It has been a few days since the attack from that Chimera. They were lucky that there were relatively few injuries amongst their crew. Nemean Lions are known for their ferocity and high body counts. They are a challenging threat, even for knights, with their nearly impenetrable hide. There would be no question why a regular guildsman died, and two more maimed beyond belief. And a young girl was impaled through the chest by the spines of the leading Manticore in a display of cruelty. They did their best to console the mother, who grieved all night until they had to bury the girl. This was the best they could do for a funeral. Carrying the dead was itself a walking death flag and could summon things much worse than a pride of lions. Custom was to burn the body in a pyre, but doing so in the wilderness is far too arduous. At least now they know that the body will be at peace and return from which it came.

The guildsman rode off silently, the mother's reasons for continuing on smoldered, and the hope she once had replaced by sickening dread. They hoped to find a doctor soon to treat their injuries. She thanked them for saving their lives and wished them the best on the rest of their journey before riding off into the north, back to Liontari. Every word she uttered seemed to crush Lyse, who was silent as still night since what had occurred. His hands felt stiff, and his face in a constant blankness that hid any emotion he could portray. He talked to no one. Not his friends nor his mother could be greeted in the morning or through the day. This was quite understandable, and they knew full well that this was not something that can be solved with a simple chat. They all felt in tatters after what had occurred. But Lyse was the must obvious amongst them. He worked in silence, ate in silence. They wondered if he even sleeps, as he tends to stare at the fire for a long time before settling in his tent. They were all worried by the second night, and they even attempted to talk to him, but when they did, they might as well be talking to a wall.

"I'm fine, I swear," he would say. "I'm . . . I'm just thinking."

He said this with a smile, a brief smile unsupported by the look his eyes. It didn't take geniuses to recognize a fake smile. By the second night, when they thought he was asleep, Elena approached Edlund and Celia by the fire, leaving Gray to his tent. Celia had been mostly silent as well. She was the one who tried to comfort the mother that night, but nothing she said could stop her grieving or make the current situation in her voice. Her guilt was far more apparent than Lyse's, which was the root that Elena was trying to get to.

"Why don't you just talk to him?" Eleena asked, earning a pointed stare from Celia.

"What can I say?" she looked on distraught. "That was not his fault, not mine. How am I supposed to look him in the eyes and tell him that this couldn't have ended any differently? If he did go when he did, he would have been swarmed by the lions and possibly have died before we got to him. And the girl would still die. He could have been killed, and I'm not going to let that happen. If we started closer together, the same would occur."

"But he's destroying himself," Elena warned her. "He blames himself, I can tell. And you can too, can't you?"

Edlund sighed, stoking the small flame with a stick. But his tone was considerate. "Typical of Lyse. He always put the responsibility on himself. I tried talking to him, but he just gave me that smile. Are you sure you can do nothing, mother? I don't like seeing Lyse like this."

Celia pondered for a few moments. The troubling thing was that she never did have to counsel Lyse on anything. Never. Sure she chastises him whenever he and Edlund got into mischief, but he was always absurdly quick to admit his wrongdoing. Unlike Massua, in that way, where she would deflect upon her friends or even her brothers at times. It may be true that Lyse is harder on himself than she could ever be, and the recent events only shows that she supposed. She does need to talk to him; she knows that. But Celia is unsure how to. She knows only one way to speak to Lyse.

She went to his tent. He was not asleep, of course, cross-legged and staring into the blank canvas. The rations he had were uneaten on his blankets. She looked on at his aura. It was calm and composed. But the tension built within was like a dam ready to dismantle itself, given the opportunity.

"Lyse, it's time to continue your training," she told him and watched him stir, then turn his head.

"I've been trying for the past few days," he said in a low voice, not really invested in his words. Like he was reading off of a page. "I can barely grow patches of grass, and I'm not getting any better."

He clutched his pendant in his hands. "I can feel it, mother. I can sense the life and power within it. It haunts me thinking of the wells from which it draws. But I feel like I am without a bucket or even a bowl to take part in it. It would be so much easier if you took it on."

She paused on that statement for a moment but answered soon enough. "I am no longer . . . Qualified to wield the pendant as the gods decided. You have to be the one. There are other things I can teach you besides the powers of Demeter, my son. Just allow me the right."

"Is this your idea of a pep talk mother," he gasped. "Well, I can read your movements. But not fast enough. Like a trail that follows you around."

She actually seemed pleased at his complaint, even smiling once more to signify her approval. She helped him into his feet, brushing off the dry grass to hold the pendant within her own hands once more. He felt that warm pulse again. The power once more poured into her. But there was a sharp and noticeable shift in demeanor immediately as if pricked by something. Her face seemed to sour for a moment before looking at him with a knowing look.

"Athena will help you read those movements. You were channeling her power, and it likely that you indeed do it every time you go into battle. Predicting an enemy's movements is a trivial feat, but one that could save your life. Especially if he moves faster than you."

"What else is there to it," he asked, taking deep breaths to calm his breathing. "What else can this power do?"

