Adelaide was worried that their plan was obselete. Having been told by Kriemhild about her dire news, she wondered if they were capable of building a huge army to reconquer her empire. She had a few people in mind. Once an ally of the empire, now a rogue tribe wondering for Goddess knows where.

The dense Forest of Red that separates Valhalla and Valencia was cold. It had the air of unease and death that continuesly loom over their shoulders. She looked over the back to see how the group was handling the steep lands.

She saw Kriemhild postured a ready stance, always alert whenever she felt just a slight touch on her skin despite the cloak. Allendis was much more relaxed in the light fog but she could see his posture to be guarded despite it.

"What's the matter darling?" Adelaide an older woman's voice beside her. Amy Tenz, the beautiful raven-haired merchant Allendis negotiated with for supplies and convoy, she too wore the same cloak as her yet underneath was her red dress made to attract both customers and men alongside her charming smile.

To her side was her apprentice, Tyke. A boy the same age as her with also the same height, which she was glad that there was someone as short as her five foot three. Under his cloak, she could see his white shirt on top of a black vest with the same colored trouser.

"It's nothing, Amy."

"Really? It doesn't have anything to do with the new girl? Not even a little bit."

Adelaide was for the most part, indifferent to Cecilia. She was sympathetic to her cause but it didn't sat right with her that she was endagering her. But if she was being completely honest with herself, despite her incredibly sweet and quite shy personality, she felt uneasy being around her and it frustrated her that she didn't knew why.

"I can see the way you look at them," Amy smirked. "You're afraid that she's trying to steal your man underneath your nose."

"No." Adelaide said. "It's strictly professional."

"Miss Adelaide." She heard Tyke's soft voice came. "Do you truly know where we are going?" Tyke said before realising that he was speaking to royalty"I–I mean, your majesty!"

Amy laughed loudly and ruffled Tyke's light brown hair. "You really need to learn more people skills. You wouldn't be able to steal Ellen's heart at this rate."

She saw young man's face turned beet red. "S–shut up!"

"To answer your question," Adelaide began. "No. I only read about them on the empire's library. And their bloody history."

"Bloody history?"

"The Heniochi were an ancient tribe that savagely killed anyone for a living. That was until the second emperor, Hanshaugen II gave them food and shelter, forming an alliance with the empire. As proof, the Heniochi created a statue in honor of Hanshaugen in the capital."

"That's not even the half of it right?" Amy asked.

"Yes, when Hanshaugen died, the Heniochi tribe killed Vahallan nobles and apparently ate them, ensuing the Val-Hen war."

"What?! And we're asking monsters like them for help?"

Adelaide remained silent. She knew they would react like that. The only ones who knew of the plan were both Allendis and Kriemhild. Though, Kriemhild did took issues against it as well, citing that they are inhumane beings that must be punished.

"Yes. While I do believe that they killed empire nobles, I highly doubt that they ate anyone. Or at least logically speaking, they wouldn't have a reason for it."

"I don't want to offend you your majesty," Tyke said. "But why are we even here for? I doubt me and miss Amy have anything to offer."

"Trust." She simply said. "The Heniochi would trust us much easier if they saw that not all of us are armed."

"Then Gort and Cecilia should've come with us. I know that girl would be a better choice than Tyke."

"I can't risk her life as soon as she joined. Remember, she only joined us so that she could find someone capable enough to cure her brother."

"Best stay on guard you three." Kriemhild chimed in. "I sense someone approaching."

Adelaide gripped her hand axe, ready to throw the weapon amidst the thick forest. Her left hand gripped her battle axe in case someone jumped them.

Allendis gestured them to take things slowly. He took a long sniff before concluding that he couldn't tell what it was.

He heard a loud rustling that came from the right pathway. He could tell that they were only two of them. As the rustling became closer and closer, his grip became tighter and tighter.

When the rustle finally reached him, he raised his arm prepared to strike but stopped at his peak when he saw a girl with short black hair with blue nomadic dress, her collar and the edges were designed with a zigzagged pattern, bumbed into him.

"Oww!"

"Sakae!" They heard a deep voice coming from the same place. The saw man with the same blue nomadic clothing, his long hair stuck out under a blue bandana wrapped around his head. He saw Allendis' sword near the girl and his eyes turned with almost a bloodlusted fury.

"Let go of my sister." The young man drew his bow point-blank Allendis.

"Sure." He lifted the girl by the collar to help her stand up and pushed her towards her brother.

"Wha– be careful!" The woman glared at Allendis, before her bowed his head in apology.

"Speak. What are you doing here? In the Forest of Red?"

"We're not on a stroll if that's what youre asking." Amy said to herself but apparently she was heard by the man.

"I do not joke around. Tell me, are you friend or foe?"

Before Allendis could say something, Adelaide came in front of the man. "Friend. We mean you no harm. We just want to meet the Heniochi. We heard that this is where their settlement resides." She said. "Tell me. Are of the Heniochi tribe?"

The man lowered his bow but his glare never left Allendis. "No. We are from another tribe. We too are seeking the Heniochi."

"Then would you like to come with us? If we have the same goal, we best work on it together, do you not agree?" Adelaide took out her gloved hand for a handshake.

"I do not trust outsiders."

"Azkusai!" His little sister called him. "We should accept their offer. They seem like nice people."

"Nice? Sakae, you almost got killed by one of them."

"If she was a threat then I would have killed her." Allendis said. "Fortunately, she wasn't."

