The death of Nireus Chronis was a huge blow to the people of Arsida. His existence gave them assurance and safety. With him gone, people were more afraid of the threat of maddened beasts. Still, their admiration towards Nireus remained the same. People of Arsida mourned his and the other fallen knight's deaths for weeks. Every day since their deaths, people in Arsida and some from other regions of Pantera who knew Nireus or any of the fallen knights would watch the sunset with a Panteran bow. Believing that like the setting sun, the brave who have lost their light will soon rise once again as the Proud Lion wills it.
Rhene, Haemon, and the other knights' absence lessened the Caspius Manor's sensation of a home. Crisa would sometimes call for them, forgetting that they'd already perished in the expedition. Similar to many, the people in the Caspius Manor mourned for weeks. In that time, the once joyful feasts turned quiet.
Days after the expedition, Pantera began the process to fill the positions left by Nireus Chronis as a Chiliarch of Gold and lord of Arsida, Irus Thoas, a Chiliarch of Silver and lord of the city of Byllenes, and other commanders that met their demise in the fight against the behemoth.
With Irus gone, only twenty-nine knights with the rank of Chiliarch of Silver eyed for the highest vacant position. A lot of them vetoed their right to take the challenge to have a higher rank. Most felt that their current prowess wouldn't fill the hole the previous lord of Arsida left. Among the four Chiliarchs of Silver who served under Nireus and were part of the survivors of the latest expedition, only Cylon announced his participation to compete for his late lord's rank and title. Helice and Brygos were part of those who thought that they weren't good enough to be Arsida's Guardian, while Aktis didn't want any more responsibilities.
There was one candidate that people believed would succeed and become the next lord of Arsida. He was Maro Lazeas, a Chiliarch of Silver currently living in the capital region of Nyros.
Meanwhile, Tiriara remained in her room days after her father's death. Theresa was the one managing things in their manor with the help of Cylon and the other knights who had a feeling of obligation in helping and protecting their lord's children in his honor.
Theresa would talk to Tiriara asking her to visit the Caspius manor with her or do some menial task together. But, Tiriara would refuse and remain lying in her bed hugging her father's armor.
Even when Aeneas and Neoma visit the Chronis manor everyday and stay at Tiriara's room to give her company, the girl remains lying in her bed, sometimes wiping her tears away.
Tiriara missed her father's voice and laughter. Nireus's way of showing his affection by hugging or kissing her on the head which she used to dislike and thought of as something embarrassing for her age, was now something she wanted more than anything. The girl was angry at herself for not spending more time with her father. She remembered the times she refused when Nireus asked her to. Her strong regrets were enough for her not to feel strength in her legs for days.
On the same day of the emergency summit, Aeneas and Tiriara visited the Chronis manor and stayed in Tiriara's room like the previous days. This time, Aeneas brought the black egg with them. The two approached Tiriara's bed.
"Tiri look. We think the egg's moving," Neoma said. It made Tiriara interested enough to move her head and look at them. They saw her puffy eyes and haggard face. After a few seconds of staring at the egg, Tiriara turned away and buried her face on a pillow.
Aeneas sighed, he had enough. He asked Neoma to step aside as he went closer to Tiriara. The boy tapped her on the should and said,
"Let's play outside. Do you plan on living your entire life lying in bed? Come on," Aeneas said.
Tiriara moved her shoulder to remove Aeneas's hand.
"I know how you feel. But think about your father, would lord Nireus be happy if he saw you like this?"
After hearing Aeneas mention her father, Tiriara turned to him with a glare.
"I get it, you're smart. But don't act like you know how I feel, stupid!"
Although Aeneas tries to live as one who is in full control of his emotions like his brother, he is still but a child. And in the heat of the moment, he couldn't convey his sentiment in a different way than combating Tiriara's words.
With a louder voice, "I also lost Rhene and Haemon, they're my family! Don't act as if it's just you. And stop crying, you look uglier! I can't even distinguish how you looked before."
Neoma raised her hands and gestured for the two to calm down. She was worried that their bickering might escalate. But none of the two paid her any attention.
"Leave! Why are you here? I don't need you. And so what if I'm ugly?!"
Aeneas grabbed Tiriara's hand, "Enough with these childish acts and come with us to the toy shop," Aeneas replied.
Still glaring at Aeneas, "I'll punch you if you don't let go of me," Tiriara said.
"Do it–"
With one swing, Tiriara hit Aeneas around his right eye. It was hard enough for the boy to fall on his back. Even Tiriara was perplexed about what just happened. She was worried for the boy but told him that it was his fault for not listening.
Aeneas stood up, he was glaring at Tiriara with his right eye a bit bruised.
"I t-told you, it's your fault!"
This time, Aeneas had more than enough, he grabbed Tiriara in both of her shoulders tight enough for the girl not to break free.
"W-what?!"
"Enough is enough! I know you are saddened by your father's death. I am too! You could say that it's not as much as you, but think about your older sister, how about her? Were you not worried about her even though she was so worried for you? Can't you at least take care of yourself so that she won't be? Do you think your father would be happy if he saw you like this instead of striving to become a greater knight than he was and living a happy life? What about Neoma? Me? We're worried you'll just die in your bed. Aren't we friends? Can't you see how worried I am seeing my first friend like this? Do you not care about me as much as I care for you?"
Aeneas didn't realize he said all those words even after saying them. It was a truth that just came from his mouth without prior thought behind it. He was chasing his breath after his long speech, then, the boy gulped and became embarrassed after assessing what he just said. He looked away, his cheeks a bit red, "It's just, we miss you. Let us help you get over it," he continued.
Neoma was tearing up and sniffing her snot at the side, while Tiriara's tears also started to fall down her cheeks.
Tiriara wiped her tears. Aeneas's words gave her peace of mind, and after being in bed for days only eating spoonfuls of food her sister forced to her mouth, the girl's stomach grumbled aloud. It was when Aeneas realized that he was still gripping Tiriara's shoulder. He let go and told the girl that he'll go get her some food.
"Wait," Tiriara said as she grabbed Aeneas's arm.
"What is it? Do you have a specific food in mind?" The boy replied avoiding eye contact because of embarrassment for what he just said.
"No, look at me. There's something in your eye."
Aeneas rolled his eyes, "Oh that? You did that just a minute ago, did you forget already?"
"I'm not talking about the bruise," Tiriara replied, then held Aeneas's head to face her so she could take a good look at his right eye, "What is this…" she continued.
Tiriara moved her finger close to Aeneas's right eye.
"Wait, what are you doing?" Aeneas asked.
"Hold still."
The girl peeled a layer of something out of Aeneas's right eye. Aeneas felt a little uncomfortable, blinked his eyes and closed them for a bit, but it didn't hurt him.
"What is that?" Neoma asked as she was observing Tiriara while she was removing the thing from Aeneas's eye.
Tiriara handed it to Aeneas, but her eyes became wide open when she looked Aeneas in the eye again.
"Isn't this like a clearskin?" Aeneas said. It did look like one, but thinner and transparent.
"Aenie, you have something in your eye. Look at the mirror," Tiriara said.
"What do you mean?" Aeneas said as he stood up and walked his way to the body mirror at the corner of Tiriara's room
Aeneas stared at his reflection. His eyes widened and his mouth wide open when he saw a clear symbol in his right eye. A curved line pointing upwards with a horizontal wavy line in the center. It was clear to him that it was a Zeal even though he did not know of it.
Unknown to Aeneas, Neoma, and Tiriara, the boy's Zeal belongs to the God who people from the distant forgotten past referred to as the thirteenth God of the Zodiac. The Wise Serpent, Ophiuchus.