Chapter 19: The Apothecary Away from the Diseased Town
When everybody left Rose approached the bridged.
"Hephsin Yulind." She said under her breath. When she armatized with Edna she punched the ground fifteen minutes passed without anything happening. "Do you think we should try-" Rose started but pillars of stones rose from the currents. She then removed the armatus.
"Huh. So that's why." Said Sergei. "I didn't realize you could raise the earth fifteen minutes after you punched the ground. In hind sight it would make you look like a complete loon in front of others."
"When the hell did you get so snarky?" Rose asked.
"Well being around you and your bad ideas had something to do with it."
"Hey most of those bad ideas worked!" Rose snapped.
"Besides Sergei making fun of the Shepherd for all the shit she does is our job." Said Edna.
"My word!" They heard a voice say.
"Fuck!" Rose muttered as they spotted Neif as he walked up.
"N-Neif! Th-this isn't what it looks like?" Said Sergei.
"I can't believe what I'm seeing. So this is the power of the Shepherd." Said Neif.
"Yes instant rock pillars. Just give it fifteen minutes." Snarked Dezel.
"I can explain!" Claimed Sergei.
"This means Marlind is saved! Oh frabjous day!" He exclaimed.
"What?" Said Rose and Sergei simultaneously.
"I don't know how to thank you Shepherd. My gratitude goes beyond words!" Said Neif.
"You don't have to thank me …" Said Rose.
"Rose he's a witness and you're a moron who broke a bunch of drug addicts out of jail. Think about what you're doing!" Said Dezel.
"Actually can you keep this secret between the three of us and if any other Hyland soldiers come by can you also deny that you ever saw me?" Rose asked. "I know it's a bit much…"
"Oh! Why of course! Lady Rose you were planning to leave to avoid prying eyes any way right?" Neif asked.
"Yeah pretty much." Said Rose. "We're going to Marlind from here."
"Then can you escort Captain Sergei there?" Neif asked.
"Neif?"
"Sergei, I know you tend to be busy but Marlind is your home as much as mine. And I think it would do you well to visit your father." Said Neif.
"Does he have much time left?" Sergei asked.
"I'm not sure." Said Neif. "But I think all of us here can rest easy knowing that one of Marlind's prides and joys and the Shepherd are taking care of things. Please leave the bridge to me."
"Kay." Said Rose.
"Understood." Said Sergei.
"Honestly that went much better than I was expecting." Said Dezel.
"It's most likely that he understands." Said Mikleo.
"Honestly it would've been funnier if he flipped the fuck out causing Rose to book it right into the river." Said Edna.
"Sometimes you all drive me nuts." Muttered Rose.
"We love you too." Said Edna.
"By the way Neif would you happen to have any medicine and do you mind if I have some of it?" Rose asked.
"Well I do but it would be too much to ask such a thing after everything you've done." Said Neif.
"It's no problem at all. Really." Said Rose.
"It seems like I am in debt to you once more." Said Neif giving Rose some of the medicine.
"It's really no trouble at all but I think we'll be heading off now. Thank you for your help Neif." Said Rose.
"Oh Poppycock." Neif laughed. "It is I who should be thanking you."
"Let's go Sergei." Said Rose. Sergei looked at the bridge then back to Rose.
"How?" He asked.
"Magical godly seraphy shit." Said Rose.
"That's fancy for you're gonna do something stupid and hope it works isn't it?" Sergei asked.
"Well you've made the squire's pact I'm sure something can be done." Said Edna.
"Neif thank you again. We'll try to get to Marlind alive." Said Sergei.
"I wish you all the best oh and stay away from the tent that has mushrooms growing around it outside of Marlind's walls." Warned Neif. The two walked up to the edge of the bridge. Dezel came out of Rose's body.
"I have an idea." He said. "Grab Sergei and jump."
"What?!" Rose and Sergei exclaimed with the former giving him an annoyed yet worried look.
"Just … do it." Said Dezel. Rose glared at him while grabbing Sergei by the shirt. She jumped off the bridge dragging Sergei with her.
"Lady Rose!" Neif shouted.
"Dezel! What's this brilliant idea of yours you son of a-!" Rose shouted. She then felt a gust of wind stop her, and Sergei's, fall and flung them up in the air with them landing on the pillar closest to the bridge. Or more accurately Rose skidded on that pillar with Sergei plummeting onto her maybe breaking a few ribs and nearly snapping her spine. "I'm okay …" She groaned. Sergei got off of her.
