ETA on Chapter 13 is tomorrow.

World Advancement Chapter 12:

Alric and Meredith ran back to the slums to find Catherine in order to tell her about what they had found at the lake and to assist her in any way possible.

What they found when they returned was the Squirrel-Woman frantically rushing around the main square, from person to person, administering medicine, performing healing magic, and handing out food.

Alric and Meredith stopped Catherine to find out how they could help.

“Catherine, we’ve found and cleared the source of the sickness. It was the lake, it had been contaminated.” (Meredith)

Meredith left out the part about the contamination being intentional because she was aware that the square was a crowded place and that there may be someone listening in. Furthermore, she did not want Catherine to stress out worrying about the situation.

“You seem stretched thin helping all these people, how can we help?” (Alric)

“Alric, hand out this medicine to anyone who has not received it yet. It helps the body remove any foreign materials. Meredith, are you able to use basic healing magic?” (Catherine)

“I can but right now I am out of mana.” (Meredith)

“Ok, then I will continue using the healing magic. Meredith you hand out this food to anyone I heal. It is very important that each person do this in the right order. First the medicine, then the magic, and then the food.” (Catherine)

They quickly organized the slum dwellers into three lines.

First they would take the medicine, then they would head over to Catherine to receive the healing magic.

Alric observed as Catherine cast the magic on the sick slum dweller.

“Renovo!” (Catherine)

Using his ability to sense the flow of the magic and the state of the recipient’s body Alric noticed that the magic was simply stabilizing and speeding up the man’s metabolism.

The medicine, which would have taken much longer to work had the spell not affected it, quickly stimulated the man’s cells to release the lead built up inside.

Following this the man became very hungry and required the food that Meredith was handing out.

They continued this process for a few hours until all the slum dwellers had been treated.

This method would not heal them of the symptoms immediately, but with both the source and the contaminant itself gone their lives were no longer in danger.

Worried about the culprit behind the poisoning Alric and Meredith refrained from speaking about the events that had transpired and kept on their guard until they left the city.

Once outside the city Alric spoke up.

“Catherine, that sickness was no accident. Someone poisoned the lake with this.” (Alric)

Alric took out the pouch of lead shavings and showed them to Catherine.

“Cursed Iron! Only someone with connections could get this out here.” (Catherine)

“I believe we may be dealing with someone who is in a place of power and influence, we should watch our backs we may already be in their sights.” (Alric)

“I would have to agree. Still, how were you two able to get it out of the water, I believe a simple cleansing spell would not have removed this.” (Catherine)

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“Uhmmm…” Meredith’s voice trailed off unsure of what to say.

“It’s alright, I planned to tell her anyway.” (Alric)

“I used my most powerful cleansing spell, but it didn’t affect the cursed iron just like you guessed. In the end I used up all my mana cleansing the lake.” (Meredith)

“Then how did you do it?” (Catherine)

“I did it. I used class one magic to pull this lead out of the water.” (Alric)

“Are you kidding me? You pulled one substance in many pieces from a body of water that size using only class one magic? That would require both tremendous magic control and mana. That’s just not possible.” (Catherine)

“It’s true, I was there. He really did do it, the amount of mana was more than I had ever seen in my life and he was even standing afterwards.” (Meredith)

“How?” (Catherine)

“I plan to fully explain to the two of you once we return to Berrik. You both selflessly helped the slum dwellers even though you stood to gain nothing so I believe I can trust you. For now I will just say that it has to do with my race. I am sorry for leading you to believe otherwise when we first met Catherine, but I am not actually an elf.” (Alric)

“That’s okay I’m sure you had a good reason for doing so.” (Catherine)

“Anyway lets hurry back to Berrik, I have a bad feeling about this situation. (Meredith)

-Eben, middle ring, Soon after Alric cleansed the lake-

The man nervously stood outside the door to his master’s study, waiting to deliver the bad news.

As his master did not take well to any bad news he was worried that his anger might be taken out on him.

“Enter.” (Noble)

The man walked into the study.

“What is it? Can’t you see I’m busy?” (Noble)

“My lord, it is pertaining to the matter with the physicians.” (Man 1)

“Ah, I assume they gave up and left?” (Noble)

“Just like all the others… hahaha!” (Noble)

“My lord, I am afraid that they did not leave. Furthermore it seems that they successfully healed the slum dwellers and cleansed the lake.” (Man 1)

“Now I just have to… WHAT THE HELL DID YOU JUST SAY!?!?” (Noble)

“ARE YOU TELLING ME THOSE THREE PHYSICIANS SINGLE-HANDEDLY HEALED EVERY SLUM DWELLER AND CLEANSED THE LAKE!?!? WHAT THE FUCK!?!? THE CRIMSON RING SAID THAT METHOD WOULD BE UNHEALABLE!!!!” (NOBLE)

The noble shouted as he drew his mace and began thoroughly destroying a nearby table.

“Damn! Now all my money is tied up in the preparation for that land! Those bastards are going to pay for getting in my way! (Noble)

“Servant! Tell me, how did they cleanse the lake?” (Noble)

“They seem to have had a powerful wizard with them, a young-looking boy who cast a powerful spell that pulled the cursed iron out of the lake.” (Man 1)

“Haha. I have a plan that will fix my problem and get revenge on those meddlesome bastards. Bring me info on their families!” (Noble)