On King Ander's right, sat another burly man clad in a golden armor with his sword sheathed in a scabbard also made of gold. His golden short hair had lost its shimmer, wrinkles were noticeable in his bearded face. Nevertheless, his golden eyes have never changed since he was young. He's one of the three zeniths of Pantera's knighthood, a Polemarch that also serves as the king's guard, Damon Makrou, a bearer of the Proud Lion's Zeal.
Next to Damon was a man in his forties. Compared to him and the king, he was thin and small. He has brown short hair, deep brown eyes, and a stare that most people mistake as him looking down on them. A person who's known as one of the smartest people alive in all of the continent. Although Zeal-less, he could cast basic four elemental magic through years of study. The head of the Chancery of Knowledge who replaced the previous one only a year ago, Itheus Rellou.
The other three members of the council sat on the other side of the table. One of them was a woman in her fifties. Her hair was reddish, and her eyes were green. Only signs of wrinkles could be seen on her charming face. She sat with her legs crossed and back leaned to the backrest of her chair. The head of the Chancery of Health, Haidee Marta. Similar to Damon, she also possesses the Zeal of the Proud Lion.
Beside Haidee, was the head of the Chancery of Wealth. A man with a huge build, who appears fat compared to everyone else. He has black hair, dark brown eyes, and a mustache. Although he intended to appear intimidating, people were fond of his mustache and thought of it as adorable. His name was Oileas Agnatou, and like Itheus, he was Zeal-less.
Altes Stanou was the last one who was seated next to Oileas. He's the head of the Chancery of Land. He has blond hair and blue eyes. Although not to the extent of the king or Damon, Oileas is burly when compared to the common man. Same as most of the council members, he was gifted with the Proud Lion's Zeal.
Nireus and his whole group entered the room. The nine of them didn't make the room any less spacious. They were met with the stare of the Panteran king and the members of the council. As their greetings, Nireus and the others placed their right hand on their chest and bowed. Neoma, who has been accustomed to the gesture, did it with them.
In response, Ander, and the five members of his council, placed their right hand in their chest and bowed while they remained seated.
Ander spoke, his deep voice fitting his appearance, "How was Heos, Chiliarch Nireus?" he asked.
Nireus smiled, "It's lovely, my king," he responded.
Ander chuckled, "I'm envious."
The five members of the king's council remained silent. It was only Ander who was talking. After some more exchange of words with Nireus, he asked them to sit with them.
Ander turned his attention to Arsen. He asked if the young knight didn't feel forced to participate as one of Pantera's champions in the upcoming summit games and to be their captain.
"Of course not, my king. I'm more than honored."
Even Damon was pleased with Arsen's reply. He was also the one who recommended him to the king for the summit. After Arsen, the king proceeded to make small talk with everyone else. When he reached Lyra, he just mentioned her name with a smile.
Then, the Panteran king stared at Neoma, "I assume she's the girl you mentioned in your letter," he said towards Nireus.
Nireus nodded in reply, "She is, my king," he said.
"What's your name?" Ander asked.
Neoma was seated beside Aeneas. She stared at the king after hearing his question, then hid behind the boy while peeking at Ander.
The Panteran king laughed, "Do I look scary?" he asked, still laughing his heart out. Damon couldn't help but also chuckle.
"Well, you can't blame the kid," Haidee said with a smile.
"Y-you shouldn't speak to our king like that, lady Haidee," Itheus said.
Haidee leaned further back. She rolled her eyes while looking at Itheus, "Oh, shut up," she replied.
It was Aeneas who answered the king's question.
"Her name's Neoma."
Ander nods, "I see."
Within Nireus's group, only Eluard didn't know about the Great Wolf's Zeal and the village hidden within the Great Forest of Pantera. Still, the king has asked all the guests aside from Nireus and Lyra to vacate the room. They were assisted to a different room with snacks and refreshments.
The moment the others left, Ander proceeded to bring up the main topic of why he asked the lord of Arsida to bring Neoma to Khrysos.
"I sent a letter to the village when I learned of the girl, it is to be expected that a warrior of theirs would come to take her." Ander continued to ask about the mother.
"We've buried her at our manor," Lyra said.
The Panteran king had a wistful smile. He felt saddened thinking about the girl that was left behind. Ander was just glad that the Caspius's found her and she had people to look after her at her times of mourning.
"Worry not of Neoma, we'll take care of her till someone from the village comes," Ander said.
"But…" Lyra explained that the girl wasn't still accustomed to the world. Neoma has only been free since a few days ago. Furthermore, Lyra said that the girl has been fond of Aeneas, and would run to him whenever she felt unsafe. She didn't want to imagine how Neoma would react if they left her.
Altes joined the conversation. He suggested that Lyra and Aeneas be in Khrysos until someone from the village arrived.
It was a great suggestion that left everyone thinking. After a moment of brief silence, Ander spoke.
"What do you think, lord Nireus?"
Nireus smiled, "My king, I have a daughter of my own around her age. If I was her parent, I would want her to be wherever she's safe and happy."
"So, you agree with Altes?" Damon asked. Nireus knew that Damon was saying that Arsida, especially the village of Heos, was dangerous due to it being close to the people who were chasing after the girl.
"I do agree, but not because Heos is unsafe," Nireus said that he wanted to give the girl the choice.
After hearing the conversation, Ander decided to call Neoma back into the room. She wouldn't leave without Aeneas so he also came with her.
The Panteran king explained to Neoma what would happen. Since she knew about the village where people bear the same Zeal as her, Ander just said that someone from there would come to take her.
Neoma yelled, "No!" at the king. To which Aeneas apologized on her behalf.
Ander understood Neoma's reaction and just laughed at her response.
"We learned that your mother was from that village. She would want you to be with her family. People who she trusts," Ander said.
"No! Only trust Aenie!" Neoma glared at the king, "Mother said!" she continued.
Aeneas tried to explain to Neoma that her mother's words were only due to their situation back then.
"If she was still here, I think she'd want you to go to the place where she came from."
"No!" Neoma exclaimed. Her hands were gripping Aeneas's shirt.
The Panteran king's expression became serious, "If you stay with them, the ones after you might appear again."
Ander's words stirred Neoma's emotion. But, she remained stubborn about being with the Caspius's.
Aeneas grabbed the girl in the arms, "Listen, you'll be safer if you go to that village," he said.
On the verge of tears, Neoma said that she wanted to be in the place where her mother was buried. It was a scene that made everyone empathize with her, even the stoic Altes.
With the smile returning to his face, Ander spoke, "Well, if that's your wish then I guess we have to comply."
It was the first time that Neoma's mouth formed such a wide smile.
"But before you return to Heos. Please remain in Khrysos for a couple of days, you need to meet someone from the village."
Nireus and the others have agreed to follow the king's suggestion.
In the following days, they wandered around the big city. Checking many shops, from those that sell food and clothing, to those that offer weapons either big or small. The kids were the ones who enjoyed their time walking around Khrysos's busy streets. As Neoma experienced all kinds of fun things, she became a bit more open with her emotions. Throughout their stay, the amount of times that her face had a smile was longer than her typical expression.
Then, on the morning of the eighteenth of the month of Cancer, a man from the hidden village arrived at Khryos, he met with the king and was looking for the girl he mentioned in his letter.