I wake the next morning, rested and ready for a whole day of flying. Switching into my bird-like form, I take off into the sky. The sun's just begun rising, the starry sky rapidly giving way to clear blue skies. I do note that towards my destination, a thick layer of clouds are gathering.
I soar, carefree. It's quite calming, actually, just flying the skies at top speed, seeing the landscape flickering past me below. Lush grassland gives way to a craggy highland, the trees becoming small and gnarled, and large patches of heather-like plants turn the landscape into a mosaic of different shades of purple.
According to my map, I just crossed the border. Of course, entering the Kingdom of Harmek doesn't mean I'm at my destination. I just want to see how it looks. Also, mapping the World could turn out to be a huge benefit later, as it expands the range I have available to find people via tracking.
I think that tonight I'll drop by an inn for food. Of course, doing so has its risks, but as long as I'm subtle about it, it should go well. And...
"If we end up causing a scene, it's within 'enemy' territory, so you won't feel as guilty."
Uh... yes...
"Here's hoping your desire for humanoid cuisine won't get Us roped into something."
Hey, don't jinx it.
As the sun starts to set, I land near the edge of a evergreen forest. It's also near a village, so I can get there within sundown. I switch into my human form, making sure to equip my new-and-improved silk suit. No weapons this time, as my cover as a Healer means they stand out too much.
...
It still looks like a fancy pajamas, but it passes as Light Armor. Besides, I'd rather not take the risk of 'borrowing' any of the armor or clothes of the Daggers I killed.
As I approach the village gate, a guard halts me. "No weapons within the village, stranger." He briskly informs me in Common. His accent is heavy though. I hold up my hands, showing that I am unarmed. "Apologies, sir, I have no weapons as I am a simple Healer who knows a bit of Light Magic." I put on an apologetic smile.
"A Healer? Come right in!" The guards tone suddenly changes as he hears this. He gestures towards a small window in the gate, and after a moment, the doors open up. I'm immediately escorted towards the largest building in the village. I recognize the architecture as being a Church of some sort, though I don't recognize the sigil denoting who the Church is devoted to.
I pause for a moment before the threshold. "You... don't have a Blessing of Truth?" I ask them. I can't detect the intense magical field that prevents Shape-shifting Skills from working within the confines of the Church or Temple. It supposedly also prevents people from lying, though that's debatable.
The guards that were escorting me hesitate for a moment. "I'm not sure what that is?" One of them confesses. "It's of no matter! You can still perform your healing regardless?" The other one desperately asks. Something's wrong here.
"I can." I state. I suppose something is going on here, a disease or something, and they desperately need healing? I enter the Church. Its pews are replaced with beds, all of them filled with humanoids.
They all look terrible. Their skin an ashen pallor, cheeks sunk in, some of them are coughing, their hands coming away from their mouth revealing flecks of blood. Tuberculosis? I approach the nearest bed, it contains a young human child, probably no more than eight.
Let's see... I kneel down beside the bed, and whilst holding my hand to their forehead, pretending to check their temperature, I inspect them.
Status: Vilecough (Normal) - Anemia (Lesser)
... Vilecough seems like this World's version of Tuberculosis, yes?
*AffiRmatIve*
Okay... But the anemia... I tilt the child's head to the side, exposing their neck. Nothing here... Wait. I gently uncover the childs left shoulder. The entire top of it is covered in a big bruise. Looking closely, I can see a raised area in the middle of the bruise, like an oversized mosquito bite.
Maremoths? But they'd be too big to safely get in and out of the village without being spotted. "C-can you help them?" One of the guards asks, startling me out of my thoughts. "I can, however..." I point to the bruise. "Do any of the others also have this?"
The guard hesitates for a moment before calling over a woman. She seems to be the healthiest among them, and she's tending the others. "Do the others have a similar bruise?" I ask her in Common. She looks at me with confusion. Okay, let's try this. "Apologies, do you know if the others that are sick have the same kind of bruising?" I repeat in Harmekian this time.
"Oh yes, all of them." She replies. She glances over to the guards once I reveal that I know Harmekian. Something is drinking the blood of the villagers, transmitting Vilecough as it does so? Or maybe the Vilecough is caused by the villagers reduced immune systems.
