[Rezo hesitates. He really should examine at least one patient before he makes any pronouncements. But after Zelgadis has gone to the trouble of inviting him here he's loathe to shrug his shoulders and admit any real ignorance. A Great Sage is what's called for here, so Rezo must polish up his most promising theory and present it for Rezo's scrutiny.]
Given how long this has been going on... If truly nobody has died yet, then I would be inclined to believe magic is involved, yes. Normally in cases such as this the weaker citizens would die early on. Infants, the elderly, and those naturally susceptible to illness. The lack of death is unnatural, and likely to be the result of a spell keeping the victims tethered to life.
[...If a mazoku is actively involved it's going to be a pain in the ass.
Pushing that thought aside, Rezo gives his next warning in as gentle a voice as he can manage.]
Breaking that spell without allowing the victims to sufficiently recover could result in many deaths.
[ It's common sense, isn't it? Breaking the spell isn't itself going to restore the townspeople's health. That's not how this works. Rezo's warning is something that Zelgadis could have -- no, must have intuited himself.
So there's no logical reason for Zelgadis' heart to sink the way it does. What else did he expect? That this would be easy? That everyone could get out of this unscathed? The old him, naive little do-gooder that he was, might have believed in the likelihood of that outcome, but there's no excuse for being so idealistic now.
Rezo is, in many ways, a miracle worker, but he's not all powerful. ]
I didn't think otherwise.
[ He doesn't sound particularly convincing to his own ears. ]
...We're here.
[ Zelgadis opens the door to the inn, a little bell jingling to signal their arrival.
There's only just enough room to walk; makeshift beds, all occupied, take up most of the space on the ground floor. The innkeeper is dabbing a wet cloth to the empty smile of a patient's lips when she hears the door open. Looking up, her eyes go wide.
"You really did bring the Red Priest! I'll stay out of your way; please, do whatever you must." ]
[There's a brief flicker of something in Rezo's expression at the disappointment in Zelgadis's voice, but it vanishes when he realizes they're approaching a wall, only a few moments before Zelgadis lets him know they've arrived. From then on his expression is placid, even when he takes in the crowded conditions of the inn.
He's dealt with worse conditions. Taforashia had six healthy people and hundreds in various states of illness. This much is nothing.
He gives the innkeeper a kindly smile when she speaks up.]
Thank you. I'd like to speak with you about the situation later, but right now I need to examine the patients.
[And if he's to examine the patients, it's best if he does so along with a sighted assistant.
Rezo doesn't even have to think before he turns to his grandson.]
[ Rezo calls on him as if it's only natural that he would, and the gloom Zelgadis was harboring all of a sudden feels like indolence. Assuming that the sickest will be impossible to save before Rezo has even examined them is the same thing as sealing their fate.
There are kids in here. Zelgadis couldn't, in good conscience, look at any one of them and say "you probably can't recover from this, so we're giving up on you".
He only ever wanted to become strong so that he could protect the weak. People like this.
He's ready to assist however he can. ]
Got it.
[ There are two patients among the fifty who will have the most information to offer:
One is Laurent, a man in his twilight years who was among the first to become infected, and two is the relatively healthiest of this unfortunate group, a middle-aged woman named Maude.
Laurent looks as if he is already dead. His physical condition is so poor that he should not be able to draw breath, yet breathe he does. It's as if another force entirely is in command of his organs, forcing them to operate and persist beyond their natural limits. There's no light within his eyes. His smile is frozen upon his face. Even if they heal his body, Zelgadis doesn't know what will become of his mind.
Then there is Maude. She can still speak, and though she's suffered severe cognitive decline, her short term memory is intact enough that she can engage in brief conversation. When Rezo and Zelgadis approach her bed, she turns her eyes their way. Her hand twitches, like she wants to reach out but lacks the strength. In a halting voice, she appears to address them. Her smile is uncannily wide.
"...Blessed. The spring... was blessed. We were... blessed. Why? Why were we blessed? Why... were we blessed? Why were we? Why... were we? Why were we? Why were we? Why were... we...? Why... were..." ]
H-Hey, calm down...
[ He places an awkward hand over hers (still twitching), and glances at Rezo a little desperately. She keeps asking until she hasn't any strength left.
He doesn't know what that was, but he feels kind of ill. ]
[The examinations are thorough and to go through all of the patients takes several hours- Zelgadis's main job is to look at the patients for odd marks, describe their complexions, gauge their pupillary responses, look inside their mouths, etc. Rezo meanwhile uses a small horn to listen to the heartbeats and breathing of the patients, taps and palpates their abdomens to check the state of their organs, takes their pulses, and tries wherever possible to coax speech and movement out of the patients.
Naturally, some of the patients are worse than others. Laurent's condition is fascinating. It also reminds him slightly of the suspended animation the Taforashia patients had been placed in.
(That Rezo had placed them in.)
Maude might be the healthiest, but her examination is perhaps the strangest. When she begins to repeat herself compulsively, Rezo does his best to shush Maude, speaking soothingly about how it's alright. Only a slight frown after she's quieted down betrays any disturbance at her behavior, at the way her question echoes in his mind.]
Blessed...
[Looking at the spring feels even more urgent now. But he still thinks he needs to prioritize getting the majority of the villagers into a less dangerous condition first.
Rezo straightens up, leaving Maude to hopefully get some rest, and turns to Zelgadis.]
I'll go speak with the innkeeper. Zelgadis, you should retrieve the men who brought me here. Things will be easier with more pairs of hands. If they have any complaints, you can tell them I'll compensate them later.
[ He searches Rezo's ever-stoic face for some sign of what he's thinking, and his frown is not heartening. ]
On it.
