Ch 55: Race to the Sacred Dragonshrine

The plague spreading across Dragonroost, it has temporarily been stalled thanks to Angelorum Lux's insight. Just as things look grim, the box Johnny found at the lake proves invaluable.

            The mysterious plague spreading like wildfire, while Richter and Cortez aided the Dragon Knights in quarantining the sick, Elizabeth and the students met with Queen Valthrea. After Marcyl and Pyro explained to her what had happened, the Queen had a troubled look on her face as she said, “It certainly sounds as though this creature is related to the plague. The Dragon Knights we sent to investigate the lake found a trace sample of its body, no doubt the tentacle Karis severed with her sword, but Agana’s analysis of it so far has yielded no hint of a cure.” Addressing the Queen, Elizabeth said, “Have we verified that the water is contaminated?” Nodding gravely, the Queen replied, “We don’t know for certain where the contamination originated, but we’re assuming it’s the river’s source, a large spring in the northern mountains that draws water up from deep underground. We’ll be sending scouts to investigate it shortly, but in the meantime we’ll have to quarantine the sick and conserve all the untainted drinking water we have left.” 

Tilting her head back with a sigh, Queen Valthrea stared at the ceiling a moment as she said, “As bad as things are, had you not alerted us so quickly, we might have all been lost. Just before you arrived, a report came in that Darabin, a nearby Dragon Knight outpost that also get’s its water from the Rogan River, has already fallen completely into illness.” Frustrated by the situation, Pyro exclaimed, “Man, what’s going on here?! How does something like this just show up outta nowhere?!” Crossing her arms as she thought about the various possibilities, Elizabeth said, “If the spring draws water from underground, it’s possible it’s been festering deep in the ground for quite awhile now. Eventually it leaked out into the water and washed down the river like a piece of debris, and when it encountered you all and was injured, it simply retreated back upstream.”

            While Elizabeth and the Queen started to discuss rescheduling the search for the Sacred Dragonshrine, Marcyl noticed Johnny’s prolonged silence and glanced back to where he stood behind her. Seeing him fiddling with the strange metal box he’d found down at the lake, with a look of curiosity in her eyes, Marcyl said, “Whatcha got there Johnny?” Still unable to open the box, Johnny muttered, “Knowing my luck it’s just a piece of trash. I found it back at the lake and thought it looked like there might be something valuable in it.” Whirling around, now with full-blown stars in her eyes, Marcyl exclaimed, “Let’s open it! Maybe there’s treasure inside!” Getting distracted by their antics, Elizabeth looked over at them and started to say, “Will you two settle down, this is not the time for-” Suddenly Elizabeth stopped as she laid eyes on the box. Starting to walk over to him, as Johnny saw her coming, he nervously said, “O-ok, I’ll be quiet! On my name as Johnny Spark!” Stopping before him, Elizabeth stared at the box as she quietly said, “Where did you find that?” 

Blinking in surprise, Johnny looked at the box and then back at her as he said, “What this? It was sticking outta the mud at the lake and I tripped over it.” Holding out her hand, Elizabeth said, “Give it to me.” As Johnny handed it over, Marcyl eagerly asked, “Do you know what’s inside Elizabeth?” Looking at the box with a reminiscent look in her eyes, Elizabeth replied with certainty, “I do not know its contents, but this box belonged to my grandfather.” Moving in to take a better look, Pyro said, “Whoa, old man Wormwood?! How the heck did it get here?!” Coming to take a closer look as well, as the Queen approached, she asked, “Can you open it?” Nodding, Elizabeth said, “It’s locked by magic.”

