"That's an unusual name for a crop. Could you tell me more about what kind of plant it is?"
Gravel asked Gallad, who had been listening to the conversation between Diara and Gallad.
"Huh? Oh… I haven't worked in the fields where Tirrgal's Beard is grown, so I don't know much about it. All I've heard is that it's not a crop grown for human consumption and that the nomads of Kirvia feed it to their horses."
Gallad replied, scratching his head.
"Tirrgal is the name of a god worshipped by the people of Kirvia. They say he's the god of horses' health and longevity."
Diara added, rolling up a piece of paper she was holding and tucking it into her bag as she spoke to Gravel.
"In a nomad's country, a god of horses must be quite important." Gravel remarked.
Gallad, walking ahead of the two, overheard Diara's comment and added a question without breaking his stride, turning his head to address Diara and Gravel following behind.
"It seems Tirrgal's beard doesn't grow very well, does it? When I visited last month to repair the fence, I saw it. Even months after the spring sprouts emerged, it had only grown about a hand's length."
"Lisia wrote that its growth rate is much slower than expected."
Gallad continued.
"What you saw was probably the result of using fertility restoration magic multiple times to speed up its growth."
"Hmm… Why go through the trouble of growing such a slow-growing plant?"
Gravel asked.
"I know Lord Ratak values it highly, and Lisia takes special care of it, but…"
"It's named after Tirrgal, the god of horses, so it's said to be exceptional for the growth and recovery of horses." Diara explained.
"They say in Kirvia, even a young foal fed this plant can outrun a horse that's five years old."
"Wow… A plant that potent? Now I understand why Lisia pays so much attention to a grass humans can't even eat." Gallad said with a chuckle.
Gallad paused briefly to wave at two farmstead workers greeting him from a distance, momentarily halting the trio's conversation. But soon, their discussion resumed.
"So, Lord Ratak plans to use Tirrgal's Beard…" Gravel began.
"For warhorses, most likely."
Diara interjected.
"Lisia's reports to Ves-Dinas detail the level of magic users needed for soil fertility restoration and maintenance, as well as the feasibility of sustained cultivation in the Vanald region. That's why we're taking some to Ves-Dinas."
"We're almost there."
Gallad said.
"The field is surrounded by a fence, so it should be easy to spot from a distance."
Gallad leaned forward between the trees lining the farmstead path, shielding his eyes from the blazing sun with both hands to confirm the location of the fenced field.
"There it is!" he exclaimed.
"It's been so long, I thought I might've mixed it up with another field. Follow me this way."
Gallad quickened his pace, leading Diara and Gravel toward the field. The trio soon arrived at the long fence surrounding the patch where Tirrgal's Beard grew. Gallad, reaching it first, unlatched the gate and stepped inside.
"Huh? Were these plants always blue?"
Gallad said, crouching to examine the knee-high, shimmering blue grass.
"I'm sure they weren't this color before…"
"It's a rare color for a plant." Gravel observed.
"Yes." Diara agreed.
"It probably consumes so much soil fertility because it exudes a lot of mana as it grows."
Diara and Gravel, following Gallad, also inspected the blue grass glowing under the sunlight. When Gravel touched the leaves, they felt unlike any ordinary plant—too complex a texture to describe simply as 'soft.'
As Gravel crouched closer to the grass, the leaves near his face released a rich, indescribable fragrance that enveloped his cheeks and filled his nostrils—a scent so unique it defied comparison.
"Who's there? Lillu? Is that you, Lillu?" a voice called out.
Sensing someone approaching, the trio turned to see a small girl staggering toward Gallad.
Gallad shouted her name and rushed to her side, kneeling as he caught the collapsing Lillu in his arms.
His urgency stemmed not only from her unsteady, limping gait but also from the dark, crimson bloodstains covering her entire body, which shocked Gallad, Diara, and Gravel.
"Are you hurt, Lillu? What happened?" Gallad asked, holding her tightly.
"Is she one of the farmstead's children?"
Diara asked, extending her palm to cast a healing spell on Lillu.
"Yes, she's Warren's daughter."
Gallad replied, trying to wipe the bloodstains from Lillu's face.
"She left the farmstead with her family early this morning…"
"Could it be bandits?" Gravel suggested.
"No way." Gallad said.
"The Lacha-Walia patrols keep the Red Forest under constant watch, so there are no bandits around here…"
As Diara's healing magic took effect, Lillu's closed eyes fluttered open, blinking a few times as she lay in Gallad's arms.
"Please help… Uncle Gallad… A monster… It got Mom and Dad…"
Lillu's trembling voice betrayed her fear, her body shivering as if caught in a winter wind, haunted by the memory of the monster.
"Calm down, Lillu. What happened? Tell me what's going on…"
Gallad tried to soothe her, but his words couldn't reach her. Terror gripped the bloodstained, fragile girl's heart.