[ Though he doesn't intend to take his time with this errand, Zelgadis is grateful for the chance to get some fresh air. When Rezo is acting as the Great Sage, it's not the worst thing in the world to work alongside him, and until they got to Maude, Zelgadis had been too occupied with the tasks at hand to ruminate. He'd felt productive, actually, for the first time since blocking off the spring.
Now he's right back to feeling off-kilter. His primary assumption has been that the infected do not feel pain. The evidence had all been pointing against it.
What, then, had they both witnessed back there?
If he's been wrong this whole time, and they've only been unable to communicate their suffering...
It's too cruel to imagine. It would be kinder to break the spell as fast as possible and let whatever happens happen.
Except that would mean sacrificing everyone who has a chance at recovery. ]
Damn it all.
[ Rezo has to fix this. Be the hero everybody believes he is for once and fix this. It's the least he can do if it's so impossible to fix what he did to his own grandson.
Reaching the coach, he gives the men an expression that brooks no argument. ]
Hey, you can gawk at me later; Rezo's asking for you to make yourself useful. We need help.
[ It gives Zelgadis a mean and petty sense of satisfaction to watch the men try not to grimace as he leverages his grandfather's name. Sucks to get ordered around from some freak chimera, doesn't it? They can't argue, because it would be a very bad look not to answer the Red Priest's call for assistance.
Able warm bodies in tow, Zelgadis returns to the inn. ]
I've got them.
hopefully not forever! but i do have a few other pots on the boil so i may be slow sometimes
[Rezo is helping the innkeeper adjust the position of a bedridden patient when Zelgadis arrives. At the sound of the door opening, he hurriedly tilts his head up and beams one of his priestly smiles. You can practically feel the heavenly sunbeams shining down upon him, despite the fact they're indoors.]
Thank you, all of you. I hope you're good with your hands.
[Rezo's already discussed this part with the innkeeper, but the remark might seem cryptic to Zelgadis and the coachmen, so he quickly elaborates.]
We'll be building temporary water tanks and blessing them so that the contents will be safe to drink. I'll be filling them initially but if the architecture in the village is suitable then we may want to set it up so they'll be capable of harvesting rainwater as well. Mrs. Saeldor has kindly told me where we will find the necessary materials.
[The coachmen look confused; can't Rezo just lift whatever curse is on the spring and be done with it? But neither of them dare to speak up since he is a Great Sage and presumably knows what he's doing.]
[ Just like the chiming of Rezo's staff, Zelgadis has a reflexive disgust response to that oh-so-saintly smile. Fortunately, he's able to mask it. As far as anyone knows, he has absolutely no baggage related to Rezo the Red Priest! He's so normal!
The plan that Rezo has devised is sound enough at first blush. Zelgadis can't claim to have any better ideas, and he's not immune to thinking like the coachmen, making the assumption that Rezo must have an idea of what he's doing. But unlike the coachmen, he has no qualms about voicing his doubts.
He wants to trust Rezo, but that trust cannot be absolute. He's sticking around in part to ensure that the people of this town only meet the man they believe the Red Priest to be. ]
How are we going to determine if the blessed water is actually safe?
[Rezo answers the Very Normal Chimera's question easily enough.]
I brought along equipment for testing the water quality. I was planning on using it at the spring, but it will work for the storage tanks as well. And of course I'm quite confident in the strength of my purification magic.
[There's a note to his voice at the end that sounds almost amused, like it's quite silly for anyone to think that Rezo's magic might not be up to the task.
Because you know, Rezo hasn't been testing Zel's temper enough yet today.]
[ Zel's eye twitches once or twice. It is objectively good that Rezo brought that equipment along and that he doesn't have any doubts about his ability to purify the water, and neither of those things make him any less annoying. If anything, it's extra annoying that Zelgadis doesn't have a particularly good reason to be annoyed! ]
You'd better be.
[ The coachmen share a look of "who does this weird blue guy think he is?"
Stupid Rezo and his stupid good PR. Which is also an objectively good thing for this situation. How stupid. ]
Then let's not waste any more time. Tell me where to get the materials and we'll get started immediately. Isn't that right?
[ He gives the coachmen a pointed look. Being kind of a jerk while remaining within socially acceptable parameters will keep him sane. ]
[The coachmen mutter assent, not looking too keen on Zel's attitude. Whereas Zelgadis's belligerence is politely ignored by Rezo, except for an odd, thin smile that is soon replaced by his usual serene expression as he gets up to lead the party onward.
To say he's used to Zelgadis's attitude wouldn't be entirely true; he hasn't spent quite enough time with Zelgadis over the past few years to be entirely sure what kind of man Zelgadis became. But there's still a certain familiarity to it. There had been times after Zelgadis's transformation when he hadn't entirely buried his resentment...
And it also puts Rezo somewhat in mind of when Zelgadis was a child and Rezo would speak through a teddy bear at him. Which was demeaning to the both of them, or at least according to Zelgadis.]
We're heading for the stonemason's guild on the edge of the village. We'll need stone and plaster to build the tanks with, and a cart to carry everything on.
[Aaaand either a horse or some other beast of burden to pull said cart. Or Zelgadis and his chimera strength will be doing it.]
[ He was an entire grown seven year old, thank you! Far too mature for such infantile silliness.
(It might have been a little fun. He'd never admit it. He'd been in a hurry to grow up. The sooner he did, the sooner he could be just like Rezo.)
Zel will absolutely not be pulling that cart. He's not adding fuel to the fire of horsekin allegations, and there's no way in hell he's giving these coachmen any reason to think of him as even less human than already must. ]
They use mules here to transport heavy materials to and from town; that's how they've managed to bring in fresh water since all this started. I'll ask around to borrow one.
