We move a little away from the statue to discuss, forming a circle among the five of us present. The sun barely penetrates through the opening in the bedroom ceiling, creating a gloomy and oppressive atmosphere. The statue lingering behind us, a constant and menacing presence. My heart pounding, aware of the magnitude of the task ahead.
The first to speak was Liam, always seeking to bring knowledge to the group. His voice, low and calm, breaks the silence.
—The red pearl of the Ara Macao tribe is an heirloom that is passed on to the patriarchs. The only way to get this relic is to make a very big contribution to the village, he explained, looking at each of us seriously.
His words give us pause for thought. The Ara Macao tribe is known to be extremely protective and proud of their traditions. I know it will be a difficult task, but not impossible.
—We can go to the Ara Macao tribe first, Liam suggests. It's a day's walk from here.
Lala pulls out the map from her dimensional space, —I unfold the map on the wet, leaf-strewn ground. Liam bends down and pinpoints the location of the Ara Macao tribe.
—The village of the Ara Macao tribe is marked on the map as our next destination," I say, making sure everyone sees the marked spot.
After brief discussion, we all agree that this is the best course of action. I feel a mixture of nervousness and determination as I put the map away again. Our path is decided, but it is only the first step in a long and dangerous journey.
Noir, in his steady, calculating voice, adds more details to our plan.
—After that, all that remains is to go to the Arana Peninsula, where the tritons are located. It will take us a month to get there and almost another month to get back here. We must get an ally in the triton tribe in order to discover information about the black pearl.
His words resonate with the stark reality of the challenge ahead. A long and dangerous journey through unknown territories, searching for objects that are not only rare, but also heavily guarded.
—Are you all agreed? —Lala asked, looking for confirmation on the faces of my husbands.
They nod, each of them showing a mixture of determination and anxiety. I know they are as committed as I am, though each has his or her own doubts and fears.
—We accept your request, you will have to be patient, what you have asked for will be hard to get, — Yang, let the statue know the acceptance.
()()()()
He smiled slyly, knowing I had caught them in my web. — "Once you bring me those objects, I will teach you the ancient language. But remember, time is short. Every moment I spend in this statue is a torment to me, and I will tolerate no excuses."
The visitors nod solemnly, accepting the challenge before them. They prepare to undertake the quest for the magical objects I have demanded of them, aware that success means not only the knowledge they crave, but also release from my stone prison.
()()()()
Pov Lao.
The scent of herbs drying fills the air, providing a sense of calm and security.
—You should spend the night here, -I tell him in a soft but firm voice. "Tomorrow you can be on your way."
Tarish nods, visibly grateful, but before he can respond, I continue speaking, anticipating his next question.
—Lalabel left with her husbands for the jungle, to some ancient ruins. That was a few days ago. If you follow their trail tomorrow, you will have more strength to catch up with them. -I commented calmly.
I can see the mixture of relief and concern on his face. He is exhausted, but the mention of Lalabel seems to give him a new purpose, a renewed sense of urgency. I nod, trying to convey to him some of the serenity I have learned to cultivate in all my years as a healer.
The night passes quietly, but early in the morning, just as the sun begins to peek over the horizon, a messenger from Ara Macao village arrives in the village. The male of a stripe in his human form, I recognize him by his reddish hair with the tips of his hair blue with green, and the urgency in his movements.
—"I seek the healer Lao," he announces in a hurried voice, and my senses sharpen, preparing me for what is to come.
— "It's me," I reply, approaching the young messenger. - "What is it?"
— An epidemic is sweeping through our village," he says, his voice tinged with desperation. "We need your help, it's urgent.
I feel a knot forming in my stomach. Although I am used to dealing with crises, it is always heartbreaking to hear about the suffering of others. I look at Tarish, who has also overheard the conversation and seems to understand the gravity of the situation.
—I will have to go with them," I say to Tarish, my tone full of determination. -But I'll show you the way to the ruins before I leave. I cannot leave you without the help you need, but neither can I ignore the call of those who need me now."
The village slowly awakens around us, the whisper of wind and birdsong filling the morning air. I know today will be a long and difficult day, but I also know it is my duty as a healer, as a protector of the life and health of my people.
—Thank you, Lao," Tarish says, his voice laden with gratitude and understanding. - "I will find Lalabel, and I hope you can help the people."
()()()()()
The next day, after a sleepless night interrupted only by the sounds of the jungle, we decided to get up at dawn. The fog still covered the ground, dense and cold, as we gathered our things. Moisture was seeping through our clothes, and the air was heavy with the earthy perfume of the vegetation.
We moved carefully, aware that every step brought us closer to Ara Macao village. We had rested as best we could, and a breakfast of fruit and meat gave us the energy we needed to move on.
When we reached the entrance to the village, the atmosphere felt strange and tense. The village was surrounded by tall palm trees and thick vegetation, and although the sun was almost up, the light barely penetrated the foliage. Noir, Teru and Liam were in their human form, while Yang was in his white wolf form, Lala was also in her panther form. This way all the males in the Ara macao village would think she was a male and not harass her for the time being.
