More chapters to come soon.
Title: The Cave of Spring Waters
Inspired by: Chapter 38 of the Manga Akagami ni Shirayukihime
Character: Izana Wistalia
Wordcount: 563
Rating: General
"The underwater citadels have been check."
"Status?"
"All clear, sir!"
"Good!"
"What about the drinking wells?"
"We are halfway done, sir."
"You are supposed to finish immediately!"
All around us, lieutenants and palace soldiers are organizing small batches of troops to investigate the city's water sources. Deep into the night, while the snow raged around us, we were ensconced with the elders, each of us assigned to identify and clear all water resources.
I estimated we were about sixty percent complete in our checks. A handful of the wells used by the town may have been contaminated. But only a few people took water from it. Samples of water in flasks were immediately sent to the labs at the Pharmacology Institute for testing. Scholars and researchers volunteer to do the checks, dropping their research to answer the call of duty and responsibility.
My aides, including Maruko and Iyasu, were kept busy fetching maps and overlapping them over the huge tables inside one of the main barracks serving as headquarters for the city's guards. The number of patients affected by the illness continue to rise. However, we managed to narrow their whereabouts before they were afflicted with the disease. Locals who were affected have been fishing for snow salmon and noted about the dully shining water. The mineral traders stopped to get and boil some from north of the stream where the locals fished for their food.
It is the same stream where Obi and Shirayuki were headed when I was last notified about their movements.
I am a little worried. The stream in question is the second artery serving Lyrias. Its base point starts somewhere Northeast of the Polarius mountains beyond the boundary walls of Lyrias. It snakes through snow-covered forests, splits into three or four branches; two of which runs under a cave before rejoining another to form the artery passing through Lyrias and down to the hectares of virgin forests surrounding Wilant.
"Your Highness.." Maruko hurried to my side, holding out a rolled parchment.
I took the message and read its contents, bracing myself for more bad news. The patients have increased, and a couple of researchers have also succumbed to the disease.
"Also.." Maruko moved a little closer. I paused from my reading.
"Obi and Mistress Shirayuki just came back from their short expedition. The cave where the young boy Kirito took them has been confirmed to have the dull, shiny water. Seeds, supposedly causing the contamination has been discovered. But the source of the seeds is nowhere to be found."
I knotted my brow. Are we being sabotaged? Is someone deliberately trying to poison the citizens of Lyrias? "Pray, continue, Maruko."
"They brought the samples back to the Institute, but Mistress Shirayuki and Obi left again to find the source of the seeds."
I clenched my fists, feeling afraid. By now, Shirayuki has exposed herself to the source of the disease. At this very moment, she is risking her life to find the source and bring it back for the researchers.
Rising from my seat, I gestured for one of the lieutenants assisting us. Thrusting the map I was holding, I began to list out instructions. As soon as I finished, I grabbed the cloak hanging from the back of my chair.
"I need to go and see the Royal Pharmacist, Ryuu." I told Maruko, who bowed and lead the way.