[ He doesn't anticipate this taking too long. If they've got an animal and a cart to spare, what are they gonna say, no? Nobody turns down a more convenient source of water.
Lucky that the animals don't appear to be affected by the contagion, or they'd be royally screwed.
Realization flashes across his face. ]
...None of the animals have suffered ill effects from the water. They're perfectly fine.
[ Not mules, not birds, not dogs, not cats. Just humans.
A nasty question pops into his head unbidden. Is there enough of him that's still human to "count"? ]
[Resourceful as ever, Zelgadis immediately thinks of a solution before Rezo even needs to point out the issue. That earns an approving nod from the priest as the group briskly heads down the road.]
Very good. The horses that pulled our coach will need to rest for a while before they can be put back to work.
[His pace then slows a little at Zelgadis's next words.
While animals do process substances differently from humans, the fact there isn't any noticeable effect from what's causing a virulent sickness in the humans is incredibly suspicious. Or, it would be, if Rezo wasn't already quite sure that a curse was responsible.
He gives Zelgadis a thin smile.]
That's very interesting, isn't it? Perhaps someone wasn't being attentive to details.
[The rest of the group turns to look at Zelgadis quizzically at that outburst.
...Well, the coachmen look at him. Rezo merely just briefly tilts his head in Zelgadis's look with an expression of forced placidity, which still adds to the effect. It's fortunate that Zelgadis has second thoughts.
And perhaps Rezo should try being less cryptic than usual.]
I was speculating on the perpetrator's aims myself. If they were hoping we'd suspect a case of poisoning, they could have done a better job.
[He then shuffles a few steps closer to Zelgadis- not so close that they're touching, but within arm's reach- and quietly says:]
I know you've been working hard.
[And then, without waiting for a response, Rezo briskly moves forward.]
[ Zelgadis shunts his cowl over his head and implores the earth to open up and swallow him whole. On top of everything else, the coachmen can now assume he's one of those thin-skinned jackasses that takes everything personally.
If they knew, if they just knew his history with Rezo...! Who could blame him then? Wouldn't anyone else take it the way he did?
It feels worse to have been wrong than if Rezo had actually been criticizing him, because what he assumed his grandfather was saying is what Zelgadis was already thinking. It's such a glaring oversight! If he missed that, then what else of note has he failed to see?
His self-admonishment is interrupted by the acknowledgement of his efforts, and he can't formulate a response before Rezo walks on ahead.
It's less what he said and more that he said it at all that has Zel at a loss.
He stays silent at the back of the group for most of the rest of their walk to the stonemason's guild. At least giving off a bad impression means nobody wants to make small talk with him. When he does finally say something, it's directed at Rezo, a word of caution delivered without any particular emotion attached. ]
The terrain gets uneven from here.
[ And before long, they reach the stonemason's guild.
Zelgadis is finally in his element again. Building anything requires calculations, and that's one of his strong suits. He pulls out a scratch pad and writing utensil from a pouch attached to his belt.
It's time for math. ]
...estimate of how many gallons of water per day it takes to service a population of this size. If we have this many tanks all with a height, length, and depth of...
[Rezo isn't fully certain if acknowledgement is something Zelgadis needs or wants, particularly from Rezo, but it had seemed, in that moment, to be the right thing to do. He just hopes his instincts were correct, because the Gods know they haven't always been reliable. Particularly when it comes to Zelgadis.
The flat warning, given after such a long stretch of awkward silence, briefly gives Rezo pause. It's after a brief hesitation that he responds, not turning back but speaking loudly enough to be heard, in a calm tone of voice that's equally neutral to Zelgadis's.]
...Thank you.
[Being cordial with one another almost feels more uncomfortable than arguing. Not that there's any logical reason to want Zelgadis to be cold or angry, particularly when it might interfere with the work they're doing, but still...
Thank the Gods it isn't a far walk to the Stonemason's Guild, because this party doesn't need two taciturn sorcerers brooding away. A particularly gruff and dusty mason greets them when they enter the guild yard, with a terse "What do you want?"
Rezo smiles, seemingly unperturbed by anything.]
Good day, my friend. We're here to help with your water supply issues.
[Rezo lets Zelgadis handle the math end of things without any fussing. Besides the fact he knows he can trust Zelgadis's skill in this area, the man also has a better understanding of the local situation. Instead, Rezo handles the matter of speaking with the stonemasons (the ones that are still lucid) and talking them into handing over the supplies.
It's not difficult- dropping his own name and that of the innkeeper's is enough to assure them of his benevolent intentions.]
-And Zelgadis will inform you of the exact supplies we need, once he has finished his calculations.
[Rezo punctuates his statement by inclining his head in Zelgadis's direction, as if to say Isn't that right?]
They've achieved the bare minimum of mutual civility and Zel tells himself it means nothing. It never lasts. His past efforts to maintain a relatively non-hostile relationship with Rezo have all ended in failure. This is merely a failure in the making. Once they no longer have reason to cooperate, all scraps of goodwill will deteriorate. Second verse, same as the first.
He's sure of it. He's pretty sure of it.
Here's what he's less sure of: is that what Rezo wants?
Is that what he wants?
Zelgadis, scrawling out an equation and happy to leave Rezo to the 'acting personable' side of things, belatedly notices his cue to respond. ]
Huh? Uh, yeah, of course.
[ If Zelgadis has learned anything so far today, it's that holding a consistent attitude towards Rezo is impossible; he's bouncing all over the emotional spectrum: hostility, deference, something like the ghost of gratitude.
Uncertainty. Doubt.