—Something's not right," Noir muttered, looking around suspiciously. Her blue eyes seemed to pick up on something the rest of us couldn't see.
—Quiet," Teru said, trying to instill confidence in his words. Let's approach carefully. Remember we are here to negotiate, not to fight.
We moved toward the center of the village, where the thatched huts formed a circle. The villagers, dressed in colorful clothes adorned with feathers, looked at us with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. I knew this would not be an easy welcome.
Liam was the first to speak to one of the tribal elders, his voice calm and respectful. The silence was broken when one of the villagers approached, his face reflecting concern.
—This is not the best time to visit our village," he said in a deep voice. An unknown disease is spreading. You should go visit Patriarch Nakao.
I was surprised and worried to hear his words. I felt a surge of unease as I saw the fear in the villagers' eyes. We needed more information about this strange disease, not only for our mission, but also for the people of the village.
We made our way to the patriarch's house, a larger and more elaborate structure than the others, located in the center of the village. Upon entering, we were greeted by a man who appeared to be in his forties, though his bearing and presence denoted a wisdom and strength that defied his age.
—Welcome, strangers," said the patriarch Nakao, his voice firm but welcoming, his gaze sweeping over everyone until it stopped on the black panther. I am Nakao, leader of Ara Macao village. I understand that you have come at a difficult time for us.
Noir took the floor, —Could you tell us more about her? — He imagined this kind of question Lala would have asked if she were in her human form.
—We are sorry to arrive in such dark times. We were told that an unknown disease is affecting your people. — Teru, tried to lighten the mood by adding words of support.
Nakao sighed, and I could see the weight of concern in his eyes.
—A few weeks ago, several villagers started to get sick. At first it was just a few, but now the disease has spread rapidly. No one knows where it comes from or how to cure it. Symptoms include fever, feather ruffling, feather drooping, depression, dehydration and arthritis in the most severe cases.
At that moment in front of Lalabel's eyes the system appears to me with an emergency mission:
A strange disease is spreading in the village,
Objective: Identify the disease.
Reward:
Experience, Recipe, Box of latex gloves.
—I nodded my head to accept the mission.
—Let my little female see the sick, she is a healer, -mention Noir.
Nakao, surprised at the request, here there were only males and a panther that had not yet transformed into her form, since the beginning of her arrival had caused her curiosity.
His surprise was even greater when the panther hid behind her husbands and transformed into a female. A brief glow illuminated the air, giving way to the figure of a perfectly clean and elegant young woman, with purple hair resembling a lavender field and crystalline green eyes.
Nakao gaped for a moment, quickly recovering from his astonishment. He had never seen such a beautiful and neat female before. But he put his thoughts aside, remembering the urgency of the situation.
—Will you allow me to see the affected beasts? —Lala cut through the silence that had caused her transformation, aware that helping the village could win her favor and, eventually, the red pearl we needed.
Nakao looked at us gratefully.
—Any help would be welcome. -Nakao glared at Liam and then said, "I know we don't have good relations with the Blue Feather village, but I have sent a messenger to bring the healer Lao.
—We are desperate for a cure. If you have knowledge or skills you can offer, we would be indebted to you.
We left the house and walked along dusty paths. The air was thick and hot, and the shade of the trees offered little relief. I felt the pressure of our mission on my shoulders, but also a growing determination to help these villagers. The eastern part of the village was marked by an eerie silence, interrupted only by the occasional moaning of the sick.
We reached an area of the village where they had improvised a space to isolate the afflicted. The huts here were simpler, and the faces of the villagers caring for the sick were full of exhaustion and despair.
Among the sick were about a dozen children, fifteen males and about three females. The sight was heartbreaking. Their bodies were visibly dehydrated, their skin pale and sweaty. Fever made them delirious, and many were writhing on the dirt floor. Worst of all was the smell, a mixture of sweat, sickness and despair that permeated the air.
—Gods..." I muttered to myself, feeling a wave of compassion and urgency. I looked at my husbands, who were as affected as I was by the scene. Don't touch anything in this place, it's all contaminated.
Liam, always the practical one, nodded and stood away from the sick, watching carefully. Noir, for his part, had an expression of determination, already thinking about how we could help.
Suddenly a system prompt popped up, You have met the conditions you have learned the Inspect Skill.
The ability to inspect: Allows you to know the name, properties and possible uses that can be given to a plant or object.
Lalabel's gaze widened at the sight of the skill she had acquired.
He used the ability immediately on one of the sick, his suspicions were right, the disease that was spreading was a disease that mainly affected the beast bird species.
They left the hut where the sick people were, Noir and Liam, get out of here, take a bath to clean yourselves, then I will explain. - Lala ordered in a low voice to cause panic.
After Noir and Liam left, I called Nakao's attention to call him aside.
—I have a suspicion of what the disease is, but I'm going to need help finding the ingredients. - I just gave him a brief explanation.
I plunged into my thoughts to organize my ideas on how to approach the disease with the plants of the beast world.