When morning came the four were once again riding out on the three horses Patton had managed to nab. Roman was once again holding a sleeping Virgil, cloak still hiding him from view. It hadn't been surprising that the little medical care they had provided Virgil hadn't been very helpful, what was surprising was that even Logan's healing spells hadn't worked all too well. Roman suggested making the healing salve that Virgil had used after the dragon, it had worked wonders on Logan and Patton after all. Logan said he'd think about it, mixing spells and potions wasn't often a good idea but he would perform another healing spell later on.

Some of the Dark Realm prince's cuts were gone thanks to Logan, most of them had scabbed over. Logan said the real problem was probably blood loss and (judging by the bumps and bruises on Virgil's face and skull) head trauma. Maybe even the potion he had been given if it was strong enough. Either way, the prince was asleep again and the three had decided it was good for him to be resting.

The three had just left the last town and were now riding through the large expanse of empty field and towards the menacingly dark forest ahead. While they were in town they had stocked up as many supplies as they had been able to, including buying a few Dark Realm cloaks to hide them if they ran into any more trouble and more medicinal supplies.

Roman had already sent a letter with proof to his parents via Bird Mail to inform them of Tafe and his treasonous band of soldiers. And Logan had explained to Virgil, while he was awake of course, his relationship with his uncle, as well as the death of his father and brother. The younger prince had been surprised, but not angry or anything. He told Logan he was really happy he and his uncle were nothing alike.

Virgil stirred in Roman's arms as he began to wake again. The other prince glanced down at Virgil before slowing down slightly, Virgil was thankful for this. The fast-riding made his head spin. "Hey there, Charlie Frown," Roman said with a small smile, "how are you feeling?"

Virgil used his fingers to trace letters on Roman's skin again, his fingers still not fully healed, 'L-i-k-e S-h-i-t'

Roman hummed a laugh, "careful, you don't wanna upset Patton."

'P-a-t-'

"You want me to get them?"

'R-i-d-e w-i-t-h'

"Okay. Are you done sleeping then?" Virgil nodded, "is it the touching thing? You're fine with Pat right?" Another nod. Roman signaled towards Patton and Logan.

"This is a good time to stop for lunch anyway," Patton declared as they and Logan helped Roman get Virgil down. Virgil didn't seem too happy about that, eating sounded disgusting right now and he really wanted to keep moving, maybe he shouldn't have said anything. Patton frowned at Virgil's subtle reaction, "Just a little, okay?"

Virgil nodded, albeit a bit reluctantly, and moved to help with whatever he could. In the middle of this, while he was helping Roman prepare the food, Logan pulled him aside to perform another healing spell. Sitting the younger prince down on a rock, "How are you feeling?" he asked as he helped Virgil worm his way out of his shirt so Logan could reach the sliced skin.

Virgil dragged his finger across his neck to mime his answer and Logan hummed in response as he carefully took Virgil's hand first so he could attempt to heal his fingers again, "That is not good," Logan stated before pausing for a moment, "I apologize."

Virgil had a feeling Logan wasn't saying that in the way people apologize when something bad happens, he actually felt at fault, 'W-H-Y?' Virgil traced with a look of confusion.

"General Tafe is my uncle, and though we do not get along, I know there has to have been something I could have done to make it so he wouldn't have done this."

Virgil frowned, 'Y-O-U D-I-D'

"I did not,"

'R-O S-A-Y-S Y-O-U D-I-D'

Logan shook his head, "I could have done more, beforehand. My uncle would have listened to me if I was insistent enough." Logan let go of Virgil's first hand and then took his second to heal that one as well, "I should have known immediately that he was lying."

'C-O-U-L-D-N-T H-A-V-E K-N-O-W-N'

Logan let go of Virgil's hands and moved to attempt another round of healing spells on Virgil's scratches. Virgil carefully bent his fingers and was happy to find that they were no longer broken, and was glad he wouldn't be having to write out his words anymore. "Roman's parents wouldn't have made such a command, I should have deduced it."