Not hope. That one's not allowed. It will not be acknowledged.
Just focus on the math.
What Zelgadis settles on are three large tanks, each set up in the most population-dense areas of the town. If filled to maximum capacity, they'll serve the town for the next few days. The head of the stonemason's guild is not necessarily enthused about the amount of materials that will be required to achieve this, but the situation is what it is. ]
If we start now, we can have everything set up by tomorrow morning.
[ For Zelgadis, pulling an overnighter on this project is preferable to anything else. Watching the deterioration of the inn patients is getting to him. If he ever had any doubts before, he's certain he does not have a future in the medical field. ]
But first... Rezo, I need to discuss something with you in private. It won't take long.
[ Thankfully, he hasn't found anything new to be mad at. This is related entirely to the matter at hand.
Taking care that no one is listening in, Zelgadis says: ]
I want to talk about what happened in the inn with that woman. I hadn't thought that they could feel what they were experiencing, and now -- I'm not sure of that any longer. If we wait to break this curse, we could be prolonging a level of suffering I don't even want to think about.
[The coachmen aren't too enthusiastic about the idea of pulling an all-nighter after the heavy traveling they've been doing, but Rezo merely nods when Zelgadis mentions it. He'd been expecting to get very little sleep for the next few weeks anyway.
The request to speak alone is unexpected, and despite his best efforts Rezo is wary. Not enough to deny Zelgadis, however.]
Ah...? Of course. Please excuse us.
[After directing that last part to the rest of the group, Rezo obediently follows out after Zelgadis. Now, what's this about...?
Oh.
It's one of the eternal conundrums of medicine- do you try everything you can to save the patient, even knowing that the end result may just be prolonging their suffering? Rezo makes a thoughtful noise.]
You're not wrong. But if the patients could voice an opinion they might also wish to grasp any hope there is of survival, no matter how slight.
[The human survival instinct is a powerful thing, after all. Rezo's seen patients who begged for death, and he's also seen patients who clung to life with everything they were worth.]
[ Zelgadis heaves a heavy sigh. There's no easy solution here. Some of the patients must want to be put out of their misery, and others must want to survive at all costs. ]
If it were me, I wouldn't want anyone deciding on my behalf that I'm better off dead. ...Though that's easy for me to say when I'm not the one rotting away in one of those beds.
[ There has to be another angle to approach this conundrum from. ]
You placed the Taforashians in suspended animation. Can't do you that again?
[The mention of Taforashia prompts a surprised frown from Rezo.]
I'd need to make another Hellmaster's Jar, possibly several more, and that would take too much time.
[When it came to Taforashia, he'd been able to make his equipment in advance... because he was the one arranging the circumstances that required putting the citizens into suspended animation in the first place.
That little factoid hopefully doesn't need to be said. But regardless, the point remains that the citizens of Remedis would still have to wait in probable agony for Rezo to put them under, let alone treat them. And since the Remedis citizens are in a suspended state as-is (albeit a suspension of death rather than of animation) it's hard to say if the original spells used in Taforashia would have the same effect.
If Zelgadis were considerably younger, this would be the point where Rezo might put a gentle hand on his shoulder to reassure him. Words will have to do instead.]
We're not out of options yet. I should be able to reverse some of the organ damage on the patients with my magic.
[Recovery may not be a safe spell to use, but Resurrection should be usable.]
[ It's no shock when Rezo states the obvious logistical issues. Zelgadis knew as he was asking that if this were a feasible course of action, Rezo would have suggested it already.
There's no forgiving what he did to Taforashia, but nor can Zelgadis deny that Rezo kept his word and cleaned up the mess he made.
Pokota had even been grateful for that.
Zelgadis wouldn't in a million years call Rezo a man with a proper sense of responsibility. Responsible people don't do the things he's done. What he would say is it's not Rezo's nature to leave people wholly high and dry.
(This wretched chimeric form is stronger than his human one. He had told the truth the way Xellos tells the truth.)
A sliver of tension leaves Zelgadis' body. That's good news. ]
I should have called Amelia here too. Her white magic proficiency far outstrips mine.
[ He should have, but he's not sure he would have even if he knew days ago how bad things actually were. If the state of Remedis is taking a mental toll on him, what would it do to her?
Prioritizing one person over an entire town... Selfishness must be a family trait.
At any rate, this is no time for thinking about should-haves. ]
One last thing. Since the purpose of this curse appears to be inducing suffering as opposed to death, it's almost certainly a mazoku we're dealing with here, isn't it? One that's found an inexhaustible source of sustenance.
[Ah, yes, Amelia. Rezo hadn't really spoken with her directly at any point after Lina retrieved his jar, nor after he'd been resurrected into Pokota's body, but he'd spent enough time observing Lina's party to get a basic grip on her personality- and eventually, she had offhandedly mentioned her status as a princess.]
I'm sure her own duties keep her busy as is.
[It's still a little odd to think that Zelgadis is now rubbing elbows with Seyruunian royalty. The boy still carries himself like a common mercenary. But then, Amelia isn't the sort to put on airs anyway.]
And you certainly have the capacity to assist me with the usage of white magic, should it be needed. We'll be fine.
[Zelgadis has never shown an exceptional interest in Rezo's main area of study, but he's intelligent, diligent, and has an enhanced magic talent courtesy of his demon third. So the matter, as far as Rezo is concerned, isn't a dire one.
Now the source of the problem... Rezo exhales softly in a small, uncharacteristic show of aggrievance.]
I'd be surprised if it wasn't. It's going to be a nuisance, and very dangerous of course- but we've both dealt with worse, haven't we?