"We need to find Warren."
Gallad said to Diara.
"If we follow the path to Lacha-Walia, we might find them."
"I'll go with you." Gravel said.
Gallad handed Lillu to Diara, stood, and sprinted past the field's fence. Gravel followed close behind.
Gravel had closely observed the girl as she collapsed into Gallad's arms. Though covered in blood, she bore no visible wounds. Her clothes, arms, and legs were unscathed, leading Gravel to worry about the safety of the two others who had left the farmstead with her.
Gallad, seemingly sharing the same concern, picked up his pace.
"It's not Lillu's blood, Gravel."
Gallad said as he ran, glancing at Gravel, who had caught up beside him.
"Something must have happened to Warren and his wife, Celine."
"I'll cast a spell." Gravel said.
As Gravel cast a speed-enhancing spell while running, the two surged forward along the forest path.
"Whoa! My body feels weightless! My legs have never felt so light!"
Gallad exclaimed, the spell's effects coursing through him as he ran even faster.
Fueled by the hope that his friend was safe, Gallad moved like a beast chasing prey, leaping over small bushes and ducking under low-hanging branches without slowing down.
He prayed the blood on Lillu didn't belong to Warren or Celine, his legs pounding the ground harder as he ran.
"There it is!" Gallad shouted, pointing ahead.
"That's the wagon Warren took when he left the farmstead!"
They reached a small wagon, its cargo covered with a tarp. The horse that pulled it was gone, and the ground around the wagon was stained with blood mixed with dirt. Beneath a stout, short tree a short distance away, a dark red pool of blood glistened.
"What in the world happened here?" Gallad muttered, his steps faltering as he surveyed the scene."
"It doesn't look like a fight took place."
Gravel said, staring at the blood pool under the tree.
"And how did that blood end up there?"
Gravel, familiar with hunting wolves and bears through Adventurers' Guild contracts in Froikton, saw no signs of such animals. Even enhancing his vision to scan the surroundings yielded no clues.
Something had attacked, that much was clear—the bloodstains beside the wagon proved it.
"These bloodstains look like they were made by a sharp weapon…"
Gravel said, crouching to inspect the ground.
"Really?" Gallad replied.
"Then it's not wolves or bears. I'm no hunter beyond setting traps for rabbits, but… it's broad daylight, so it's unlikely to be an animal attack. Could it be bandits who slipped past the patrols? But then, the wagon's cargo…"
Gallad trailed off, inspecting the covered cargo.
"That's strange." he said.
"There's no sign the cargo was touched. It's exactly as I saw it this morning when I helped Warren load it."
To get a clearer view, Gallad pulled back the tarp completely, folding it into the corner of the wagon bed.
"This makes no sense." Gravel said.
"Nothing's missing, yet the bloodstains and pool suggest an attack by someone, not an animal. I considered goblins skilled with weapons, but the wagon's untouched state rules that out."
"Right." Gallad agreed.
"There are no goblins in the Red Forest, at least not near the farmstead. The patrols cover the area between the farmstead and Lacha-Walia daily."
As they spoke, both continued to scrutinize the wagon's surroundings for any clues to the inexplicable scene.
"We need to ask Lillu what happened here." Gravel said.
"She mentioned a monster, but I don't see any signs of the kind of monster I'd expect."
"Agreed." Gallad said.
"Still, I know these forest paths well, and I'd like to look around a bit more. The horse that pulled the wagon might still be nearby."
Hoping the blood pool wasn't human, Gallad used the excuse of searching for the horse to keep investigating.
"I have a way to get the wagon back to the farmstead, so don't worry about that." Gravel said.
"I'll look around a bit more too."
"No, no." Gallad protested.
"You don't know the forest well, Gravel. It's too dangerous. Since you say you have a way, please take Warren's wagon back to the farmstead."
"Are you sure?" Gravel asked.
"Whatever attacked the wagon might still be in the forest."
"If I run into it, I'm confident I can escape."
Gallad said, forcing a reassuring smile.
"Well, if you say so, I can't argue." Gravel replied.
"Just don't push yourself too hard."
"I won't." Gallad said.
"Please head back to the farmstead and inform them of the situation. Also, send Radi and Lister from the farmstead here. Tell them to take the second forest path toward Lacha-Walia and head to the Winged Rock. They're familiar with the forest and will understand."
As Gallad spoke with Gravel, a glowing magical circle appeared beside the wagon, summoned by Gravel. From it emerged a blue, horse-shaped magical beast.
Gallad, startled, stepped back warily at the sight of the Xeraxis beast but quickly realized it was Gravel's method of transporting the wagon.
"I'll see you back at the farmstead, Gravel." Gallad said.
"Yes, see you there." Gravel replied.
After a brief glance at the blue beast, Gallad turned and moved away from the wagon. Gravel infused the summoned beast with mana and approached the wagon, preparing to take it back to the farmstead.