            Holding the box before her, Elizabeth chanted, “Recludam.” As she recited the incantation, a loud click sounded from the box. With a look of great anticipation on her face, Marcyl said, “Ohhh! Is it open?!” Moving to open it, Elizabeth’s mind was racing as she thought, “Why is this here?! What could this mean?!” Opening the box, it was revealed to contain a flat, scale like white crystal as well as a note. Staring at the contents of the box for a moment, Elizabeth muttered, “What?” Eyeing the note, Queen Valthrea said, “Perhaps the note can explain.” Taking out the note and unfolding it, as she looked at the words scribbled upon it, Elizabeth said, “It’s written in one of grandfather’s codes…” Staring at the crystal appraisingly, Johnny looked as though he might start drooling as he said, “So what’s it say? Is this thing worth something? Maybe alotta somethings?” Reading the note, Elizabeth’s eyes widened as she whispered, “This is…!” Glancing briefly at Marcyl, Elizabeth said, “I need to speak with Richter and the Queen in private. You three go find Cortez and stay with him.” As Johnny and Marcyl made their objections, Pyro remained silent, staring at Elizabeth suspiciously as she thought to herself, “The way she glanced at Marcyl like that… My journalist’s blood is telling me that Elizabeth’s hiding something about Marcyl! I’m sure of it!”

            Arriving at a small courtyard within the keep, Richter spotted Queen Valthrea and Elizabeth sitting at a wrought iron table set up in the middle of the courtyard, and as they saw him as well, they waved him over. The fading sunlight cast an orange glow over the scenery, and the sound of running water coming from the fountains situated at the four corners of the courtyard hung in the air. Walking over and taking a seat at the table, Richter said, “I hear you’ve discovered something important?” Gesturing to the open box on the table in which the white crystal rested, Elizabeth said, “The key to the Sacred Dragonshrine.” His eyes nearly popping out of his head in surprise, Richter exclaimed, “WHAT?!” 

With a chuckle, Elizabeth said, “I can hardly believe it myself. Whatever combination of luck and fate this is, somehow all the answers have fallen right into our lap.” Holding up the note, Elizabeth continued, “The box Johnny found, which likely came to us through the same method as that monster, not only belonged to my grandfather, but held within it a note explaining Eldritch’s actions, as well as the nature of the plague we are currently facing.” Holding his hand out for the note, Richter said, “Might I read it?” Smirking, Elizabeth said, “It’s written in a code only I could understand. I’ll read it for you.” With that, she proceeded to read it aloud.

            “Dear Ellie, someday I know you will read my diary and learn what occurred that day in Renatus Forest. I’ve debated with myself many times whether I should remove those entries, but now that I’ve come here to Rusfa Isles and uncovered the truth behind Eldritch’s actions, I cannot bring myself to do so. At the same time, I cannot bring myself to reveal the whole truth in person, and so I will write this note and leave it here at the entrance chamber of the Sacred Dragonshrine. Knowing you, you’ll have no trouble finding it. Be aware though, that beyond this door are certain dangers, dangers that I was regrettably injured by. Even though I have managed to heal my wounds, I’ve contracted a disease that will likely kill me shortly after I return to the academy. Thankfully, it can only be spread if you come in contact with corrupted dragon’s blood directly, or I would be unable to return to the academy at all. It is a disease that affects the blood of its victim, born of a being called Pestilence who was imprisoned here in the Sacred Dragonshrine at the request of the sacred dragon’s allies, the Observers. They interrogated him, torturing him and spilling his diseased blood upon the floors of the shrine. His blood infected them with a disease that can even be passed on to one’s descendants, and although it’s almost incurable, it seems it’s one flaw is that it often skips generations. It was this disease that Marcyl unfortunately was born with.”

            “The corruption of the victim’s blood is different for different people and races, it seems to rapidly mutate into various strains, and therefore it’s very hard to predict or treat. Most Sacred Dragons did not fall to it for years after being infected, and I seem to have been just as lucky, but it’s completely possible for the disease to take hold in mere seconds, making one either mildly or severely ill as their blood turns, sometimes even invoking insanity. I have pieced together all of this from writings found within the Sacred Dragonshrine, and I am now certain that I understand what Eldritch was doing. He must have known he was infected with a dormant strain, and upon finding that Marcyl had not escaped danger through the generation skip, he took it upon himself to save her. This means she must have been affected almost immediately, but with untainted blood from a sacred dragon like himself, it is quite possible he was able to slow the disease’s progress in her body to a crawl. However, when I faced him in Renatus Forest, I believe he had recently made a mistake while giving Marcyl her blood transfusion. As I wrote in my diary, he acted strangely and refused to give up Marcyl or explain himself. I’m almost positive this was because he had come in contact with Marcyl’s blood and fell into insanity.”

