The dark knight was first to arise hidden from the morning light creeping inside his prison with fresh cold air seeping around the throne room. He surveyed the area twice looking down and back from the decrepit halls of the forest. He marched on brazenly through the hall without a single care right up until he reached the medical bay where he breached the door open forcing it to fling across the room becoming unhinged from the wall. The sound of the door slamming against the other side of the room wall immediately woke up two out of the three sleeping with the obvious odd one out being Nick still snoozing away as if it was his own abode. The knight made himself known as the door magically drifted back to its original spot and fixed itself molding the hinges together making it brand new. He smacks Nick upside the head flinging him sideways as he shot up awake from the sudden hit.

"Gah! What the flying fuck was that for?!"

"If I show myself to you, you in return give me your attention."

"I was sleeping?!"

"That is not my problem. Well now that you're all awake line up on the wall so I can get this over with without issues."

Gatekeeper stood tall as he pointed towards the wall; Cloudy hurriedly walked to stand side by side while Royal followed him closely behind. He still had a look of confusion on his face wondering how he got here and why he was in such a situation.

"Listen up carefully because I don't have time to repeat myself."

He glared at them all with a sinister glare making his point clear.

Royal and Cloudy asked what he had planned but instead he left them for a while making them question even more than before as to what was going to happen. Nick slumped over to the wall in a daze complaining a good part of the way there until the knight returned with a large bag of items inside. Before they could say anything he tossed a separate bag for each one of them, afterward he threw the larger bag before all three of them telling them to open what was inside. Nick being too lazy to peek inside encourages Cloudy to look inside for him. What happened though was Royal volunteered himself and saw what inside was a generous gift given by the guardian. A few sets of new clothes and better armor than what they wore.

"Inside the smaller bags I threw at you graciously is rations, medicine, and in case of an emergency a pungent bait that can distract any beast for a short period as long as it has a sense of smell."

Gatekeeper detailed clearly so they knew exactly what was inside with no lies hidden underneath.

"From here on out what lies on ahead for you three is on a whole other playing field compared to this tiny forest. You've learned well but that is only the basic requirement to adventure out into the vast corrupt world we reside in. At least you can adapt quicker to harsher environments unlike before and grow accustomed to it thanks to my teachings. Don't waste another moment's notice from here on out. Put on the armor I thoughtfully graced you with and get out of my territory finally."

Royal couldn't help but think that Gatekeeper really didn't like anyone inside his area and absolutely wanted them all gone as soon as possible. Suddenly a thought came into mind when looking at the armor he was about to don.

"What kind of armor is this made out of? It's not of any kind of animal I know of? Is it the same as your armor Gatekeeper?"

"No~. It's not the same and you would wish it wasn't if you were forc-... had to wear what I have. It's made out of materials I've manifested using my unique powers of the forest. The armor is the most durable and flexible you will ever set your eyes upon so do not throw it away. Armor you get from merchants or from any armory is nothing in comparison to my creation. It wouldn't even get a scratch even if a massive boulder were to hit it. The only issue though is it still can mess with your internal system if you are hit with a blunt weapon. Bear that in mind."

"What does this button do on my right breast pocket?"

Cloudy pointed out a single gold button that was out of place in comparison to the rest of the armor.

"Ah~.. That is something I've experimented on for quite sometime but it is purely cosmetic. Try it out, leave to the first gate once you do."

Cloudy pushed on it expecting a transformation but instead what happened was his armor disappeared only showing the clothes he was wearing underneath. Shocked he looked around expecting the knight playing a trick on him but by the look on his face he knew he had nothing to do with it.

"It feels so unreal~. It's like the weight of the armor isn't here- no that's not right. It's as if I don't even have it equipped."

Gatekeeper let out a small peep amused while Cloudy had a huge grin on his face getting a good look underneath his shirt seeing his bare chest.

"Hmm... It still needs work but you can deal with it."

Nick laughed at him stating that he is not a girl and that he should stop fidgeting. He placed his shirt back on properly and realized that he had to keep his arms close to his body since the armor still clung tightly to him.

Gatekeeper explained the simple process and also how to turn it on and off that mostly Royal took interest in. Nick booked it to the first gate not wanting to hear a lecture in session while Cloudy's brain began to overheat from the amount of big and daring words he was using. Once the knight finished with his talk Royal had many questions curious about learning more while Cloudy was already dead from the amount of things that went in and out of his ear.

"Knowledge is a good thing boy~. But. Remember this-.. Only a fool would mistake curiosity for blind greed."

Royal understood not thinking too much about it and followed the rest as he was the last one behind. Gatekeeper assisted them through the hall way full of animated malice and into the first hallway where the first gate lied waiting for those who come and go. The air there was dry yet it wasn't even the slightest bit warm there, in fact it was almost chilly with the amount of dust and dirt kicking up into the air. The skies were so real yet the three knew that it was fabricated by Gatekeeper himself for unknown reasons. Possibly to not forget what the skies looked like, enjoying what little of the outside world he knows of, maybe.. it's has a deeper meaning more than it seems. They couldn't be more unsure and so they left it be with the guardian knight to continue on for as long as he lives.

"You three have done well with your training. Your growth has been remarkable and you should all be proud of yourselves."

The three bowed respectfully to Gatekeeper. They made sure to give courtesy like girls would. He smiled and waved his hand dismissing them. With the snap of the guardians two fingers the fifty ton door on one side began to creek open without much effort as the three were in awe remembering Hunter struggling to open it using his whole body. They scattered to the outside world finally seeing some greenery compared to the grey and dull medieval halls they were accustomed to for almost half a year. They all took in a fresh of air excited to smell something that they once took in every second almost taking it for granted. The grass was so green and vibrant the wind blew through it creating a slight breeze; the sun shined bright but not hot nor cold as they spent most of their days in darkness. Everything seemed to have a life to it but they were not used to it.

As they walked onto the grass they decided to take a breather and stretch their legs before continuing onward. Even when they were inside the forest there was not of any type of tree that they recognized almost as if the season had changed.

"Where are we?"

Royal asked as he gazed at the horizon past the dense greenery.

"You're in my territory~.. Obviously."

The three turned around not amused by Gatekeeper's straightforward answer.

"We're actually in the middle of nowhere."

Cloudy remarked.

"Yeah, we're not in your realm anymore."

Royal added.

"Why are we here then?"

Gatekeeper looked at Royal with a look of surprise 

"How did you even know I brought you here?"

"Because you mentioned it before leaving."

"So you remembered me saying that? Well fine, let's just say it was a test of sorts. To see how far you could go and how well you'd do. I'm glad to see your performance was satisfactory."

The three happily waved their goodbyes as if the knight was a longtime friend as they leaped over branches and large leaves and hopping past and above roots that would stick out like a sore thumb. Now with the training they've went through the pressure that was being exerted from the forest was now at most bearable allowing them to travel in the forest without too many issues compared to when they first arrived. Gatekeeper smiles as the light from the sun peaked through the leaves of the forest filling him with a sudden sense of euphoria knowing he did what he could for Hunter's wife and her dying wish.

"Ah-.. That's what the skies looked like. I think it's time I go make some artistic changes to the realm now that I remember again. It's overdue for a remastered version."

"Now.. It's their turn to continue on her wish so it can be fulfilled."

The guardian of the forest went back opening the stupidly overkill, heavy doorway with just the snap of his finger.