Aruki Willhelm Zestiria's Story

Most of the pharmacists had joined Isolde to look for an inn for them to stay the night already, so that left Aruki, Kou, along with the soldiers they brought along exploring and asking information around the town. It wasn't the first time Aruki actually got to leave the capital anyway, so none of them is something that he isn't know of. But nonetheless, it was quite good being able to go out of the city sometimes for a change. Of course, he hasn't forgotten how serious this task is, but there's no rule that told him not to feel a little relieved, is there?

Apparently Aruki and his convoy's arrival had gained quite some attention from the local people. That's quite easy to understand since they don't get to see someone from the royal family and the soldiers from the feared Imperial Army everyday. It seemed that the signature red emblem on the armors of the soldiers following Aruki is intimidating enough to behold, so everyone in town pretend to be as normal as usual.

After having stopped by a map stall, buying a map and asked for the shortest route to Hythe from the merchant, Aruki was intending to catch up with Kou and make their way to the inn that Isolde had just found, so that they can rest for the day and prepare for the straight journey to their destination upon the first light of dawn tomorrow, through the mountain pass. However, there seemed to be a commotion of sort at a jewel and trinket stall not very far from them. So Aruki motioned the soldiers to follow him to investigate.

Upon seeing Aruki and the soldiers, the crowd quickly made way for them and dissipated. And he couldn't be more surprised to see that Kou was arguing with the shopkeeper, "Kou-san? Why are you arguing with her?" He gave his servant a questioning gaze, before turning to the woman, "This is my servant. Can you explain why you are fighting with him?"

The woman politely reported everything to Aruki, about the locket that Kou claimed to belong to him, which was now lying on the ground after he threw it at her. She explained that a merchant from a faraway town found it in an abandoned house and sold it for her. Nodded, Aruki took out from his bag a handful of golden coins and gave it to the shopkeeper, then bending down and picked the locket up.

"Let's go, Kou-san." Aruki hold his servant hand and walked away from the stall, with the soldiers following right behind them. "Here, it's an important object that you've lost, right?" He gave him the locket, with a bright smile, "Next time try not to make another commotion like this again, okay?"

After the commotion, Aruki and Kou, accompanied by the soldiers, all made their way back to the inn where Isolde had rented out the rooms for them. Of course, she was sitting and drinking an ale of beer in a "like a boss" manner, which is why almost everyone who were presented there felt intimidated just by her mere presence. She said that they have rented out four rooms, and that the soldiers and the pharmacists will share the three room together, while Aruki, Kou and Isolde will stay in the smallest room. It might not be as comfortable as it was back in the castle, but Aruki wouldn't mind.

And so, for the rest of the night, the convoy had done everything they could within the inn to keep themselves going. While there aren't as many people here in comparison with the staff's dining hall in the palace, but the atmosphere felt pretty much the same. The attention surely was turned to them, but the sight of Isolde and the Exercitus Dei soldiers is scary enough so none dare to make a scene.

After dining, they take turn to take a shower. Aruki offered to wash Kou's back, but was politely declined. Though he couldn't help noticing that his servant was blushing at the offer. When it has already gotten late, the whole lot of them retreated back to their rooms and settle for the night. Aruki and Kou were the first to walk into their room, since it was Isolde and any other females in the convoy turn to take their shower.

The first thing Aruki saw as he stepped in was Kou curled into a ball and sat at the corner of his bed. Probably because of the incident earlier... He thought to himself. But just when he decided to strike up a conversation with him to cheer him up, Isolde opened the door and walked in, catching their attention. Well, mainly because of the way she's dressing.

"Geez, Isolde. You still dressed like that whenever you go to bed?" Aruki snickered at her sight. Isolde out of her usual uniform, and was wearing nothing but a long shirt that had just barely covered her thighs, and she doesn't even bother to buttoned up the upper buttons of the shirt, revealing her cleavage.

Isolde shrugged, "Ol' habits don't die easily." She then turned her attention to Kou, "I know what you're thinking, having to share a room with slanderous woman like me. But just bear with it." Isolde is well-aware that the two of them didn't have any interest for women, that's why she always being so casual with them. Not like anyone would have the nerve to hit on her anyway.

