"Are you hurt badly, young lady?" said Konon. He went towards Tiriara the moment he slayed the cabro. The girl smiled at him and said that it was a minor injury. Yet her sweating and groans of pain say otherwise.
Konon reached for Tiriara and carried her in his arms. Aeneas faced them, "I was to blame for everything, forgive me," he said accompanied by the lowest bow. Konon responded with a smile, he wanted to return the gesture but couldn't, instead, the knight bowed his head and told Aeneas that it wasn't anyone's fault.
On the way home, Eluard tried to comfort Aeneas, saying the same thing as Konon. The young Caspius explained that what happened to Tiriara was his fault.
"I was stupid and let my temper get the best of me," Aeneas paused and bit his lower lip. Eluard could see the twitching of his eyebrows. He patted Aeneas's head and played with his hair.
"I saw you defend the young lady, you did great."
Donos informed his lord, Arsen, about what happened. It was their first encounter with a cabro getting inflicted with madness near their territory. Most creatures in the forest near the Caspius manor are timid and scared of humans. Sightings of these boars close to a human settlement were rare.
Arsen was worried about the young lady of the Chronis. She got injured while being under his jurisdiction, he thought that the Chiliarch might be angered since he felt how much he cared for his daughters. Still, Arsen knows that he has to inform him of what has occurred since it was also about a beast infected with madness.
They offered Tiriara with their best medicine. Less than an hour of rest was needed for her broken bones to heal. She felt better than ever.
"We should return home, young lady," Konon said in a serious tone. Tiriara couldn't refuse and didn't reply with an act of stubbornness.
Arsen heard Konon, "I should come with you, sir Konon," he said. He asked the knight to wait as Arsen wanted to plan a deployment of his knights around the area where the maddened cabro appeared. He asked Donos to lead some of the knights and track where the beast came from.
Konon agreed. It would also serve as extra time for his young lady to rest.
After that, Aeneas approached Arsen. He told his side of the story, about being the cause of Tiriara's injury and how they almost died from the beast because of him.
In response, Arsen placed his hand on Aeneas's shoulder, he smiled, "I see that I don't have to tell you what you've done wrong. I trust that if something like this happens again, you will prioritize the safety of yourself and those around you."
The boy nods. His face filled with determination.
As instructed by their lord, Donos together with Haemon, Rhene, and three of the other knights, went to the woods to track the location from where the maddened beast came from.
On the other hand, Arsen and Konon mounted up to ride towards the Chronis manor. Before they went, Aeneas approached Tiriara, he apologized for what happened and said that he should've listened to her.
Tiriara threw a playful punch on Aeneas's shoulder, "I'm sorry too… for the way I treat you," she said.
In the woods, Donos and the other knights followed the destroyed trees and disturbed plants to see that the cabro had come from afar. They reached the big lake shared by the two kingdoms. Then, they walked towards the southeast of Heos and stopped when they reached wooden signs with glow rocks attached to them. These rocks will glow when a moving creature is around them. These signs act as a line that separates the kingdom of Pantera from the kingdom of Aakdan. Crossing it without permission might result in an unwanted strife between the two kingdoms.
The knights realized that the cabro had come from the neighboring kingdom of Aakdan. Donos instructed his comrades to return home since they wouldn't be able to do anything, and they also traveled quite far from the Caspius manor. In the entirety of their investigation, all creatures they encountered would either skitter as soon as they saw them or stare for a bit before also going away.
***
As soon as Arsen, Konon, and Tiriara arrived at the Chronis manor, Konon reported to Nireus about what happened, he rushed to his daughter and hugged her tight.
"Oh, my sweet child, do you still feel hurt anywhere?"
Tiriara tried to remove his father from her, "I'm already healed. Get away already," she said, pushing the face of her old man.
Arsen walked to them, and greeted the Chiliarch with the Panteran bow, "I apologize for what happened, Chiliarch," he said.
Nireus released his daughter who scurried away inside their home asking the servants for treats. He stood and looked at Arsen, "It wasn't your fault, sir Arsen." Nireus looked behind him, towards Tiriara who was now telling her older sister about what happened. She had a big smile on her face as she told her story with overt gestures and sound effects she made through her mouth.
