urging him to slow down, to take a moment and breathe.

Raymond paused, letting out a long breath as he tried to calm his racing thoughts. The woodlands were serene, a stark contrast to the violent clash he had just been part of. But his duty to the Imperial Feathers, and to Hebe, weighed heavily on his mind. He couldn't just stand here while the battle continued.

He glanced around, trying to find some clue as to where he was. The Evergreen Woodlands were vast, stretching for miles in every direction, and it was easy to become lost in their magic. But something about the way the trees swayed gently in the breeze, the way the leaves sparkled with a faint glow, made him feel like he was being guided, as if the forest itself was showing him the way.

As he began to walk, Raymond's mind wandered back to the collision. He had felt the power behind Cheryl's strike, and he had seen Hebe's fan deflect it with equal force. The energy that had exploded from their clash had been unlike anything he had ever witnessed, and it had sent shockwaves through the battlefield. But what had happened to Hebe? He remembered seeing her, standing firm against Brendan, her fan raised in defiance. Had she survived the blast?