Eques Lux knew that Eques Noctis would soon realise what he had well but he could not do much other than look for the Princess. Taking a deep breath, he tried to calm himself down. He had not registered when he had closed his eyes. He discerned the wavering of his eyes as he felt the fight drain out of his body. Everyone had been on the edge ever since Eques Tempus had met them because they knew that they had already started walking on the path of the Prophecy.
As Eques Lux opened his eyes he watched as his surroundings suddenly dim and darkened. Unknowing to the three Fraters, the trees had moved and closed in on them. Looking at Eques Noctis he knew that the same thoughts were running through his mind as well, while Eques Relicus remained much too calm for their comfort. The Valley of Death had started its first Trial, 'Tree Massacre'. Drawing their swords they each took a step towards the centre of the clearing created by the trees blocking them in. Once the three of them were back-to-back he whispered to them,
Eques Lux and Eques Noctis waited in anticipation for any attack but none came their way. Thinking the movement was a trap they tried to find their way out. Each walked in the opposite direction to find an opening but to no avail. Suddenly they heard a rustle and one of the trees gave way. Surprising as it may, it was a way out but both Lux and Noctis decided to stand guard and not make a move. It did not evade their notice that all this while Eques Relicus had not made a move until the opening became visible. As Eques Lux and Noctis took a step closer to each other to face the opening in case of any threats, Eques Relicus walked towards the opening with no little to no conviction. Just as he reached the pathway the trees closed in on them again and branches came down at them from all directions. It felt as if the trees were indeed trying to Massacre them.
Eques Noctis manoeuvred out of the way of one of the branches which came down at him while Eques Lux rolled out of the way of another. Eques Relicus on the other hand was oozing confidence. Even as a branch came down at him, he did not move thinking his home would not harm him. He soon realised how wrong he was as another branch came at him with as much strength as his confidence. He registered his mistake a moment too late as Eques Noctis lunged at him pushing him out of the way. Eques Relicus was safe but Eques Noctis not so much. The branch had fallen on his right leg. By the time he had felt the pain the branch had risen up to strike down again. Eques Noctis being not one to be tied down by a little pain got up adjusting his stance so that his left side took most of his weight. He knew he would not be able to handle the sword in his state of imbalance. So he went back to his comfort, his glaive. Just as he was unsheathing his glaive Eques Lux called out,
"Sheath your blades mei amicis. This forest is testing our bravery. The trees are feeding off it. It will continue to tire us out to death. We need to keep agile to make it out of this Trial. Trust each other and make sure to watch each other's backs."
Eques Noctis took a deep breath and raised an eyebrow as he scrutinised his surroundings once more before he sheathed his glaive. He sent a questioning look towards Eques Lux as he did so.
"When you stopped to change your weapon, the branch coming at you stopped mid-way and changed directions. It is reacting to emotions."
Understanding dawned on Eques Noctis as he gave a slight nod to Eques Lux. Eques Relicus on the other hand had not replaced every weapon he had. He yet had his doubts on Eques Noctis and wanted to test him out as well. Eques Lux took the first step further into the forest followed by Eques Noctis but they failed to perceive the dagger in the hands of Eques Relicus. As the Eques' took agile steps deeper into the forest, they had their senses peeled in order to keep an eye for their Princess and Eques Tempus. Each step they took the forest began thickening. At one point the Eques' could not move any further. As they tried to retrace their steps they came to a realisation that the forest had changed without sensing any movement. Although Eques Lux and Eques Noctis had their doubt on the Trials they were supposed to go through Eques Relicus had another opinion.
"Eques Noctis, the Tree Massacre should never have been activated against the Eques of the Kingdom, unless we are required to undergo the Trial ourself or there is an imposter claiming to be someone he is not. I have spent years in this Valley and have never undergone a Trial.", he said while raising the dagger towards Eques Noctis.
"What are you implying, Eques Relicus?", Eques Noctis asked confused. He had no inclination as to what the Knight wanted to convey as he kept his eyes trained on the dagger in his opponent's hand as well as the sudden opening in the woods. Eques Noctis furrowed his brows as he tried to make sense of the words said by the Eques as well as understand if passing through the opening would be beneficial or worse for them. Eques Lux too seemed confused as he stared at Eques Relicus.
"I am implying that I can see the future and I have seen Eques Lux in it but my knowledge of my past and my vision of the future does not verify who you are. There is no Eques Noctis in existence. There was never one to begin with. The Eques of the Princess are made of Seven parts of time and nature, Darkness is her weakness. That is why there never was an Eques Noctis written in the past nor the future. So, WHO ARE YOU?", Eques Relicus raised his voice at the end of his speech while pointing the dagger straight at Eques Noctis.
Eques Lux' eyes widen as he registered what Eques Relicus had just said. He glanced towards Eques Noctis who had showed no reaction. Or rather Eques Lux could no longer read him. He had closed himself off much more than usual at the claim. Thinking back, it was impossible for Eques Noctis to not exist for the King himself had appointed him as the Princess' Guardian and Knight.
With firm determination and a locked ecpression Eques Noctis glared at Eques Relicus as he said, "The Knight of the Future, you may know of your past and the future of our kingdom but as we all know there are variables in every future. The Princess and Eques Tempus know of this too. We have to set in stone our path in order for it to be a reality. We cannot just rely on our abilities. Similarly, the future you see is not set in stone yet. You can only see the future of the people you trust for you are willing to see that future. While you have no trust in me for which you cannot see my future. This Trial is not ours to face but yours to discern. I do not need you to believe or trust me. As long as the Princess trusts me and needs me I will be her Knight"
"Eques Noctis states the truth Eques Relicus. I have heard of him. Eques Tempus included. We trust each other. That is why I have a strong feeling that this Trial is not ours but yours. If we can recall you tried to leave the clearing when the trees rained down their wrath at us. The moment you moved to leave the trees attacked. You need to have trust in us. In Eques Noctis especially. He is the right hand to the Commander. Like it or not he is our Frater", Eques Lux stated conviction
Eques Relicus could not believe his ears as his own frater was going against him. "This is preposterous.'', he said. But no longer had he said it than he vanished right in front of the eyes of Eques Noctis and Eques Lux, leaving both the Eques worried and at attention.