'Stop,' Virgil signed, Logan did as he was told and paused the healing spell. Virgil began to put his shirt back on, Logan again helping him. Anymore healing and Logan would have tired himself to much, so despite still having injuries, Virgil was done for now. 'Look, Dork, Tafe hates me and my brother. He wants me dead. The only reason he didn't kill me is because whoever is in charge told him if he kills me Tafe would be cut out of the deal they made. Not even you could've stopped him, so shut up. Second, you didn't know and that's fine. Tafe's a good liar, he's supposed to be. The only reason I knew was cause the vision and he tried to kill 'Mus. I didn't tell you, I was scared. I told Pat. it's on me. Stop fucking blaming yourself or I'll tell the other two and Roman doesn't seem like the type of boyfriend who will let you think that.'

Logan didn't say anything for a moment, though he could feel a warm feeling at the word boyfriend. He still wasn't used to it, and Virgil was right. Roman wasn't gonna be that type of boyfriend. Not to mention that Patton wouldn't let the feelings he had slide either. Logan only sighed and nodded before letting Virgil rush off towards Patton to go help with the meal.

The four of them stared at the darkness of the forest ahead. Virgil was holding tightly to Patton's hand, seemingly terrified of entering the crowd of trees. He had grown up hearing dozens of stories about this forest. Children wandering in and becoming victims to the evils within. LumberJacks going in for wood and coming out as monsters. Creatures nobody has ever heard of or seen sneaking out in the night and disappearing into the kingdom.

This was where evil was born, people claimed. This was where evil came to grow, live, and fester until it became strong enough to rule. This was where dark magic originated from. This was where earth met the gates of hell. This was where not even the bravest of people would go, not unless they were cocky and stupid that was.

Virgil had tried to explain the seriousness of this forest to his friends, but they did not believe him. Roman just found it making the trip even more exciting, he wanted to see a unicorn. Virgil wondered if Roman had ever been made aware of the carnivorous nature of the Dark Realm unicorn, which differed from the herbivore Light Realm Unicorn. Logan was excited too and had dismissed Virgil's warning as nothing but children's tales. Though, if Virgil was saying was true and people didn't come into the forest because of these childish fallacy's then there was most likely plenty to discover plants and animals to find and learn about. Patton seemed to be the only one who wasn't ignoring all of Virgil's warnings, instead, pocketing the information and making sure they understood everything Virgil was telling them.

"Ann wants to know if you're absolutely sure that we're supposed to go in there," Patton said as he and Virgil came to stand by the other two.

Logan rolled his eyes, "There's no other place for them to have gone. And the town we left this morning confirmed having seen the army entering the forest."

'I'm not going in there unless we're one hundred percent sure that's where they went,' Virgil signed stubbornly, obviously still adamant that the legends and rumors of the forest were true, and fear full of it, 'Can you do that tracking spell you were talking about a couple days ago?'

"Well, I could." Logan said with a nod, "I was planning on doing it later, though I suppose even from this distance the spell could work."

'Great, do it. Get it over with. Not going in that damn forest unless I absolutely have to.'

Patton and Roman shrugged before they sat down on the ground and crowded around Logan. Logan motioned for the princes to hand them the items that belonged to their brothers and would be used for the spell. This was a spell Virgil didn't know, one that was too advance for Logan to attempt to teach him, and even if it wasn't now was not the time nor place. The three watched as Logan placed the items on the ground and cast the spell on each of them, making two glowing balls appear above them.

"Now what?" Roman asked, Logan, signaling for them to stand.

Logan tapped both the orbs and just like that the orbs took off into the forest, "Now we follow them," he turned to Virgil, "See? They're in there. Just like we said."

Virgil rolled his eyes as they hurried back to the horses, 'Excuse me for not wanting to get eaten by a unicorn'

"That-!" Roman laughed as they took off into the forest, "That is preposterous! Unicorns don't eat people! Unicorns are harmless, why the few times I've encountered them the majestic creatures have always allowed me to pet them."