She gently let go of the pendant, the power of gods leaving her like water from a leaky bucket. "Soon, if you keep practicing, you'll find the weakness and strengths in everything you look at, even in the most solid of structures, the most skilled of warriors. There is always a weakness to exploit. And you'll be able to tap into that and know how to utilize it. Athena was indeed the goddess of wisdom and knowledge, and that knowledge will serve you. Make you much more capable than you already are. We'll continue training later when there are fewer monsters around. You may not be strong now, but you will be."

Lyse looked on sadly. "So that's it huh? This is the lesson."

"Yes and no. While it's fun trading blows with you and informing you more of the pendants functions once more, my true purpose are these words, my son. We can't save everyone, Lyse," she told him. "I'm sorry that I didn't believe in us enough. It's difficult for me to accept that you grow more independent, but independence comes with responsibility. While I do hope for the day you no longer need me, I also dread it. This is why I forbid you to aid them at first. Call it a motherly instincts, or foolishness. I obviously share in this blame, Lyse. But we can do better. And we can save people where we can. Now please get some rest."

She turned to leave, but Lyse had her by the arm in a gentle tug before she was half turned. His eyes were downcast, but there was an intensity that he shared with the ground she knew was only meant for her. "Mom. I . . . don't blame you. I know I was rash, and I know that you'd do anything to defend me. But that feeling, knowing I could have done something, and bring a mere bystander. I understand this to be weakness. And I can't live with it. So thank you, mom. But, next time, when it's me or them, I'm going to save them."

She smiled, kissing him on the forehead before pulling him into a hug this time. His smell was like home, a small bit of a home she once knew, and homes that are too familiar. She memorized the scent until it lingered on everything, and she could never lose him when it counted. He hugged her back tightly. She could not tell if he was crying, but she was happy either way. She doesn't;y want to lose what she has left. But she doesn't want Lyse to resent her reasoning as well. She always sought balance.

"I love you," she told him. "Nothing you say or do will change that."

"I should be the one saying that," he did not smile, but she felt the elevation within him. "I don't know. . . if I will understand. . . but I need to think. I need to think."

"It's okay," she said, stroking his golden hair. "Try to get some sleep. We'll be arriving at the outpost by tomorrow night."

He nodded. Lyse has been having trouble sleeping, though. It seems that every time he closes his eyes, the face of that girl as the final moments was before a monster that he could have stopped was far more vivid than the real world, it seemed. He was tempted. He wanted to save her. Suppose he was not held back. Then maybe, there would be some way he could have done something. He replayed the events so clearly in his mind. Again and again, till his own memories seemed like a pour summary of events. If his mother hadn't stopped him, he would have instead be faxed with Nemean lions not yet occupied by the dying guildsman. The Manticore would be focused on them, and they would most likely be down in by their numbers. Surrounded. But there was still the chance. All he needed was a chance if he was just a little faster. Just a little faster. He could do so much if he were just a little more.

(X)

There was a noticeable shift from Lyse that next day. He was not singing tavern songs and telling jokes. However, it's clear that whatever happened that night, whatever words were spoken between the two, the others were grateful something did, in fact, happen. The determination in his eyes was at least partially restored to them. He was still silent for large portions of time and rarely commented on their travels, how far away they were and when they will arrive. He would even banter one or twice with Edlund.

"When was the last time we rode the plains Lyse," Edlund had asked. "When we were squires. Seems so long ago now."

Lyse paused before answering. "Perhaps a year or two. It was that time that nobles' son got lost whilst we were learning formations. We had to spend that entire day looking for them too. Found him ankle-deep in an Anteros den, wailing like a madman."

Edlund laughed heartfully. "Right. Fate was indeed not kind to him. Got him back in one piece, and somehow we still got in trouble cause he got a couple of bruises."

"He ran those laps with us," Lyse remembered. "We ran until our callouses had callouses. A failure of one man is the failure of many, Gabbes said."

Edlund huffed. "His fault for falling out of formation and wandering about. But hey, at least he got what he deserves, you know?"

The day seemed long until the sun reached the end of its daily cycle, and the crisp blue sky began to wane and fade into warmer shades. They watched as the shadows grew long once more, and the horizon turned as scarlet as blood. The winds, which have gone tame with a small breeze, were now tickling their bones with a chill unapparent the days before. Soon the night would come. The two moons will once again shine before them. They saw the loose forest of dark tall trees that would signify the end of a leg of the journey in the far distance. But they all felt an odd chill. The air seemed colder than any autumn air should care to be, especially this far south. But it wasn't that bothersome. They prepared for a bit of cold anyway. They were just happy to see something else besides the field and momentarily forget the occurrences of what had happened.

The forest's mouth was wide enough for twenty men to sit shoulder to shoulder and march unabated. The road was clear, and lanterns here and there sat unlit to signify the entrance. A few dozen paces in, a low stone building, the outpost nestled into the forest like an unusual stone against the grass. The door was closed, and the windows unopened. A horse was sat just outside, seemingly sleeping next to its post, and not in the stables just behind the Outpost. No one came out to halt them or greet them. Not a soul could be seen. Cicadas only welcomed them as they begin their chant. This stirred odd looks amongst them.