[ Rezo is probably right. White magic may not be Zelgadis' specialty, but he's got a solid grasp of the art and is capable of learning more. Wryly, he thinks to himself that you really couldn't ask for a more qualified teacher than Rezo.
Then there's the mazoku issue. Seems neither of them are looking forward to this confrontation. Zelgadis isn't sure if he'd glad or not that Rezo can't see the way his mouth twists at "we've both dealt with worse" when some of that 'worse' was courtesy of dear ol' grandpa himself. ]
No kidding.
[ Zelgadis looks off in the general direction of the spring. ]
It used an indirect method to curse the town, and has yet to reveal itself although it must know we're here. When it finally makes a move against us, I don't think it'll be in the form of a direct attack. Not initially, anyway. And if it's as intelligent as I assume it to be, it's going to try and get a read on us before going on the offensive.
[ Sussing out strengths and weaknesses... Any emotion-eater worth its salt will be well aware of the friction between Zelgadis and Rezo. That's all the more reason Zelgadis needs to stay professional. It would be just like a mazoku to try and sow more division between them.
As for killing it: ]
...Rezo, how well do you fight, these days?
[ Great sage or not, the whole dying twice thing doesn't sound conducive to one's health. ]
[Rezo, at least, is good at staying placid and unreadable even in dire situations. And their current opponent may be clever and may be strong, but unlike certain prior opponents this mazoku doesn't dwell within Rezo. So when the question of killing it comes up, Rezo merely inclines his head and smiles.]
There is no need for concern. My magic is working as well as it ever has.
[...He says this, but he might not be quite as confident as he sounds. What was it that mazoku- Xellos- had said? 'My apologies. But is that power really yours?'
No matter. He can't let the words of a mazoku bother him. In this situation, at least, Rezo refuses to let himself be a burden to Zelgadis.]
What about you? You've been attending to the villagers and have yet more work ahead of yourself. Will you still have energy when the time comes for battle?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[Rezo hesitates. He really should examine at least one patient before he makes any pronouncements. But after Zelgadis has gone to the trouble of inviting him here he's loathe to shrug his shoulders and admit any real ignorance. A Great Sage is what's called for here, so Rezo must polish up his most promising theory and present it for Rezo's scrutiny.]
Given how long this has been going on... If truly nobody has died yet, then I would be inclined to believe magic is involved, yes. Normally in cases such as this the weaker citizens would die early on. Infants, the elderly, and those naturally susceptible to illness. The lack of death is unnatural, and likely to be the result of a spell keeping the victims tethered to life.
[...If a mazoku is actively involved it's going to be a pain in the ass.
Pushing that thought aside, Rezo gives his next warning in as gentle a voice as he can manage.]
Breaking that spell without allowing the victims to sufficiently recover could result in many deaths.
no subject
So there's no logical reason for Zelgadis' heart to sink the way it does. What else did he expect? That this would be easy? That everyone could get out of this unscathed? The old him, naive little do-gooder that he was, might have believed in the likelihood of that outcome, but there's no excuse for being so idealistic now.
Rezo is, in many ways, a miracle worker, but he's not all powerful. ]
I didn't think otherwise.
[ He doesn't sound particularly convincing to his own ears. ]
...We're here.
[ Zelgadis opens the door to the inn, a little bell jingling to signal their arrival.
There's only just enough room to walk; makeshift beds, all occupied, take up most of the space on the ground floor. The innkeeper is dabbing a wet cloth to the empty smile of a patient's lips when she hears the door open. Looking up, her eyes go wide.
"You really did bring the Red Priest! I'll stay out of your way; please, do whatever you must." ]
no subject
He's dealt with worse conditions. Taforashia had six healthy people and hundreds in various states of illness. This much is nothing.
He gives the innkeeper a kindly smile when she speaks up.]
Thank you. I'd like to speak with you about the situation later, but right now I need to examine the patients.
[And if he's to examine the patients, it's best if he does so along with a sighted assistant.
Rezo doesn't even have to think before he turns to his grandson.]
Zelgadis. Come with me.
no subject
There are kids in here. Zelgadis couldn't, in good conscience, look at any one of them and say "you probably can't recover from this, so we're giving up on you".
He only ever wanted to become strong so that he could protect the weak. People like this.
He's ready to assist however he can. ]
Got it.
[ There are two patients among the fifty who will have the most information to offer:
One is Laurent, a man in his twilight years who was among the first to become infected, and two is the relatively healthiest of this unfortunate group, a middle-aged woman named Maude.
Laurent looks as if he is already dead. His physical condition is so poor that he should not be able to draw breath, yet breathe he does. It's as if another force entirely is in command of his organs, forcing them to operate and persist beyond their natural limits. There's no light within his eyes. His smile is frozen upon his face. Even if they heal his body, Zelgadis doesn't know what will become of his mind.
Then there is Maude. She can still speak, and though she's suffered severe cognitive decline, her short term memory is intact enough that she can engage in brief conversation. When Rezo and Zelgadis approach her bed, she turns her eyes their way. Her hand twitches, like she wants to reach out but lacks the strength. In a halting voice, she appears to address them. Her smile is uncannily wide.
"...Blessed. The spring... was blessed. We were... blessed. Why? Why were we blessed? Why... were we blessed? Why were we? Why... were we? Why were we? Why were we? Why were... we...? Why... were..." ]
H-Hey, calm down...
[ He places an awkward hand over hers (still twitching), and glances at Rezo a little desperately. She keeps asking until she hasn't any strength left.
He doesn't know what that was, but he feels kind of ill. ]
sobs this took way too long to get done
Naturally, some of the patients are worse than others. Laurent's condition is fascinating. It also reminds him slightly of the suspended animation the Taforashia patients had been placed in.
