Chapter 19: City of the Marble Forest.

Isz rests along the way and finally reunites with Harpya.

Harpya: So, how did it go with the guild?

Isz: They're good, but they're not ready for the challenges they've faced.

Harpya sighs slightly and says: - I heard about the deaths, I'm sorry.

Isz: It's alright, so Harpya, is this information about the trio true?

Harpya: - Yes, including some people from the dragon clan who will accompany you. I heard there are many people as sick as you are here in Volny.

Isz approaches his new companions.

Rosie: Hello, my name is Rosie, it's a pleasure to meet you.

Isz: I'm Isz, and this is Cerberus, it's a pleasure to meet you too.

Rosie becomes thoughtful upon hearing Isz's name, but soon introduces her bodyguards to Isz: Einar and Kira, the elite escort of the dragon clan who protect the nobility.

They continue in another armored vehicle towards the city.

Isz: Has this disease infected you for a long time?

Rosie: We don't know, there have been reports of children dying from this disease, but now we finally know where it came from.

Einar: My aunt was infected, and on the second day she was delirious with fever, her eyes were bleeding, and she was saying things.

Isz looks and asks what kind of things she was saying.

Einar: Well, it was disconnected things like child, death, advent, and mark.

Isz clenches her teeth and makes a fist.

Isz: Those words again.

Kira: You've heard them before?

Isz: Yes, but I don't think it's the same thing.

As they drove through the landscapes, the journey was peaceful, and Rosie kept asking about Isz.

Rosie: "Isz, right? How long have you been in Volny's army?"

Isz: "It's been a while. Now I'm just fulfilling my role of exploring the continent in search of this cure, and I hope I find it."

The driver interrupts the conversation and says he thinks this is the same thing that happened in Vein some time ago.

Rosie: "I hope not. They deserved it, but us? Why is this happening?"

Isz gets angry and asks why they deserved it, and Rosie replies that Vein has already killed many innocent people, and her father was one of those killed by the Inquisition.

Isz remains silent and, in her thoughts, says she's never heard of this so-called Inquisition.

Einar: Princess, it's not good to keep remembering these things.

Rosie sighs and says Einar is right and continues her journey.

Isz: Princess?

Kira: Yes, she's the princess of the dragon clan.

Isz: I understand, why did they let a noblewoman undertake this kind of mission?

Rosie: Is there a problem?

Isz: No, but perhaps our mission involves risks, and I don't think it would be normal for a kingdom to send its princess into battle.

Kira: Actually, the princess wasn't supposed to come, but she insisted so much after one of our soldiers caught this disease that she came.

Rosie: Hey Kira, why do you say that?

The guards laugh and Isz gives a slight smile.

Rosie: I always trained against strong enemies, I never wanted this princess role.

The atmosphere becomes heavy and Isz says: - It's quite a responsibility, I also find this nobility thing boring, but you're different.

Rosie looks at Isz and he says:

Isz: The vast majority of nobles wouldn't even go to a battlefield, much less fight like you are, searching for a cure.

Rosie: Thank you.

Rosie blushes and slightly lowers her hat adorned with dragon wings as she looks out the window.

Isz: If everything goes well, we'll get this cure and get out of here.

Kira: You seem quite rushed, did something happen?

Isz, with his hand under his chin, replies: My days have been hectic, a lot has happened.

Night was falling, an aurora borealis was visible at night, and they finally arrived in the city.

Isz gathers his things and helps them unload; in the morning they would go looking for more clues.

In the distance, among the twisted trees, a group of lith sang around a trunk while a man's abdomen was ripped open and his entrails swirled around the trunk.

Atop a large tree, Zhofia's silhouette could be seen blowing red mist toward the city, but she sensed a presence.

Zhofia: Hmm, what a strange feeling, I feel an urge to hunt someone... Or is someone hunting me?

Lith: - Madam, more blood in your cup?

Zhofia: No, tomorrow I want you to attack parts of that village, then we'll go to the port of Marina, understood?

Lith: As you wish.