"Needs a little work." Said Dezel.
"You think?" Growled Rose getting up.
"I'm sure a few more times will help a lot." Said Dezel then going back into her body.
"Great …" Groaned Rose. They repeated the process three more times with less flying in the air and Rose getting crushed under Sergei as they went until they reach the other side of the bridge. "Thank god we made it." Rose sighed.
"Though Dezel still needs to practice his thing in less hazardous areas." Said Mikleo.
"Shut up." Said Dezel.
"Let's keep going." Said Sergei. The two kept walking to Marlind with them ending up at Marlind's walls at around 4 am, going off of a wild guess. But judging from the fact that it was still dark the time would be anywhere between 2 and 4 in the morning. They came across a tent that had neon blue mushrooms that smelled like formaldehyde, not that any of them would know what formaldehyde was but it still stank, and malevolence coming from it. Rose started walking towards it. "Rose! Didn't Neif tell us to stay away from that tent?"
"There's malevolence from the tent likely because there's a hellion in there and it could be possible that it's causeing the plague." Said Rose.
"… Fine …" Sighed Sergei. They approached the tent.
"Hello?" Rose called entering the inside of the tent which was lit by a couple of lanterns and there were plants being grown everywhere one of which was the grassy aloe like plant that gels were made from. To their right was a table full of vials full of various strange liquids and a mortar and pestle with the dried and empty out versions of the gel plant next to it along with some other plants. There were also plates some were covered while the plates that had aliquid in them were exposed to the air causing the tent to smell like mold and rotting organic matter. There was also a board on the table with a rolling pin next to it and white powdery bits on the board. An extra trunk lay in the corner away from the table. There was also a sheet separating the entrance to the tent from another section. "Is anyone here?" She heard a kettle boiling. "Hello?"
"I'm coming I'm coming!" They heard a deep feminine voice shout. The seraphim came out. From behind the sheet emerged a woman in a black robe hunched over with green wrinkled skin, frizzy white hair and a long crooked nose. Rose ended up bracing herself with a hand twitching for her knives while Sergei tensed up with a hand twitching to go for his sword. "Yes what is" She began then she looked over to Sergei. "You. Why I you haven't seen in many years. To think I managed to see you all grown up even though I nearly got you and your brother killed when you two were but babes." Sergei squinted then his eyes widened.
"Mary Jane?" He said in disbelief.
"You know her?" Rose asked.
"She was the owner of the apothecary … before it got shut down due to terrible weather for the last few years causing a shortage on the supplies she needs to keep the business running." Sergei explained. "God what happened?"
"Like you said, my apothecary shut down and I had to resort to more illegal way to make a living which dumped me out here … and gave me this fitting form." Said Mary Jane. "You all think so don't you girl, seraphim?"
"Your first human Rose. What are you gonna do?" Edna asked.
"What do you look like?" Dezel asked.
"Like the green wicked witch from children's stories." Said Mary Jane then looking to her gnarled hands. "That's what I can guess without a mirror."
"Are you … are you the one causing the plague?" Rose asked. Mary Jane laughed.
"If I did then I really fucked up." She said.
"Judging from her own description she's a green hag, Rose. They don't cause plagues." Said Dezel.
"How do you know?" Rose asked.
"Lailah told me about various hellion types. The green hag was rather interesting to me." Said Dezel. "They're the hellion form of people, namely women, involved with medicine. They were stricken with grief and guilt over accidentally killing people they were trying to help." Rose relaxed a tiny bit.
"How about we talk." Said Rose.
"Very well." Said Mary Jane. "Let me get some extra cups." They entered the back of the tent to see nothing but a bed roll an extra trunk where Mary Jane went over and grabbed some bowls and cups with in the center of the room is a kettle with nothing indicating that there was a fire. "Well, sit down." She said. Rose kept her eyes on the Hag as she sat down Sergei just did so not keeping any eye contact. Edna knelt down keeping her eyes on Mary Jane as well, Mikleo did the same. Dezel kept standing but crossed his arms and leaned on his right leg. Mary Jane went back to the group with the bowls and cups and put some leaves into them. She then poured hot water into the cups and bowls. Rose and Sergei looked at the cups very bewildered.
"… How?" Sergei asked.
"This form does have some perks, with access to seraphic artes and all." Said Mary Jane.
"… Huh." Said Sergei.
"Sit down dear seraph and have some tea." Said Mary Jane.
"No thanks. I'm good." Said Dezel.
"Would this tea do anything to get rid of self-loathing someone might have?" Mikleo asked.
