Chapter 4

Cosmic Cure

"It's extract from a flower, right?"

"Cosmic Orchid, only blooms in the dark, grows in dark deep jungles as a result." Ivor explained.

Aiden frowned, "That shouldn't be a problem, we had a whole botany garden full of those back at home."

Ivor gave him a look.

Aiden looked away realization dawning him, "Shit." he looked back, "How rare is it?"

"Very," Ivor replied, "After our ancestors figured its medicinal properties could cure the plague; they began collecting seeds from every flower they used. It didn't take long to decrease their rarity. The botany house you spoke of would wait till the flowers had dropped their seeds and the seed themselves were growing before pulling the old flowers for cure extract."

"So, deep dark jungle is where to find them?" Jesse asked.

"Yes."

"Always has to be a jungle!" There was the sound of Jesse's head hitting the door in frustration, "Aiden where is the nearest jungle?"

"We about a mile or two away from one right now, it's just beyond the river." Aiden answered, "But it's small, the chances of the flower being there are slim, the tree's aren't thick enough nor is it dark I've been expanding this world's map out, and there is another jungle about a day and night's ride by horse, if we-"

"Out of the question, that's too far." Petra argued.

Aiden gave her a look, "And what makes you think that?"

"We're running on limited time in case you have forgotten. We have a better chance searching the one by the river."

"Like I said, it's not dark enough," Aiden countered, "Besides, I've been to the other one, and I can swear I saw a Cosmic Orchid while I was traveling through."

"How sure are you?"

"Petra I wouldn't suggest this unless I'm sure. We aren't going to find any in that small patch of wannabe jungle."

"I still think-"

"Guys!"

Everyone went quiet, eyes casting towards the closed bedroom door. Jesse sighed wearily from beyond the woodwork, "Aiden, are you certain? Tell me you saw flowers."

"It was dark," He admitted, "But I know a glow when I see one. Besides, it's our best chance. That jungle is old and thick, navigating will be difficult. But if there is a better place for Cosmic Orchids to grow, please point me to it." Aiden stood, "Gil and Maya are out mapping to the west, they should be back in a day, maybe two. When they get here, they search the jungle across the river," he glanced at Petra, "In case I was wrong about the flowers there."

Petra leaned against the wall, "Jesse, you can't be considering this."

"Aiden knows this world better than we do."

Petra sighed, giving Aiden a hard look, "Fine. Far away jungle it is then."

Aiden turned and hurried across his house, he yanked the front door open, "Reginald!"

The guard, who was almost always watching Aiden from some vantage point, poked his head out from beyond the tree. "Yes?" he jogged to the house, stopping a few feet from the door, "What is it?"

"I need a horse," Aiden said.

"A horse?"

"We know what we're up against and we know where to find a cure, but I need a horse to get there."

Petra stuck her head out, "Make that two."

Aiden looked sharply at her, "What? Are you crazy?"

She shoved the door open wider, "It's dangerous where you are going, and in case you fail...Someone needs to get the cure back to Lukas."

They exchanged a heat glance for a good long minute, Reginald uneasily waiting for the pair to come to some sort of closure. Finally Aiden growled and looked back to the guard, "Tell Isa I need two horses...please."

Reginald nodded and began to hurry away. "Two horses, on it!"

"Oh and Reg?!"

The older male stopped looking back, waiting.

Aiden swallowed thickly, "If possible...can..." He shifted nervously, "A sword?"

Reginald raised an eyebrow, "That might be harder Aiden."

"I know, but-"

"I'll..." he gave Aiden a weak smile, "Considering the circumstances...I'll see what I can do."

Then he was gone.

Aiden closed the door, letting his head rest against it with a heavy thunk.

Petra was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, "A sword?"

"I don't have one."

"Why not make one?"

Aiden gave her a look, "Do you honestly think, after everything, they'd let me carry one?"

Petra scoffed and turned on her heel walking briskly back to her post by the guest bedroom.

Aiden closed his eyes, "I hope you're right about this cure, Ivor." he said, knowing well that the elder was within earshot.

"I know I am," Ivor replied, "It just the matter of you getting it."

"That's the easy part," Aiden scoffed, "Finding it is what I'm worried about."

A.N. Just curious cause this review threw me for a loop, this is in response to Silver,

Q. Wolf third, dragon third, human third. Would you mess with me?

A: Can you be a bit more specific? Is this actually a question would I mess with you, or were you just wanting me to update? But if it's the first one, no I would not. Second one, your plan worked.