Forest of Spirits Arc

The **Forest of Spirits Arc** is the second story arc of Gate of Nightmares.

It centers around Azel and Emma founding their guild, and Azel having to take a state exam in the Forest of Spirits to get an official Nightwalker licence.

The Forest of Spirits Arc is covered by the game's Chapter 1.

## Summary (Game)

### Founding a Guild

A year has passed since Emma met Azel. The two have decided to found their own guild in Estrea's capital city. After a lot of work and dedication, they saved enough money to finally buy a guild house.

After some celebration, they go and visit Olivia to tell her about the good news and to buy some essentials. Olivia congratulates them and introduces her 'Olivia's Recruitment' service, which allows Azel and Emma to recruit more guild members. She also gives them their first official request.

### A Serious Crime

After returning from their quest, Azel and Emma are visited by Cider and the Royal Guards. Without an explanation, they arrest Azel and Emma and bring them to the Royal Palace.

They are brought to Esteo's office where they meet both him and Abigail. Esteo explains the story of Nightwalkers and Star Magic Gems. 70 years ago, Remurias Gates appeared all around the world. Nightmares flooded in and almost annihilated the human race. However a young man, known as the 'Hero of Dawn' appeared and saved humanity. He gifted them the Star Magic Gems and showed everyone how to use them. Abigail explains that they're very special and important objects. Therefore, everyone in Wistaria has to pass a State Examination before they are allowed to have one.

Emma wonders why they would tell them this story, thinking it's just common sense. However, Azel is clueless. He doesn't know anything about State Examinations or who Esteo and Abigail are. Emma introduces them as two of the strongest NIghtwalkers in Estrea, two members of the Seven Star Knights.

Abigail continues to explain the international law that no unqualified person shall enter the Forest of Spirits. Due to Azel not having an official licence, he violated international law and has to be punished.

Azel suggests that he could just take the exam right now and after some convincing Esteo agrees, but only if Azel can pass a test: Beating Abigail's Nightmare in a fight. Azel agrees, beats the Nightmare and is allowed to take the exam. His job is to investigate a strange occurence in the Forest of Spirits. Apparently, an unusual amount of Nightmares are appearing in the forest. If Azel can find out the cause, he will get an official licence. He agrees and Abigail convinces Emma to accompany him.

After Azel and Emma leave, Euphoria enters the office. Esteo reveals that it was her idea to give Azel another chance. Euphoria listened to their conversation and comments that Azel has the same name as the Hero of Dawn. She wonders if Azel will also be able to save the world one day.

### Investigating the Forest

Azel and Emma arrive in the forest and start their investigation. They instantly notice the huge amount of Nightmares, so they try to be careful and find the cause as soon as possible.

After some time in the forest, the two notice a Remurias Gate that has opened in the forest. They conclude that this gate has to be the reason for the Nightmare outbreaks. Just as they are about to leave, they notice armored men guarding the gate from the other side. Emma recognizes them as soldiers from the Moongarde Empire and wonders what they are doing in Estrea. She has a bad feeling about this, so they decide to get closer and listen.

At the same time Emma explains that Moongarde is Estrea's neighbouring country. There has been a lot of tension between Estrea and Moongarde for the past few years, and they even cut off their diplomatic relationship. She fears that Moongarde's soldiers invading Estrea could be a serious international threat.

However, Azel is not worried at all. He believes that the soldiers may have just gotten lost, so he enters the gate and tries to talk to them.

### The Infinite Fourth Heaven

In the Forest of Spirits' Remurias, the two Moongarde soldiers are walking back and fourth while talking to each other. They seem to be looking for something and wonder why 'something special like the Everstone' would be in a place like this. At this moment, Azel confronts them and asks if they're okay and if they are lost. The soldiers are confused, but draw their weapons. They were ordered to eliminate all witnesses. Azel and Emma have no other choice but to fight the soldiers.

They manage to defeat them, but Emma is afraid. She is worried that it might lead to a huge political conflict if anyone finds out what they did. But a voice from above tells them that there is no need to worry. A weird man with purple hair descends from above and says that nobody will ever find out what happened, if there are no witnesses. According to him, Azel and Emma are destined to die right here and now.

The man summons a huge portal and introduces himself as Ouroboria, the Infinite Fourth Heaven, and a member of Moongarde's Five Saints. Ouroboria's nightmare, the huge snake Ouroboros, appears from the portal and attacks Azel and Emma.

### Support from the Seven Star Knights

Azel and Emma manage to beat the huge snake Nightmare, but Ouroboria just laughs and claps. He is fascinated by their strength and is happy that he was able to gather so much useful data from their fight.

Azel wants to attack him head-on, but Emma holds him back. She explains that the Five Saints are Moongarde's strongest warriors and comparable to the Seven Star Knights in strength. Ouroboria thanks Emma for the compliments and uses his magic to paralyze the two. Emma asks why Moongarde is doing this. She fears that Moongarde wants to start a war. Ouroboria laughs and tells her that she just has to wait to find out the answer.

He tries to use his magic to kill the two, but right at this moment Esteo & Abigail appear and block his attack. Ouroboria recognizes the two and is fascinated. Esteo raises his sword and urges him to leave. Ouroboria gives an annoyed response and tells the group, that the thing they are looking for doesn't seem to be in the forest anyway. He hopes that the 'Shion, the Magical Fifth Heaven' will have more luck and teleports away, hoping to see Azel again one day.

Esteo gives Abigail the order to report the situation to the senate. Abigail agrees and leaves the forest. Esteo becomes quiet and hopes this situation doesn't 'turn into a storm', before he leaves as well.

Meanwhile, Ouroboria talks to a stranger. He tells them, that he passed the 'search for the stone' on to Shion and that he will now return to his research tower in Logania. He sends his regards to King Logan and leaves the forest.

### The Girl in the Tree

Azel and Emma are about to leave the forest, but Azel stops as he hears a voice from one of the trees. He instinctively walks up to the tree and reaches out his hand. A bright blue light appears. The light forms a bubble with a young girl inside. The bubble descends right into Azel's arms and the young girl opens her eyes. With a strained voice, she tells him that 'this world is coming to an end' and closes her eyes again.

## Characters

* Emma
* Azel
* Olivia
* Cider
* Esteo
* Abigail
* The Hero of Dawn (mentioned)
* Euphoria
* Ouroboria
* Shion (mentioned)
* King Logan (mentioned)
* Meruru