The Great Wolf

Tiriara pulled the trigger without hesitation. A surge of water came out of the tube of the crossbow. It was fast, but not enough to hit Aeneas. The girl grunted as she saw her attack missed.

"Don't dodge!" She said, then pulled the trigger again.

Aeneas sighed, he remained still and decided to take the hit. Tiriara heard a loud splash when the surge of water hit Aeneas. Seeing him drenched made the girl snort. She almost let out a chuckle as well but managed to stop it, tucking in her lips.

"So, do you forgive me?"

"No, I still hate you!" The girl said, then shot him a second time with her water crossbow.

The boy took the hit again. This time, Tiriara couldn't hold back her laughter as she saw Aeneas dripping wet.

Aeneas stared at her, "Are you done?" he asked.

"I still don't forgive you. You were mean!"

"Well, will you still accept this?" Aeneas said as he pulled out a small wooden box out of his pocket. The box was wet when the boy took it out. 

Tiriara's eyes glimmered. She was excited to see what was inside the container. But, she tried her best not to show her excitement and acted nonchalantly. 

Aeneas smiled. His friend was like an open book that couldn't hide anything with her innocent expressions.

Peeking at the box, "What is it?" Tiriara asked.

Aeneas walked closer to Tiriara, "It's a bracelet made from the tusk of the cabro we've fought."

A big smile broke the girl's façade as she saw the accessory. It was white with two lines waving against each other like serpents, forming hollowed areas at the center. One hole was blocked with the same material, and Tiriara's nickname was carved in it. She dropped the toy she was holding and took the box with the bracelet.

"It was supposed to be for your birthday. But since it has long passed, it's my apology gift," Aeneas said.

The girl ogled at the bracelet, her smile turned to an uncontrolled grin. She wasn't new to luxurious gifts, in fact when it comes to usability or sheer rarity of gems she received, the boy's gift was the least amazing. But, it was the most personal. A well-thought-out gift, with her nickname carved in it. The moment she laid her eyes upon the bracelet, she knew that it would be one of her most precious belongings.

Though he expected Tiriara to be appreciative of his gift, Aeneas didn't predict such a heartfelt reaction. His eyes widened, and smiled from ear to ear. With a gulp, "You forgive me now?"

Tiriara turned to Aeneas. She hid her smile and nodded her head. "But, I still hate you," she said.

Aeneas sighed, "What else do you want me to do?" he looked at the crossbow lying on the ground, "Okay, I'll buy one of those so we can play in our manor."

The girl snorted, she wanted to laugh but held it in. "I'm busy, I won't come to your place later," she said.

Granted that it was his fault, the boy still couldn't stop his body's temperature from rising after hearing Tiriara's response. "Then, after training in the morrow?"

Tiriara raised an eyebrow, she took quite some time to answer with a, "Maybe?"

Aeneas nodded, he was repeating his brother's words in his head. "I am the one in control of my emotions." Then, he smiled and told Tiriara that he would wait for her, or that she should join the training with the knights. 

When Aeneas turned his back, Tiriara shot him once again with her water crossbow. The girl burst into tears, laughing. Aeneas showed an insincere smile before leaving. He was telling himself that it was his fault, to begin with. And that he would attack Tiriara with the same water crossbow the moment he saw her the next day.

Lyra was confused at the sight of her son, "Why are you soaking wet?" she asked.

"It's nothing," Aeneas replied and also told his mother that he wanted to return home. Since they were still having a good conversation, Eluard and Aeneas were the first to excuse themselves and go home. And on the way back, Aeneas stopped at the toy store to buy himself a water crossbow as he promised Tiriara.

*** 

When the rays of the sun had long since marveled the lands, Rhene arrived at the gates of the Caspius manor pulling the corpse of a flamander. More than half the size of a harion, these salamander-like creatures produce a flammable liquid from their skin like sweat in humans. They could cover their entire body in flames for eternity if they so desire. They were either brownish to black in coloration and were timid and would skitter away at the sense of danger. It is documented that all flamanders are capable of casting fire magic, while some could also use earth magic.

Arsen was outside the manor with the other knights and saw Rhene dragging the body of the flamander. He, together with Donos, Tereus and two other knights approached her.

"Did you hunt it?" Arsen said.

Rhene shook her head. She explained that it had gone mad and attacked her when she was surveying the area. 

