The road ahead grew colder and quieter as Frost and I approached the outskirts of the kingdom. Shadows of towering walls loomed in the distance, and the occasional wind carried faint whispers from the city—snatches of worried voices, hurried footsteps, and, most ominously, the sickly smell of smoke.
Rumors of illness had followed me through each village, but nothing prepared me for the sight beyond the gates. The once-thriving kingdom now lay subdued, its streets lined with weary faces, hollow-eyed and worn. The bustling market square was eerily silent, stalls left empty as merchants and townspeople huddled in small groups, some wrapped in cloth to ward off the chill. The air itself was thick and oppressive.
A guard, pale and clearly exhausted, noticed me as I neared the gates. "State your business," he muttered, his voice dull.
"I'm a healer," I replied, keeping my tone calm. "I've come to offer help."
The guard's gaze sharpened, a spark of hope flickering in his eyes. "A healer? We've needed one more than ever." He gestured toward a narrow street leading deeper into the kingdom. "There's an infirmary set up down that way. If you're serious about helping, you'll find plenty of work."
With a nod, I followed his directions, Frost at my side. The closer we got to the makeshift infirmary, the more signs of illness became apparent. The buildings were marked with symbols, and several homes were sealed off. I felt a tightening in my chest, a sense of urgency pressing me forward.
Inside the infirmary, a dim, crowded room, cots were lined wall-to-wall, each occupied by someone stricken with fever. Their faces were flushed, their bodies thin and trembling. A single healer moved from bed to bed, her hands and eyes weary. She looked up when she saw me, momentarily taken aback by the sight of Frost by my side.
"Who are you?" she asked, her voice a cautious whisper.
"I'm a healer," I answered, gesturing to the beds. "I heard of the sickness here and came to help."
The healer hesitated, then nodded. "We could use all the help we can get. I'm Seri." She glanced at Frost, then back at me. "Let me show you what we're dealing with."
Seri led me to a man lying on a cot near the corner. His face was pale, and he was shaking despite his fever. I reached out to check his pulse, and the system chimed softly in my mind.
> System Alert: Analysis Complete
Diagnosis: Viral infection of unknown origin.
Recommendation: Immediate antiviral treatment required.
My heart sank. I needed to create antiviral medicine—something I'd never attempted here.
The system continued, almost as if it could sense my hesitation.
> System Quest Unlocked:
Objective: Gather necessary ingredients to produce a basic antiviral.
Reward: Full alchemical setup and tools for antiviral production.
I glanced around, realizing Seri's limited supplies wouldn't be nearly enough. Seri looked at me intently, awaiting my next move.
"I'll need specific herbs and materials," I said, keeping my voice steady. "This illness isn't simple. It requires… a unique medicine."
Seri nodded, her expression shifting from confusion to determination. "Tell me what you need. If it's within the kingdom's reach, we'll find it."
I listed the herbs I believed could have antiviral properties, hoping they existed in this world. Seri scribbled notes, then instructed a young boy to search the markets.
Hours passed as I moved from cot to cot, applying temporary remedies to ease the suffering of the patients. Eventually, the boy returned with the herbs, and I set to work. With Seri watching intently, I carefully crushed and mixed the herbs, following each step the system provided, every measurement exact and deliberate.
Finally, the mixture was ready. I administered the first dose to the man in the corner, watching as his breathing steadied and his fever visibly subsided.
Seri's eyes widened in astonishment. "What kind of healer are you?" she whispered.
"A healer from far away," I replied with a faint smile, not offering more.
As night fell, I felt a weight lift—a sense of accomplishment mixed with the knowledge of how much more work lay ahead.