The morning sun filtered weakly through the infirmary's narrow windows, casting a pale glow over the rows of cots. Some patients had shown signs of improvement after the antiviral treatment, but the ailment was spreading faster than expected. As I moved from bed to bed, the symptoms grew stranger: high fevers, chills, and bouts of delirium that seemed to deepen with each passing day. Seri and I were barely keeping up, each patient demanding a new level of care.
Despite the exhaustion weighing on me, a determination took root. This kingdom was unlike the small villages I had passed through—it was a bustling hub where news traveled quickly, and I knew that rumors of a "foreign healer" were likely to attract attention. I had to proceed carefully.
As the day wore on, Frost stayed by my side, his watchful eyes never leaving the doors of the infirmary. He seemed to sense the tension too, as if he knew something was coming.
That afternoon, a familiar figure entered the infirmary, hooded and cloaked like before. It was the same stranger who had warned me about the "curse" plaguing the kingdom. They approached quietly, careful not to attract attention from the few other healers moving about.
"Still at work, I see," they said, their voice barely above a whisper.
I nodded, not looking up as I adjusted a cloth on a patient's forehead. "What brings you back here?"
The stranger's eyes flicked to the rows of sick and suffering. "It's as I feared. This illness… it's unlike anything we've faced. The people are starting to panic. Some think it's a punishment."
I frowned, glancing up at them. "Punishment? For what?"
The stranger hesitated. "In the past, the kingdom was known for… practices that some would call ruthless. There are those who believe the illness is a curse, sent by the spirits of those wronged." They paused, as if weighing their next words carefully. "I don't believe in curses. But I do believe this sickness has a source—a root cause that we haven't discovered yet."
Their words settled uneasily in my mind, adding to the growing mystery. I knew that such superstitions could lead to chaos if they weren't managed, but I also knew that every legend had some spark of truth.
"Have there been any unusual events leading up to this outbreak?" I asked, looking them squarely in the eye.
The stranger nodded. "Yes. There were reports of people falling ill near the eastern sector of the city first. Some say that area borders the old ruins—places that have been abandoned for decades, considered cursed ground."
My curiosity flared. Ancient ruins, shunned by the people, and now a sickness radiating outward from their borders. It was as though history itself was reaching out to leave its mark on the kingdom.
"Then I'll need to go there myself," I said, my decision firm.
The stranger seemed surprised but nodded in agreement. "I thought you might say that. But be cautious—the people may not welcome you there. Fear has a way of making them hostile."
After they slipped back into the shadows, I prepared what I would need for the journey. Seri watched with a mix of admiration and concern, silently understanding that my work here was just beginning.
Frost, sensing my intention, rose to his feet, his blue eyes steady with a fierce loyalty. With him by my side, I set out toward the eastern sector, determined to find answers that could stem the tide of illness.
The streets grew narrower and quieter as we approached the ruins. A shroud of unease hung over the district, as if it were caught between the world of the living and something older, something forgotten. Frost sniffed the air, his fur bristling, and I felt a chill that wasn't from the cold.
As we neared the first of the crumbling structures, my system alerted me with a faint, unexpected chime.
> System Alert:
New Area Identified: Ancient Ruins of Kaeridan
Unique Properties Detected: High likelihood of pathogenic spores in the air. Caution advised.
A sudden realization struck me—if pathogenic spores were lingering here, they could very well be the source of the mysterious illness plaguing the kingdom. I would need to gather samples, analyze them, and see if an effective antiviral could be crafted from a new angle. With careful steps, I took out a small vial and collected a sample of the dust coating one of the stone walls.
Frost sniffed the vial curiously, as if sensing the invisible threat within. With a final glance at the ruins, I turned back toward the kingdom, intent on returning to the infirmary before the sun fully set.
Back in the infirmary, I spent the next hours carefully testing the spore sample, consulting the knowledge from the system and my own experiences. My suspicions were confirmed: the spores carried a unique virus, one that could explain the symptoms I'd seen. I began the painstaking process of crafting a new antiviral, combining elements from the previous remedy with new ingredients tailored to counteract the properties of the spores.
As dawn broke, the first dose was ready. I administered it to the most severe cases, watching as the patients' breathing grew steady and their fever subsided, the early signs of recovery beginning to show.
In the days that followed, the new antiviral proved effective, and word spread that the mysterious healer had found a cure. Seri was overjoyed, and even the stranger returned to thank me.
Yet, despite the small victory, I couldn't shake the feeling that the illness had been more than just a virus—it was as if the ruins themselves were calling out, remnants of a past that refused to be forgotten.