After the unpleasant turn of events just twenty-four hours after leaving Damitro, I came to realize that there was more to living than cleaning stables and serving people at the bar as a barmaid. It had been peaceful staying back and doing those things until Dolores found me. Yes, just some moments ago I thought I was ready to reclaim my throne and restore my family's legacy but right now, maybe I'm not ready. I'm probably not worthy of sitting on that throne and usurping it. I'm not even sure I'll succeed without any legal council by my side, but Dolores seemed too ambitious and would not easily give up.
"You okay?" Dolores asked me when she observed I was cold while we were changing into the clothes we bought.
"Yes." I shortly said.
"Come on, you know you can tell me anything." She said.
"It's nothing, I just miss my mother." I lied. Not that I didn't miss her but that was currently not my real problem.
"I find that difficult to believe. What are you not telling me Naya?"
"Ma... Maybe... Maybe we should quit, forget the crown and let king Stefan keep it." I finally said.
"What?"
"Listen, Dolores, as important as this is to you, I don't think I'm ready to be Queen especially by usurping. I almost lost you in this journey and it made me realize I was definitely going to lose a lot more before and when I'm Queen and I'm not ready for that."
"I will willingly give up my life for you. Naya, it's okay to be scared, you don't have to be ready now, especially when we don't even have your crown and kingdom yet."
"What if we never have it? What happens then?"
"Think of your people Naya. Think of Devon, think of the kingdoms that make up the golden empire, they're all suffering because of that useless king. They have no magic to fend for themselves. Stefan does whatever he likes and gets away with that but we're here to bring back justice and restore the peace and joy that we once had." Dolores took my hands in hers "I'm sure we will succeed. Even Mara trusted you would and that is why she let you come with me. Naya, we can do this. The golden empire needs a real Queen. And as for the legal counsel, we'll get them on our side. Once we have the four Kings, then we have the support of every Earl and Marquess in their kingdoms. Okay?"
I nodded, "Okay. Let's do this Dolores."
"Yes, your Majesty." She responded.
We got dressed and got a few weapons which included a short sword and daggers for me before we fully headed into the main city of Torra. Torra was a huge city characterized by its fountains. Those fountains made it beautiful and the not so many people on the streets seemed to all mind their businesses.
"Is this what Devon looks like?" I asked.
"No. Devon is far more beautiful than any kingdom you're ever going to see. This is just the tip of the iceberg compared to Devon." Dolores responded.
"Hmph." I scoffed and we continued.
"Are we headed anywhere in particular or are we just going to wander."
"Relax, we only just..." But Dolores was interrupted by a woman who bumped into her and quickly made her way to pass. She had herself covered in a black hooded cloak and had her face turned down to the ground. Dolores quickly pulled her back.
"How rude lady. Is this how unruly you act here in the main city?" Dolores said to her.
"I'm... I'm... I'm... So... So sorry. I didn't see you there. I need to hurry now." The girl said nervously.
"Are she alright?" I found my hand lifting her face to suddenly see the reason she was hiding it. She had red rashes that looked sore all over her face. My eyes widened in shock.
"What in the light's name?" I screamed in shock.
"Sorry I have to go." She said and made her way to quickly leave but halted when she heard me.
"I can help you." I said.
"What?" She asked.
"I can help you. I'm a healer from Da... From Gepu, Torra's outline village." I explained.
"But... But I heard you don't even have very skilled healers there." The young lady said.
"She has been practicing in secret and she specializes in diseases people may call incurable." Dolores said. "Give her a chance. I'm sure she'll help you."
"I... I don't have enough coins to pay you. I'm only a part of the third class in Torra."
"It's okay my dear. We only just got into Torra and we understand his majesty, King Olaf is not so welcoming. You must not pay with coins." Dolores said giving the lady a knowing glare.
The lady seemed to understand and so she took us to her little house. Her house was just one room, not so different from Daliah's home but was much cleaner. It had just one little bed by the wall on the left side of the room.
"This is where I stay. If you will be able to heal these disgusting rashes, then you can stay here for as long as you want. And oh, you'll use my bed." The lady said.
I stared at the bed knowing it would hardly just contain one person and as if she understood, she spoke.
"I also have a fluffy blanket. It seems more comfortable at times."
"It's okay. What is your name?" Dolores asked.
"Fabula. What is yours?" She responded.
"Not necessary. Sit yourself down. She needs to examine you before she can predict your remedy." Dolores said.
"Oh." Fabula responded and sat down.
"When did these rashes appear?" I asked her.
"I noticed it last night but they only became visible this morning." She responded.
"Did you eat or drink anything you could be allergic to?"
"No. I'm not the only one who has this. I think it's from our source of water. I washed my face last night and noticed it." Fabula responded.
"A lot of people do?" I asked in shock.
"Yes. Torra and its entirety. It's probably just the royal family who are free of this disease, that is why there are not many people on the streets today. Our physicians are already working on a cure." She narrated.
"Wow." I sighed in surprise. "Does it itch?" I asked her.
"No. If I didn't look into the mirror, I wouldn't even know my face was terrible." She said.
"It's okay. I think I can handle it. I just need to get a few ingredients." I said.
After I got those ingredients with Dolores, I came back and made an antidote that I administered to her.
"It might take a while." I said to her doubting in my heart that it would work but it suddenly worked like magic. Her face was cleared of the rashes.
"What?" I muttered silently in surprise.
Fabula loved what she saw when Dolores asked her to look into the mirror.
"Thank you. Our physicians are yet to come up with an antidote and yet here you are. Gepu must be very lucky to have you." She said.
"Well, we kept to our end of the deal, I'm sure it's your turn."
"Oh yes, yes. But I have an idea."
Dolores gave her a suspicious glare and she spoke.
"The entire kingdom is infected, what if you helped them?" She said.
Right, buying over the people and their ruler on our side is the reason we came to Torra and now, we had that opportunity but do I really have what it takes to cure an entire kingdom?...