156 A miraculous cure? (1/2)
”Is there anything improving in their state?” Sarah Meridil was calmly cleaning the face of her old friend that was heavily sweating. With his old age, Arthar Rodil was already weaker than most magus. In the entire room, he was potentially the one in the worst state.Even after so many days, the only thing the rest of them could do was trying to take care of the sick magus. As for her, the dark pockets under her eyes and her disheveled hair only reduced a bit her appearance.
”No, we have already tried every cure we had and the priests are still resting for a few hours. Unless a miracle happens, I don't think they will survive more than a few days.” Right next to her, a man with a limp leg was busying himself with counting the number of elixirs used. Even if the organization behind him had ample resources, he was beginning to wonder if the decision of the higher-ups was right. It was their own money that was spent without blinking.
The first day, the ones that tried to trap Leilade were still capable of being counscious and were mildly feverish. However, they already showed signs of being completely confused, not even remembering their own names sometimes. Besides that, they were capable of conversing, and she could even recall hearing Arthar asking about his two favorites children.
After that, it had only gone worse. If the few disciples of the Archmage and the man himself had instantly returned to their tower, the rest of the magus was not that lucky. They had tried everything, and in those very short days, they had gathered everything in all the human nations. Even now, a flow of hippogryphs was still actively landing nearby, to bring whatever they had in their hands.
”Did you really tried everything?” Starring at the outlaw with an injured limb, the head of the Academy of Magic of Massalia was only accusing. However, the accused did not feel it was illogical, as even he was really doubtful whether they had done everything. After all, he was just in charge of a city and its region previously and did not have access to the same amount of information that the Hand above him.
”Guess what you want. Just remember that without us, they wouldn't have survived this long.” Hearing that, even if Sarah felt sorry, she did not show it. Hearing the cough of the old man near her, she fully focused on him, changing the now warm towel into a colder one. In the process, she gave him a small amount of mana, but that wasn't stabilizing his condition. Feeling tired, she still remained in the room, until she heard a familiar sound.
Glancing at the priests that were coming, she sighed in relief. Profiting of that occasion to rest, she was too far and too tired to hear the discussion between the newcomers and the man from the White Hand. ”This will be the last time we come here to cure those unfortunate souls.”
After those words were said, the atmosphere suddenly changed. Most of those present here were friends or even families of those infected by that evil. So, for them to hear that the ones that reduced the pain and suffering of those they loved would leave was not something they wished to ever listen. Even the outlaw in charge was a bit surprised but most of all very angry. They had already paid them a hefty sum, and to break a deal made with the Organization would not be left unpunished.
”May I know why you are breaking the very words you swore on the Gods you pray? Why, after receiving enough gold to live the rest of your lives like kings you are saying those words?” Signaling to the few hidden guars nearby, they finally showed why everyone was safe in this room. Even if all the human nations were represented by the patients, some would still have the idea to kill them as they were weak. So of course, it was necessary to deter those thoughts from even forming.
”As you said, we are the servants of the Gods. And they have spoken. They said those souls are condemned and will join the ranks of the blessed ones in the heavens. But we will still try to ease their pain one last time, before their final travel.” If Leilade or anyone knowing how a god truly thinks was present, he would have begun to laugh after hearing the fervent declaration of that priest.
First of all, all those magus were filled with so much mana that their souls would be worth hundreds or even more normal souls. Something no one leeching energy from that source would neglect. Secondly, they had no idea what was happening in their bodies and what happened after Leilade escaped. And to know that, they need a soul. Therefore, they had to die just to feed and inform the gods they believed in.
Hearing the laments and the cries around him, the man with a limp leg had no words. If before, he would have slapped the moron who would try the excuse of a god speaking to him, now he couldn't do it anymore. The Heroes appeared once more, the influence of the gods were more and more present. What were only things a madman could hear and see now had become a common sight.
Waving his hand to let them do as they wished, he still was wondering if it was true. But since he couldn't even ask for a proof, however, he made sure to note their names for the future. They still dared to breach their words, and no one liked to deal with unreliable people. Remembering the beautiful woman that left a minute ago, he guessed she should probably know what just happened.
As he was leaving the house, he stumbled upon a sight far too common those days. A woman and her husband were trying to sell plants, maybe hoping that they will be paid for them. Fortunately, it was his men in charge of doing this, meaning that most scammers and fake herbalists did not even try their shenanigans. Seeing one of his alchemists that belonged to Ronta, he could hear their discussion.
”Who are you trying to fool with that? Do you think we are all idiots? You say this plant was gathered between Ronta and the Troll Gate? It's impossible! You probably just painted it red, I could see a vague similitude with the Semilis Pinota from the West of Genablum. Now, admit what this herb is truly!” Starring at the plant hold in the hand of the alchemist, he could see numerous little spikes on it.
However, he came from Avenio and had absolutely no idea what a Semilis Pinota was. At the same time, he could also see that the man behind the woman that was arguing seemed as puzzled as him at the mention of this name. Feeling that it was peculiar, he approached to learn more about it. If he couldn't tell the difference between two plants, he was no stranger to human reactions and that man truly never heard of that thing in his life.
”Did you listened to me? I was telling you, we had tried to sell this everywhere, but no one bought it more than a few silver coins. So, of course, we are trying with you, but because of the war the man that said he would take a look at the location where we found it never came back. Also, it is a completely new plant, I can assure you. And no, I don't know about a Semilis Pinota and never heard this name before!”