The room fell into silence.
King Aldric's voice cut through it. "Then what will?"
All eyes turned to Alaric.
For a moment, he didn't speak.
His gaze stayed on Kaelen, watching the slow rise and fall of his chest, the unnatural stillness, the way the color kept draining from his skin.
Then he exhaled. "When I heard the reports," Alaric began, his voice steady but serious, "about the creature that killed those villagers… I made some inquiries."
Rowan looked up slightly. "You knew what it was?"
"I suspected," Alaric replied. "A Questing Beast is not something that appears without reason."
General Lysender frowned. "Then you know how to stop this?"
Alaric hesitated. That alone made the tension in the room rise.
"The poison of the Questing Beast is extremely potent," he said. "One strike from its mouth… and death is almost immediate."
Lyra's face paled further.
Alaric continued, "The prince was fortunate. The tail struck him not the mouth."
Rowan nodded "We thought the same."
"But that does not mean he is safe," Alaric added.
Everyone already knew that.
"The poison from the tail spreads slower," he went on, "but it still spreads."
Elara's grip tightened slightly where she stood.
"It attacks the body gradually," Alaric said. "Weakening and finally shutting it down."
King Aldric's voice lowered. "And how do we stop it?"
Alaric finally looked at him. "There is said to be a way."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Lyra burst out immediately. "Then do it!"
Alaric didn't move. "That's the problem," he said.
The room stilled again.
"There is a plant," he continued. "Rare an uncommon known only in old texts as the Nightshade Virel."
The name alone sounded unfamiliar.
"It grows deep within the forest," Alaric said. "Its properties can counteract venom especially from magical creatures."
Rowan's expression sharpened. "Then what are we waiting for? We are going to get it."
Alaric shook his head. "It is not that simple. Legends say the plant has long gone extinct."
Lyra shook her head immediately. "No. There has to be something else..."
"If it still exists," Alaric continued, cutting through gently but firmly, "it only grows in one place."
King Aldric's eyes narrowed. "Where?"
Alaric answered without hesitation. "The Black Hollow."
The name alone shifted the room. Even Rowan went still.
General Lysender's expression darkened. "That place…"
Elara glanced between them, confusion mixing with tension. "What is it?"
Rowan answered this time, his voice low.
"It's not just forest."
Alaric nodded. "It is deeper, wilder and dangerous."
Then he added, "It is now the territory of manticores."
Darin stiffened slightly.
Lyra's eyes widened. "Manticores?"
"Yes," Alaric said. "They've been sighted there for years now."
General Lysender crossed his arms. "No one goes there and comes back easily."
Rowan let out a slow breath. "Even trained soldiers avoid that region."
Elara's chest tightened again.
"So you're saying," King Aldric said slowly, "the only thing that can save my son… may no longer exist."
Alaric didn't answer immediately.
"And if it does," the king continued, his voice dropping, "it lies in a place nearly impossible to reach."
"Yes," Alaric said quietly.
The truth settled heavily in the room.
Lyra stepped back slightly, shaking her head. "No… no, this doesn't make sense. There has to be another way."
"There isn't," Alaric replied.
Her eyes filled with tears again. "You're wrong."
"I wish I was," he said.
Kaelen shifted slightly on the bed. A weak, almost unnoticeable movement.
Everyone froze. Elara stepped forward instinctively.
But Kaelen didn't wake. His breathing remained shallow almost fading.
Rowan looked back at Alaric. "How long do we have?"
That question mattered.
Alaric didn't sugarcoat it. "Not long."
The room tightened. "Two days at most," he added.
Lyra let out a broken breath. King Aldric turned away for a moment, his hand clenching tightly at his side.
Then he turned back.
His expression had changed. There was no hesitation nor doubt. "Prepare a unit," he ordered.
Rowan looked up immediately. "We go to this Black Hollow," the king continued. "Extinct or not we must find that plant."
General Lysender nodded once. "I'll assemble the best men."
"You won't have enough time for strategy," Rowan said. "This will be a direct run."
"Then move fast," the king replied.
"I need to go with them," Alaric said firmly.
All eyes turned to him. "I may be the only one who can identify the plant."
There was a brief pause. Then King Aldric nodded.
"Very well. You'll go."
"I'm going too," Darin said immediately.
Alaric turned to him slightly. "Darin... "
"I need to protect you," Darin added, not backing down.
Alaric studied him for a moment, then gave a short nod. "Stay close. Do not act without thinking."
"I won't," Darin replied.
"I will go as well," Lyra said suddenly.
General Lysender turned sharply. "Lyra..."
But she didn't let him finish.
"I'm about to be his wife," she said, her voice firm despite the emotion in it. "This is not something I will stand aside for."
The room fell quiet.
"I will make sure we bring back that plant," she added.
Lysender frowned, clearly against it. But Lyra didn't look away.
King Aldric watched her for a moment then he spoke.
"Very well."
Lysender exhaled slowly but said nothing more.
"Prepare immediately," the king ordered. "You leave at once."
The room shifted into motion. As they began to move
Elara slightly stepped forward.
"Father… what about me? What should I do?"
Alaric turned to her. For a brief moment, his expression softened.
"Stay with the prince," he said.
He reached into his bag and pulled out a small glass vial filled with a dark liquid.
"Dilute this with water," he said, placing it in Elara's hands. "Then soak a clean cloth with it and apply it to the wound."
His gaze held hers for a moment. "Every five hours. Do not miss it."
Elara nodded, gripping it tightly. Alaric held her gaze for a second longer. "Every five hours," he repeated. "If you delay, the poison will spread faster."
With that he turned away, because there was no more time.