(That Rezo had placed them in.)Maude might be the healthiest, but her examination is perhaps the strangest. When she begins to repeat herself compulsively, Rezo does his best to shush Maude, speaking soothingly about how it's alright. Only a slight frown after she's quieted down betrays any disturbance at her behavior, at the way her question echoes in his mind.]
Blessed...
[Looking at the spring feels even more urgent now. But he still thinks he needs to prioritize getting the majority of the villagers into a less dangerous condition first.
Rezo straightens up, leaving Maude to hopefully get some rest, and turns to Zelgadis.]
I'll go speak with the innkeeper. Zelgadis, you should retrieve the men who brought me here. Things will be easier with more pairs of hands. If they have any complaints, you can tell them I'll compensate them later.
no worries i will wait forever
On it.
[ Though he doesn't intend to take his time with this errand, Zelgadis is grateful for the chance to get some fresh air. When Rezo is acting as the Great Sage, it's not the worst thing in the world to work alongside him, and until they got to Maude, Zelgadis had been too occupied with the tasks at hand to ruminate. He'd felt productive, actually, for the first time since blocking off the spring.
Now he's right back to feeling off-kilter. His primary assumption has been that the infected do not feel pain. The evidence had all been pointing against it.
What, then, had they both witnessed back there?
If he's been wrong this whole time, and they've only been unable to communicate their suffering...
It's too cruel to imagine. It would be kinder to break the spell as fast as possible and let whatever happens happen.
Except that would mean sacrificing everyone who has a chance at recovery. ]
Damn it all.
[ Rezo has to fix this. Be the hero everybody believes he is for once and fix this. It's the least he can do if it's so impossible to fix what he did to his own grandson.
Reaching the coach, he gives the men an expression that brooks no argument. ]
Hey, you can gawk at me later; Rezo's asking for you to make yourself useful. We need help.
[ It gives Zelgadis a mean and petty sense of satisfaction to watch the men try not to grimace as he leverages his grandfather's name. Sucks to get ordered around from some freak chimera, doesn't it? They can't argue, because it would be a very bad look not to answer the Red Priest's call for assistance.
Able warm bodies in tow, Zelgadis returns to the inn. ]
I've got them.
hopefully not forever! but i do have a few other pots on the boil so i may be slow sometimes
Thank you, all of you. I hope you're good with your hands.
[Rezo's already discussed this part with the innkeeper, but the remark might seem cryptic to Zelgadis and the coachmen, so he quickly elaborates.]
We'll be building temporary water tanks and blessing them so that the contents will be safe to drink. I'll be filling them initially but if the architecture in the village is suitable then we may want to set it up so they'll be capable of harvesting rainwater as well. Mrs. Saeldor has kindly told me where we will find the necessary materials.
[The coachmen look confused; can't Rezo just lift whatever curse is on the spring and be done with it? But neither of them dare to speak up since he is a Great Sage and presumably knows what he's doing.]
not at all a problem, i totally understand!!
The plan that Rezo has devised is sound enough at first blush. Zelgadis can't claim to have any better ideas, and he's not immune to thinking like the coachmen, making the assumption that Rezo must have an idea of what he's doing. But unlike the coachmen, he has no qualms about voicing his doubts.
He wants to trust Rezo, but that trust cannot be absolute. He's sticking around in part to ensure that the people of this town only meet the man they believe the Red Priest to be. ]
How are we going to determine if the blessed water is actually safe?
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I brought along equipment for testing the water quality. I was planning on using it at the spring, but it will work for the storage tanks as well. And of course I'm quite confident in the strength of my purification magic.
[There's a note to his voice at the end that sounds almost amused, like it's quite silly for anyone to think that Rezo's magic might not be up to the task.
Because you know, Rezo hasn't been testing Zel's temper enough yet today.]
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You'd better be.
[ The coachmen share a look of "who does this weird blue guy think he is?"
Stupid Rezo and his stupid good PR. Which is also an objectively good thing for this situation. How stupid. ]
Then let's not waste any more time. Tell me where to get the materials and we'll get started immediately. Isn't that right?
[ He gives the coachmen a pointed look. Being kind of a jerk while remaining within socially acceptable parameters will keep him sane. ]
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To say he's used to Zelgadis's attitude wouldn't be entirely true; he hasn't spent quite enough time with Zelgadis over the past few years to be entirely sure what kind of man Zelgadis became. But there's still a certain familiarity to it. There had been times after Zelgadis's transformation when he hadn't entirely buried his resentment...
And it also puts Rezo somewhat in mind of when Zelgadis was a child and Rezo would speak through a teddy bear at him. Which was demeaning to the both of them, or at least according to Zelgadis.]
We're heading for the stonemason's guild on the edge of the village. We'll need stone and plaster to build the tanks with, and a cart to carry everything on.
[Aaaand either a horse or some other beast of burden to pull said cart. Or Zelgadis and his chimera strength will be doing it.]
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(It might have been a little fun. He'd never admit it. He'd been in a hurry to grow up. The sooner he did, the sooner he could be just like Rezo.)
Zel will absolutely not be pulling that cart. He's not adding fuel to the fire of horsekin allegations, and there's no way in hell he's giving these coachmen any reason to think of him as even less human than already must. ]
They use mules here to transport heavy materials to and from town; that's how they've managed to bring in fresh water since all this started. I'll ask around to borrow one.
[ He doesn't anticipate this taking too long. If they've got an animal and a cart to spare, what are they gonna say, no? Nobody turns down a more convenient source of water.
Lucky that the animals don't appear to be affected by the contagion, or they'd be royally screwed.