"I didn't have any choice but to end its life."

Arsen nodded and patted Rhene on the shoulder, "Then, we'll have a flamander for lunch in the morrow," he said.

After that, Arsen commanded another survey of the forest surrounding their manor. Especially to the east. He also ordered to check south of the manor and survey the shore area of the mistwater lake. It is the huge lake that separates the southernmost part of the kingdom of Pantera and the northern parts of the kingdom of Aakdan.

The knights of the Caspius manor spent their evening checking the surrounding area for maddened beasts. Aeneas wanted to help, but Arsen told him to only go to places already checked by a knight and stay near them. As well as to bring his sword with him. It was Arsen's sword before he received Hopebringer from his mother. And since Arsen's face tells him that there were no other compromises, Aeneas followed his instruction.

It has been a long time since Aeneas saw the lake hours after dark. A glowing flower near the lake entranced him. His smile grew wider as he went near the flower.

"Moonflower…" Aeneas muttered. It was a rare flower with six large silver-like petals that he had only seen in one of his books. A lone flower that only blooms when the moon is full and with certain conditions unknown even to the best of researchers. The flower would submerge itself in the ground when those conditions aren't met. 

As Aeneas sat beside the glowing flower he adored, he noticed that the moon had created its copy on the calm waters, and from afar, was the thick cloud of fog.

Aeneas sat at the lakeside, staring at the calm water as his hand stroked the short grass beside him, and the breeze greeted him. He started picking up rocks to throw, causing small ripples, and distorting the image the moon cast.

Soothed, the boy was enjoying his stay. Then, as he stared long at the fog, a silhouette of something formed. He leaned forward, itching to figure out what it was. As the figure drew closer and fully emerged from the fog, he realized that it was a small wooden boat, with someone rowing it.

The boy hurried to the trees and bushes, hiding his presence. He knows that only those who came from the neighboring kingdom of Aakdan could be there at that time. Aeneas watched, like a lion staring at its prey. Curiosity and pride made the obvious choice of informing his brother and the knights slip his mind. 

As the boat became closer, Aeneas's eyes were fixated on it. He saw two people rowing. Both wearing ragged fabric atop their heads. When the boat reached land, Aeneas noticed that it was a young girl and an adult woman. Their clothes were both covered with hardened dirt, holes, and the inevitable raggedness due to age.

It was the girl that went out of the small boat first. She assisted the other person who seemed to be in great pain as she staggered, and due to the girl's expression of distress. Although she managed to get the woman out, she fell on the ground coughing and saying something to the girl. As they were closer, Aeneas saw the silver-like hair peeking from the worn-out piece of cloth covering the little girl's head. It shimmered under the moonlit sky. Contrary to her, the woman had dark brown hair much closer to black. But the color of her eyes was similar to the girl's.

Aeneas heard the woman telling the girl to go hide somewhere with a smile, "It would be fine," she said.

Wailing, the girl tried to pull the woman. "No. Not leave. Mother."

Although the girl was thin and small, she appeared old enough to have proper speech, yet it was childlike. Hearing the girl speak made Aeneas curious about their situation. But, he continued watching them, unable to decide what to do.

Then, when the fog caught his gaze once again, he noticed another silhouette of a boat. When the mother saw it as well, her smile turned to sheer terror. But, she changed it when she turned to her daughter. She began begging her daughter to go, even pushing her away. Yet, the girl would go back to her again and again.

Aeneas realized their situation. In his mind, there was no way for the two to have been in the wrong just by looking at them. He clicked his tongue and went out of his hiding spot.

When the two heard the rustling, they turned to the boy in a swift. The mother drew a dagger from inside her skirt. Meanwhile, the girl also took a dagger out, glaring, almost growling at Aeneas as a bluish light escaped from around the right side and above her chest. Her silver eyes also seemed to glow.

Bewildered, Aeneas stopped and stared at the girl. The boy knows the existence of people bearing Zeals that weren't from the Zodiac but doesn't know the specifics. He had never heard of a Zeal located in such a place, opposite to the Proud Lion's. Then, a sudden thought from his memory visited his mind. Zeal of Power, the old song with twelve verses depicting each of the Zodiac, had a verse he didn't know about until his friend, Tiriara, sang it. 

"The Great Wolf," he muttered.