            “Also as was written in my diary, I had no choice but to fight. I can only count my blessings now when I think about what would have happened had I touched any of the blood he shed, but even more fortunate was Marcyl. With Eldritch dying and I myself unaware of the disease, her fate would have been sealed if not for his final words. He told me that only the power of Vas Initio could save those of cursed blood. At the time I did not understand, but when Marcyl fell ill after returning to the academy, I quickly realized it and brought her to the chamber where Vas Initio was held. She took a fragment of its power into herself, and though Vas Initio has been slightly unstable since, no sign of illness remained in her. It was these events that pushed me to come here, and while Vas Initio is likely too unstable now to save me as well, I do not regret the fact that I was able to clear the name of my precious great granddaughter’s father. Should you choose to explore the shrine itself, take great care Ellie… Love, Nelius Wormwood.”

            After Elizabeth had finished reading her grandfather’s letter, Richter folded his hands together and leaned against the table with his elbows as he said, “So the contamination in the water is diseased blood? None of this explains why it’s suddenly running amuck after all these years, but this indeed gives us many of the missing puzzle pieces.” Grinning at him approvingly, Elizabeth replied, “You never fail to impress Richter. Some people would look at what we’ve learned first, but you’ve immediately zeroed in on the missing piece to this puzzle. In order to truly end all of this, I have a feeling we’ll have to go find the answer to that.” Folding up the letter and placing it back in the box with the crystal, as Elizabeth shut the lid, Queen Valthrea turned to her and said, “I’m glad to hear of Eldritch’s innocence as well. Still, even though your grandfather left us the key, where is the entrance to the Sacred Dragonshrine?” Moving to sit back properly in his chair, Richter said, “Most likely at the river’s source. With any luck, we’ll be able to neutralize the source of the plague and retrieve the Sacred Dragon Gem all at once. The only matter that won’t be solved is a cure…” 

As she stored the box in her pocket again, Elizabeth nodded and said, “Despite having Vas Initio’s power within her, Marcyl doesn’t know how to use it yet. Hopefully the Sacred Dragon Gem can help with that as well, but for now all we can do is make sure everyone is aware of how the disease spreads.” Rising from her seat, Queen Valthrea said, “Very well, I’ll arrange an escort for you immediately.” Suddenly a voice said, “We will be accompanying them as well.” Jumping out of his chair as he looked around for the bearer of the all too familiar voice, as Richter saw him step into the courtyard, he donned an ear to ear grin as he exclaimed, “Serius!” Approaching the table, the water dragon Agana following behind him, Serius met his gaze and replied, “It seems I’ve missed quite a bit in my absence. I’ve heard what happened to Fox as well. If only I had been there…” 

Coming up to stand beside him, Agana said, “As long as we procure the Sacred Dragon Gem, he can still be saved. I’m more concerned by this plague, but it sounds like we can count on Angelorum Lux to bring all this to a close.” Adjusting her spectacles smugly, Elizabeth rose from her chair to go as she said, “Leave it to us!” Having secretly hidden behind a pillar along the edge of the courtyard, as she poked her head out and watched them all leave, Pyro thought in disbelief, “Man… Did old man Wormwood seriously mean it when he said ‘great granddaughter’?! Marcyl is the Headmistress’ own daughter?!”

            Making her way back to Marcyl and the others, Pyro stared at the ground as she walked the halls of the keep, lost in thought. Reaching the entry hall, she suddenly clutched her head and cried out in frustration, “Gah! So now what?! Should I really just go and tell Marcyl something like this?!” She nearly jumped out of her skin as Marcyl’s voice said, “Tell me what?” Walking up the entry hall with Johnny and Professor Cortez, as Marcyl approached her, Pyro sputtered, “N-n-nothing! I d-don’t know what you mean!” As Pyro laughed nervously, Marcyl made a pouting face and said, “Aww, but you just said you had something to tell me! No fair keeping secrets!” A bead of sweat rolling down her face, Pyro thought, “But this… This is something way too big for me to be the one to tell her! But I mean, if the Headmistress isn’t gonna tell her…” 

