Chapter 562: Tainted ones

"Cheers to a great negotiation," said she without an ounce of regret. The debate turned to a one-sided volley of demands and expectations. Her way of talking seemed like a fierce knight carving her way through an army. Low-ranking military officers had no other options. Either bow to her whim or suffer the consequences. Even if she hadn't been part of Phantom, the talent in speechcraft would have given the same results. 

Thus, beyond a shadow of a doubt, Appy and the two others sat idly. The few released were allowed to fetch refreshments. 

"Truly a place needed for rebuilding, isn't that right?" asked she to Prince Julius.

"Yes, tis a mess."

"I wonder how much it might cost?" cup in hand, she sipped away gracefully. Corpses and dismembered limbs were carried inside wrapped dark-brown stained cloth. A disgusting sight of dragging entrails followed, she did naught but drink. No care for the massacre, no care for the lives lost or the bloodshed, a stern and melancholic visage watched. "Pretty good for a cheap brand," said she making for the couch, "-Sergeant Appy, have thee perhaps soiled thineself?" their eyes met.

"N-no, w-why w-would-"

"Then, don't look as so," said she dismissing his ramble.

"Lady Serene, how long will you remain?" asked Zoey bandaging her wounds.

"As long as the young master says," firmed she. "Besides, the lieutenant is on his way, we'll continue the deliberations."

"As you wish," nodded Tommy. Complete control, a firm grasp on the people and their actions. Full-black, her melancholic style of clothing was more of a warning. Needless to what anyone said, behind her face and light-makeup, laid another beast.

"We shall leave for now," said Julius. 

"Young Master," hailed the leader of the advance squad, "-we're treating them more humanely," said he strongly.

"Is that so?" glancing back, "-humanely huh…?" a forced hurdle of tied soldiers gagged by undergarments. "-What of the collars?"

"Disarmed them," said he.

"Good," smiled Serene smothering Julius in an affectionate embrace, "-cut them free, and keep an eye out. Report if anything goes amiss."

"Stop," coughed he, "-can't breathe."

"I'm terribly sorry, I thought you'd be a little stronger…"

"Shut up," breathing deep, "-you cautious about them?"

"Yeah," said she seriously, "-might go loud any minute. Well, their number is assurance. Viola, let's go for a walk."

"Alright," she joined and soon made trips about the yard. Checking on status, looking at those who died, helping in transport to the crematorium. None was afraid to get their hands dirty. 

The feeling of relief shared by the warriors didn't reflect that inside. Outside was a place of healing and comfort, inside, a place of doubt and scheming. 

"Can we trust them?" inquired Appy staring down the southern gate, '-how can she drink with such a sight? I feel nauseated.' 

"Nothing we can do but trust them," added Tommy, "-don't forget, they came here with a whole Platoon. Our numbers left standing is 2 squad worth, then again, considering the few able to fight, we could scrape together a Squad of 10. Against their 50, we're 5 on 1."

"I hear you," the door shut, "-I went out to check…" her face paled, emotions drained to her knees as if an unclosed faucet, "-the adventurers are on their side."

"The military's lost… let's wait for the Lieutenant." 

Minutes turned to hours; the ambulance came in viewing distance over the horizon. The critically wounded were healed, high-tier potions did most of the work. Those beyond magic's reach were handled easily by the medics. Then again, nothing went as planned.

"Lady Serene," the drooping excuse for an entrance flung open, "-urgent news."

"What's the matter?" asked Viola gathered around a cozy-looking table.

"The monster's curse. We can't heal them. It's spreading; unless we cut off arms and legs, they have around a few hours till the transformation finishes."

"Is that so," said Julius calmly, "-how many are there?"

"Around ten, we've treated the rest."

"How badly is the taint so far?"

"Pretty bad, we expect them to reach the spine in another few hours."

"They've been isolated?"

"Yes, young master," said he out of breath.

"Good, leave them be, draw a perimeter. We might have to cleanse them ourselves."

"Understood."

"Dismissed," interjected Serene. "-Cleanse them ourselves?" asked she tilting her head, "-the monster curse is the worst ailment since the yellow plague of the mage's war. Exorcisms have a twenty-percent success rate…"

"Right…" unable to act, the messenger carried orders till the isolation camp. Guard strongly secured the entrance; magically conjured barriers halted any unwanted advancement. The friends and close ones of the tainted sat with faces to the ground, praying and begging. It included the husband's wife, he who brought chaos in a time of crisis.

"What did they say?" asked he resting against the monolith of remembrance, "-are they safe?"

"No," said the messenger, "-depends on the development. The young master is deciding what to do next. They'll stay isolated for the time being."

"You can't," refuted he, "-she'll die if nothing is done!"

"Then so be it," said the father curled desperately, "-everyone's safe. I haven't heard from my daughter… waiting is what weaklings should do. Heed my words, I haven't forgiven the mess you and your party caused. Innocent lives were lost on a whim. It's fair if the wife dies, she led the revolt, did she not."

"Shut it," gritted he, "-don't talk about my wife!"

"Shut your mouth," a sword to his neck, "-mind your rank, Tier-8 Steel." A greenish tag shone. 

"You're Tier-6 Emerald?" he gulped. 

"Correct," from horizontal, it thrust down into the soil, "-now shut it."

Hidden and silent from view, aided by a few assistants; using Blood-Arts opposed to tools, the surgery went underway. Her condition, how to heal the injuries, and knowledge about the anatomy flowed to spiral in full. The hands worked almost subconsciously, no way to explain nor to teach, it happened without a word. Atop being shot, she'd lost blood and exposed to the curse. One by one, under the watchful eye of the nurse, he worked till exhaustion. 'Done, now the curse,' blank scrolls, courtesy of a local trader, spread about the room in a pentagram. "Stand back," voiced he loudly. 

