“One day my brother was out on the forest to deal with animals that were preying on the livestock of our people. And he, just did not came back the same again.” Arnold said.
“This forest, is it the one that borders Alvannia and parts of Jennovia?” I asked.
“Yes, that is correct your majesty. It is the big thick forest that borders the city.” Arnold replied. Regaleon and my eyes met, and we had that knowing look. “I-Is there something about that forest, your majesties?” Arnold looked at us with a confused expression.
Regaleon and I knew that this forest was the one we traveled on in the past. This was where we met the sirens, a race that lived in ancient times. I have remember asking Anatalia about other beings like them and the Lycans, if there are others that still exists in this time. She answered me that ancient being like them seldom contact each other and always keep to their own race. They do not know if there are others out there that survived from the purge of the Almighty One.
“Tell us about the details on your brother’s trip to this forest.” Regaleon said.
“As you well know your majesty, Tarmac is not a rich city. And so, we were hit hard economically when the war with Jennovia started. Like other cities, our economy declined.” Arnold explained. “We were just picking up economically when the war ended when attacks on out livestock started. As you know, livestock and farming are one of the main products that a countryside city such as ours produce and trade.”
“The war also affected many cities economically.” I said. “It was a war we really did not want.”
“When we were just picking up, wild animals were attacking our livestock and destroying our crops.” Arnold explained. “Sighting had suggested that these wile animals came from the forest. The edge of the forest is just some distance away from the outskirts of Tarmac. We made sure to make necessary precautionary measure against the animal attacks, but it only escalated.”
“Escalated to what?” Regaleon asked.
“The animals started to attack humans as well. Children started to go missing and after those attacks on adults started.” Arnold replied. “The fear that people felt intensified.”pᴀɴᴅᴀ-ɴ(0ᴠᴇ)ᴠᴇʟ.ᴄᴏᴍ
“Are there sightings of these wild animals you are talking about?” Regaleon asked. “Do they look like big hideous wolf like features?”
“There were sighting, but they were not wolf like as you have said your majesty.” Arnold replied. “The sightings said the animals looked like big birds with big wings and stands in two feet. These birds were featherless, and their skin were scaly as the sightings said. What kind of bird grows that big and hunts livestock and also humans?”
“I see.” Regaleon said.
‘So, these were not the creatures called wargs that attacked the Lycan settlement.’ I thought. ‘But what kind of creature could this be? How many of these creatures survived until today?’
“What did your father do after?” Regaleon asked.
“My father did not have the means to hire mercenary groups, so we decided that the city’s soldiers lead by my brother would hunt these animals.” Arnold replied.
“But you could have asked help from the capital.” I said. “Why did your father not send a letter of assistance to the capital. I am sure we would have sent the empire’s soldiers to help, right your majesty?” I asked Regaleon.
“Hmm.” Regaleon nodded his head and agreed to my words.
“That is what I suggested to father, but my brother refused to ask for help. He said that others will see the weakness of our domain and others will look down on us.” Arnold replied. “He suggested the animal hunt and if it was not successful then that is the time, we call for assistance from the capital.” pᴀɴᴅᴀ ɴ(O)ᴠᴇʟ
“So, your brother and a group of soldiers headed to the forest to hunt these creatures?” Regaleon asked.
“Yes, your majesty. They were well armed and was optimistic with the hunt.” Arnold replied. “They departed the city early in the morning. But three days passed after their departure, and we did not hear any word from their group. My father was getting worried and was forming a search group to follow the first group on the fourth day, but on the night of the third day the hunting group came back.”
“How did the hunt go?” I asked.
“There were many casualties, your majesty.” Arnold replied. “Many soldiers were injured gravely; some also lost their lives. My brother also returned gravely injured. Once he recovered, that was when he changed. It was like another person returned and not him.”
“Did he tell you what happened with the hunt? What happened in that forest?” Regaleon asked.
“He said that they were successful in containing the wild animals, your majesty.” Arnold replied. “He also said that we can gain much with these creatures, that they were a blessing in disguise.”
“What does he mean by that?” I asked. “How can creatures that terrorized the people and the city be a blessing?” I was confused.
“My brother said that time when they were about to wrap things up with these creatures, a group of Xing merchants passed by. They called these creatures wyvern and offered my brother a huge amount if we can ship these creatures to Xing.” Arnold explained. “My brother saw these as an opportunity, and so he started the wyvern business. Father backed my brother and agreed to this business, and they erected a facility by the edge of the forest. They started to breed these wyverns and ship them to the country of Xing while they were still younglings.”
“How did they get business permits for this?” I asked. “This is a shady business.” ρꪖꪕᦔꪖꪕ(ꪫ)ꪣꫀ ꪶ
“Because of the war, many had gone bankrupt due to the decrease in economy.” Regaleon replied. “I have given permission for those small businesses to start without business permits while starting but they need to get one after a year had passed.”
Economic affairs are one that the emperor’s office holds, and so I do not have that much knowledge in them. I only heard that many businesses closed while the war was ongoing. After the war, there was a budget that was given to help business owners to get back up.
“Your father and brother had done something shady.” Regaleon said.
“That is why as a Forger myself, it is my duty to report this to you, your majesty.” Arnold replied and bowed his head solemnly.
“I understand. Thank you for telling me.” Regaleon said. “And as I promised, I will only persecute those that are proven guilty.”
“Thank you, your majesty.” Arnold replied. “I will always be in your debt.”
“These creatures are dangerous.” I added. “If they are the same as the ones we have encountered, then they pose a threat here in the city of Tarmac.”
“We will deal with this once we get back.” Regaleon said.
We walked a little more around the city with Arnold leading us. We switched with our replicas without the men of Count Forger noticing.
We came back to the Forger residence right after the sun had just set.
“Thank you for showing us the city, young lord Arnold.” Regaleon said. “We saw many ‘interesting’ things.”
“It is a pleasure serving you, your majesties.” Arnold replied. “I will not hold you for too long because I know you need to rest. We will send word to your quarters when dinner is ready.”
“Thank you so much once again, young lord Arnold.” I said.
Regaleon and I walked down the halls and towards our quarters.
“We need to do something about that facility.” I said to Regaleon. “The danger it poses to the people of Tarmac is great.”
“I know.” Regaleon replied. “I will meet with my men and get more intel from the shadow guards I have put on the facility to watch.”
“Those creatures that they call wyverns, do you think it is the same as the wargs we encountered in the Lycan settlement?” I asked.
“That may be the case.” Regaleon replied. “We need to get ore details on these creatures. I think we may need to go thru the archives about such creatures. The Lycans home that was once an Atlantian’s palace might have some books and writings left.”
“My mother might know of some stories from the ancient times as well.” I said. “The Almighty One might have left some personal notes.”
We walked towards our quarters when I saw the door next to ours.
“I will go and take a look at the twins before going inside.” I said.
“Okay.” Regaleon gave me a peck on my cheek. “I will talk to the shadow guard for a while.”
I opened the door and saw the twins taking a nap on the bed. Tricia was by the bedside reading a book silently while watching over the twins.
pAɴᴅᴀɴ[0ᴠᴇ]ʟ “Your majesty.” Tricia greeted.
“Shhh…” I gestured to Tricia. “You can go and rest for a while. I will watch over them for now.” I whispered.
“Of course, your majesty.” Tricia bowed and silently left the room.
I looked at my children and a felt warm inside. I gave them both a kiss on the forehead.
“I love you my sweet babies.” I said with a smile.
