13 Completion of Trials - 1

The only way to stop the Trial is for the Princess to wake up by herself or the appearance of Eques Mortis.

The Princess did not stop as she headed for the cliff which later Eques Relicus would be found. The ghost was a few steps away from the edge of the cliff as was the Princess. Eques Tempus could only pray that the Princess would pass her Trial. He observed that the Princess stopped moving forward as the ghostly figure turned and tried to lure her into the depths of the shadow and death.

The Princess stood still contemplating Eques Noctis' sudden appearance in the Valley. As the Eques Falsa tried to coax the Princess into taking the last few steps over the edge of the cliff, she stared into his eyes. The Princes knew the expressions of her Knight. He could not hide it from her as his eyes were the doors to his soul, one which only she had unlocked. She could not discern his feelings. It was hollow. Empty even. She took a step towards him but then realised that Eques Noctis would never leave a companion behind. He would protect his ward and not lead them away from safety. Her distance from the cliff edge widened. Each step she took back Eques Tempus felt a small bit of relief and the ghostly figure started getting annoyed. He tried walking swiftly towards her and tried to seize her hand and lead her over the edge only for her to scream,

"YOU ARE NOT MY EQUES. LET GO OFF ME YOU FOUL CREATURE."

A light rose around the Princess engulfing her completely and in turn destroying the creature. Eques Tempus' eyes widened as he rushed towards the Princess but not failing to see another person jump down from the trees and rushed towards her as well. As they both converged on location they drew their blades. They looked at each other and unknowingly understood the other's intentions and turned their back to the Princess on either side, barricading her from coming to harm. As the light subsided they heard soft sobs coming from behind them. They immediately turned and went down on their knees. The Princess too was on her knees with her hands covering her face.

Eques Tempus gently placed his left hand on the Princess; shoulder as he yet had his sword in his right. The Princess looked up towards the Eques and cried in his arms. He may be the youngest of all the Eques but he knew the pain the Princess was feeling. He too felt the same pain at one point in his life. As the Princess' sobs calmed down into deep and calm breathing, the person from the tree spoke,

"I have a cottage nearby. You can rest there."

"How do we trust you?", Eques Tempus said as his left arm cradled the Princess while his right hand held the sword blade in front of the Princess and himself, protecting themselves from any uncertain attack.

"You can trust me Eques Tempus. I have been watching you since you entered the Valley. The Princess is lucky to have you as one of her Knights. It would be an honor to serve under the Princess and alongside a brave Eques such as yourself.", said the person/Eques

"Who are you? Are you perhaps the frater we look for?", Eques tempus asked

"I am not sure if you have come in search of me. No one usually does.", he said

Eques Tempus' eyes widened as understanding dawned on him the person in front of him was none other than,