Under Eitan and Farrel's alert gazes, a shadow passed by the glass of a window. Eitan called out resoundingly, "Is someone alive in there?"
A hunched figure slowly appeared in the window. "You- you shouldn't be here. This place is cursed, so leave quickly if you value your lives." The raspy voice of an old man echoed.
This was quite some time before the nature of the plague had been unearthed, so it was commonplace for superstitions to run wild. "I am Eitan Reidar, the one set to be the new lord of this land." Eitan unhesitantly revealed his identity. "If not here, then where else should I be? So please explain the current situation to me."
The old man seemed to have been shocked by this, as there was nothing but silence for a bit. However, his voice soon came back out. "There is nothing good to be found in this cursed land, young noble. But if you cannot leave, then may this old man share his story with you."
Eitan nodded at Farrel, who drew closer to the house and pulled the door open. He cautiously surveyed the inside of the house, a subtle white glow emanating from his eyes. Eitan noticed this and, although excessive, appreciated his thoroughness.
"Be at ease, Sir Knight. This lowly old man has no tricks to pull." The elderly man tottered into full view. His white hair was long and unkept, and his clothes had noticeably gone through many patches.
Farrel's aura settled, but he remained on guard as Eitan entered the building. Once he was inside, the old man gave a deep bow. "Please forgive the inadequate reception, Your Lordship. As you can see, there is nothing left in this forsaken village aside from an old thing not far from the next world."
"Pay it no mind and be done with the formalities," Eitan waved his hand dismissively, wanting to get straight to the point. "Tell me what happened here."
The white-haired man slowly lifted his head, but his curved spine didn't allow him to stand fully erect. "A curse. A great curse has befallen the people of this land." He spoke with sunken eyes and a croaky voice. "All those who resided here have either fallen its victim or run for their lives."
"Tell me the symptoms of this so-called curse," Eitan said authoritatively.
"Oh, like ghouls they became!" The old man's eyes began darting around the room in a half-mad manner. "The blackness in their veins! What could cause such a harrowing appearance if not a curse? It is surely punishment from above!"
That confirms it. Eitan gazed at the now raving man. A part of him wanted to do something for the poor soul, but what could be done for a man half a step from the grave? "We're leaving now." He coldly turned away and walked out the door.
Farrel cast one more glance at the pitiful madman before following him out. "My liege, do you know of what the man speaks? You appeared rather certain that it is no curse." Once they were outside, he inquired.
Eitan kept walking back towards the gate. "Indeed, it is nothing of such magical origins. It is no more than a ghastly plague."
Farrel never heard of a plague with such symptoms, but naturally wouldn't doubt his liege. "Then, is there a cure?"
Eitan's eyes curved up slightly. "Of course. I'll give instructions to the soldiers to procure the necessary materials as soon as possible." It would be nothing too difficult, actually. For all the plague's horror, its cure was something even a roadside peddler could make.
Farrel gazed at the small back in front of him with nothing but pure reverence and admiration. There seemed to be nothing he did not do or could not do. As for how he happened upon all this knowledge, Farrel didn't care one bit. It was the duty of a knight to follow their liege and clear the path ahead of them, not to pry into what was behind.
They eventually returned to the camp, and Eitan explained the situation, mentioning that he recognized the plague and knew its respective cure from a book. Namely, a poisonous flower called nightbloom. It was toxic enough to kill even a healthy adult man within hours of ingestion, but as they say, fight fire with fire. Crushing up this flower and diluting it with boiling water actually produced the cure for the ghost leaf plague. Some of the soldiers showed apprehensive expressions at the explanation, but Aengus simply looked into Eitan's eyes before nodding his head. Eitan indeed was an avid reader in the past, and he didn't believe this young master of his would play with people's lives with uncertain information. Hence, he sternly ordered the soldiers to make the corresponding preparations.
Eitan's bookworm tendencies had been formed as little more than escapism from his woes, but the great base of foundational knowledge had come in handy during his time as a mercenary. It would also serve as a basic cover for some of the knowledge he had acquired in the future.
Lind appeared before Eitan with a fraught expression. "Young Master Eitan, is it true that a plague has befallen this land?"
Eitan gave the frazzled servant a side glance. "Yes."
Lind's expression instantly contorted, and he looked around with a pensive expression. "Then, shouldn't we return to the county? Even if the young master knows the cure, it's impossible to fight a plague with just a few soldiers! What if we also get infected?" He spoke with a frightened buzz.
The nearby Farrel's lips downturned as he heard this, and Eitan's eyes narrowed. "No, we will fight this plague and win." He didn't reprimand Lind for his cowardice but instead voiced confidence. "After all, what kind of lord would I be if I abandoned my people?"
