"So, Your Highness," Alaric spoke first, his voice calm but firm, cutting through the quiet room, "what you're saying is that this mission likely won't be finished within six months?"
"Yes," Cael answered while nodding slightly. "As you may have noticed, the beasts have been behaving strangely. They're unusually aggressive, far more than before."
He straightened, hands resting on the table.
"During my days of scouting, I discovered a liquid-like substance present in their habitats. That substance is what's driving them into a frenzy. It appeared suddenly, but the pattern is too consistent to ignore."
The atmosphere in the room grew heavier.
"I asked the Vensworth healer to focus their magic on that substance," Cael continued. "It turns out it can be purified, but only by skilled healers. Without purification, suppressing the beasts will only delay the problem."
"I see," Alaric said slowly. "Then I'll need to send another report to the capital."