"Do you want to say that to my face?"

"Brother! Enough!" Sakae reprimanded him. "I'm sorry about my brother and I'm sorry too for scaring you like that."

"...I wasn't scared though."

"We accept your apology," Adelaide said. "Right Allendis?"

Sakae heard him sigh while Azkusai glared at him. "...Yes."

"We should get moving then." Amy said to them. "Let's meet these Heniochi. I'd like to leave these forest as fast as possible."

"Do you know where they even are?" Kriemhild asked dryly.

Amy shrugged her shoulders, "We'll probably find them soon if keep at it."

"Since when you have been an optimist?"

"Oh sweetie, I haven't been in the trade long if you don't follow your gu... gu... t." They saw Amy fell down to her face with a small needle stuck on her nape.

"Miss Amy!" Tyke ran to check what happened to her.

Allendis and Kriemhild drew their blades in while Azkusai and Sakae went to eachother for protection. Adelaide couldn't see much through the fog but she could've sworn that it got thicker in an instant.

She felt a strange presence looming over them. She looked up only to vaguely see a couple of people on tge branches. They stood there with extreme balance as if they have practiced this sort of thing before.

Allendis threw his knife above them but they somehow vanished out of their limited sight. When they brought their head down, they saw the two figures on the branch a moment ago.

They saw two hulking men, without a shirt, body full of scars with wild animal fur covering there waist but the mos distinct characteristics they have was the animal masks that covered their face.

They pointed their spear towards the unconscious Amy, they grunted as if they were talking to them. They noticed the confused looks on their face and finally talked. "Woman. Now poisoned. If no cooperate. Then no antidote."

"You." The other one pointed his spear at Adelaide. "Our leader. Wants to speak. You come alone. Or we kill your friends."

"Wait a minute!" Kriemhild exclaimed. "You can't do that! What if you people decided to kill her?"

"Fine." Adelaide said. "I'll come with you. Alone."

"Adelaide!"

"We don't have time, Kriemhild! Look at Amy's state right now." She pointed to Amy who was sweating profusely with Tyke wiping her high temperature with cold water. "We have no time to negotiate."

Kriemhild looked conflicted. On one hand she was worried about her safety. She will be an important figure in the war. She can't afford her death by some savages. But on the other, her comrade was now on the verge of death because of her.

"Alright." Kriemhild began. "But be careful. And come back safe to us."

Adelaide smiled at her friend's worry. "I promise."

"You're the Heniochi, aren't you?" Azkusai asked the masked man while Sakae blinked at the claim.

"Really?" She asked her brother. "I thought they were barbarians, not skilled assassins!"

"I thought so too." He said. "But with their clothing, it's easy to see that their barbaric culture are still prevalent despite the times."

He turned his attention to the two Heniochi men. "I too would like to come. Me and my sister have important business with your leader."

"State your business." The tip of his spear was near Azkusai's face. "Or else. We will cut you down."

Azkusai gulped at the threat but remained calm. "I would like to ask where to find the grave stones of the Lohar tribe."

Adelaide noticed the two men stiffened and gripped their spears too tight. "...You come alone too. No exception."

Azkusai tucked his bow and arrow on his back, "I'll be back Sakae. Stay with them while I'm gone."

His sister nodded to him while Azkusai went to Adelaide's side. "Does this have anything to do with what happened ten years ago?" She asked.

"Might be..."

One of the Heniochi men gave Tyke a vial with purple liquid on it. "Here. Antidote."

Tyke was still cautious around these guys but accepted it anyway, her master's life was on the line here and he can't afford to be spiteful at the moment.

The two of them followed the Heniochi men as they vanished from their sights Allendis went over to Sakae. "Stay with Kriemhild. She's the one who's conscious."

Sakae jumped in surprised by his sudden order. "Wh–what are you planning to do?"

"I'm going to follow them."

"By the Ra'al's nose, why would you do something so dangerous?" She asked, she was afraid that if this man went after them, she wouldn't be able to see her brother again.

Allendis remained silent. He didn't know himself. It was not like him to care for his clients safety unless told to. He mostly just killed people for money. No matter the reason. But even though he couldn't figure out his emotions, he did know that he won't let one of his comrades risk their lives. He can be quite hypocritical when he wanted to be.

"...No questions. Kriemhild I want you to return to Gort and Cecilia. Make sure Amy is well rested. Tyke take care of this girl. I'm counting on both of you."

"Right." Kriemhild said. "I won't say it again Allendis, but you better come back with Adelaide on tow."

Allendis looked at her eyes with an impassive gaze. "...I will."

"Mister," Sakae began as she tugged on his cloak. "If my brother is in trouble. Please, save him. I don't care how much he will whine about it. He's my only family left..." She was generally against the idea of Allendis following them. Namely it could risk their safety but another part of her wanted to know her brother was gonna be alright.

Allendis place a hand on her head and patted it, "I will." Before he too disappeared into the fog.

"C'mon... Sakae was it?" Kriemhild ask. "All we can do right now is to place our faith unto him. If anyone can keep their word. It's him."

Her downcasted attitude disappeared, replaced by a bubbly smile that even made the serious Kriemhild smile in amusement. "Right! Let's go! The miss needs her rest." She went to Tyke, who was embarrassed to be near another beautiful girl as she helped him carry Amy on her back."

Kriemhild looked towards the pathway that bothe Allendis and Adelaide disappeared to and prayed.

'Goddess Yaldabaoth. Please give them the strength to come back safely.'