"Hm … No I'm sure it would make it worse." Said Mary Jane. "However I could spike it to make someone feel great for a night but they're gonna regret it the next morning." Mikleo's tea remained untouched. "Now what do you want to talk about?"
"Well I'm the shepherd and I'd like to help you." Said Rose. Mary Jane leaned back with one eye widened.
"Uh huh." She said. "Should I wear a helmet?"
"What?" Rose asked.
"Oh you know so I don't get too injured for when you pounce." Said Mary Jane. "I mean that's what the last Shepherd did." Rose glared at Edna who was blowing on her tea.
"Don't look at me I only know about the Shepherd and the S.H.I.T.S. through word of mouth." She said.
"Look I don't intend to hurt you … I just want to touch you." Said Rose. Mary Jane scooted away from her. "No! Not that way! I just want to hold your hand or something!"
"Pretty sure that if you want to purify her you do have to beat the shit out of her." Said Dezel. "I mean that's what Lailah said."
"Nobody's beating up anybody! I just wanna learn her story and purify her without resorting to violence because that would get me arrested!" Rose exclaimed.
"Wasn't a problem for the last Shepherd, just saying." Said Mary Jane.
"Yeah well he wasn't possibly wanted for drug allegations." Said Rose. "Now please, just give me your hand." Mary Jane looked to the sides and gave Rose her hand. Rose closed her eyes and tried sending her (and by extension Edna's) influence into Mary Jane. She twinged as she felt some heavy malevolence blocking her. She continued to try to push on but the malevolence wouldn't let up. She felt something trickle down her nose.
"Rose!" She heard Sergei shout.
"Mary Jane…? What happened to you to make you this way?" Rose asked.
"Well over thirty five years ago, I was a nun who served under the local sanctuary." She began "Since we live in a part of the country where private practice medics are few and far between and the good graces and healing under a seraph are even more so, I primarily served as a midwife. I was a trusted nun in the city in terms of childbirth and following up on the mothers."
"However that all ended up changing when one of the other nuns had started acting strangely as she was actively avoiding everyone else in the sanctuary. I approached her about her behavior but she dodged any question I would ask. However while going home one night I saw her in very scandalous clothing and I followed her to a street corner where she was picked up by some men offering her a good time she teased them and gave them a price. They gladly agreed and they walked away. I went to the sanctuary and told one of the priests. Word got to the higher ups and she got kicked out of the sanctuary.
"She somehow figured out that I told the priests and she found me one day. I never forgot what she said that day; "I hope you're happy you tattling pious bitch, because someone who ruined me should be ruined as well. I hope you never have another successful birth done by your hands and may it cause your reputation to crash and burn and may you suffer from the despair of all your failures" and after that I never saw her again. I didn't think much of it until a young couple came to me for help.
"The wife was pregnant and the husband suspected that she will be having twins with not much to go off of but a gut feeling and her showing earlier than what they observed to be normal. And he wanted some help with making sure his wife's pregnancy was going well as well as for me to be the midwife for when she gave birth, and any care and assistance I can provide afterwards. The man virtually gave up his savings which, well some of it ended up being donated to the church while I encouraged him to keep the rest as he will need them to provide for his children. I told him that I didn't have any experience with delivering twins, nor did any of the other nuns, but I accepted his request because well … the sanctuary helps people and it's not like they can find anyone that would know anything about twins, if they did it would be hellishly expensive.
"And so the day came when for the twins to be born everything was going smoothly until the wife got some complication. Which ended up making things harder. She eventually gave birth to both children but I nearly ended up snapping both their necks. And she just died right after." Rose's eyes jolted open and she looked over to Sergei who was still looking at her worried. She wiped her nose and looked down to realize that it started bleeding minutes ago but manage to stop then she looked back to Mary Jane.
"What happened after?" Rose asked.
"The death was considered a one off accident partially due to not knowing how to deal with twins. However after that I got into a streak of failing that I eventually had to leave the sanctuary as they thought I was doing more harm than help."
"And was that when you turned into a hellion?" Rose asked.
"No. Not yet. Like Sergei said I then started up an apothecary and ran that until the weather started going bad and herbs were unable to grow. Prices for importing herbs sky rocketed and no one was coming so I had to close shop. Then I … went into other … related work." Continued Mary Jane. Rose looked back.
"So that's what those are for." She said.
