Their journey through the Darkwoods took place under the cover of night. At present, Elyssia, Arthur, and the other mages had cast a powerful illusion spell over the area, ensuring that no one outside the barrier could see their tracks, camp, or bonfire.
By one of the flickering bonfires, Carlos sat alone, lost in thought.
"Haha, you seem deep in thought, my friend. Thinking about a girl?" Arthur teased lightheartedly.
Carlos chuckled, shaking his head. "No... Mikaela was the only woman for me. I'm thinking about something else."
His gaze drifted toward the flames, and slowly, his memories pulled him back into the past—the aftermath of Kaelzar’s rampage.
---------
Carlos sat in the cold, dark prison of Naeva, his wrists and ankles bound in heavy chains. His eyes were hollow, devoid of light. He had lost everything—the woman he loved, his best friend, and the trust of his kingdom.
"You have a visitor," a guard announced.
Lifting his weary gaze, Carlos saw General Julius standing at the entrance of his cell.
"Give us some privacy," Julius instructed.
The guard gave a silent nod before stepping away, leaving the two alone.
Julius let out a heavy sigh, rubbing his temples before speaking. His voice was laced with grief.
"Carlos... why? Why did you defy the royal family, knowing it was already too late? And Kael—what happened to him? Mikaela... she was a fine knight. The three of you were like my children. How did everything go so wrong?"
He covered his face with his hand, his shoulders trembling as tears fell. He knew there was nothing he could do for Carlos now. His fate was sealed.
Despite knowing Carlos was not a true criminal, the kingdom had turned its back on him, branding him an accomplice of Kaelzar. His failure to stop his friend from slaughtering the knights only cemented his fate. Now, he was sentenced to rot in the Continental Prison—a place reserved for the most hardened criminals.
Carlos exhaled softly, his expression tinged with sorrow.
"General… I was always grateful that, even though we weren’t blood-related, you cared for orphans like us. Please, don’t cry. I accepted my fate the moment I chose to help Kaelzar. This is my punishment—for being a failure as a son, a failure as a friend, a failure as a knight… and a failure as Mikaela’s lover."
He forced a weak smile, but his eyes held nothing but pain.
Julius clenched his fists, unable to find the right words. After a long silence, he finally stood up.
"From this moment on, you are no longer my knight..." He hesitated for a brief moment before adding, "But you will always be a son of mine—one who died protecting his kingdom."
With that, the General turned and left.
A few days later, Carlos was escorted to a carriage bound for the Continental Prison.
Once they arrived, he was thrown into the deepest level of the prison, where only the most notorious criminals were kept. Chained and barely able to move, he had little choice but to endure.
He could do little more than squat or do sit-ups to stay in shape. He accepted his punishment, even when he wished for death. But Mikaela’s words echoed in his mind—
"Take care of yourself, Carlos. No matter what happens. And if you ever dare to throw your life away, I won’t forgive you."
For ten long years, he clung to those words. He ate, trained his body and mind, and endured.
Lost in his thoughts of the past, Carlos suddenly snapped back to reality.
A brilliant flash of light illuminated the Darkwoods. The normally blackened forest shimmered with an ethereal glow, and when he looked up, he saw a pillar of light piercing the night sky.
His eyes widened.
"It's Mixarnt’s signal! Move out!" Carlos commanded.
The adventurers quickly packed only the essentials before sprinting toward the source of the light.
Meanwhile, deep within Kaelzar's base...
A tremor shook the underground fortress. The disturbance roused Kaelzar from his slumber. His eyes flickered open, glowing with eerie intensity.
A slow, menacing grin spread across his face.
"Heh... it's time."
Without hesitation, he strode toward a chamber at the heart of his domain—where an enormous, intricate magic circle pulsed with dark energy.
