Chapter 167

Chapter 167 Hope

CAS SANDRA

I struggled to keep up with Lancel’s long strides as we reached Merliscire. The older guard was much taller than I, so the effort made my heart race, but I managed to speed up enough to follow alongside him. His urgent gait only made my worry

increase.

What had Spi ke discovered?

And how did he manage to get Lancel’s attention in the first place? Had the guard been posted near the dungeon at the right time? Or had Spi ke merely waited for him to appear so he could relay the message?

Focus, Cas s andra, I urged myself. I knew the more questions I asked, the more I would panic, and I needed to remain level-headed. For all I knew, the news was going to be important, and I needed to be calm in order to think clearly.

When we reached the dungeon, we practically raced down the stairs until we arrived at the hall of cells. I nearly tripped as I speed-walked, but Lancel managed to steady me before I could fall and hurt myself on the cold stone floor.

“Thanks,” I said gratefully, and after he nodded, I slowed my pace and walked at a normal speed toward Spi ke’s cell.

As we approached, I was surprised to see that the imprisoned imposter was in such high spirits. His face was visibly excited, and his trembling hands repeatedly skimmed over the paper he held. He murmured phrases like “right”, “brilliant”, and “perfect”, and with each utterance, my curiosity grew stronger.

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As he noticed me, Spi ke tossed the paper aside onto the table and rushed over to the bars in an almost frenzied manner. His dark eyes were frantic, and if it weren’t for the iron fence that separated us, I wondered if he might have launched into an attack.

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“What’s going on?” I wondered, curious about our unexpected meeting. “Lancel mentioned you urgently wanted to see me. This isn’t our usual time to meet.”

Spi ke’s eyes glinted with even stronger intensity and he clenched the bars so tightly that his knuckles paled.

“Where did the water sample originate from?” he asked.

I hesitated for a moment as my stomach twisted into a knot as I considered telling him it was none of his concern. While confidentiality had been the name of the game this entire investigation, I quickly debated whether or not I needed to continue on with the secrecy.

But before I could make that call, Sp i ke spoke again.

“You were right, Cas sandra,” he blurted out. “The water you brought me is contaminated. If what I’ve uncovered is correct, it likely caused the disease that was recorded in the coroner’s report.”

My heart suddenly ski pped a beat and my l*ps parted in shock. I struggled to find words and my thoughts raced through my mind in disbelief.

Becky’s theory and suspicions had been correct.

The people of Wild Crawler were getting infected by their water supply.

I took a moment to men tally praise my a*sistant’s scientific mind. For someone so young, Becky was a force to be reckoned with, and I was lucky to have her as my partner. Her discovery had the potential to save a lot of lives.

But before I could get ahead of myself, I had to ask Sp i ke a question, one I’d been wondering since Becky had shared her theory.

“Does this discovery mean you could find a cure for the disease?” I wondered.

Spi ke’s l*ps curled downward into a slight frown, and I started to grow worried, but before I could panic too much, his expression shifted into one that was borderline arrogant.

O

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“Of course I can,” he proclaimed, and then his words grew even more confident. “I don’t appreciate you questioning my abilities, Healer Cas sandra. Though I’m not as proficient as some talented sorcerers, I hail from Dark Abyss, after all. I should be able to cure it easily.”

Relieved yet dizzy with euphoria at this revelation, I took a long, deep breath and tried to steady myself. This was an incredible development and I wasn’t sure how to handle this news.

“Well, please develop the cure as quickly as possible,” I urged him. “How long do you think it could take?”

At the mention of a timeframe, Spi ke hesitated, but then he shrugged.

“I won’t take too long,” he said nonchalantly. “Perhaps a week or so.”

“A week or so?” I repeated back in surprise, and again, my heart leaped in my chest. Could we really come that much closer to healing the people of Wegalla within a week?

Could we be that much closer to healing Asher in a week?

“Yes,” Spi ke replied.

“That would be perfect,” I agreed, eager for the results. “Please do your best, Spi ke. This could do wonders for the country.”

“Of course,” he said, and then he got a strange glint in his dark brown eyes. “You know, I could use something to inspire my creativity…”

“Oh?” I asked, and immediately, alarm bells rang out in my mind. “What did you have in mind?”

“I do my best work after a drop of ale,” he mused, and a devilish grin crossed over his l*ps. “Perhaps a mead or a nice wine would do the trick as well.”

I felt conflicted by the proposal. While giving the imposter at least a little something for all of his trouble, providing alcohol to a prisoner of the Alpha King’s

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raised viable concerns.

Lancel and I exchanged a glance and his eyebrow raised up but then he

nodded.

“I think something can be arranged,” I agreed cautiously. “Or at least be

considered.”

Spi ke nodded and then shrugged. “I suppose that’s all I can hope for. Now, leave me be. I would like to get to work at once if this is going to get done in a week. Goodbye, Healer Ca ssandra. The next time we speak, I should have something to give you.”

“Thank you, Spi ke,” I said gratefully. “I appreciate it.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, I gestured down the hall and Lancel began to lead me at once. As we ascended the stairs back up to the main floor of the palace, an idea crossed my mind..

“Lancel, is there a possibility of reaching the Alpha King?” I asked. “I think this is something he should be made aware of right away.”

But the older guard shook his head in response. “He’s unreachable. But he’ll return in a few days and he will be briefed then.”

“Okay,” I decided, though that answer didn’t satisfy me much. “And Lancel, I think it would be best for us to accept Spi ke’s request. I’ll bear the responsibility if anything goes awry.”

Lancel nodded and that was that.

I immediately returned to the clinic and relayed this new information to Becky, who appeared surprised.

“I was right?” she asked quietly and when I nodded she shook her head in shock. “Wow. I can’t believe it.”

“I know,” I agreed. “It’s insane.”

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“Well, I promise I’ll double-check the findings for accuracy,” she said. “Just to make sure that we’re not getting too excited.”

“Of course,” I said with a nod.

Hope surged through me as I anticipated sharing this new development with

Asher.

Hope. It was something I hadn’t felt in a while, and it was refreshing.