Chiliarch Chronis smiled, "Getting hurt is part of growing up," he looked at Arsen, "They wanted to be knights, and with the case of madness growing, experience against them is needed."
Arsen stared at the Chiliarch, "If I may ask Chiliarch."
"What is it?"
"What is your reason for moving to Heos?"
Nireus smiled, "Did I not tell you before, I wanted to live in the countryside," he paused and breathed from his nose, "And Heos has the best air," he said.
"Is that truly the reason?"
The face of Nireus grew serious, "I guess your curiosity won't let it go, huh?" he said.
Arsen gulped, "Forgive me for not knowing my bounds and pressing the matter, Chiliarch."
"That boar, where did it come from?" asked Nireus.
Arsen told him that he commanded some of his knights to track it and that he would know the details when he returned home and heard the report from his knights.
"It's from Aakdan."
What Nireus said made Arsen's eyes widen.
"How are you certain, Chiliarch?"
Nireus told Arsen that he had received reports from other towns near the border. The town of Oraza has reported more than ten cases of beasts going mad. Further to the east, the town of Katydon, has reported five cases. They've dealt with different beasts; the only similarity of these attacks was the origin of the maddened beast. When tracked, they all came from the kingdom of Aakdan.
"Are you saying that Aakdan was the cause of the maddened beasts?" Arsen asked.
"That isn't something we knew for certain. Numerous cases of similar attacks were reported in the regions surrounding the great forest. This issue was already reported to the king. He would bring it up in the next summit. For now, I ask you to remain silent about this."
The Great Forest is the largest biome in the entirety of the continent. Located at Pantera, the great forest is almost the size of some of its regions. It is surrounded by four regions of Pantera, including Arsida where Heos lies. Most of the areas in the great forest remained uncharted. From terrifying beasts to carnivorous plants, the great forest is home to a wide variety of magical life.
Arsen nods in response. From behind, Theresa approached the two. She was wearing a white gown, "You two seem to be having a serious conversation. There's tea and treats at the table," she said.
Nireus smiled, he looked at her daughter and then at Arsen, "Would you love to join us, Sir Arsen," he said.
Arsen felt that it would be disrespectful not only for the Chiliarch but also for the lady Theresa if he disagreed, "I would be honored to," he responded.
They continued their conversations at the table, this time they were talking about different matters.
Nireus took a sip from his cup, "So, Sir Arsen, seeing that you are a fine man you must have someone you intend to marry."
Surprised by the sudden marriage talks, Arsen coughed and cleared his throat, "Unfortunately no, Chiliarch."
"Huh? The youngest to have been knighted in the history of Pantera, while also loved and respected by its people. Surely there's a long line of women wanting to become your spouse," Nireus said with a smile. Then, he took a glimpse at his daughter Theresa sitting beside him.
It had been a long time since Arsen had a conversation regarding this matter, "I was busy with my duties as a knight and a lord of our house, I didn't have the time for marriage," he said.
"I see," Nireus took another sip of his tea, "How about you ask for my Theresa's hands?"
This time, both Arsen and Theresa blew their drinks and coughed in unison.
"Father, please stop."
"Why? It's a great match," Nireus looked at Arsen, "What do you say, Sir Arsen?"
Again, Arsen gulped, "I do not know what to say, Chiliarch."
Nireus's expression grew serious, "So you do not find my beautiful daughter attractive?" he said.
"It—it's not that Chiliarch. The talks were just sudden and caught me off guard."
Theresa fixed her hair behind her right ear, "The Lord is right, father. We barely knew each other."
Nireus nods. He stood up and took his cup of tea, "Then, I'll leave you two to 'know each other', as I have matters to attend to as well," he said before leaving the room.
Total silence filled the room for minutes after Nireus left. He told his other daughter Tiriara to not disturb the two.
"So, you are a knight's captain, lord Arsen?" Theresa said. She couldn't handle the growing awkwardness due to the silence. Her soft and alluring voice soothed Arsen's ears. He was nervous and reached for his cup that was already empty. Theresa saw it and offered to serve him more.
"Yes, I am," Arsen said, "I heard that you are a knight yourself, my lady."
Theresa nodded, "How about we have a duel my lord?" she replied.