'Princey, I promise you, if you try to pet a unicorn here you will lose your hand' That was the end of the conversation for Virgil, who quickly clung to Patton, in fear, as soon as he was done signing. Patton hummed a laugh as they let the other hug him, it wasn't often he got hugs from his dark strange son. Besides, he was glad that Virgil and he had become close enough friends that he felt safe enough to hug them. Especially since when they had first met Virgil didn't like so much as high-fiving them.

"You, my glorious emo nightmare of a friend, just like to corrupt everything with you dark edginess, don't you?" Roman asked with a roll of his eyes, "Next you're going to tell me that three-headed dogs are man-eating monsters that you can't keep as pets."

Virgil shook his head in disbelief as he silently prayed that Logan took some time to educate Roman on the differences between species of animals and other contrasts their kingdoms had.

Four long hours later the orbs had led them to a mass of land where the forest temporarily ended. Part of this land had been taken up by a very large camp housing tents or poorly made huts and shacks, homes that could be built or taken apart in seconds. In the middle of the camp was an outdoor prison; cells dug into the ground with hasty but sturdy made doors, wooden crates with people crammed into them, or other jail-like containments. And in front of all this, a very large, very old, and very foreboding castle.

The mini-village had hundreds of soldiers, wizards, workers, and others walking around it completing jobs or some just going about what could almost be called normal life. It made the group almost fearful to find out just how many people had taken over this forest.

Patton took Virgil's hand as they looked over the area with wide eyes. The four hid behind bushes and trees and watched as the orbs discreetly made their way up the castle and towards one of the towers. "Ann?" Patton asked in a hushed whisper, "Did you know about this place?"

'My grandfather did, he use to tell me of a forgotten kingdom hidden in this forest. He said the people fell to madness and that evil had consumed them until everyone here became some sort of evil spirit or entity.'

"That's a stupid children's tale," Logan said with a shake of his head as he turned away and quietly helped Roman finish the map they had been working on, to send to his parents so they could send an army. "This castle is obviously very old, the architecture tells is very similar to that of the Dark Realm castle, except at least a half-century older, probably more, what most likely happened was that the Dark Realm used to have a second castle here so they could watch over both ends of their kingdom throughout the year. Roman's family has at least half a dozen castles outside the capital. This is the more likely possibil- no Dear that's east we went west, there you go, now just keep drawing that line and then circle where my finger is. Wonderful, now we can send it to your parents"

Virgil rolled his eyes as Roman whispered his thanks before attempting to find a bird to communicate with, preferably a predatory one so it has a high chance of survival.

"Well, what do we do now?" Patton asked as Roman tied the map and to the birds leg and sent it off.

"Now we go back to the town and wait for word to get back to us," Logan said, "That's what we were told to do by the King and Queen and that is the most logical option we have. The chances of the four of us being able to."

Logan's voice became distant and faded as a vision suddenly flashed through his mind, it lasted just a few seconds but in that time Virgil dropped to his knees and had to all but stuff his fist in his mouth to muffle the pained sounds leaving him.

"Ann are you alrig-" before Patton could finish his question Virgil was back to his feet and trying to run towards the wall of bushes that separated them from the castle.

He wasn't fast enough however and Roman quickly got in his way, "What are you doing?" he whispered harshly, "You're going to get us caught!"

'Something bad is going to happen to Remus and Dee. Something really bad.' Roman paled slightly as his grip on Virgil loosened slightly. It was enough to send Virgil running out of his arms and back towards the bushes, breaking out of them and sprinting across the ground as quickly, quietly, and discreetly as he could.

"Wait-! Where is he going!" Logan muttered harshly, "He's going to get himself killed!"

"Ann wait!" Patton whispered as he grabbed their bow and quiver of arrows off the ground and quickly went to follow.

Roman stared after them for a moment before breaking from his trance and tried to go after them only for Logan to grab him by the shoulders, "Roman you can not seriously be thinking of going with them can you?"

"Logan, I love you, I do but my brothers in there and I swear to god if he gets hurt one more time and I wasn't there to help him I will kill someone so please let me go before that someone is you." And with that, Roman ran towards the others. Logan stared at them for a moment before sighing deeply and chasing after them, muttering something about how this was all very illogical and stupid as he went.