Realization flashes across his face. ]
...None of the animals have suffered ill effects from the water. They're perfectly fine.
[ Not mules, not birds, not dogs, not cats. Just humans.
A nasty question pops into his head unbidden. Is there enough of him that's still human to "count"? ]
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Very good. The horses that pulled our coach will need to rest for a while before they can be put back to work.
[His pace then slows a little at Zelgadis's next words.
While animals do process substances differently from humans, the fact there isn't any noticeable effect from what's causing a virulent sickness in the humans is incredibly suspicious. Or, it would be, if Rezo wasn't already quite sure that a curse was responsible.
He gives Zelgadis a thin smile.]
That's very interesting, isn't it? Perhaps someone wasn't being attentive to details.
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[ Zero to a hundred in terms of defensiveness!
Then, haltingly: ]
...Unless you mean our perpetrator's failed at poisoning every living thing in the area. Which... is true. ...If that was their aim to begin with.
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...Well, the coachmen look at him. Rezo merely just briefly tilts his head in Zelgadis's look with an expression of forced placidity, which still adds to the effect. It's fortunate that Zelgadis has second thoughts.
And perhaps Rezo should try being less cryptic than usual.]
I was speculating on the perpetrator's aims myself. If they were hoping we'd suspect a case of poisoning, they could have done a better job.
[He then shuffles a few steps closer to Zelgadis- not so close that they're touching, but within arm's reach- and quietly says:]
I know you've been working hard.
[And then, without waiting for a response, Rezo briskly moves forward.]
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If they knew, if they just knew his history with Rezo...! Who could blame him then? Wouldn't anyone else take it the way he did?
It feels worse to have been wrong than if Rezo had actually been criticizing him, because what he assumed his grandfather was saying is what Zelgadis was already thinking. It's such a glaring oversight! If he missed that, then what else of note has he failed to see?
His self-admonishment is interrupted by the acknowledgement of his efforts, and he can't formulate a response before Rezo walks on ahead.
It's less what he said and more that he said it at all that has Zel at a loss.
He stays silent at the back of the group for most of the rest of their walk to the stonemason's guild. At least giving off a bad impression means nobody wants to make small talk with him. When he does finally say something, it's directed at Rezo, a word of caution delivered without any particular emotion attached. ]
The terrain gets uneven from here.
[ And before long, they reach the stonemason's guild.
Zelgadis is finally in his element again. Building anything requires calculations, and that's one of his strong suits. He pulls out a scratch pad and writing utensil from a pouch attached to his belt.
It's time for math. ]
...estimate of how many gallons of water per day it takes to service a population of this size. If we have this many tanks all with a height, length, and depth of...
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The flat warning, given after such a long stretch of awkward silence, briefly gives Rezo pause. It's after a brief hesitation that he responds, not turning back but speaking loudly enough to be heard, in a calm tone of voice that's equally neutral to Zelgadis's.]
...Thank you.
[Being cordial with one another almost feels more uncomfortable than arguing. Not that there's any logical reason to want Zelgadis to be cold or angry, particularly when it might interfere with the work they're doing, but still...
Thank the Gods it isn't a far walk to the Stonemason's Guild, because this party doesn't need two taciturn sorcerers brooding away. A particularly gruff and dusty mason greets them when they enter the guild yard, with a terse "What do you want?"
Rezo smiles, seemingly unperturbed by anything.]
Good day, my friend. We're here to help with your water supply issues.
[Rezo lets Zelgadis handle the math end of things without any fussing. Besides the fact he knows he can trust Zelgadis's skill in this area, the man also has a better understanding of the local situation. Instead, Rezo handles the matter of speaking with the stonemasons (the ones that are still lucid) and talking them into handing over the supplies.
It's not difficult- dropping his own name and that of the innkeeper's is enough to assure them of his benevolent intentions.]
-And Zelgadis will inform you of the exact supplies we need, once he has finished his calculations.
[Rezo punctuates his statement by inclining his head in Zelgadis's direction, as if to say Isn't that right?]
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They've achieved the bare minimum of mutual civility and Zel tells himself it means nothing. It never lasts. His past efforts to maintain a relatively non-hostile relationship with Rezo have all ended in failure. This is merely a failure in the making. Once they no longer have reason to cooperate, all scraps of goodwill will deteriorate. Second verse, same as the first.
He's sure of it. He's pretty sure of it.
Here's what he's less sure of: is that what Rezo wants?
Is that what he wants?
Zelgadis, scrawling out an equation and happy to leave Rezo to the 'acting personable' side of things, belatedly notices his cue to respond. ]
Huh? Uh, yeah, of course.
[ If Zelgadis has learned anything so far today, it's that holding a consistent attitude towards Rezo is impossible; he's bouncing all over the emotional spectrum: hostility, deference, something like the ghost of gratitude.
Uncertainty. Doubt.
Not hope. That one's not allowed. It will not be acknowledged.
Just focus on the math.
What Zelgadis settles on are three large tanks, each set up in the most population-dense areas of the town. If filled to maximum capacity, they'll serve the town for the next few days. The head of the stonemason's guild is not necessarily enthused about the amount of materials that will be required to achieve this, but the situation is what it is. ]
If we start now, we can have everything set up by tomorrow morning.
[ For Zelgadis, pulling an overnighter on this project is preferable to anything else. Watching the deterioration of the inn patients is getting to him. If he ever had any doubts before, he's certain he does not have a future in the medical field. ]
But first... Rezo, I need to discuss something with you in private. It won't take long.
[ Thankfully, he hasn't found anything new to be mad at. This is related entirely to the matter at hand.
