Liam woke up to the sound of consecutive coughs. A very violent cough. He sprung up from his bed and found Aniya ill on her bed.
"Aniya?!" Liam shouted as he rushed towards her. He touched her forehead and gasped. Her temperature exceeds over her average, causing her to sweat more than usual.
The first thing he did was to get her out of bed and didn't bother changing clothes considering her casual night gown was enough for her to cool down. But it's not going to help as she was dangerously hot.
He quickly opened the window and fell to the ground.
'Sorry.' Liam threw his rehab training away and hastily hurried to the nearest clinic. Within a matter of minutes, he arrived. But the clinic was packed.
There were patients outside of the small building while the rest were inside. Humans, Elves, and every other race within the kingdom were sick. Getting treated by every doctor and nurse. Running around, patient to patient, and trying to ease their suffering.
Liam ran to the other clinic and they had the same situation. Every clinic is overloaded from every row between the castle walls. He rushed to the hospital and it was also in the same situation.
"UGH!" He can't find any place for Aniya to get treated. He also can't ignore the fact that she's not the only one who is sick. The only place for her to get treated was back at home. The Navalon Kingdom.
He stared down at the castle on the island. He didn't even consider the soldiers because he hadn't seen them yet. He had no choice but to head towards the castle. Liam jumped over the castle gates and opened the doors. Only to be approached by other soldiers who are coughing heavily.
"D-Don't e-enter." One of the soldiers with a halberd coughed violently before passing out. Liam ignored it and headed straight to the Peregrinate Portal. As soon as he arrived, it was on lockdown. He gazes upon the two individuals standing next to the doors before asking one of them.
"Is it okay to enter?"
"No, you need to go back. There's a pandemic going on and the portal has been restricted from any use to prevent the spread." Liam didn't want to argue because he was right. He went back to the hospital and sat down with Aniya as she was burning up even more.
Her breathing was more ragged and making her cough violently. Liam watched every doctor and nurse. They were exhausted as the covering of their faces was not helping them to cool down their bodies from stress and labor work. He looked around and saw a few healers casting a spell on them.
"Why did it keep coming back?" One of the healers spoke as she saw the same patient she cast a spell on several minutes ago. An illness that can be disappeared from a healing spell, but appears within minutes. Even some of the most elite healers get the same patients from hours ago after casting a stronger healing spell.
"Have we heard anything from our clerics and saint?"
"No, not yet. I know they cast a healing spell that's more powerful than ours on some of the patients, but I think within days, they will come back."
"Is it a curse?"
"I doubt it. Some of us even cast a spell to remove the curse, but it's not even as effective as healing spells."
The more Liam listened to the healers, the angrier he got despite the poker face. The popping sounds from his fingers as he balled up his fists and dug his nails into his palms. Liam took several deep breaths and took his time to think of all the possibilities. The first thing that comes into his mind is a demon.
An alpha demon he's been hearing back home and at military school when they were learning about history. The one that puts fear into every civilization across the world and can't look at his appearance.
"Asag" he growled.
"Asag? Do you think he's the one who caused this mess after he was killed by one of the gods?" Liam heard Abi's voice. He looked over his shoulders and saw Abi and Kiana, but he didn't see the others. He assumed they'd caught the illness, and it makes sense the Champions didn't.
"I don't care if he's dead or not. Do we forget the fact that demons are tricksters? I don't know if that god even checks his body. I'm surprised he's not an archdemon or one of the devils. He's got a hell of a reputation."
Liam knew Asag was responsible for the pandemic. He's the only demon who has the power to create disease and illness. Amplifying it to surpass medicines and magic. He's doing it right now in front of him with Aniya lying down restlessly.
"How's Miranda and Bianca doing?"
"They're in the same state as everyone else," Kiana spoke up.
"It's even worse because our military is weak right now. Every soldier who is not sick is up on the walls defending while some of the Champions are at the castle." Abi stated while scratching the back of her head. "Plus, the king ordered a new armor set for you, which is supposed to be done today. However, our Blacksmith is one of the first few who had died from the illness."
"Well, I can make my armor."
"You're a blacksmith?"
"Technically, but I hate it because I don't like working under the heat and never considered myself a full blacksmith like my dad."
Then, there was a bell ringing. Not just a church bell, but a raid bell. An eerie sound that puts everyone on gears. Abi and Kiana were gone instantly as soon as they heard the bell. Leaving a dust humanoid shape and a dust trail behind.
Liam didn't bother to follow them. He was going to stay put where he's at. Knowing that the demons are attacking due to the raid bell. Hospitals and clinics are great places for them to attack.
He saw a familiar dog walking to his right. A border collie. Liam starts connecting the pieces since he's been with Aniya the whole time except for his training. Shae is a possible suspect for the cause of her illness due to her weird behavior two days ago and the day they found her. Today, her weird behavior confirms that because of her appearance right after Abi and Kiana left.
Liam grasped both of his hands and kept his eyes on her. 'Shae' was within less than ten feet away and smiled at him. A grin that's unusual for any animal. A Seductive one.