Regardless, I should treat them for the disease, and anything else that ails them. Moving from bed to bed, I quietly chant for Miracure, attempting to pass as a human. Of course, no human has ever learnt Miracure, but it seems no-one here knows enough about Magic to tell what Spell I'm using.
One by one, the villagers regain their health. I've spent half my MP on this, but I saved them from a slow death. Also, the effect of Great Healer should be taking effect.
"Please, Healer, stay the night, the village will repay you tomorrow." An elderly man tells me. He was the closest to death, but judging by his Titles, he's the Village Elder. I nod. "Please, come with us, we will show you to the Inn." One of the guards motions for me to follow them.
I end up going straight to bed. Oh man, using a powerful Spell that many times in a row is exhausting even if it didn't take all my MP. I do make sure to lock the door, and securely close the curtains on the windows.
My smaller size lets me somehow squeeze into bed. Curling up like this is cozy, though any movement makes the bed creak in protest. I end up tossing the bedding onto the floor and sleeping like that instead.
The next morning...
I take care in returning the bedding to its original state before heading down to the first floor. The Innkeeper excitedly greets me once I descend the stairs. A plate of bread, dried meats and a mug of water is set out at the ready for me. "Don't worry about paying, it's on the house, on account of you saving my cousins life." The Innkeeper smiles as she gets back to her business.
Seems this village sees little travel, I'm the only guest at the Inn. I eat my breakfast before heading outside. The mood of the village seems to have done an one-eighty. Now, I'd love to get going on my way, but something tells me that would leave my job half finished.
"What job? You owe these people nothing. We weren't even supposed to sleep here tonight, only grab a meal at the Inn and be on Our way."
Shadow, you know, leaving these people to their fate seems unnecessarily cruel. Besides, if it is a monster causing this, I somehow feel that it's my job as Monarch to sort it out. Balance isn't just about getting rid of the Dungeon Hearts, it's about helping people live in peace.
"You know, that sounds like a bunch of sappy baloney."
I'll just ignore you now.
I head back to the Church. Something tells me there's something up with it. Namely, who or what is it dedicated to? And why doesn't it have a Blessing of Truth upon it? Entering the building, it is empty, the beds still there, free of occupants.
It's so early in the morning, only the early risers like the Innkeeper are up yet, so I have some time to snoop around.
I approach the Altar. Upon it, a wooden carving of a dragon. On its chest, the same sigil as at the front. Is this Church to one of the Elder Dragons? I reach out to touch it.
[Do you seek to restore this Church, Monarch? The villagers have started to worship me, Noctus, in the mistaken belief that I would care to spare their village from harm.]
A deep, rumbling voice issues in my head. I feel an intense pressure emanating from the Altar, as if something infinitely stronger than me is regarding me with something other than indifference. Interest? That's what's scaring me, I think.
[By removing the Idol from its rightful place, they've disabled the Blessing of Truth, letting the enemy roam among them as it pleases. I don't really mind the worship, but it is upsetting the Balance of Things to have one of the Elders put at the same level as the Divine.]
I swallow heavily, my knees almost giving out from the intense heaviness I'm feeling. "What can I do to restore this Church?" I whisper, barely managing to form coherent words in my building panic.
[Recover the Idol, out the enemy lurking among the villagers, inform them of their mistakes and make sure they won't repeat them. It was... Interesting... to finally speak with you, Dear Monarch.]
With a loud 'crack!' the wooden carving explodes into thousands of tiny pieces, leaving no possibility of rebuilding it. The intense aura of power vanishes, and I drop to my knees, dry heaving.
"What did you do?!" A shrill voice from behind startles me. I look back, it's the woman that was tending the sick last night. "I... I wondered why this Church didn't have a Blessing." I tell her, wiping my mouth of any saliva.
"The Idol! You broke it!" The woman rushes over to the Altar, bends down and tries to gather up the splinters. "Leave it. It's not recoverable." I tell her. She glares at me with anger burning in her eyes.
