Date: 11/2/11, (Edited Apr 15 2020)
Disclaimer: I don't own Miyazaki's characters... but I am definitely being creative and coming up with my own.
Chapter 6: A Visit to the Doctor
Nervous tension began to build in the air as they neared Belden Swamp. Asbel had just finished helping the crew with some daily tasks when he noticed out the window a vast stretch of mud, dotted with dense clusters of sinister-looking trees and small patches of dry ground. It was a depressing sight; he practically lost his appetite after a single glance. He stood in silence in front of the window, confronted with a never-ending stretch of dull gray.
"There it is." Nausicaa breathed solemnly. He had no idea when she walked in, but didn't mind her presence. Eventually an ominous feeling settled over both of them as they approached their destination. The two headed towards the pilot's room, where other crew members were congregating. Tersa was the first to raise a question.
"Are we landing now and then sending out a search party?"
"No; we can't possibly find it on foot," Jarel answered. "Let's fly around first to see if we can spot it. Then we'll land at the edge closest to it, and trek inwards."
The next two hours were spent scanning the swamp for signs of human life. It was a strenuous task due to the dense clusters of foliage obscuring their view. The entire crew stopped their work to contribute to the search. In the third hour of searching the landscape, their efforts were rewarded; Nausicaa spotted a tiny brown hut, situated by a thicket of trees.
"I'm pretty sure that's Kerlin's home." Nausicaa spoke firmly, eyes fixed intently on the minuscule landmark.
"It has to be; that's clearly a man-made hut," Jarel grumbled exhaustedly. "Why would anyone purposely pick this isolated location as a place to live?"
They landed on a patch of high ground, as close to the hut as possible. To their dismay Kerlin lived quite a ways into the swamp; they would have to do a good deal of walking in the mud. A couple crew members stayed behind to keep an eye on the airship while Nausicaa, Asbel, Lord Yupa, and Tersa set out to find the healer. Jarel was determined to come, against everyone's advice.
"No Jarel," Nausicaa ordered firmly. "Flying through those trees is not an easy task and I can tell you're exhausted. Go and get some sleep; you've already helped enough for today." The man would not be convinced, however.
"I'm fine," he retorted. "I may be a little tired but I'm not missing out on this!" The man was inexhaustible when fueled by his thirst for adventure, already walking over to grab his backpack.
"Besides, think of all the years of wilderness experience I've gathered from all the trips out to the Sea." He reasoned. "You and I both know I will be useful when we run into harsh conditions." He was so resolved that Nausicaa could not dissuade him.
"Aagh, fine, but be careful. I already have enough things to worry about and I don't need to add you to the list." She muttered, not noticing the very smug expression on his face.
The subgroup disembarked from the airship in the afternoon, when the sun had already passed its highest point in the sky and was beginning to descend to the horizon. Thirty minutes into their journey they realized that they would not be able to reach Kerlin by nightfall; at best they would arrive midday tomorrow. The trek was challenging in that the landscape conditions were exceptionally varied. Sometimes the ground was dry and cracked, other times covered in several inches of tepid, murky water, and in the most unpleasant cases, a layer of viscous mud. The team chugged along with the best attitude they could possibly muster; they were all here of their own free will, on a noble mission to save lives.
Nausicaa was thankful that Jarel had insisted on coming along; he and Lord Yupa both had a knack for reading difficult terrain. They took turns leading the group in zig-zag trajectories along the flat stretch, traveling as efficiently as possible while avoiding the deepest ponds and muddiest marshes. The team kept a staggered formation, with either Lord Yupa or Jarel at the front, and the rest of them following closely behind.
Consciously or not, Asbel and Nausicaa gravitated to each other, and within an hour's time walked side by side. She started casually conversing with him, never tiring him out with useless chatter, but speaking frequently enough to keep his thoughts from wandering too far in dead silence. Asbel concluded that she was truly gifted with social charm, for she conducted small talk effortlessly.
In fact, Nausicaa loved the synergy between them, for he followed the pace of the conversation perfectly. She found herself increasingly enchanted by his personality; mild-mannered and more dignified than the boy from four years ago, but very much the same kind-hearted individual with a passion for life. His actions indicated a fierceness within him, supported by unwavering loyalty and a steely determination to never back down once he committed to something. Her thoughts drifted to memories of him fighting valiantly on her behalf against his own countrymen, persisting until he personally ensured her glider was off the Pejite ship and headed towards the Valley. Adversity was like a refining fire that revealed a man's true qualities; last time she had discovered a heart of gold.