Suddenly a voice started shouting through the hall, “Where’s Mom?! Where is she?!” Everyone turned to see Karis come storming up the entry hall, and Johnny simply muttered, “What the hell’s she yelling about now? Her mother?” Completely forgetting about Pyro, Marcyl donned a big grin and waved merrily at Karis as she called out, “Hey Karis!” Karis simply shouted at her, “You seen Mom or not?!” Coming into the entry hall, Queen Valthrea locked eyes with Karis and said, “Calm down Karis, what’s wrong?” Approaching the Queen, Karis was almost hysterical as she said, “Mom, Vasuki is getting worse and worse! Why isn’t anyone doing anything about this yet?!” Hearing her call the Queen ‘Mom’, Johnny exclaimed, “No effing way! Karis is HER daughter? She’s a princess?!” Smacking him on the head, Cortez said, “Enough, you’re being impolite.” Chuckling, Queen Valthrea turned to them all and said, “Yes, Karis is my precious little girl.” Quickly turning red, Karis exclaimed, “Mom!” Looking at the two of them with a serious expression, Pyro thought, “It’s not right! Marcyl should know! Still, it has to be the Headmistress who tells her. One way or another, she’s gonna fess up!”

            Looking at her mother desperately, Karis said, “So what’s going on?! Are we close to finding a cure?!” Placing a hand on her daughter’s shoulder, Queen Valthrea said, “Angelorum Lux is going to investigate the river’s source immediately. We can count on them to figure out a cure, I’m sure of it.” Donning a determined look, Karis said, “I’m going too!” Shaking her head, as she released Karis and walked past her, Queen Valthrea said, “No, it’s too dangerous.” Calling after her mother as she walked off towards the keep entrance, Karis shouted, “I don’t care, I can’t sit here and do nothing!” Stopping, Valthrea glanced back with a stern glare and said, “My answer is final Karis! I know you’re worried, but this is no time to be reckless!” As the Queen continued on her way, Karis stood there clutching her fists and trembling as she stared at the floor, muttering, “Fine, if that’s how it is…” 

Suddenly coming up the hall, Ciestra approached Cortez and said, “Excuse me, Professor Cortez was it?” With a nod, Cortez replied, “How can I be of assistance?” Hesitantly, Ciestra said, “Due to the current crisis, we’re short on manpower. We will be even more so now that the Queen has ordered an escort for Angelorum Lux, and since you are not going to be accompanying them after all, I was wondering if you might be able to assist us in tending to the sick.” Glancing at his students momentarily, Cortez said, “I was supposed to watch these three, but I suppose I could send them to their rooms for the time being.” Grumbling a moment, Johnny said, “Seriously? This place is boring enough, but now we’re grounded too?” 

Listening in on the conversation, Karis walked over to Cortez and innocently said, “I’ll look after them if you want. I’m sure I could find something to keep them entertained…” The words had barely left Karis’ mouth before Marcyl appeared beside her, and beaming merrily as she latched onto Karis’ arm, she exclaimed, “Yay! Karis is gonna hang with us again!” Quickly Karis started to say, “H-hey, calm down you…” Chuckling to himself as he watched their antics, Cortez said, “Very well. You are the Queen’s daughter, and you seem to get along well. I’ll entrust them to your care.” Marcyl still clinging to her, Karis swallowed her pride and simply gave a laugh as she said, “Err, yeah… Just leave em to me!”

            As Cortez made his exit with Ciestra, Johnny turned to Karis and said, “Weren’t you complaining about having to babysit earlier? Don’t go thinking Johnny Spark needs someone to hold his hand!” Pulling away from Marcyl, Karis replied, “You’d rather sit in your room smartmouth?” Eyeing her suspiciously, Pyro said, “You’ve made it pretty damn clear you don’t like us, so you can’t expect us to believe you’re doing this just to be nice. What are you trying to pull here?” Letting out a frustrated sigh, Karis said, “Look, just hear me out. If they’re not gonna take me along, then I’m going out there and investigating the source of this plague myself! If I take the flying machine Vasuki built, I can get out there in no time at all, but the catch is it’d take two people to fly it.” Quickly and enthusiastically, Marcyl raised a hand and said, “Flying machine?! I’ll do it, I’ll do it! Pick meeeeeee!” 