Lind's eyes widened before he shamefully lowered his head. "... My apologies. I will trust the young master and focus on my duties." He gave an uncharacteristic reply before returning to where the children were gathered.
Eitan's eyebrow raised as he watched him go. Usually, he would've given a quick acquiescence, but his thoughts wouldn't actually change. His expression became slightly strange. … He isn't acting all obedient now just so he'll have an easier time running away later, right? He shook his head lightly with a small smirk. Well, even if he does, I'll just send Farrel to grab him back. Lind may be lax most times, but he was capable and listened quite well after being put in his place. Not to mention, he didn't seem too shabby as an instructor either. It would be a shame to lose such a servant.
"Once basic preparations are complete, we'll depart for the next town," Eitan informed Farrel of his intentions before stepping away, intent on taking some time to train.
"As you wish," Farrel gave a bow and went to see where he could help with the procurement of materials.
The entire convoy was busy with their own tasks as they prepared to enter Saorise and its plague-stricken lands.
*****
"Please halt!"
The carriage slowed before stopping, and Eitan leaned his head out of the window to check what was going on. Two men armed with pikes stood in front of the town gate, preventing the convoy from moving forward.
"No one is presently allowed to enter or leave this place, so please turn back." The taller of the two men informed them seriously.
"Do you know who is in this carriage for you to turn away?" Aengus sat atop his horse, looking down at the two with a cross expression. "You are blocking the path of the third young master of Reidar, who has come to these lands under the direct order of his lordship, Count Reidar!"
The expressions on the faces of the two men rapidly changed as they gazed upon the carriage. However, they still did not let down their pikes. The shorter man opened his mouth. "You should take your young master away from this place if you have any care for his safety. This town is quarantined due to a sickness; only physicians are allowed to enter. So, esteemed ones, please leave." He spoke frankly while barely managing to maintain a respectful tone.
Aengus' brow creased, not expecting the men to stand firm even when faced with the count's name.
"That sickness is precisely why we are trying to enter."
Aengus turned and bowed with a subdued expression. "Young Master Eitan, please forgive this lacking knight for making you intervene."
Eitan waved his hand dismissively before coming before the guards. He looked up at them with a cool smile. "We come bearing the cure for this plague, so it would be in your best interests to permit us entry. Or I shall have you executed for insubordination and enter all the same. Do make your choice, gentlemen."
The men exchanged a glance before slowly lowering their weapons. The one who had first spoken surveyed the convoy before his gaze settled on Eitan. "... I apologize for the discourtesy, Young Lord. If you are truly able to cure the plague, I will have no qualms in offering my head in repentance." He bowed deeply with closed eyes.
"What is your name?" Eitan asked as he retrieved an intricately fashioned cloth mask from his pocket.
"It's Idan, sir." The tall man, Idan, remained bowed as he replied.
"Alright, Idan. Get up and guide us to where the infected are lodged. My soldiers will administer the cure to as many as possible. Farrel." Eitan turned his head
"Yes, my liege." Farrel appeared by his side in less than a moment.
"Bring Lind with you to inform the town's physicians of the cure, and tell them the county will not monopolize the knowledge. Rather, everyone must disseminate the cure as widely as possible in the region. The plague should not yet have reached its peak, so we must engage as many as possible to beat this foul thing before it claims any more innocent lives." He instructed fiercely as he tied the mask on his face.
"As you wish!" Farrel also put on his mask before going to grab Lind.
"Sir Aengus!"
"Yes, Young Master!"
"Order all the soldiers to mask themselves and avoid direct contact with the patients as much as possible; leave that to the caretakers. I can't have my men falling to some damn plague." Eitan continued, "I shall coordinate the actual operations personally."
Aengus gazed at the determined Eitan for a few moments before bowing his head. "I shall follow your orders!" He kicked his horse and began relaying Eitan's commands to the soldiers behind.
Idan and his comrade watched in a daze as the convoy kicked into action. But Idan quickly snapped out of it as he fully straightened his back. "Those who show symptoms are quarantined in the town hall and cared for by the town physician and her assistants. I shall guide you there immediately!" He glanced at the man beside him. "Quilton, keep watch of the gate."
"Yes!" Quilton nodded hurriedly.
Eitan and the rest soon followed Idan into the town and through empty streets. They soon reached a large building that served as the centerpiece of the town, and the group entered in a swift yet orderly fashion. Eitan's nose wrinkled as an all-too-familiar smell overwhelmed him the moment he stepped inside. It was the stench of death.
"Idan, what are these people-?" A masked woman in a long cloak rushed over, but Eitan paid her no mind, allowing the guard to explain the situation.