"How dare you?! I know you saved the lives of many last night, but to then go and desecrate our Idol?" She hisses. "Where's the old one?" I ask, ignoring her anger. She opens her mouth as if to say something, but it seems she thinks better of it. "Old one?" She asks, instead.
"The Idol that broke, it was to Noctus. Before that Idol took the place of the old one, this was a Church devoted to one of the Divine, most likely The All-Mother." I explain. Is she slow on the uptake, or has this village worshiped Noctus for several generations?
"... Most likely, it is stored somewhere within the Crypts." She answers, hesitantly. "Will you show me the way to the Crypts, then?" I ask her. "Why do you do this?" She mumbles.
I pause. "Because this village is in danger. I'm not entirely sure of what sort, but certainly a monster is among you, drinking your blood and spreading disease. It reigns unhindered, because this Church is without its Idol, and without the Idol, there is no Blessing of Truth."
She stares at the tiny pile of splinters she's managed to gather thus far. "This Blessing, what does it do?" She finally asks. "It prevents the use of Shapeshifting Skills. It unmasks any monster that might try to blend in with the villagers. If we restore the Idol, and hold a sermon, if the monster is among the villagers, it will be revealed." I explain.
Just how long has this village been without a Brother or a Sister to tend the Church?
*ScannIng HistoriKal reCordS. Answer: Last knowN Acolyte died 50 yearS Ago. MisManagement Led to nO replAcemeNt.*
I ignore the slight headache that World Knowledge just gave me. Mismanagement by who though, the Queen of Harmek? No matter. So long as I ensure they don't get rid of the Idol this time, it should solve the problem, at least for one generation.
"Over here, this hatch leads to the Crypt." The woman waves at me from a doorway. Oh right, I tend to space out when I talk to World Knowledge. "Ah, thank you." I thank her as I follow her. The hatch, a nondescript wooden door inserted in the brickwork of the floor, seems to not have been touched for a while.
The woman tries to open it. "Augh, I- I think it's rusted shut..." She groans as she gives up. "Maybe we should go get Birk, the blacksmith, he's strong." She suggests. "Let me try." She moves aside, shrugging, as if to say 'I'm pretty sure we're equally strong, but whatever'.
I give the hasp a good tug, managing my strength as to not yank the entire thing free of its frame. I miscalculate though, and I end up ripping the ancient wooden hatch apart. "Oops." I mumble, glancing at the woman.
"I'm sure it was... damaged already, that door's never been replaced as long as this Church's been standing, I'm told." She tries to explain away my feat of strength. "I'll pay for the repairs." I murmur as I climb down the ladder, which seems to be equally as rickety as the hatch above it.
"Ah, don't you need a light to see?" The woman asks. Oh right, humans don't have perfect nightvision... "I know Light, give me a moment once I get to the bottom of the ladder." I tell her. Once safely down, I cast Light. As I look back up, I almost get a facefull of bloomers as the woman descends after me.
"This thing seems-" She starts, just as the ladder gives out under her. She cries out in fear, her cry stopping short as I catch her. "You know, I actually haven't gotten your name yet." I ask her, sheepishly as she gets to her feet. "Wilhelma Copperfen, local Sister in absence of a proper one. You?" She brushes off her skirt and examines the remains of the ladder.
"Millibelle Voidreiser, travelling Healer." I introduce myself. She glances at me, her eyes betraying her thoughts. I ignore her, looking up at the opening several meters above us. I could just climb out, though I'd out myself as not a human by doing so. "Welp, I guess we're stuck here unless there's a way out elsewhere?"
Wilhelma thinks for a moment. "We don't use the Crypt for burials anymore, but there should be an entrance for getting bodies into it somewhere around here..." She tells me. "I guess we should try to find that then, and look for the Idol in the meanwhile." I suggest, Wilhelma nodding in agreement.
I'm sure this will turn out just fine, even though it feels like the darkness down here is more than it seems...
"Way to jinx it!"
Shush you, it's only jinxed if you claim it might be.
(~Next time! Looking through a spooky old crypt! Will Millibelle find the Idol? Is there something in the dark? A Grue maybe? Can Wilhelma do a Wilhelm Scream? Tune in next chapter to find out!~)