Nireus immediately lifted up his upper body and looked behind to confirm who threw the sword. He knew who it was. There were maddened beasts near him, itching to pounce. But, he didn't care, even if he did, his body wouldn't listen any longer. Seeing Arsen's proud and intimidating stance, sent great relief to the lord of Arsida.
With all his remaining strength, Nireus stood up. His single leg supporting his entire body, the lord of Arsida raised his closed fist. Three maddened beasts attacked him at the same time, but Theresa, Linus, and Helice were there to stop them.
Cylon took command of the remaining knights. They were exhausted beyond belief but witnessing the fall of the giant monster gave them strength. He commanded them to slay all maddened beasts and assist the wounded, tired, and fallen knights. But, the barrage of maddened beasts doesn't seem to plan on stopping for a while.
Meanwhile, the terrifying monster was slowly disintegrating into black dust. The damage it has done would've been far greater had Arsen not struck at the opportunity created by the lord of Arsida.
"Father!" Said Theresa as she rushed to Nireus's side. Her heart was pounding as she saw the state the beast turned her father into. Tears fell on Theresa's cheeks when she saw the light from her father's eyes was long gone and would never return.
Seventeenth of the month of Scorpio (November), the year 1425 After Resurgence, Nireus Chronis, the youngest to have achieved the rank Chiliarch of Gold, the lord of Arsida and its guardian, died with many of his knights acting upon their duty of protecting Pantera and its people.
The remaining knights didn't have the time to mourn for they were unsure if they would live to see another day. But not far from them, the howling of wolves became audible. The Moonlord and his warriors emerged from the shadows cast by the giant trees. Their force was something to be reckoned with. Having the moon on their side, the Moonlord and his warriors swept the remaining maddened beasts within minutes. The end of the war was achieved with the help of the warriors of Mene. But, the amount of loss was too great for anyone to laud their victory. It was the first time the current knights of Pantera ever felt such devastation. Losing most of their comrades, including Irus the lord of Byllenes and Chiliarch of Silver, and their commander, Nireus Chronis.
When Aeneas and his group went to reunite with the others at the lost meadow, Tiriara spoke with a relieved smile on her face, "Finally, it's done," she said, oblivious of the bigger massacre and her father's demise. Her smile immediately vanished as soon as she saw the field. Corpses of once proud knights litter around. Their ashes were blown by the wind, blood watered the green grass, limbs and other body parts torn from their bodies mixed with the carcasses left by hundreds of maddened beasts, and most who survived have clouded eyes and expressions resembling those of the deceased.
Aeneas, Tiriara, Neoma, and the other squires tried their hardest not to vomit. While Donos, the other knights, and even the researchers, helped the warriors of Mene in aiding the knights who were still alive. Both the researchers and warriors of Mene, have first-aid medicines with them. But, some knight's injuries were far too severe for any of them to do anything.
"Father! Sister!" Tiriara called with a loud voice. At the same time, Aeneas also yelled and looked for his older brother and his knights. Neoma helped them both and followed behind them.
A smile formed on their faces when they saw Arsen and Theresa together. Tiriara ran towards them, "Sister!" She yelled. Theresa wiped her eyes and gulped before turning to Tiriara with a smile. Yet, her expression made the girl stop in her tracks and a sense of foreboding crept into her being.
Tiriara continued walking slowly, "Where's father?" She asked.
Aeneas and Neoma were behind Tiriara. The boy looked past the crowd and noticed the lord of Arsida lying on the ground. 'He must be resting,' he thought. The idea of someone as strong as the lord of Arsida, a symbol of strength, falling in battle never crossed his young mind even though anywhere he looked were remains of once strong Panteran knights. But, he felt a hand grab him and turned to see Neoma's grim expression. When Aeneas also saw the expressions of his brother, Theresa, and the few knights there, he realized that he was wrong.
Although he was in shock, Aeneas felt more devastated when he thought about his friend. He was awaiting the inevitable demise Tiriara would feel once she realized that her father was gone.
Only meters away, Tiriara saw her father lying on the grass, his hands clasped on the hilt of his sword.
"Father? Stop jesting and–"
Tiriara noticed that Nireus was missing a leg and his body was filled with injuries. She couldn't believe it. Her lips were shaking when she suddenly turned to her sister in utter incredulity.
