"Is that place far from here?" Nireus asked.
It was Linus who replied, "It's hours away from here."
Locals of the village of Mene have a name for that location. "The Lost Meadow," is what they called the place for they said that it was the uncanniest area they knew that existed in the forest. Not the wide area of magical web, parasitic mushrooms, snake vines, nor their village surrounded by the thick mist, but a plain area of green grass.
Outside the Moonlord's hut, Aeneas, Tiriara and Neoma noticed a couple of watchful eyes the moment they basked in the reflected sunlight. Kids younger and some around their age were staring at them from a distance away, all had a wolf cub following them. Two of them took up the courage and approached. They were walking together with Eluard who seemed to have become acquainted with them.
A boy and girl, both a year older than Aeneas. Like everyone in Mene, the two had silver-colored hair, though the girl's hair was far longer. In a closer inspection, the two share a similar facial characteristic and a familiar gaze with their eyes. Each of them was accompanied by a wolf cub bigger than the one Tiriara snuggled with.
Eluard smiled, "They wanted to meet you three," he said before leaving them alone and lending assistance to Arsen's knights.
"Greetings, I'm Lycus, son of the great warrior Linus," the boy said with his left hand on his chest accompanied by a bow. He then pointed at the white wolf cub on his left, "He's Nova, my companion."
After Lycus introduced himself, he turned to the girl standing beside him.
"Ah, my name's Maia," she looked at the gray wolf cub on her right, "This is Mona," she said.
Aeneas, Tiriara, and Neoma returned the gesture of bowing with their right hand on their chests. With a big smile on her face, Tiriara introduced herself, almost shouting. Then, she pointed at both Aeneas and Neoma and introduced them as well.
"Hey, I can introduce myself," Aeneas blurted.
Tiriara was busy staring at both Lycus and Maia and didn't pay any attention to Aeneas's words.
"Are you two siblings? You look very much alike."
The two looked at each other. Then Lycus spoke, "Yes, we are twins," he said.
"Ah," Maia muttered. She realized she didn't mention that she was also Linus's daughter which was a great honor to her.
"Since you're sir Linus's children, then Neoma's your cousin," Aeneas said.
With a shocked expression, "You're right!" Tiriara exclaimed, she turned to Neoma and presented her to Lycus and Maia.
Once again, Maia and Lycus's eyes met before looking at Neoma who shied away and averted their eyes.
"We know of her," Lycus said with a smile. Linus told them about her existence when he returned after visiting the Caspius manor and his sister's, Nasaea's, grave.
Maia approached closer, she gestured her arms wide open, "Welcome home, cousin," she said.
Neoma would've ignored the gesture if Tiriara hadn't pushed her to Maia.
"Father told us about what happened to Aunt Nasaea," Maia paused, "I'm so sorry," she whispered. Her words touched Neoma's heart and she was on the verge of tearing up. Instead, she blinked her eyes and wanted to appear strong.
Lycus turned to Aeneas, "He also said that you were the one who saved her and our aunt," the boy bowed once again, "I offer you my deepest gratitude," he continued.
Embarrassed, Aeneas returned the gesture and took a bit longer to reply that it was his honor to do what he did and that many would've done the same.
From afar, an older local called for the kids, "Come and eat!" she said.
While everyone enjoyed the company of each other in front of a great feast, Alketas, Nireus, and the others who accompanied him were still inside the hut, talking. They were in the middle of deciding how they would proceed with the expedition.
"Care to tell me how you plan to investigate the maddened beasts?" Alketas asked.
Nireus asked the researchers with him, Lyra and Anastasia, to explain what they've come up with. Although the study for developing a potion or serum that could 'heal' a maddened beast remained stagnant, the researchers of Decatris created an orb that in a way could detect chaos.
Curious, Alketas asked them if he could see the orb that they talked about.
"Ana," Lyra said as she turned to Anastasia showing her palm. As requested, Anastasia pulled out the item from her leather bag hanging around her waist. A single, yet big piece of blue leaf, blanketed the orb and it was small enough to rest in one's palm.
When Lyra obtained the item, she peeled the blue leaf with care, and a glass-like orb was revealed. Only a second it remained transparent for when it marveled everyone of its presence, mana swept into it filling up its void and showing a dark blue gleam.
"This orb will absorb mana as dense as the surrounding," Lyra explained that the blue light it showed meant that the place was loved by mana. The darker the orb becomes, the denser the mana is in the area.
"Why was it covered with a leaf?" Linus asked.
The blue leaf was capable of draining and blocking the mana out of the orb. It was the reason why it appeared transparent at first.
Alketas was amazed at what the two researchers showed and asked if he could hold it himself. After observing it for a while as it rested on his hands, he questioned both Lyra and Anastasia on how that item could help them with their investigation regarding the maddened beasts.
Lyra answered the moonlord's concern. She further explained that if the orb's glimmer starts to fade, then the amount of mana in the place contrary to chaos is becoming lesser.
"In theory, that is," Lyra said.
"So, you aren't certain?"
With a sigh, "Sadly, we are not, my lord," Lyra replied.
"Very well."
Although everyone knows of the existence of chaos as a part of their nature, it isn't as understood as mana. Even researchers only know of it as mana's opposite, responsible for death and uncertainty, a contrast to mana's symbol of life.
Unappealing it may seem, still, many of them knew of its importance. For none could imagine what life would've been in the absence of uncertainty and death.
Still amid discussion, one of the warriors of Mene asked permission to enter the moonlord's hut.
"Come," Alketas answered.
After showing respect to their leader, the young warrior reported that the wolves had detected some birds flying around the sea of mist they'd cast around the village. The great warrior on guard duty asked the wolves to make these birds circle the mist instead of shunning them away.
Alketas looked at Nireus after hearing the report.
Nireus nodded, "It should be from my men," he said.
Without question, Alketas commanded the warrior to guide the birds inside the village and check if they had letters attached to them.
It didn't take long for the warrior to return with rolled papers on his hands. The moonlord asked him to give it to Nireus. With the five letters in his hand, Nireus was relieved, though he didn't show anyone that he was worried even for a bit.
The lord of Arsida opened each rolled paper reading them one by one. All telling him that they had succeeded in reclaiming the camps and were enforcing it as well as awaiting his command. Another important detail included in the message was that none of the units have incurred a loss.
Everyone was glad to hear the reports, including Linus and his father.
"Now, what's the plan, commander?" Alketas asked.
Having heard of the 'Lost Meadow', Nireus believed that it was the best place to start since his entire army could also camp there if it was as spacious as both Linus and his father described. He asked Alketas if he could lend some of his warriors who knew the place, so when dawn came, one of his knights and a warrior of Mene would go to each unit, who would then guide them to the Lost Meadow.
Alketas crossed his arms. He didn't respond as quickly this time. After minutes of thinking, he looked at his son, who nodded at him knowing what he was thinking.
"Unlike you who are here, your other units didn't swear to their Gods to keep Mene a secret. So, before I agree, tell me, should I worry about the existence of our home being revealed to the outside?"
Nireus said that the acting commanders of all units knew of Mene and was also one of those who swore not to speak of it.
"Aside from that, I assure you, my lord, Mene would remain a secret to the rest of the world."
His words and stern voice were enough to convince Alketas. Nireus commanded one of the knights with him to write a letter back to the units.
The content of the letters included the fact that a knight and a warrior of Mene would approach them in the morrow, as well as the next destination of the expedition, the Lost Meadow.