Erot's family quarantine themselves to their rooms, with Erot promising to deliver whatever essentials they might need. They have it a little easier, considering their large food storage. Still, it is heartbreaking to see the first inklings of boils begin to rupture Dandy's skin. She wakes up soon after she faints, but she is weak. Bedridden. None of the other children faint, but some also start showing signs of the rot.
I help Erot make some packaged meals for them. It's the least I can do.
He is so silent during the task, so forlorn. It scares me. I can't imagine what thoughts are rummaging through his head.
I enter the younger children's room where Dandy now sleeps alone. She is sweating in her sheets, breathing heavily. I look away. While putting the food on the side table, I notice the flower dagger hanging on her upper shelves.
"You— you should take it back," Dandy whispers. Her little voice startles me.
"Dandy, rest. You need it," I tell her.
"I'm sorry Raiten. I thought about getting the flower dagger and using it to protect us… but, you said don't point it at things you like. And I liked Lizzy."
"It's alright Dandy. I understand."
"Raiten?"
"Yes?"
"Am I going to die? I feel like I'm going to die."
I consider lying to her. Consolidating her. But… Dandy would appreciate honesty from me, strange as that might sound: "I don't know Dandy. I really don't."
"Oh," is all she manages to say. A darker silence passes between us. I pull up a stool and sit next to the bed, holding my head in my hands. How was it that only a few days ago, Dandy was chasing me around with the flower dagger? Her voice brimmed with youth and laughter. Now it's wheezing.
"If I die," Dandy begins again. "Will I see my father?"
"I'm sure you would, Dandy. I'm sure he'd love to see his daughter, all grown up. All feisty and strong."
She chuckles lightly at that. The air is still, other than the sounds of our breathing.
"What about you Raiten?" Dandy ventures. "You never talk about them, but where are your parents?"
"They… are in the same place as your father," I tell her.
"Oh. Well, if I die, I'll be sure to say hi to them for you. Tell them you're a lousy farmhand."
"Lousy? I did my job just fine."
"How you were always late, and rather than do your work, you would throw sticks and chase little girls around —"
"Don't phrase it like that, please!" I beg. She giggles again. Then, her giggles turn into coughs. I hand her a glass of water, which she delicately takes without touching me.
I don't know what to do.
Tears are welling up in my eyes. I've never felt this before. It is a sick feeling, a punch in the liver. You were going to leave. Abandon them. Abandon her. You sick bastard. You deserve to die.
The Boar Ranges can wait.
"Raiten? Are you alright?" Dandy asks.
"Fine, Dandy. I'll be fine," I say, wiping the tears before they can form. I clench my fists: "And you'll be fine too. I promise. I'll make sure of it."
Because I'm going to find that witch.
And I'm going to kill her.
…
As I close the door to Dandy's room, I find Erot leaning against the stairwell. He too is distraught. I waltz up to him and take his arm.
"I'm going to fix this," I promise him.
He looks at me with dead and tired eyes. "How?"
"This is a witch plague. So, I must find the witch and bury her." I think. Lucian could be right though: we might just have to coerce her into ending the plague. Then I'll kill her.
"But how does one track a witch?" Erot asks.
I open my mouth to answer. Close it. This was the same problem Sorina and I faced. We had no answer.
"By their scent," an all too familiar voice says. From the open doorway, I see Umbrahorn rumble out of the dirt.
I glare at him: "And where were you during our crisis?"
"Dealing with some trash," the shark says. Then, it opens its mouth and belches out a set of fleshy human appendages. Erot and I look at each other. Umbrahorn smiles: "This infected bastard started running into the farm shouting and screaming. I had to eat him."
"Are… are you now inf–"
"No you idiot, why would a great spirit like me ever get infected by some human plague?"
I shake my head. Well, at least we know now how Lizzy and Bernard got infected. Poor animals.
Umbrahorn presses: "I can sniff her out."
Erot looks at Umbrahorn and sniffs. "No."
"What other choice do you have, Erot? Hmm?" The shark is doing his best not to look smug, I can tell. I look between the two of them and scratch my head. Why is Umbrahorn on this farm in the first place? Why does he desire 'completion'?
Why does Erot not want to let him go so badly?
"Can you actually find the witch?" I ask.
"I can already smell traces of her here. If I follow them, surely I'll be able to find the witch. That is, of course, if my domain is abolished and I'm allowed to wander the lands as a free spirit, Erot. The choice is yours," Umbrahorn offers.
"Don't get too cocky you old bastard," Erot mutters, sitting on the stairs now. His foot thumps against the planks as he thinks. I know that per Sorina and Umbrahorn's deal, Sorina had visited Erot to negotiate for the shark a greater domain. But Erot was insistent on making sure Umbrahorn wasn't allowed to be free.
"I can keep him in check," I tell Erot.
"How?"
I feel my amulets. "Trust me. Whatever it is you're worried about, I'll make sure he stays in line. And he knows it too. Right Umbrahorn?"
"Right," the shark says, chuckling nervously. He knows my power; he's born witness to it.
Erot sighs. "Fine. But," he points an accusatory finger at Umbrahorn. "This isn't an excursion for you to go collecting your other parts; hunt the witch and the witch alone. If you do that, maybe, just maybe, I'll tell you where the shadow spirit is."
"I want a guarantee," the shark demands.
"You'll get no such thing."
"Erot," I interject. "Give him some leeway."
Erot looks between us and snarls. "Since when did you two get so close?"
"Don't be like that Erot, I'm trying to be fair. Besides, he needs some motivation; I don't want him to lead me to the wrong place," I tell Erot. I know he's antsy. I don't blame this wanton accusation.
Erot stomps his feet. Once. Twice. "Alright then. You'll get your shadow spirit Umbrahorn."
The hammerhead grins madly. It makes me question my decision; after all, I don't even know what this shadow spirit is.
"Let go of his bonds for a time, until the darkness reigns nigh," Erot whispers. It is similar to how Hikaru released a part of my curse. Umbrahorn lets out a whoop before turning his back.
"Hop on Raiten, let's go kill this witchy bitch!"