The Vizier's body had a lot of problems and health issues and most of them did not seem to be natural. But it was not a lost cause by any means.
Even the normal illness she had was not that bad.
Nor for Iris at least but it might have been too much for a normal healer to take care of.
"Can I see the medicine you take? Just a small sample would do" Iris ran her hand through the elder's back, her magic working to reverse the damage there as well.
It was a slow process but it seemed to be working well.
"Why? Is there something wrong with it?" Nicole asked as she looked at the scene in front of her. Her hesitation and lack of trust irked Iris but she understood it as well.
It still stung though.
"Just get her the prescription. Clearly, she knows what she is doing" the elder though, seemed to have made up her mind to trust Iris completely.
Nicole finally seemed to follow her words and left the chamber.
"Now, tell me the truth about what you suspect. It is clear to me that the commission had no intention of treating me from the start. I've never felt this relaxed before" the elder asked, her tone much more confident and powerful.
She seemed to be feeling better but she was a long way from 'healthy.'
Still, if she wanted to know more about it, Iris would be happy to comply.
"It's not that the commission did not want to treat you, but that they couldn't. Your illness is not something a normal doctor can handle. However, having a deal with you was beneficial for them as well" that was the only reason the commission had even bothered with this old lady.
"Those devils. But I can see the logic in that. And what about you? What do you want?" the elder asked as her back started to mend itself back together.
Any visible evidence of the illness seemed to be receding.
"Me? I have goals of my own. I was hoping to meet the Sultan through you to set up a healing center in Oreta. Are you willing to help me out?" Iris asked but her tone was careful.
As civil as the elder elf had been, she was still someone who would not think twice before fucking Iris over. Iris had to handle this carefully.
The laugh that broke out in the fragile body caused Iris to curse. The other was moving too much and the magic flow was getting disturbed.
"Stop moving so much. Do you want to stay sick even longer?" Iris snapped, her hands moving to secure the other in the secure hold.
"I apologize. I was just startled by that joke. A healing center and in Oreta? The commission would never agree to it" the elder was right but she was also missing the crucial point here.
"I have no intention of letting the commission interfere, nor do I need them to open one. I am not affiliated with them. I just need the support of your people to make it work" and Iris was not wrong.
The Iris in the initial novel had done it but Michael did not know how she did it.
And since she did not know, she had to take a different route she did know.
The MC had failed to treat the old Vizier in the original novel but he had another route to the sultan and the other higher powers. The commission had too much power.
So Iris had to cut it off before it could develop. That was the only way to ensure Oreta would keep standing till the end.
She also had a feeling that Iris's original method did not prevent that and that was why this place fell to ruins.
"You are serious. Oh, this is rich, a healer who doesn't want to follow the commission. But I can respect that" the elder paused before the light in her eyes changed.
"How soon can you cure me?" the elder asked and Iris had to pause at the chance of pace in the mood.
"A week if everything goes according to plan. Your body is too weak to handle too much at once. Then we can start getting you back into shape" the damage was easy to cure, so was the illness.
The physique though did not allow for it to happen all at once.
"A week. To think I have been reduced to this. Tell you what kid, you get me all healed up and I will take you to meet the others higher-ups personally. How does that sound?" that sounded perfect.
This was exactly what Iris wanted to happen and if she got an ally along the way? Then it was even better.
"I would take you up on that offer. I have plans for Oreta. Plans that cannot come true unless this place is cured of all its filth" the commission and the illnesses needed to go.
Whatever the elder thought of her words, she never got the chance to say it because Nicole returned at that very moment.
"This is all I can spare you. Please make good use of it" Iris pocketed the medicine into the system and made her way back to her patient.
'System, run a thorough scan of the medicine'
'Scan initiating in 3…2…1.
Scanning time: 2 hours.'
Iris had a lot of time on her hands now. The body under her hands could not take any more magic as well which made things very complicated.
"This is all for today. Get me tomorrow so that we can continue" Iris stood straight and looked the elder straight in the eye.
"Nicole, take our dear doctor back and provide them with the best" Nicole looked conflicted but happier at seeing the elder having some of her energy back.
She bowed to the Vizier and led Iris out through the same passageway.
The sky had turned into its night variant a long time ago and there was no one in sight. Even the surrounding forest seemed quiet and eerie this late at night.
Iris could barely make out the magic signatures of the monsters closest to the city. But it was still far enough to the outskirts that it was safe.
Still, the city defense would need to be reworked as well in a few years and a new power source would be needed as well.
"I would like to retire to my room now" Nicole nodded and led her to the lower floors. They were heading to a well-off residential area. It looked a far cry from the slum-like area from downtown.
Nicole entered the first small villa and the guards let them pass without much fuss. They did pass her curious glances but Nicole took care of it all.
Diana and Arya had passed out in the common area, their eyes shut close. It must have been uncomfortable to sleep in such a position but they seemed to manage.
"I will be back tomorrow morning" Iris watched Nicole leave, looking at the other for some kind of sign but there seemed to be none.
This was the end of the first day in Oreta and it left Iris exhausted.
"You both, wake up. Go sleep in a proper bed if you do not want to have back pain tomorrow" the pair grumbled but complied with Iris's words quickly.
Iris waited for them to disappear before she collapsed as well, her consciousness fading to black.