[Get ready, imminent danger]
He read the message, the System was alerting him to danger, so it was clear what was about to happen...
"Damn it... I haven't even had time to understand the basics..." he muttered as he looked inward.
"You all, prepare for any imminent trouble," Strax said to the bored woman. Ouroboros was lying down completely relaxed while Kallamos fanned her.
"Yes, boss," Kallamos said, bowing quickly. Strax looked at the scene, unsure of what was going on, and seeing how Ouroboros didn't seem like she was going to respond...
"She's training Kallamos," Tiamat said with a sigh. "I tried to intervene, but it's pointless..." she added.
"Ah... I need to get you out of me. I'll handle that mess soon and get you all bodies," Strax said, snapping back to reality.
He glanced around the room, observing the woman who was calmly sipping a glass of water. Sylvia took a few sips but soon stopped, her gaze drifting into something Strax couldn't quite understand.
"The spiders... and the darkness... I can't forget," she murmured, her memories still consuming her.
"You don't need to remember right now. Let's take care of your arm first," Strax said, trying to shift her focus. He watched as Monica mixed herbs, creating a paste that could help with the infection.
'Every day, I'm more impressed by her intelligence. She not only has a photographic memory, but she learns things easily... She's been reading about herbs for just two days, and now she's able to make a solution...' he murmured, observing Monica closely.
"This should ease the pain and help your skin heal. Avoid moving too much; it might sting a bit, but it's better than dying," Monica said, gently applying the paste to Sylvia's injured arm. "Feel free to scream if it hurts. Don't hold it back; it might help. Don't worry, you're in a safe place."
Sylvia bit her lip as Monica applied the paste, a pained expression crossing her face. "Sorry, I can't help it..." she started, but Strax interrupted her.
"It's alright. You're doing your best. I'm here," he reassured her, holding her hand firmly.
"Thank you," she murmured, looking at him with gratitude. There was a connection forming, a bond in the midst of chaos.
After some time, the paste was applied, and the potions were prepared. Roderick stepped away for a moment to check the security of the house. "It's all clear for now, but we can't afford to relax. If those spiders are as dangerous as you said, they could be near the duchy," he reported upon returning.
"Do you know where this poison comes from?" Strax asked, his mind racing for possible solutions.
"Not for sure. But it seems to be a poison derived from some magical creature. If it's spiders like she mentioned... it could be something older, something we haven't seen in a long time. This kind of poison is rare, and the few records we have are scarce. Magical Arachnid Beasts are something our continent barely deals with because the climate here is quite hostile for their existence," the healer shook his head. "You'd need to at least confirm the species so I can produce the antidote, and if possible... a sample of the poison would be ideal."
"That's going to be difficult... But I'll do whatever it takes to save Sylvia," Strax said, his voice heavy with determination. "Is there any treatment you can continue to apply to slow the poison's advance?"
"I've done what I could for now, and I'll leave some remedies. But it's palliative, just to buy more time. The real problem is that the poison is slowly destroying her body, and without an antidote or a specific cure, I'm afraid there's not much more we can do."
Strax took a deep breath, trying to control the frustration burning inside him. He looked at the healer, who seemed genuinely desolate at the lack of options.
"Thank you for your help," Strax said, his voice low. "I'll take care of the rest."
The healer nodded, gave him one last look of sympathy, and left silently, leaving Strax alone in the hallway, with the distant sound of Sylvia's heavy breathing coming from the room.
[Legendary Quest: Save Sylvia and gain a new functionality from the System]
Strax stared at the golden screen in front of him, the words floating in the air like a sentence.
The legendary mission felt almost like a cruel joke, considering the state Sylvia was in.
'What the hell... I thought about ignoring it and letting her die, but...' He clenched his fists, feeling the frustration burning once again in his chest.
"You're very evil, you know?" Strax murmured, directing his words at the System. He knew the System always seemed to have a hidden purpose, a bigger plan that he often couldn't comprehend immediately. But to toy with someone's life like this... it deeply angered him.
The mission had its allure — "a new functionality from the System" was something that would catch anyone's attention, but for Strax, there was no choice. He was already committed to getting stronger, and now he was forced to perform such a miracle, with or without a reward. The difference now was that there was even more at stake.
He ran a hand through his hair, trying to focus. He needed a plan.
"Roderick should be back soon with Rogue and Samira, along with information about the surroundings," he thought.
"Well, it looks like I'll have to return to the Duke's mansion; I need to inform them about this... Damn it... had he already foreseen this and given me the hope of having six months of training?" he murmured before stepping back into the room, seeing Sylvia asleep.