A few weeks after the knights left the woods of Elleria, it once again became the peaceful and wonderful place that made it one of the most visited tourist sites on all of Ouran.
The morning began with the calming breezes. This place was made to be relaxing as can be. Just being in here calmed even the most savage of beasts. The sunlight crept through the leaves, leaving the skin feeling so pleased, refreshed, and free.
She turned and picked fruit that had grown so conveniently on the wall next to her bed.
The succulent flavours sent a revitalising wave through her body. She felt so ready for her day. She stretched her arms and looked through the window. The window was made of a pigment free wood, made just to let in just the right amount of breeze – keeping the room at its optimum temperature.
She was too strong to feel most of its freshness, but taking a deep breath made her feel so alive.
She then got up and looked at the vibrant green light reflecting through the massive canopy. She was hypnotised by all of it, she hadn't thought the last day of her stay would be so enchanting.
She walked over to her closet and put on the dark colours she always wore. Inside however, was a single set of clothes, the rest had been packed. This heavy contrast made her impossible to miss – and her beauty just made it more outstanding.
Today she wore, a striking black jacket. Long pants, with enough pockets for her tools. She then looked at the room and took her cases, and after doing the bed herself she left. After checking out she looked at her route and instead headed in the opposite direction.
'She might miss me if I don't say my goodbye.' – thought lady Mavi.
Knock-knock.
***
Helim, fell off her bed… unlike Mavi, she had gotten used to all this enchanting-ness of the woods. The only thing she felt happy about, was seeing it finally back.
She woke up early, but why?
She fixed her pyjamas trying to remember what is it that she woke up so early for – today she was supposed to be off duty, right?
As soon as it dawned on her, she ran to clean up and gather her supplies. Then she wore her usual escort clothes.
She then heard a soft knock on her door, running to greet Mavi.
"I'm sorry for having to leave on your off day, otherwise, I would have asked you to be my escort one last time."
"No need…"
"Huh?"
"I'm going to take you up on your offer – I want to join you guys."
"… I thought you said you couldn't leave your home?"
She had packed everything and was dragging her stuff out as they talked. Touching the house made it vanished into the ground. No matter how strange it may be to remember, most of everything inside was part of the woods anyway.
"First, I thought that I wanted to stay here. Then I thought about it, I do the same thing every day. I do get to escort some pretty interesting characters like you once in a while. It wasn't bad at all, but when I saw the palace entrance in shambles, I…
Growing up, we all thought this place was indestructible – but the dangers out there are even stronger. And even if I helped, I thought about how much more helpful than I, you were. Then I thought about it some more.
I don't feel like being a guard is in me, but you thought I was good at my job enough to join you guys, so I thought I would. This way I'll be able to help out in crisis. I even told the old man. He was kind of happier for it even. He said: 'Even I lived my life as a guard before I became an escort – so go, live your life.' And so, don't try to change my mind…"
She then hugged her. "No way – I really wasn't ready for goodbye. This past year has been more hectic than most, but I could never forget my makeshift partner."
Then they began walking to the western edge of the woods. They were a bit melancholic about having not crossed their favourite restaurant on their way out. A weeks' worth of walking later, they met up with the rest of those who had been dispatched here with lady Mavy.
"How are your partners?"
"You worried? Well, don't, they'll like you, they're fun, some of them anyway. Oh, there they are."
"Hello Lady Mavi, it's been too long."
"I take it that things went well on your side."
"Yes, my lady – and who's this? The new recruit?"
"Yes. Let's wait for the others so I can introduce you all."
The party all gathered and took a small breather.
"Hello everyone, this is Helim – our new recruit. Helim, this is Bex, you two met earlier. And then over here we have Otain, Droal, Folis, Gorsal, Tzic, and lastly our mascot Ai-Yin."
"Lady – I thought we all agreed to stop that."
Everyone laughed.
"The rest were sent up north, but we will be heading to the continent of Nhoils."
"Aren't we going to headquarters first?" asked Helim.
She was answered by Otain. "There has been a group of dark knights who have destroyed the port and are making sure no-one can enter. They need us to help extract a royal who had been left there to keep the place safer. But his strength wasn't enough to make it through the dark knights. we are to sneak him out."
Then they talked about the whole mission and soon resumed their march.
Folis – "I didn't think lady Mavi would ever recruit anyone herself." The others agreed with her point, making jokes about it. They were a cheery bunch – especially for the kind of work they were involved with.
"what's with all that 'lady' stuff?" Helim asked eventually.
Gorsal looked back, "You don't know – I should have figured she wouldn't talk about it."
Then He pulled her closer, and told her, "She herself used to be a high-ranking council member (similar to nobles). When her kingdom fell, she was so determined that her and the boss started all this. Actually, most of us here had people-troubles in our kingdoms.
Take Ai-Yin. She had her entire city wiped from the map.
As for the lady, we call her lady Mavi because she's not only the most royal in the entire group, but because she is the second in command. Actually, I'm surprised she's so friendly with you."
The only thing Helim could think of was, 'So, that lady stuff isn't just for manners after all. These guys are pretty amazing, I'm glad I joined them, but to be honest I kind of miss that silent week with the Knight. It was the calmest and most peaceful time this past year, even the wind was silent. I wonder if I'll see him again.'
It took them a few months, but they at last made it to the edge of the Home continent.
They then boarded a boat that was going to take a shorter path, too close to the darkness lurking nearby. At night Helim sat on the view terrace of the ship and even though her vision was limited, she knew that far off in the distance, from the sea floor to the highest point on Ouran, was an entire thick impenetrable darkness.
This was one of the most ancient known Destroyer region. And even the biggest. It stretched so far that even light could not make it through it in a single night.
~For context, Ouran, is over a million times the size of Earth, so this was just the length of river. Ouran is large – will soon be detailed in a section called Ouran. And most of it is covered in darkness that make the Knights darkness look like a drop in the sea. This is the planet that has resisted the take of the void the most. ~
So, for their safety, this was a little too close, and should the boat steer too close to the darkness, it would be over for all of them, there was no escape. In fact, even the Knights were still fighting just at its edges.
In the morning they all woke up to the sounds of creaking noises in the roof.
They got out. Scars marred the entire surface of the deck, the captain and his men all bloodied, but they still standing, but not ready for another attack. Just on the horizon was land, they were so close.
Normal monsters were easier to handle, but the thing above them was not. Floating up there was no destroyer, as it was day, bathed in morning light.
Up there, she starred at it… Mavi then walked closer to her, placing her hand on her shoulders.
"I take it you have never seen a god monster, have you?"