"There should be knights stationed here," Elena said. They had stopped just before the mouth of the forest. "At least two. They wouldn't leave their posts without enough reason."

"Perhaps they saw some monster, or is escorting someone through," Edlund suggested.

"One knight is more than enough to do either," she told him. "Lyse is there another Outpost nearby?"

Lyse took out the map before she even suggested combing over the entire region they were in. There were a fair bit of roads in this portion of Koraki heading to the city. "There is another Outpost. Just fifty miles northeast. Perhaps something did happen."

"We should check to see if they have left anything behind to lend any clue of what had happened. Dismount for now, and stay on the balls of your feet," his mother was already stretching out as she walked towards Lyse. "Give me the map for now. I'll run over to the other Outpost to see if anything is awry there as well."

"Are you sure?" Lyse asked. "This may be some trap or plan to capture us. Or you."

That last part was a whisper, but the look on her face did not waver from firmness. "I am more than capable on my own, and I know when to run. I'll be fine, Lyse, do not worry. It shouldn't take half the hour, so sit tight."

Reluctantly, he handed over the parchment. Along with the pendant he held in his hand, the faint gem glowing against his palm. She stared, a little startled at the pendant, not around his neck. She gave him a strange look.

"Why do you give me this," she asked carefully.

He took a deep breath, one lending credence to the idea that he was unwilling to do nothing for her in her short and rudimentary trip. "I know you cannot use it at its fullest, but it's enough to protect you if anything happens. Don't make me regret this mother, please."

She sighed, taking the pendant and quickly placing it around her neck. Lyse expected a bit more complaint, but the next sigh that followed was one of restrained relief. The aura he saw before, the rivers if her soul now tainted by the ocean of godly power that melded itself well to her. But it was like a barrier, however tight, that limited how much she did allow control of. Nonetheless, she seemed a bit at ease with the pendant, but all the more troubled on the circumstances at play. She leaned in closer to him to whisper a few words in his ear before departing.

"The powers have a lingering effect upon you, so be careful," she said. "Some can sense that connection if any sign of Talin comes. Run, my son. You have to run."

She kissed him on his forehead before nodding. "I promise."

She soon departed. In a blur of motion, she began traveling up the forest line and towards the next outpost. Meanwhile, they began to search around for any clues, a hand on their respective hilts while doing so. Gray checked the Outpost itself with Edlund backing him. The door was ajar, not fully closed, and the handle was crooked as if hit by something. The candles were all unlit, so gray lifted his sword ahead to produce some light. The faint blue glow showed an empty waiting room, the doors to the knights own Chambers closed. A desk that sat against one of the walls had some papers on top, which littered the ground. A rack of swords was also knocked over, even a few out the scabbard and lying purposelessly. This was not the neatness that was characteristic of a knight. However, the rooms were far more of a typical example, with the beds well made and any belongings organized. Clearly, something violent happened in the waiting room.

Outside Lyse and Elena searched the surroundings. The first startling thing they found was, in fact, the horse. At first glance, they believed that it was just sleeping. It was resting In such a position with legs tucked in under its large body. The saddle was still on. Lyse knows that horses dislike sleeping with heavy equipment on it's back, so he went to take it off when he noticed the lack of stir in this creature. The horse was dead. It's skin was pale and stiff. Its chest did not rise, nor did it react to Elena's hand as it trailed along it's hide.

It's cold, she whispered sadly. "It's dead, Lyse."

Lyse's eyes furrowed as he looked around at their surroundings. There were no tracks for any creature he could see. Was it a phantom or ghosts then? They are known for taking lives in such away. Those rarely show up in such a remote place. They prefer places of death and pain. Whatever did this was not something he was familiar with. What could sneak on a horse to stop? It's a heart without it noticing. There were no other signs of any person nearby, but obviously, whatever happened to the horses prompted the knights to act.

"The knights should have at least left tracks to follow themselves, "Elena was scanning the forest floor for anything, a broken twig or even a crushed but would be of help.

"Not unless whoever did this covered their tracks," Lyse patted the side of the creature with affection. "They wanted to get the drop on the knights, so they killed the horse so that it didn't make a noise or draw attention."

Edlund and Gray exited, sheathing their blades as they approached. Both had the same questioning look on their faces.

"Place is empty," Edlund announced. "But there was some sort of fight. Weapons were unsheathed and lying all over. A bit of a mess as well."

"The knights were most certainly attacked." Gray agreed. "If they left a horse . . . "

"Horse is dead," Elena told them. "They were quite meticulous. I've never seen anything like this before."

The same thought came to Edlund's mind, which had already formed in Lyse. "You do not believe that . . . "

Lyse nodded gravely. "Talin. They are near. They were planning to cut us off but alerted knights."

Edlund cursed. "Fate is against us here. Your mother shouldn't have gone off alone. They'll capture her."

"I believe she'll be fine," Lyse said, unsheathing his blade. "Mount up now. We need to cross that bridge and make it to the other side of this thicket. She'll know where we've gone by then. We can't wait here for them to come to us-"