Veryn and Casseo stepped forward, moving to stand beside Vlad.

The Luminous Knights began explaining, their voices overlapping occasionally as they described the journey to Melo City. The discovery of the ruins, the battle with the Golden Warrior, and the spectral figures guarding the Star Jewel.

Amiya spoke up, interjecting to provide context about the forest's dangers, how the knight had protected the chamber for two centuries. Her violet eyes showed pride mixed with sorrow as she described what they'd witnessed.

Vlad nodded periodically, his crimson eyes never leaving the Star Jewel in Marie's hands. When the explanation finished, he asked, "Can you get me in contact with your Saint?"

The Luminous Knights nodded immediately.

"We'll go get our Light Signal." Veryn said, already turning.

Both knights ran toward the building they'd been staying in, which was a modest structure near the town center. Their footsteps faded quickly, leaving the group standing with Vlad.

Vlad turned to Reinhard and the others, his expression growing more serious. "Do you really wish to help with the Dark Silence?"

Marie smiled, the expression carrying warmth. "We have inherited the will from the people of Melo, so of course we will help." She raised the Star Jewel higher, letting its light catch and reflect. "We want to free this place."

Vlad trembled, just a slight shaking in his shoulders, before he smiled. "Follow me."

They began walking through Naraku, passing buildings still being repaired from the recent attack. Townspeople worked quietly, avoiding eye contact with Vlad but showing gratitude through their continued survival.

Vlad began speaking softly. "If you wish to help, then you should understand the true consequences of the Dark Silence. It had stripped away resources, homes, and order from the Forerunners people when it first came. Everyone was desperately trying to survive, but not even knowing how in this new world."

Reinhard furrowed his brows, confusion evident. "How were places like this created? If the Night Terrors laid waste to the empire, then how did these towns form?"

Amiya spoke up quickly. "It's because of Ancestor Charles, who created these towns and villages."

Vlad nodded, a sigh escaping him. "Originally, they were called evacuation zones. They were meant to gather people before escorting them out of Eastern Hesod entirely." He gestured around them at Naraku's buildings. "But the towering forest and roots made that difficult. Soon, people began treating these places as their new homes instead of temporary shelters."

They turned a corner, passing a group of children playing despite the morning's terror. The resilience was both heartening and heartbreaking.

Joseph asked, "How did Charles gather these people? Shouldn't it have been difficult for him to survive back then?"

Vlad chuckled, though the sound carried darkness. "You're right. Back then, it was terrible, it was pure chaos and terror in the night. When there were no guards around to protect people, they had to try surviving on their own." His crimson eyes grew distant. "The night that was meant to be time for relaxation and freedom from burdens became their worst and most stressful time. And when everything you were familiar with becomes useless in just a week..."

Marie frowned, her light-gold eyes showing distress. "That sounds so horrible... Wait, that's enough to leave most people in despair and lose hope. Did they..."

Vlad nodded gravely. "A lot of people ended their own paths or tried finding ways out. There were even some who tried adapting, with varying results."

Marie looked down, her frown widening. Reinhard inwardly sighed, but he could understand the people's choice since sometimes, continuing to live on is a greater hell. Especially when you lost all the people you love, and the home you once knew.

Reinhard's voice was quiet but firm. "I'm guessing this led to some people worshipping the phenomenon and others doing whatever it takes to survive?"

He'd seen it before in a different context.

An opposing gang is burning down the important resources of a neighboring village. The village descended into chaos, where everyone did anything to survive. People sacrifice family members and close friends just for one more day of life.

People stripped to their basest survival instinct.

Vlad nodded with a sigh. "It was all done to distract them from the despair that was haunting them. You could say the Forerunner people were experiencing their own civilization ending… And this would have continued if not for that fool of a man known as Charles."

The tone in Vlad's voice changed when speaking that name, fondness mixed with exasperation, respect mixed with frustration. The tone of someone remembering a friend who'd driven them crazy but was their friend regardless.

They reached a clearing near the town's edge.

The eastern forest was visible from here, trees pressing close to Naraku's walls, and Vlad stopped, turning to face them fully.

"Charles was the first." Vlad said simply. "The first to say 'no more.' The first to refuse to accept this as the Forerunners' end. The first to gather people not for evacuation but for rebuilding." His crimson eyes swept across each of them. "He created the Seekers not as warriors or guards, but as symbols. Proof that Forerunners could still stand against the darkness."

Brunhilde spoke quietly. "He wanted to give the people hope that there were still people out there protecting them."

Vlad smiled faintly. "That was the plan, he even recruited disciples from one of these sites. Such as an angry young man who tried to kill Night Terrors with nothing but a knife and determination." He chuckled at the memory. "Charles laughed when we stared at the boy in disbelief, while Charles said he had the right spirit."

"That's insane." Reinhard muttered in shock.

"I am glad Charles was there to save him, but where did he get the courage?" Janus muttered in slight disbelief.

"From his anger, most likely." Amiya muttered.

"Ah, I am sure that scene must have been stunning. I wish I could have seen it." Marie muttered with her arms crossed.

Reinhard, Joseph, and the others' lips twitched at Marie's words while Vlad laughed.

"Charles… Instead of escaping when he had the chance, Charles joined the Seekers I created and continued venturing out to find people." Vlad's voice carried both pride and old pain. They walked past a group of workers repairing a collapsed wall, the men pausing briefly to watch them pass before returning to their labor. "He would push himself beyond any reasonable limit, going through countless dangers to save even one person. To him, just one Forerunner's life held immense value that could never be given up."

Reinhard, Marie, and Joseph's eyes widened in shock at that person's single dedication.

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