I was busy doing a shadowbox art for a friend who's having a birthday tomorrow, I almost forgot to post. . Anyway, things are gonna be busy for a while, especially March and April. /sheepish/ I will try to continue posting chapters weekly, but there may be times I might miss a week of posting. Please bear with me.
Anyway, thank you for all the reviews. Keep them coming. I do reply sometimes when I have the time.
Title: The Clues in the Old Book
Inspired by: Chapter 35 of the Manga Akagami ni Shirayukihime
Character: Izana Wistalia, Shirayuki, Suzu, Yuzuri
Wordcount: 792
Rating: General
"..close the gates! What an absurd request! Do you realize that this gate serves both Wilant and Lyrias? To close the gate is preposterous!" One of the guards look livid.
We were almost near the group, some few hundred meters away. The sound of our heavy boots crunched the snow underfoot, but we can hear the commotion quite easily.
"…it'll be bad if we're too late!"
I recognized Suzu's irritated voice, rising above the grumbles coming from the small group of guards in front of them. "Those gates must be close, and people should not be allowed in!"
We were almost upon them, when I saw Shirayuki move forward, holding out her identification tag.
"If you won't let us pass through to warn travelers, then please call Prince Izana over here!"
I paused, hearing her call my name. And with such authority and conviction!
Turning to my left, I saw Gauis Mana about to bark out instructions when I held up my hand, "Permit me to handle the situation, Captain. But I would need your support, as well. Any questions you might have, please hold it in and I will answer it later."
He looked a little puzzled by my request, but nodded nevertheless. "As you wish, Your Highness." And took a respectful step back.
I took the last few steps, and the sound I made equated to the group turning about. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the guards freeze on the spot when they all saw my face. A few of them paled a little.
"There's no need to call, Prince Izana."
Green eyes met mine. I held her gaze for a second. My heart thudded loudly in my ears.
"Oh, it's you Luen. What are you doing here?" Suzu looked completely oblivious to the guards' expression of fear. He really bought in my fake story as Garack's assistant.
"Hello, Luen." Yuzuri gave me another one of her brilliant smiles. It seems that she still believes my charade as well.
However, I did not bother to greet them, merely nodding. I was busy silently communicating with Shirayuki. If she is here, it means she has news about the disease. And judging from her worried expression, the news is not good.
"Did you figure something out?" I asked. My authority mode is running full today.
She met me halfway, walking straight on to stand before me while she held out an old, battered book covered in dark blue bindings and faded gold lettering.
"This."
I can smell hold old it is, and I could help but let out a remark to say so. "Are you here to amuse me with a very old book?"
She looked a little grim, ignoring my light-hearted attempt to break the tense mood.
"It's from a small north-eastern country. The capital city recorded a strange disease afflicting its citizens. The symptoms are identical from the children's blue patterns. And even if it is not infectious, both children and adults alike contracted the disease."
My eyes narrowed slightly in concern, suddenly feeling a little foolish for not taking her seriously at the first instance. I felt the darkness slowly creep into my heart, hypnotized by Shirayuki's narrating voice.
"..seven hundred and thirty people got the disease…"
Only the number jumped out at me. The icy feeling gripped my heart.
"What!" I blinked, stunned. All at once, the gravity of this mysterious illness seemed to increase tenfold. Seven hundred is a huge number. An entire village. Or two. "And the cure?"
She shook her head. "We can't tell from the book. The writings have faded and we can only read bits." She looked a little angry, a little frustrated, a little sad. "..By the time the cure was discovered, half of the patients died."
The icy grip continued to squeeze my heart. Half. Men, women and children. I looked up to see Suzu and Yuzuri gathering close to Shirayuki, looking grim themselves.
"As we still do not know the cause and how widespread it is, having the people pass through Lyrias is very dangerous." Suzu added. Suzu's words has weight on it. After all, he is a pharmacist of Lyrias and he is more familiar with the city's demographics.
I felt a sense of inevitable hang over the city. I cannot let things slide like this! We have a duty to find out more about this disease and look for a cure.
A cathastrope of this scale will certainly devastate Lyrias.
"It won't be surprising if somebody in this area collapses. It will only be a matter of time." Shirayuki grabbed hold of my hand, pleading.
Captain Gauis let out a low gasp for her display of boldness. Maruko made an uncomfortable noise behind me.