“Shit…” Tilly cursed under his breath.
“Just perfect!” The woman said, barging past the elder and Hiro to join her colleague over the child. She placed the back of her hand on the little girl's head and pulled it away immediately. She whirled around to face Tilly, her eyes flashing with rage.
“YOU! Tell me what Ability you tried to use, and its effects. Now.” She demanded, thrusting the fingers of her right hand into his chest while reaching into one of her many pockets menacingly.
“I didn’t use any abili-” Tilly's agitated reply was cut off by the sudden sound of a deep racking cough from the girl. She was almost choking and the minotauress lifted up her small convulsing form to attempt to give her a better angle to expel whatever she was dislodging.
The coughing was so violent that it completely derailed the conflict as all eyes moved towards the girl in concern, not even the hardest of their number able to witness the death of a small child with indifference.
With a final choking heave she spat out something dark and viscous on the table. It was terrible to imagine something like that in the girl's lungs. But upon expelling it, the girl displayed obvious relief, sighing and leaning back into the minotauress' arms and breathing easily for the first time.
Then to his horror, Tilly noticed the small back coagulations start to move on its own. Before he could even cry out, Hiro’s midnight-black blade was flashing down on the table. Destroying the substance and leaving a significant score on the work surface.
“What in the Name of the Gods is going on?!” The portly minotaur shouted, finally rising from his chair. The human woman looked back and forth between the stain and the little girl now breathing easily, clearly processing the new circumstances.
Tilly took advantage of the pause in the conflict to pull up his notification log and scan over the last few minutes.
Congratulations! You have unlocked a new ability: [Blue] Flame’s Renewal. As a reward for unlocking an ability not seen on Nephesh for several Epochs, you have been awarded the Title: [Hostile Environment].
-[Blue] Flame’s Renewal: At the cost of 10% of your total mana, you impart the purifying nature of your indwelling flame, greatly increasing the recipient's ability to remove curses, poisons, and infections from their body. This Ability has been augmented by your mantle and does 200% more damage to Corruption.
[Hostile Environment]: Due to the unique nature of your physical body, foreign substances have a hard time persisting within your physical body. Poisons, Viruses, and Physical Curses will be 50% less effective against you. This Title scales with Endurance.
Hiro took the time to look at each of the occupants in the room before sheathing his sword and calmly stating, “That is why he is in this room. He has shown remarkable ability against a new threat that we hardly understand, and if we are going to succeed in our endeavors, we will need him.”
All the eyes in the room turned back towards Tilly as several things hit him at once. First, the sicknesses presenting in the children were being augmented by Corruption. Second, he was once again facing a problem way above his pay grade, and third, by some deus ex machina bullshit, he was the most effective means of combating this thing's influence on the world.
As each of these pieces fell into place, he had to fight down rage at the idea of their enemies using this tactic to bog down the healers and medicinal resources in the city. The Cult of the Serpent and their allies had clearly accepted Corruption's influence and now even children were valid targets.
Amelia processed Hiro's words with a thoughtful groan, taking another look at the peacefully sleeping child.
“Why am I not surprised? I knew there was something magical influencing their debuff, but I could not dispel it, no matter what alchemical solutions I tried. The city’s Temple of Light has been swamped for days with these cases, and they can barely dispel it, even with their focus on healing and purification.” She wondered aloud looking up from the girl to Tilly with understanding dawning in her eyes.
“I finally see why they think we bring calamity. It was bad before, but now with this infecting our weakest populations and you showing up just in time with some special Ability to beat it… I can't help but connect you with this turn of events.”
At this, Hiro growled, “Think what you will Mrs. Cooper, but the Abomination was assaulting our people a month before Jonathan Tillman arrived. In my weaker moments, I have begun to think there are still some Gods left in this plane that care.” He answered, matching the heat in her eyes with an authoritative coolness that did much to diffuse the tension in the air.
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“Look, I didn't ask for any of this. I'm just here trying to do my best. All I can tell you is that my system notifications call this stuff Corruption and I have a strong feeling that it is breaking into this plane every place it can find purchase. I don't know how much the higher powers of this world know, but someone up there,” He said pointing up, “called Origin gave me a chance to come here and try and make a difference. I'm not proud of who I had become in my old life and I'm trying to do better. So…” He said, thrusting out his hand, “My name is Jonathan Tillman, I was a firefighter back home, and now I'm something called a ‘Son of Flame’ and because of events that transpired back near the Lapin village, I am now supposedly a Champion of the deity Origin... I'm here to help.”
He stood there awkwardly for a good three seconds as she blinked rapidly at the change of pace in the conversation before thrusting out her own hand and shaking his firmly, some of the icy regard in her gaze thawing.
