Aiden made his way to the stables, his mind preoccupied with the horses. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, and he needed to check on his favorite horse, a beautiful white mare named Amber. As he approached her stall, he noticed that she seemed lethargic and was barely eating her hay. Aiden's heart sank as he realized that Amber was starting to show the same symptoms as the other sick horses.

He spent some time with Amber, trying to soothe her with gentle words and pats on the neck. 

Eventually, he had to tear himself away from her stall and head back to the house for dinner. As he walked, his thoughts were consumed by the fate of the horses and what they could do to save them.

When he arrived back at the farmhouse, Emilia greeted him excitedly. "Aiden, Aiden! You won't believe who I met in the woods today!" she exclaimed.

Aiden raised an eyebrow. "Who did you meet?"

"A druid herbalist!" Emilia said, beaming. "I was exploring the woods and saw them gathering wildflowers. They knew so much about plants and herbs, and I asked them about the horses. They said they might be able to help!"

Aiden felt a glimmer of hope. "Really? Where did you meet them?"

"Just past the old mill, by the river," Emilia said. "I invited them to come to dinner tonight. I hope that's okay."

Aiden nodded, feeling grateful to his sister for her resourcefulness. As they entered the farmhouse, the smell of cooking food filled the air. Aiden's mother was in the kitchen, putting the finishing touches on a roast chicken and vegetables.

As they sat down to eat, Aiden's father asked him how his studies at the Combat Institute were going. Aiden gave him a brief update, but his mind was elsewhere.

Then, Emilia started telling their parents about her encounter with the druid herbalist. "I met her while I was exploring the woods, and she was gathering herbs and flowers," she said. "She knew so much about plants and how to use them. I asked her about the horses, and she said she might be able to help."

Their mother looked concerned. "Emilia, I've told you not to go into the Wilds by yourself. It's too dangerous."

"I didn't go into the Wilds, Mama," Emilia protested. "I just met her by the river, and she's coming here for dinner tonight."

Their father looked skeptical. "I don't like the idea of a stranger coming into our home," he said.

Aiden spoke up. "But Dad, we have to do something about the horses. They're getting worse by the day. Maybe this druid herbalist can help."

Their father sighed. "I suppose you're right. We can't afford to lose any more horses."

As they finished their meal, they heard a knock at the door. Aiden's father got up to answer it, and a young woman with long, curly hair and a satchel slung over her shoulder entered the room. She introduced herself as Rowan, and Aiden's family welcomed her to the table.

As they ate, Rowan explained that she was a student at the druid training school in the Wilds, and that she had been studying herbal medicine for several years. She had heard about the sick horses and was curious to see if she could help.

Aiden's mother looked relieved. "Thank you for coming, Rowan," she said. "We're at a loss as to how to help the horses. We've tried everything we can think of."

Rowan nodded. "I understand. Let me take a look at them after dinner, and we'll see what we can do."

As they finished their meal, Aiden couldn't help but feel hopeful. Maybe there was a chance to save the horses after all.