Theresa wrapped her arms around her without speaking a single word, an act that made the girl perceive the reality of their situation. Tiriara grabbed her shirt around the chest, she was breathing heavily inward, and then came her loud wailing.
Neoma couldn't stop her emotions from getting through her and started bawling as well. The feeling of losing someone dear wasn't foreign to her.
Meanwhile, Aeneas went to hug his brother. He couldn't see most of the knights under Arsen, including Haemon and Rhene. Only Tereus was there, and judging based on his expression, he knew that the others must've received the same fate as Nireus. And it seems that both Haemon and Rhene added to the unfortunate ones who were reduced to nothing. The boy also teared up, but wiped it clean and told himself to be stronger.
Out of the five thousand four hundred participants of the expedition, only five hundred sixteen survived.
After clearing up the maddened beast at the lost meadow, the moonlord has allowed the survivors to take sanctuary in his home for the night. They could only bring the bodies of the knights who were lucky enough to leave one.
Left all alone at the once beautiful grassy plain-turned graveyard, was an orb that fell from one of the researcher's pouches, shining brightly with the darkest of blue.
Once in the village of Mene, the residents grieved with the survivors and assisted them in any way they could. It was a long night for everyone. More so for those who have lost someone dear to them, which was the majority of the survivors.
Tiriara appeared lifeless, her eyes were bloodshot and puffy as she stared into nothing. Both Aeneas and Neoma didn't know what to say to comfort her and decided to just give her space for the time being.
A bit later, Aeneas's right eye started to bleed and great pain came after. Lyra was prepared and provided Aeneas with the medicine he needed and anesthesia for him to fall asleep.
In the morning, the moonlord himself offered to lead his warriors and guide the survivors out of the forest. The acting commander, Cylon, agreed and expressed his gratitude.
With Alketas leading, and the wolves' mist, no further casualties were encountered. When they were close enough to the end of the forest, Alketas bid his farewell and returned to his village with his warriors.
On the outskirts of the city of Byllenes next to the verdant forest, knights guarding the area were stunned at the sight of the great expedition army reduced to their measly number. Their confusion turned to fright when they saw the lord of Arsida lifeless. Learning that the lord of their city had also fallen in battle was also a truth they didn't want to believe.
One of the knights rushed back to the city to report the situation, while the remaining ones tried their best to assist the survivors of the expedition.
News of Nireus Chronis's death spread in Pantera swiftly, reaching the king within hours. Then, as if it traveled through the wind, the lord of Arsida's death became the talk in all of Nusterra within the same day. Fear and anxiety also came along with the news of his death. It overshadowed the news about the assassination of one of the sons of the king of Caprines that happened two days ago.
People were questioning what kind of monster would've been capable of slaying a Panteran knight at the pinnacle of prowess not only in Pantera but in all of the continent. Some even argued that in a few more years, Nireus could've been the strongest within the ranks of Panteran knights. Knowing this, some began to spread a rumor that although true, lacks the evidence backing it.
"It was the Calamity of Chaos from the past. They are back!"
This rumor became tied to Nireus's death whenever it was passed through word of mouth.
The funeral for the lord of Arsida and the other fallen knights happened after a day. It was decided to hold it in Arsida, home for most of them, in a large plot of grassland located northwest of Heos village. Ander Aurusmane, the Panteran king, was there with all high-ranking knights from Chiliarchs of Bronze to the three Polemarchs. Even the head of each chancery was there to mourn the death of Nireus Chronis and the other knights.
The daughters of the house Chronis planted a suneater at their father's grave. It was a flower greedy for the rays of the sun and would glow brightly till the end of time. A symbol for knights who have enacted their duty as a guardian Pantera. Most of the families left behind planted a golden carnation, the flower commonly found in Pantera and planted on the graves of the deceased.
A meeting was held after the funeral. Everyone was present, the king, his high-ranking knights, and heads of all chanceries. With them were some of the survivors of the expedition. The researchers confirmed that the monster they encountered was indeed one of the seven beings of chaos recorded in the age of insanity, the Behemoth.
This information was passed to Decatris, and not long after, the council of three sent letters to all kingdoms asking to join an emergency meeting for they felt that the second coming of the age of insanity was just on the horizon.