The room sunk in pressure; '-I'd usually use Astral-Binding to trap the curse. However,' the right eye glimmered, '-I can see the mana-lines. The threads binding the curse to her.' *Mana Control: Wave Manipulation,* similar to Crimson Threads, the darker lines were led to the five pentagrams. 'Done,' *Snap,* they hovered to spiral about her body till meeting at her center of gravity, '-got it.' *Mana Control: Light Element Variant – Astro Krona.* white features manifested to hover weightlessly, '-cleanse,' the quills shot to riddle the scrolls. A flash of light ended the ordeal. 

"She's safe," he tumbled to catch the blunt edge of a shelf. 

"Are you ok?" asked the nurse.

"Yeah," blood dripped, "-I'm fine," panting on all fours, "-give me a moment to recover."

"Don't worry," said she courageously wrapping around his shoulders, "-let's get some fresh air," despite her size, she pushed and carried the startled alchemist outside.

"What you did there was amazing," said she falling back onto an opposing seat, "-hard to believe someone so young to be so knowledgeable."

"Well," he coughed, "-you impressed too. I barely spoke, yet you managed to help. Thanks for that."

"Are you ok though?"

"Yeah," said he, "-my injuries heal quickly," glancing up, "-see?" the cut faded.

Stamina, as well as mana potions soon brought the girl to her feet. She was healthy enough to walk but not overly strain. A trip to the hospital was in order. 

A few minutes passed, "Sir, she's awake and wants to head outside," said an attendant. 

"Huh?" cracking open a soft-drink can, "-she's awake already?"

"Yes," said the assistant.

"Bring her out then," he downed the drink. 

"Hey," said the nurse ambling opposite the hall, "-my name's Mina."

"Introductions now?"

"Is it weird?" the dirtied outfit showed how much she had worked. The tan-skin complexion, brown hair, brown eyes, and a gently yet standoffish rounded nose. Rosy lips and very sharply shaped lashes. A small stature look-wise, many would say she's below average. Even so, the courage displayed and amount of work deserved credit. 

"I'm Igna Haggard, nice to meet you, Mina. Frankly," he held another can, "-I respect you."

"W-what a-are you saying," the response returned a little more erratic. 

"Giving credit where it's due," pressing the cold drink to her forehead, "-stop daydreaming." 

A harsh gust blew, the weather grayed during the day. Many fighters were on their feet trying to help others. Rations were handed from the cafeteria. 'Looks like they've healed most of the injured.' A commotion rose at the northern entrance. Lieutenant Mello arrived with members from the central guild. The group advanced along the yard and cut straight for the military quarters. 

"Igna, we better run."

"Why?" asked he staring at the strong individuals.

"They're from the guild, investigators who are merciless when safety is concerned. Mello's scared, look, it's bad."

"Don't worry," behind said supposed fearsome party, walked another, Julius, Viola, and Serene.

"Igna," a quick embrace, "-let's catch up after this."

"As you wish cousin," he nodded. Viola and Serene followed behind, the latter glanced up and down to then stop.

"Can I help you?" 

"Emotionless, no care for the living," she leaned close, "-the stench of death, not to mention the rare aroma of the progenitor," a whisper turned hug, "-you're back, aren't you!"

"Shush, there's no need to make a scene out of it," cold and straightforward, the lady happily backed away with a bashful expression. "Can you do me a little favor, master?"

"Favor?"

"Yes, sorry to spring this on you, the negotiations might get harder. Treat the tainted ones, pretty please."

"Sure," said he, "-good to see you've outgrown the seductress phase."

"Oh no," she gently caressed his lips, "-this leaves more room to the imagination."

"Go, go."

"Alright," she soon returned with Julius. 

"Do you know them?" asked Mina.

"Yes, the princely charmed man is my cousin."

No time wasted, treatment for the tainted went underway. The real problem came in form of the two investigators from the guild. Table and seats were set, Mello remained at the head whilst Appy, Tommy, and Zoey stood in the background. Julius, Serene, and Viola sat menacingly; the pressure had the investigator's stern expression dissolve without effort. 

"Shall we start?" inquired Serene, "-I presume details have been explained to the Lieutenant and the investigator?" the latter hung onto one another's visage, the silent treatment and expectations forced them to stare Mello.

"Yes," said he, "-I know the situation. Our esteemed guests from the guild aren't up to date with the information."

"In that case, let me summarize the state of things. New monsters sprawled into life beyond the walls. Reforge took enormous damage, lost more than 75% of their fighting force, and has been backed into a corner. The responsibility lies in the Guild's hand. Security of the wall, protection as well as maintenance fall in thy jurisdiction. As you see outside, the military has done their job in protecting the populous."

Meanwhile, inside the isolated camp, a strange piece of paper fell from the collar. '-What's this?'

"Interrogate the lady, she's responsible for the mutiny. I need her for the negotiations, the guild is about to pay big for hurting our young master."

'What's she thinking… well, if Serene's scheming, might as well join. Things are never boring when she takes the stage.' One by one, the tainted survivors had the curse lifted. 

"Mina," approaching the last, "-can you get out and ask the guard to block off access. She's nearly dead. The curse is far more potent. I'll need time, alone." 

"Alright," said she innocently. 

'Well then,' *Death Element: Magical Barrier.* 

"-w-who a-are you?" consciousness regained.

"No one special," said he destroying the curse, "-I've got a few questions."

"A-a-about what?"

"The mutiny," he smirked, "-we've captured the other members. Everyone else died without saying a word. Ladies go last," said he holding a knife, "-in torture that is."