He also exuded a very guardian-like dependability to him, which drew out the innocent girl within her. Years of fighting for her people had made her constantly alert and self-sufficient, but for reasons unknown to her, she felt so secure around him - like she could finally relax. It worried her that her defenses were coming down so quickly, but she knew better than to forcibly suppress emotions of the heart. She was pondering how to handle her feelings when they entered a particularly muddy part of a bog, causing Nausicaa to lose her footing and slip. She was certain she was going to land squarely in the mud when a strong hand gripped her arm and steadied her.
"You alright?" Asbel asked a little gruffly, very much like a protective older brother.
"Yeah I'm alright, thanks." Nausicaa mumbled hurriedly in mild embarrassment. She had been too distracted to pay attention to the surroundings, and decided to quiet her mind for now.
"Is there something going on between those two?" Jarel gossiped to Tersa under his breath, staying many feet behind Asbel and Nausicaa to make sure they wouldn't hear him.
"Seems like it, doesn't it?" Tersa replied, also observing them suspiciously.
Jarel narrowed his eyes at the duo in front of them. The Valley boy couldn't help feeling protective of Nausicaa, being the same age as her and having grown up with her for nearly 15 years. Add Tersa to the mix and one would have assembled the most infamous, close-knit trio in the Valley, boasting many years of friendship and experiences together. What started as weekly playdates when they were children had progressed into regular adventures as adults, and when Nausicaa told Jarel about the mission to find a cure for Gullera, the man did not hesitate to volunteer. Of course, he was not expecting their group to be interrupted by a fourth individual... just what did Asbel think he was doing, repeatedly detaining his beloved Princess from them?
Tersa glanced over at Jarel and noticed his slightly peeved expression.
"Does it bother you that much?" She whispered to him, a little amused.
"What? No... not at all," though he kew he was lying. "Just a little weird. I've never seen her this close with another guy." Tersa raised an eyebrow at his remark.
When night had fallen, the team sought shelter in some cavern-like rock formations that dotted the landscape. The weariness overtook them as they quickly set up camp, ate modest rations, and settled in. Nausicaa made her rounds with everyone, checking in with Lord Yupa, Tersa, and Jarel individually. Finally, when the time came to sleep, the girl lowered herself onto the ground next to Asbel, who was already sprawled out on the stone floor, hands placed comfortably behind his head, nearly dozing off. Nausicaa took one glance at him and felt her heart warming towards him. She realized, then and there, just how massive a challenge it was going to be to stop the tidal wave of emotions already rising within her... she might as well give up now before tiring herself out trying to curb it.
Asbel turned his head towards the noise. Their eyes met in a strange silence and he registered a peculiar expression. It took his drowsy brain a moment to name it: affection gazed warmly back at him from those dark brown depths, as she lay on her side, facing him. She wasn't even trying to hide it. He blinked; was he really seeing it or just hallucinating it? The emotion lingered in her eyes for no more than two seconds, then Nausicaa smiled gently and closed her eyes to sleep as well.
Somewhat perturbed and now rather awake, Asbel stared vacantly at the uneven, rocky ceiling. Previously, he thought the shy glances back in the Valley were merely manifestations of her personality, but this felt noticeably different. It thrilled him to wonder if that gaze was for him alone, but he dare not assume. Next time she ought to use words so he wouldn't have to guess... he decided not to worry about it for now and welcomed the oblivion of sleep.
Asbel awoke to the sounds of birds chirping; the sky was still dark save for a faint glow on the horizon. Instinctively he turned towards Nausicaa; to his relief the girl was still sleeping soundly beside him. It was a sweet sight to behold and he watched her quietly for a few moments, a soft smile on his countenance. He never really had the chance to observe her elegant facial features: a refined, straight nose that upturned slightly, politely curved eyebrows, innocent cheeks, and delicate, rosy lips. She appeared even more childlike and vulnerable when her fierce, vivacious eyes were closed.
Looking at her face reminded him of her expression last night. Cautiously he reached out a hand towards the pristine face, then stopped short and checked himself. What if it was entirely a dream? She also hadn't said a word to him about liking him. Unsure and almost longingly, he withdrew the delinquent hand. Hallucinatory or not, he saved last night's memory in his heart, and wordlessly rose to start the day.
