Onyx stepped off of the chariot, landing with a thud in the hot gravel of the newly paved pathways.
They were deep within the forest, in fact it was said that this was where the original expedition into The Dark Forest had ended abruptly.
Zelenna stepped off behind him, wearing a giddy look on her face. She was wearing her famous battle armor, with the shoulder plates and shin plates but only on the right side of her body.
The other side was only protected by a pair of leather of shorts and a cropped t-shirt.
"Look at that..."
She said with her gaze forward.
Onyx looked up, noticing just how many adventurers and soldiers had set up tents and taken arms for the coming raid.
It had been two weeks since Zelenna had met him in the tavern, and they had assembled a party in that time as well.
Neveah of House Evermore jumped off of the chariot step and whined about how early it was.
Behind her, Gideon of House Voidborn followed, with a determined expression resting on his pale face.
"How long?"
He asked, looking at his once beast taming taming teacher.
Zelenna shrugged.
"Should be soon, go prepare yourselves, mingle with the soldiers. I don't much care, but I am going to get a drink before this shit show starts."
"Fair enough."
Onyx muttered, and began toward the tents.
Of course, Gideon and Neveah were following him like lost puppies.
He turned.
"Do you not have independence?"
Neveah flinched at his cold gaze, and threw her hand up in a poor salute.
"No sir!"
Gideon shrugged.
"I came here for experience, and you are a high ranking division warrior aren't you?"
Onyx frowned.
"Whatever."
So he went on, exploring the cleared out part of the forest where the battle would take place.
He knelt down next to a food stand that had little to no company around it, and watched as the sun slowly rose over the giant goliath trees in the distance.
Gideon was standing by one of the nearby tents, doing something similar. But Neveah of course was ordering some bowl of meat from the concession stand.
'Idiot...'
He couldn't help but think.
'This is the best Zelenna could come up with?'
He would have much rather just connected with the remaining Task Force Unity members, but the thought of Chase's exile and Summer's death left a terrible taste in his mouth.
He pulled a canteen from his light but high gear gelulite tunic, which was an alloy formed when combining several mid to high tier metals.
It shined with purple radiance, but was a harsh and gritty black with very few reflections on its surface.
He chugged the water in his canteen, letting his thoughts wonder as the blazing sun began to torch the skin on his face.
Sweat was already building inside of his armor, but he had been used to these conditions for quite a while.
In his life, he had participated in six raids, two wars, and sixteen different operations into unknown regions of the map.
He had slayed countless monsters, and even people. Yet he had never found much reason for living.
He had fallen in love with Summer in his time at Phoenix Academy, and found fathership in Leander, and yet had lost them both without telling them just how much he cared for them.
Now he felt as if he had no real reason in this endless search for purpose.
Looking up at the sky, the sun shining deeply into his eyes, he felt a cold tear fall down his face, and his catalyst began to burn terribly.
"They are close..."
He frowned.
"Stop that!"
A familiar voice yelled, as another was laughing loudly.
Onyx tilted his head and looked over to see that Gabriel of House Envixity was being harassed by another familiar face.
Michael of House Everfrost was ruffling the boy's grimy hair and laughing, but he looked quite different from the last time they had met.
He was wearing armor made entirely of ice, and had his scythe tied to his back.
He looked quite taller as well, and had gained quite the muscle mass, standing a quarter taller than Gabriel.
Speaking of Gabriel, the boy looked different as well.
With deep bags underneath his eyes, and a black cloak wrapped around his leather armor, he was clearly angered by Michael's probably friendly greeting.
He stood up, and began toward them.
Both of them looked up to notice him walking over, Michael threw a hand up intended as a wave.
Onyx hesitated but waved back, and walked over next to them.
"You guys are participating as well?"
He asked, breaking the ice of their past goodbye.
Gabriel nodded slowly.
"Yeah, not together though, I didn't even know Gabe was coming, I'm with a two man party at the moment, figured I'd come over and say hi though."
Onyx nodded.
"You?"
He looked at Gabriel who carried a very dark aura with him.
"I'm with a party as well..."
Then an arm grabbed him around the shoulders, and a boy in a vibrant set of steel and topaz armor wore a toothy grin.
His orange hair flowing in the wind.
"Sup, I'm Leo, but Mike here already knows me."
"You look familiar..."
Onyx said aloud.
"Good, remember my name. I'm the heir of The House of Lion, and my parties gonna slay all of these kolbolds!"
'Quite the enthusiastic one...'
Onyx thought as two more figures walked up from behind Leo and Gabriel.
A beautiful girl with elven markings and light leather armor, and a man with a hefty suit of ivory armor with crimson linings. No doubt their vanguard and mage...
"Nice to meet you... Forgive my party member for his obnoxious manner, Onyx of House Dragon."
Leo's eye twitched, and his expression turned from smug to awkwardness.
"Like? The Black Dragon?"
He asked hesitantly.
"No, just Onyx is fine..."
"Hey! Leo, Gabe, Michael, and Onyx!"
Another voice called out from behind him.
Onyx turned around swiftly raising an eyebrow.
"Equan?"
'Woah...'
"What's up guys? Didn't think I'd see all of you here."
"Who is this band of idiots?"
Equan and another man walked up to them, Equan violently grabbing Gabriel and hugging him.
"I missed you guys..."
He looked different, very different.
His dreads had been completely cut off, and his hair was short and neat, letting his lightning blue eyes pop. His armor was even more impressive, wearing a full set of silver archer armor with a bow slung over his shoulder made of expensive materials.
The man next to him wore a red bandana, and crimson cowboy hat. With what Onyx wouldn't necessarily call armor, but a lavish bright red silk outfit that covered his entire body.
The man had crimson eyes and that strange look that made him seem like someone he already knew and probably didn't like either.
He narrowed his eyes behind the bandana and raised an eyebrow.
"Crap... Uh, Do I know you?"
He asked, looking at Onyx.
"Yes, I think. Were you at Phoenix Academy six years ago?"
The man was taken aback and backed up slowly, putting two hands up in defense.
"Nope! Wasn't me, why would I ever go to that terrible academy, I mean the classes there aren't even impressive. I mean ya know? Not that I know the classes or anything because I have never been there, but my name is Bandit not anything else!"
"Luke?!"
Onyx asked in astonishment.