"Yes, but selling drugs outside of the standard fare gels and bottles are illegal. So I had to deal in back alleys until the city guard started getting suspicious. I eventually ran out of hiding places within the city so I moved out here and set up shop. There I continued my work doing the usual while going back to town for food and supplies. People recognized me as someone untrustworthy to the point where if anyone was spotted going in or out of my tent they would be arrested. Then the town's people started refusing me service and calling me names like the "powder witch." And at that point I started believing them. So I ended up living out the things people had called me until I became what I am right now." She finished.
"Do you feel guilty that people got addicted?" Rose asked.
"Not really … the people that come to me normally were in pain and couldn't afford regular gels so I thought I could help them with something cheaper." She said. "I feel far more guilty for the arrests and that I failed so many mothers a long time ago than I do the drugs." Everyone was silent for a while.
"You know … I think she may have been cursed." Said Mikleo.
"And how would you know this dear seraph?" Mary Jane asked.
"The Celestial Record has a brief mention on curses oddly enough on the section about the S.H.I.T.S. and Camlaan." Explained Mikleo "Sometimes people become angry enough to wish cruel things to a person and have the blood to back up those words putting the recipient in a state of eternal misery. That is the nature of a curse. Is what the passage says but there wasn't any other mention."
"So is it safe to assume that the woman she suspected for prostitution may have cursed her?" Rose asked.
"Maybe, but she needs blood to be able to curse her." Said Mikleo.
"Is there a way to remove it?" Rose asked.
"I don't know. That was the only thing in the Celestial Record that talked about curses." Said Mikleo. Rose lets go of Mary Jane's hand.
"Let's go find that woman." Said Rose. "She may be the key to purifying her."
"Keep in mind that I have to help with the quarantine, so you might be on your own." Said Sergei.
"Fine." Said Rose. She turned back to Mary Jane. "I will find a way to purify you. That's a promise. Besides I think what you really look like is more fitting the hag." Mary Jane laughed.
"Oh your flatter me Shepherd, you're going through so much trouble to not knock me on the head I don't know if I'm worth that much." She said.
"Hey you may be doing some illegal shit but I don't think that qualifies you for a curse. And if it's any consolation, without you Sergei probably wouldn't be here." Said Rose. "And If I can't find anything I'll go and whack you on the head."
"Charming." Remarked Dezel. "But do you know what this woman looks like?"
"No … And even if I asked Mary Jane and went off of what she told me that woman could look completely different since roughly thirty years have passed since Mary Jane last saw her." Said Rose. "We're gonna have to look for locations based on 'hey have you seen a woman that got fired from the sanctuary thirty years ago?' … We should probably start at the sanctuary."
"Sanctuary..? Oh shit the medicine!" Sergei exclaimed. "Rose can I borrow the pouch you got from Neif?"
"Yeah." Said Rose pulling out the pouch that had some medicine and handing it over to him.
"Mary Jane, we're gonna be heading into a plague town to distribute this." Said Sergei.
"Where are you going with this?" Rose asked.
"Since there's a lot of sick people I'm worried that we're not gonna have enough. I was wondering if you could make a bit more." Said Sergei giving the pouch to Mary Jane.
"Oh." Said Rose. Mary Jane looked inside the pouch and took a bit out and spread it around in the palm of her hand.
"Hm … I'm afraid I have neither the ingredients nor the equipment to make this." She said putting the bits of medicine back in the pouch. "I'm sorry Sergei." She gave the pouch back to him. Rose shrugged.
"Worth a shot." Said Rose. "C'mon we're going to camp out."
"Well since you're going through so much trouble why not rest here for … however long." Offered Mary Jane. Rose looked over to the Seraphim.
"Sure." Said Sergei.
"Uh …" Rose started.
"We'll be fine, you're our vessel after all." Said Edna.
"Yeah fine." Said Rose.
Had some time before school started up again so I though I would post this.
Mary Jane's name is based off of a slang for a drug. Can you guess what it is? Also fun fact Mary Jane was meant to have different back alley job but since she's named after drug slang, previously ran an apothecary, and drugs, namely the G-rated version of heroine that this fic has and the G-rated version of meth that the fic will have (a.k.a. the fake elixir), were mentioned/discussed earlier in the fic I just ended up making her a drug dealer.
On the formaldehyde well aside from Sigreid Zestiria's world, much more specifically Glennwood is preindustrial and formaldehyde wasn't identified until around the mid 19th century on Earth which is an industrial time and using a variant of formaldehyde as embalming fluid is more modern than Arthurian times. Thus no one knows what formaldehyde is in case you were wondering.