“My name is Amelia Cooper and a long time ago I was a landscape architect. Now I am a Botanist Surveyor. My abilities can be used in combat, but are more geared towards harvesting, preserving, and capturing flora of the magical variety.” She then let go of his hand, “I have been here for decades, and trust me when I say, you have a lot to learn if you want to survive, especially in your first year.”
Tilly nodded, “Yeah, I got plenty of questions. What I can't seem to find is the time to get them answered.” He responded wryly. Amelia quirked a smile and turned back towards the table.
“That is exactly why we are here today, we need to work together if any of us are going to survive the week, and it's time to start sharing notes. Heras, take the girl and boy back downstairs, continue keeping watch for guards please.” She said with finality, moving around her assistant and back to the work table with the map.
Heras frowned in disappointment, but did as she was told gently lifting the sleeping girl and shooing the complaining boy out the door, “Wait, does this mean I'm gonna have to smell his breath?” The retreating sound of his high voice traveled up the steps even as he went down.
“I think the Temple… will want to know… about this ability.” Elder Kihei chimed in.
“Exactly what I was thinking, as soon as we are done here, he can treat the children present and then move to the temple and after that the quarantine quarter.” The botanist responded without even looking over at Tilly.
“Uh, I'm all for helping, but that sounds like a lot of people. I'm pretty sure I can only do this ability ten times before my mana runs out.” Tilly cut in, more than a little perturbed that they were already trying to move him around like a pawn on a chessboard.
“He has been marked for death by the Marcellus family. He will stay with me, or someone of equivalent ability. They will find us again soon and he is not ready to face what they will send next. Last night we fought Apepi and a full death squad... Within the city walls.”
At this, the scarred satyr soldier flinched as if struck, and the portly minotaur shook his head in disappointment.
“How many more do you think are within the walls?” The soldier asked gravely.
“Linus, it does not matter if they are within or without. We are a broken nation already. When their army arrives, they will find the way open to them. Marcellus, the Purists… others whom we do not know. They will all turn at the perfect moment, willing to be puppets for just a morsel of more power.”
At this, the Minotaur bristled and half rose out of his chair,
“Well, that is exactly why we are leaving tomorrow! The Great Caravan will leave, no matter what your Cura has to say about it. It is clear that there is no protection here for us, so we will move on, we are mobile people and the Grey Steppe is more than enough to stop the snakes.”
“We all know you are leaving Cephalus. My question remains. How many will you take with you?” Amelia shot back in frustration.
“All of our people of course. But more than that I cannot say, supplies are tight in the city, and we are no charity.” Cephalus said, wringing his fat hands. Whether in fear or greed, Tilly could not say.
“We are authorized to open the imperial treasuries at this time to any and all efforts to defend the empire and her people. Can we convince any of the free companies to stay and fight?” the formally dressed satyr added in, speaking for the first time in Tilly’s hearing.
“That is very… ah generous of you. We will take as many as we can through the Steppe, but our people will not die in a pointless fight. Lord Hiro has said it. This city will fall. All we can do is save what we can while we still have a chance.” Cephalus responded, sorrow coloring his tone for the first time.
“Who exactly… has authorized this… old friend?” Elder Kihei asked.
“You understand the fractured nature of the Cura… So we have been sworn to secrecy until this time. I am permitted to say this: His Majesty knows he has failed in his duties. He is not gone as some have claimed, rather he is husbanding all of his remaining strength to spend it when it is most needed. It is with his blessing that I am attending this meeting. We cannot save the city. But we will do what we can to save her people. Hiro, we know that duty alone has bound you to the throne, and your duty is almost up. But the throne calls upon your honor one last time. Take as many of the helpless that remain as you can. Consider a final order from your emperor.”
Hiro took in the request, his resting frown deepening into something truly weighty, and Tilly saw the terrible conflict of duty and passion play out behind his eyes.
“I knew when he approved our venture there were strings. That old schemer has been planning for this for some time…” Hiro responded heavily, realizing that he had no choice but to risk the remainder of his people to save the others.
“He had many plans, and unfortunately they have come to naught. In the end, you have proved to be more loyal than many of the founding families of the empire, and for that he is sorry. But he does promise that a reckoning is coming.” The old satyr followed up, attempting to placate the Samurai Lord on some level.
But at his words, Hiro's eyes only hardened, “I will obey, but here are my terms. One, my people will be first in line to leave. Two, I leave shelter and food as your problems to solve for however many make it through to our lands. In turn, your element will be treated as a third member state of the confederacy we will form. I offer you the same terms as the Honu. Is that acceptable to all present?”