He immediately began doling out orders to the soldiers who carried bags of the cure with them. These were then handed over to the caretakers, who administered them to the patients after some confusion at the suddenness of it all.
The sounds of suffering slowly died down as the cure took effect in those afflicted. The chaotic urgency of the situations faded along with them. Once the patients were dealt with, the primary physician approached Eitan. The woman had already received a brief rundown from Idan, but he wasn't able to provide a full explanation himself. Lind had also explained the basics of Eitan's orders to her.
She bowed to Eitan once she was in front of him. "Please forgive the lack of courtesy, Your Lordship. But," She raised her head with a firm gaze. "I have some questions I must ask you."
"Ask away," Eitan replied as he wiped his hands with a handkerchief.
"Are you certain this cure is genuinely effective, not just temporary? And are there any side effects?" The woman didn't ask where or how the cure had been discovered, as that could relate to some secret of the nobility. "Finally… is it really true that the county is sharing freely?" She didn't believe a noble would help out a backwater place like this for nothing.
"The cure's efficacy has been confirmed; the plague will not resurface after treatment. The only side effects should be weakness or temporary paralysis, nothing life-altering." Eitan responded easily to her short flurry of queries. "And I, Eitan Reidar, swear this. The county cares only for the eradication of this plague. Knowledge is meant to be used to help the people, not reserved for the profits of a few."
The woman's pupils shook at his resolved confidence. She bowed again, but this time she was bent fully at the waist. "On behalf of my patients and all citizens of this land, thank you so much, Your Lordship!"
Eitan cracked a small smile under the mask. "Instead of words, thank me by extinguishing this plague as quickly as possible."
"Of course!" She stood erect with a determined expression. "I won't rest until there is not one victim left of this ghastly thing."
"I appreciate your resolve, but please do remember your own health is important too. Each citizen is a treasure, no less a talented physician like yourself." Eitan chuckled a bit as he spoke, but his eyes were sincere.
The woman's eyelashes trembled, and she bowed her head one more time. "... I will heed your words."
Eitan nodded with satisfaction and turned away. "Ah," he paused and glanced back. "I don't believe I got your name."
The woman's eyes crinkled, a sign of her smile under the mask. "This one is called Leltha, Your Lordship."
"Leltha, then. I wish you the best in your efforts to cure this land." Eitan remarked passingly before exiting the building.
Unbeknownst to him, a burning gaze remained on the door even after he had gone.
Aengus soon followed after him, apparently having left the soldiers to finish helping the physicians. "You have done great work today, Young Master." He fell into pace behind Eitan as he spoke.
"I was merely lucky to have happened upon the relevant knowledge." Eitan didn't take the credit for himself. It would be a sting to his conscience if he completely usurped the efforts of the original alchemist.
Aengus suddenly stopped, causing Eitan to halt and check behind him with a puzzled expression. "No, Young Master." Aengus lowered his gaze to the ground, but his voice was firm. "There are few people, much less nobles, who would go to the lengths you have." He lifted his head to look at Eitan, an aged smile on his face. "So please bear the pride you deserve."
Eitan's eyes widened slightly. He was shocked at the man's words. Not those directed at him, but the fact that he had spoken poorly of the nobility. Never once in his memories had the loyal and strict knight ever voiced a complaint against those above him. Is this something he kept tucked deep in his heart all this time? Or, did my behavior after regression somehow change things? Whichever option it was, it was clear that Aengus was now also no longer entirely the same man as in the past.
"... Alright." He wasn't quite sure how to react, so he responded rather briskly. "I want to rest now." It had been quite a chaotic period of time, so he was feeling somewhat tired.
"I shall find suitable lodgings for you posthaste." Aengus bowed with his hand over his chest before going off.
Eitan released a quiet sigh as he found a nearby bench to sit on. He did not feel drained only due to the intensity of the situation. The groans of the patients had been reminiscent of the aftermath of a battle, which put his nerves on edge. Well, it was a battle in its own right. Just not one against an enemy, but rather death itself.
I don't want any more of my people to die. That was Eitan's truest desire. Whether it be by the blade or disease, the lives fell on the shoulders of the leader. Even as he worked to remove the weights of his past one by one, the citizens of Saorise were something he must carry now.
He looked up at the clear blue sky, forced to use a hand to shield his eyes from the sun's bright rays. The warmth on his skin and the quiet breeze reminded him that there was not only suffering left in this place. Just like how there would be a period of peace after every war, this plague too would be brought to a lull. But unlike human conflict, it could be extinguished completely. As a lord and fellow human, that was his duty to see through.