Taking care that no one is listening in, Zelgadis says: ]
I want to talk about what happened in the inn with that woman. I hadn't thought that they could feel what they were experiencing, and now -- I'm not sure of that any longer. If we wait to break this curse, we could be prolonging a level of suffering I don't even want to think about.
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The request to speak alone is unexpected, and despite his best efforts Rezo is wary. Not enough to deny Zelgadis, however.]
Ah...? Of course. Please excuse us.
[After directing that last part to the rest of the group, Rezo obediently follows out after Zelgadis. Now, what's this about...?
Oh.
It's one of the eternal conundrums of medicine- do you try everything you can to save the patient, even knowing that the end result may just be prolonging their suffering? Rezo makes a thoughtful noise.]
You're not wrong. But if the patients could voice an opinion they might also wish to grasp any hope there is of survival, no matter how slight.
[The human survival instinct is a powerful thing, after all. Rezo's seen patients who begged for death, and he's also seen patients who clung to life with everything they were worth.]
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If it were me, I wouldn't want anyone deciding on my behalf that I'm better off dead. ...Though that's easy for me to say when I'm not the one rotting away in one of those beds.
[ There has to be another angle to approach this conundrum from. ]
You placed the Taforashians in suspended animation. Can't do you that again?
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I'd need to make another Hellmaster's Jar, possibly several more, and that would take too much time.
[When it came to Taforashia, he'd been able to make his equipment in advance... because he was the one arranging the circumstances that required putting the citizens into suspended animation in the first place.
That little factoid hopefully doesn't need to be said. But regardless, the point remains that the citizens of Remedis would still have to wait in probable agony for Rezo to put them under, let alone treat them. And since the Remedis citizens are in a suspended state as-is (albeit a suspension of death rather than of animation) it's hard to say if the original spells used in Taforashia would have the same effect.
If Zelgadis were considerably younger, this would be the point where Rezo might put a gentle hand on his shoulder to reassure him. Words will have to do instead.]
We're not out of options yet. I should be able to reverse some of the organ damage on the patients with my magic.
[Recovery may not be a safe spell to use, but Resurrection should be usable.]
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There's no forgiving what he did to Taforashia, but nor can Zelgadis deny that Rezo kept his word and cleaned up the mess he made.
Pokota had even been grateful for that.
Zelgadis wouldn't in a million years call Rezo a man with a proper sense of responsibility. Responsible people don't do the things he's done. What he would say is it's not Rezo's nature to leave people wholly high and dry.
(This wretched chimeric form is stronger than his human one. He had told the truth the way Xellos tells the truth.)
A sliver of tension leaves Zelgadis' body. That's good news. ]
I should have called Amelia here too. Her white magic proficiency far outstrips mine.
[ He should have, but he's not sure he would have even if he knew days ago how bad things actually were. If the state of Remedis is taking a mental toll on him, what would it do to her?
Prioritizing one person over an entire town... Selfishness must be a family trait.
At any rate, this is no time for thinking about should-haves. ]
One last thing. Since the purpose of this curse appears to be inducing suffering as opposed to death, it's almost certainly a mazoku we're dealing with here, isn't it? One that's found an inexhaustible source of sustenance.
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I'm sure her own duties keep her busy as is.
[It's still a little odd to think that Zelgadis is now rubbing elbows with Seyruunian royalty. The boy still carries himself like a common mercenary. But then, Amelia isn't the sort to put on airs anyway.]
And you certainly have the capacity to assist me with the usage of white magic, should it be needed. We'll be fine.
[Zelgadis has never shown an exceptional interest in Rezo's main area of study, but he's intelligent, diligent, and has an enhanced magic talent courtesy of his demon third. So the matter, as far as Rezo is concerned, isn't a dire one.
Now the source of the problem... Rezo exhales softly in a small, uncharacteristic show of aggrievance.]
I'd be surprised if it wasn't. It's going to be a nuisance, and very dangerous of course- but we've both dealt with worse, haven't we?
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Then there's the mazoku issue. Seems neither of them are looking forward to this confrontation. Zelgadis isn't sure if he'd glad or not that Rezo can't see the way his mouth twists at "we've both dealt with worse" when some of that 'worse' was courtesy of dear ol' grandpa himself. ]
No kidding.
[ Zelgadis looks off in the general direction of the spring. ]
It used an indirect method to curse the town, and has yet to reveal itself although it must know we're here. When it finally makes a move against us, I don't think it'll be in the form of a direct attack. Not initially, anyway. And if it's as intelligent as I assume it to be, it's going to try and get a read on us before going on the offensive.
[ Sussing out strengths and weaknesses... Any emotion-eater worth its salt will be well aware of the friction between Zelgadis and Rezo. That's all the more reason Zelgadis needs to stay professional. It would be just like a mazoku to try and sow more division between them.
As for killing it: ]
...Rezo, how well do you fight, these days?
[ Great sage or not, the whole dying twice thing doesn't sound conducive to one's health. ]
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[Rezo, at least, is good at staying placid and unreadable even in dire situations. And their current opponent may be clever and may be strong, but unlike certain prior opponents this mazoku doesn't dwell within Rezo. So when the question of killing it comes up, Rezo merely inclines his head and smiles.]
There is no need for concern. My magic is working as well as it ever has.
[...He says this, but he might not be quite as confident as he sounds. What was it that mazoku- Xellos- had said? 'My apologies. But is that power really yours?'
No matter. He can't let the words of a mazoku bother him. In this situation, at least, Rezo refuses to let himself be a burden to Zelgadis.]
What about you? You've been attending to the villagers and have yet more work ahead of yourself. Will you still have energy when the time comes for battle?
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a wizard is never late etc
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