Everyone staring at Marcyl a moment in embarrassment, Karis finally looked back at Pyro and Johnny as she said, “Yeah… So can one of you two come with me?” Hanging her head in sadness, Marcyl whined, “That’s not nice at all Karis!” Ignoring her, Karis added, “It’s not that hard to fly, I can show you everything you need to know!” Grinning smugly, Johnny said, “You know, this is a mighty tall favor you’re asking here. Just what do we get outta the deal?” Crossing her arms with an annoyed sigh, Pyro said, “It doesn’t matter, there’s no way! All of us would be in serious trouble!” Scoffing, Karis remarked, “Like I care! Vasuki is in serious trouble already! I refuse to leave his fate in the hands of a bunch of outsiders!” Irked by her comment, Johnny retorted, “You’re asking for the help of outsiders right now aren’t you? You’re sure fussing a lot over a guy you treated like dirt yesterday!” 

Showing a brief look of surprise, after a moment Karis’ expression became depressed and she simply hung her head in shame. Closing in on Johnny and grabbing him by the collar of his shirt, Pyro angrily shouted, “What the hell is wrong with you?!” Just as Johnny was about to remark back, Karis sank to her knees and quietly said, “I know that! That’s why! That’s why I can’t sit here and do nothing! What if I don’t get another chance to make up with him?!” As Karis’ start to break down into tears, Marcyl knelt down and hugged her as she said, “You really love Vasuki, huh Karis?”

            While Marcyl tried to console Karis, Pyro drifted into thought, thinking, “It might help Marcyl understand her past and her people to go there. Maybe we’d even learn something about her father, Eldritch…” Starting to utter her thoughts aloud without realizing it, Pyro added, “Not only would Elizabeth kill us though, how would we even get in? It sounded like the Sacred Dragonshrine was locked up from what was written in old man Wormwood’s letter.” Upon hearing this, Johnny turned to her with a sly look and said, “Oh, so that’s how it is huh? You were eavesdropping on the Headmistress, weren’t ya Pyro?” Jerking back to her senses, Pyro laughed nervously and said, “Ah, well… Yeah, just a bit of harmless curiosity…” 

Having heard as well, Karis wiped her tears and said, “The Sacred Dragonshrine? So it’s not just a myth? I heard how Mom thinks we can use the stone from that shrine to save your friend, but I never thought they’d find it.” Turning her head to glance at Marcyl sitting next to her, Karis added, “If that’s how it is, the door should open for Marcyl. As a sacred dragon, her touch should serve as a key.” Greatly surprised by this, Pyro exclaimed, “What?! But that crystal is supposed to be the key!” Eager to offer her opinion on the mystery, Marcyl said, “I know! Maybe the crystal is a dragon scale!” Remembering its appearance, Johnny grinned and said, “Hey, you know it did look like one!” Bowing her head suddenly, Karis blurted out, “Anyways, if that’s the way it is, I couldn’t possibly do this without your help! Please, despite my pride as the daughter of Queen Valthrea herself, I BEG you! Help me save my most important person!” 

Pumping a fist, before Pyro or Johnny could object, Marcyl exclaimed, “Yeah, we’ll definitely help you save Vasuki!” Trying to be a voice of reason, Pyro said, “I wanna help too Marcyl, but the Headmistress and Professor Cortez would be way too pissed!” Making puppy dog eyes at Pyro, Marcyl said, “We gotta help Karis though!” The two staring each other down a moment, Pyro finally clutched her hat in frustration and muttered, “Man. Guess there’s no choice. You’d go by yourself no matter what I say, and then Elizabeth would really kill me!” Springing up and closing the distance, Marcyl hugged Pyro and exclaimed, “Yay!” Rolling his eyes at their antics, Johnny said, “You just can’t say no to her can you? Don’t think Johnny Spark is gonna be there to save you when that blob shows up!” Marcyl still clinging to her, Pyro looked at him slyly and said, “Heh, so the great Johnny Spark is just a wimp after all?” Defending his honor immediately, Johnny exclaimed, “Hell no! I’ll go, just watch!” Watching them bickering, a reluctant smile crept onto Karis’ face as she thought, “These guys… aren’t so bad after all…”