Wrens sang along the rooftops as Mary regained consciousness once more, stretching her body. "Mmm~ Is it morning already?"
Before long, she sensed that her illness had ebbed far more than the night before. Hearing the sound of the young man who served as Jezibel's advisor outside, Marilyn swung her legs off the bed. The moment her toes touched the floorboards, she felt like a newborn infant.
The maiden stepped forward bit by bit, a radiant smile gracing her face. "Who's there?" Mary called out as she bounced lightly upon the wooden floor.
Edward opened the door, meeting the maiden's joyful expression.
"..." The young man froze upon beholding her appearance.
"Hey!"
"Mary... Thou art so utterly wonderful..." Edward scanned his eyes over her from head to toe. "As though thou art a reborn."
"My ailment hath vanished without a trace! What transpired last night? I can scarcely recall."
"Ahem!" The young man cleared his throat. "I must yet examine thy condition for another day, lest any lingering side effects follow."
As time passed, Mary sat observing her own state for a long while.
When she awoke once more in the dead of night, she reached out for the same journal, picking up the stone that shimmered with violet light. Hugging the book tightly to her chest, the maiden gazed through the wooden window frame.
"Decem, novem, octo, septem, sex, quinque, quattuor, tres, duo, unus, nihil.... march~" A deep, rhythmic voice echoed in time with heavy footsteps. Dozens of decaying corpses were being hauled toward the heretical chapel on wooden carts. An old man in a hooded robe shuffled forward with a walking staff, flanked by armored cavalry. They carried long spears stained with dried blood.
Habit led Mary to raise her hand in greeting, but the armored rider merely tilted his head, staring coldly at the window of her cottage before turning a blind eye and passing by.
"Must I one day... be one of those upon the cart?" Marilyn looked up toward the high tower of the abandoned castle.
The violet ember pulsed rapidly before finally going dark.
"Hmm~ Perchance I am overthinking matters." Marilyn smiled brightly, resting the glowing ember upon the open journal. The maiden drifted into sleep upon the bed, leaving a crucial page unread:
'Its power is terrifyingly potent. I begin to perceive their very thoughts! Something within my flesh is shifting—something hidden, burrowing inside, awaiting the day it shall awaken!! If this continueth, Fredoric! Christopher! They shall surely disbelieve me. This entity is beyond all measure. THIS IS NO BLESSING!!' A thick ink stain smeared the rest of the parchment.
"Had it not been for thee last night, I would surely be resting upon that cart," the maiden whispered to the petunia-violet ember, a faint smile gracing her lips. To her, this stone was like a divine remedy granted from above.
At dawn, the door creaked open. The single-armed plague doctor stepped inside bearing medicine, followed by two maidens whose presence instantly warmed Marilyn's heart.
"Delby! Claudia! 'Tis you!"
"Mary! How art thou faring?" Claudia knelt down, taking hold of her friend's shins, which seemed entirely healed.
"Thank thee so much for coming to visit me~ sob!" Mary wished to shed tears of relief, yet not a single drop fell from her eyes—a strange anomaly indeed.
"Depart not from us so soon, Mary! Thou still hast us by thy side," Delby spoke, offering words of encouragement.
Edward summarized Mary's condition for everyone in the house to hear. Mrs. Bishop and Jezibel both wore expressions of alarm, though the intentions hidden within their hearts were worlds apart.
"Allow me to summarize thus: thy affliction appeareth not to be the black plague. Even were it so, it should not manifest with such terrifying speed. The early signs of the plague bring exhaustion, violent tremors, bloody phlegm, severe flux, and vomiting. Yet thou hast shown no such symptoms at all. For now, thou must rest and refrain from overexerting thy strength. I trust thou canst do so."
"Thank thee, Edward." Marilyn looked through the plague mask, discerning the smiling face of the young man hidden beneath.
"In truth, I wish to remove this mask," Edward touched the beak of his mask, "yet if Father Sereza were to discover it, there would be dire trouble."
"I understand. Thank thee, Ed, for taking such close care of me." Mary offered a warm smile, her words prompting Delby and Claudia to cover their faces in delight.
"My, my~ Do not court each other right before our very eyes! I am blushing on thy behalf!" Delby chimed in with a chuckle, setting the room ablaze with joyful laughter. Yet while Mrs. Bishop smiled in quiet contentment, she noticed that her niece, Jezibel, had quietly slipped away.
"Fret not over us, Mary. But what of Father Sereza?" Claudia inquired, seeking news of the previous night's events.
"'Twas nothing grand; Father suffered only minor wounds," Edward replied evasively, clearly wishing to skirt the topic.
"Thou hast grown so strong! We shall be waiting at our usual place, Mary," Delby praised warmly.
"Delby, Claudia... take care of one another. Should the time come that ye must flee, do so without hesitation," Marilyn warned out of pure goodwill.
"Thou art the one who must take care! We shall remain here; if thou goest not, we go not." Claudia clenched both hands over her chest.
"Mmm-hmm. My deepest thanks to ye all." Mary offered a gentle nod.
"Heh-heh... Thank me not, Mary. I remain forever in thy debt..."
Edward blended two remedies together, searing them over a small flame before handing the vial to the old woman.
"This is to be taken after the evening meal. Marilyn's strength shall return in no time. Take care of thine own health as well."
"Thank thee, kind youth."
"An affliction such as this I have never encountered before. This medicine shall grant Mary strength should the fever strike again... 'Tis all I can offer. Should any of the symptoms I mentioned earlier manifest, I advise thee to fetch me at once. Perchance we may behold the truth more clearly then." Edward offered his final counsel to Mrs. Bishop. "May the Lord preserve Caslette."
"May the Lord preserve Caslette," Mrs. Bishop echoed.
Meanwhile, Delby and Claudia knelt down, holding Mary's hands as they bowed their heads in silent prayer for their friend's safety.
"Until we meet again, Mary," Delby bid farewell.
Mary nodded to them both before stepping outside the cottage to see her friends off.
"Farewell, Mary~!" Claudia waved her hand as she and Delby made their way back toward the town.
Left alone once more, Mary picked up the journal to read its contents, sensing that the red-haired youth's journey in her visions was drawing to its final close.