In time they found what they were looking for: a modest-looking living establishment, covered in dried leaves and twigs. It appeared rather quaint, boasting of simplicity and organization. Near the hut lay a spring bubbling with vitality, and in front stretched a long garden filled with many exotic plants – all arranged into neat rows. A visitor would almost not want to enter, for fear of disrupting the peace and perfectness of the whole scene.
The group was a couple feet from the front door when they heard an aged, but kindly voice, coming from the garden behind them.
"Ehh, about time you folks arrived. No airship randomly circles around Belden a dozen times unless they're looking for this hut."
"Are you the Healer?" Nausicaa inquired politely to the air. Presently they beheld the person they were addressing: a short, white haired man emerged from the tallest plants of the garden. He wore simple, crisp but comfortable brown clothing, holding a pruner in one hand and twigs in another. His eyes were bright and warm, yet he radiated an aura of age and wisdom.
"I'm a doctor, not a healer. There's nothing magical in what I do." The old man spoke slowly, then shuffled across the garden into the hut.
"Come in." He declared, already lowering himself onto a short, simple stool.
"Now you all came here for a reason. How can I help you?" Asbel immediately jumped in; this was his mission after all.
"My mother's sick and none of the doctors recognize what it is." He began, then continued to give the full list of symptoms. For the next five minutes the doctor listened attentively, nodding occasionally. At the end the sage spoke up.
"And do you recall if the wheezing is worse before or after meals?"
"After meals." Asbel replied slowly after thinking for a moment. At this time the doctor walked towards a tall bookshelf, packed with dusty volumes and ancient tomes. There was not a single inch on the piece of furniture that did not have a book wedged onto it. Nimbly extracting a thick, burgundy hardcover, the man confidently flipped to a certain section of the well-worn volume. His eyes quickly scanned the pages.
"Yes, that sounds about right. It's a rare sickness, called Gullera. It's caused by a particular combination of toxins in the air and food. Most people are unaffected by the poisons, even with long-term exposure, but there's always a small portion of the population that develops... a bit of an overreaction, shall we say. The body attacks itself in system-wide inflammation."
"Is it curable?" was the immediate response from Asbel.
"Usually; the immune system needs to be quieted first with a medicine, then given time to adjust and tolerate those toxins. I must inform you, however, that the medicine is not easy to find."
"What do you mean?" Nausicaa asked.
"Well, you need the leaves of a particular plant, called the Mulsa plant. That plant can only be grown in the Kingdom of Merinth."
"Merinth northeast of this swamp?" Lord Yupa inquired.
"Yes. As of today no one has found a way to grow the plant out of the humid environment found in Merinth's fields."
"Could we maybe dry the leaves and make tea once we return home?" asked Nausicaa.
"People have tried that as well; but the medicine is much less effective if the leaves are not used immediately after harvesting."
"So we'd have to find fresh leaves and boil them immediately into tea, then take the tea back to Pejite?"
"Correct, or bring the ill to Merinth." Everyone in the room knew that transporting the sick and dying on a three-week plane ride was not exactly an option.
"I see." Asbel answered. "Do you mind giving us the full instructions and dosages for the medicine?"
"Of course," Kerlin genially replied, then pulled out a sheet of parchment. Everyone listened attentively while the doctor wrote down names, general information, and the prescription, explaining everything along the way. Where to find the plant, ratios of tea leaves to water, the process of making the tea, the temperature of the water, and more.
"…Have your mother drink the tea right before meals - three times a day. It will be a slow recovery, and some patients end up taking the medicine regularly for the rest of their lives. However, the more lucky ones may recover completely and never show symptoms again." The old man finished at last.
"Thank you so much doctor." Asbel breathed gratefully, standing up with the rest of the team.
"I wish you all the best, young man. And be careful; Merinth is not the friendliest of countries," was the doctor's last warning just as the group left. Nausicaa frowned at his last comment.
"Not the friendliest? What's that supposed to mean?" she whispered.
"I don't know; but at least we have a cure." Asbel sighed, looking ahead at the long (and muddy) trip standing between them and the airship.
AN: I pictured Gullera as an autoimmune condition. There are so many types of autoimmune conditions, some are more severe than others, and often chronic in nature. The mechanisms of many autoimmune diseases are not well understood either, making it a very suitable choice.
