Outside Cold Fir Ridge, deep in the forest.
The morning breeze brushed through the treetops, dispersing the lingering nighttime mist.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves in scattered patches as an orderly company of knights advanced along the forest path.
A young man led them, a black cloak draped over his shoulders, its silver embroidery gleaming faintly in the sunlight.
He rode along as though he were merely out for a leisurely inspection, without the slightest hint of tension.
"Our lord seems to be in a good mood," a young knight murmured.
His companion nudged him with an elbow. "Isn't he always like this? He's quite approachable. Honestly, following Lord Louis feels a lot safer than following anyone else."
Although they did not know the exact purpose of this outing, they had grown accustomed to one thing:
If Louis gave an order, they simply followed it.
Since the Snow Oath Campaign, the soldiers of the Red Tide Fief had developed an almost instinctive trust in their young lord.
At the far end of the dense forest, a rocky hill rose abruptly.
A fissure like a cleft struck by the heavens formed a slanted, shadowy entrance. Frost-eroded vines and loose stones surrounded it, with faint traces of beasts having once sheltered there.
Louis dismounted and said softly, "Be careful, everyone. Let's take a look inside."
He neither put on airs nor made a show of mystery.
He seemed to have simply taken a sudden interest in exploring an old site.
Several knights stepped forward voluntarily, raising torches and clearing obstacles from the path.
They were relaxed, and someone even joked, "Maybe there's a treasure map hidden in this cave."
But as they ventured deeper, the laughter gradually died away.
The depths of the cavern were damp and cold.
A strange smell of