The night passed by quietly and by the first light of dawn, they've already packed up their belongings and continued with their journey. The trip was quite pleasant. However, the most of unexpected happened when they've made it half-way through the pass. With her acute sense, Isolde was quick to realize an arrow being shot towards her somewhere, and blocked it swiftly with her rapier. Hiding behind rocks, thugs jumped out and cornered the whole convoy.

"Tch. Encountering bandits in the morning? This kingdom's just getting crazier by the minute." Isolde remarked as she jumped down from her horse. The soldiers also entered their battle stance as they pulled out their swords and defended the pharmacists. Aruki told the Kou to stay right behind him as he too jumped down from his horse,
"Stay close to me."

Bandits weren't something that are very strange on this mountain pass, but encountering them right in the morning wasn't something that would normally happen. But whether it is due to their bad luck or if this was planned beforehand when they were still in the town, there's nothing that would change the fact that they are cornered right now, outmatched by a number that is probably three time more than them. Aruki needed to make sure that each and every one of them returned in one piece, but things couldn't be that easy.

However, there's a couple of things that they have and the thugs don't: General Isolde - the strongest warrior of the kingdom and the most elite of soldiers from the Imperial Army. As Isolde led her soldiers to fight against the inexperienced bandits, Aruki stayed and tried to protect both Kou and the supply they brought along. A couple of the thugs managed to sneak out behind them, but he still capable of taking them out. None of them could possibly touch Kou when he's guarding him like that.

The battles went on for a bit longer, until the thugs finally realized that even though they have the number, they can't stand a chance against Isolde and her soldiers, so they quickly gathered their weapons and retreated. Luckily, none of the soldiers or the pharmacists were seriously harmed. They stayed at where they are for a moment later for the pharmacists to help tending the wounds of the soldiers.

When Aruki has made sure that Kou wasn't hurt anywhere, they finally get on with their journey. It was quite uneventful this time since they hadn't encountered any other obstacle on their way. Thanks to having asked the direction carefully and buying a detailed map, they weren't afraid of getting lost. And finally, they've made it to their destination when dusk had just began to fall.

Greeting them all when they made it to the town was a big sign pointing the direction towards Hythe. "We're here." Aruki said to everyone as they approached the village's entrance. As soon as they arrived, there was a guard standing and greeting them. Bowing to Aruki, he then spoke up, "You must be Prince Aruki. We've been waiting for you and your convoy. I hope you can help us, the situation is becoming dire."

Aruki stepped off his horse and approached the man, "Please remain calm. We will get to work right to way. Can you show me the way to where the patients are? My pharmacists can take a look at them and we can figure out what had happened when we got there." And the whole convoy was led to where those who had fallen victim with the plague are.

"Yes, please follow me." The guard bowed to Aruki as he led him and the rest of the convoy through the village street. It was quite clear of how much the plague had affected the town and its' people, because it was merely in the morning, yet there wasn't any soul to be found. The stores, the inns, the markets, all were closed. The whole town was covered in a grey veil, which can easily makes anyone feel chill down their spines. We need to solve this problem quickly, or else the consequences are unthinkable. Aruki thought as he walked alongside Kou.

Apparently, those who have fallen victim to the disease had been placed in a special isolated store house. Before Aruki and the convoy entered, they were all handed a cloth as which to cover their faces, which they did. When they entered the house, the first sight that entered his eyes were tens, or even hundreds, of townspeople who have been struck by the disease lying around, covered with white sheets. Coughes and pants were so heavy that they filled the room with a daunting atmosphere. The pharmacists quickly set out to do their jobs, as they began to take notes of the symptoms and diagnose the patients.

Aruki also sat down and checked one of the patient. Aside from hard coughing and difficulty to breathe, those who have fallen ill seem to have developed some sort of abnormal purple rashes, which is a symptom that none had ever seen anywhere in the Kingdom. He learned that the plague had began to spread for about two weeks ago and the local doctors and pharmacists had done everything in other to find a cure, yet their efforts were in vain, because it was a strange disease.

"Did you manage to identify this kind of illness?" Aruki went to the a pharmacist nearby and asked.

"My greatest apology, Aruki-sama, but I've never seen anything like this in my 20 years of work." The pharmacist bowed his head, "Perhaps I can send a word back to the capital and ask Akiha-sama if he knows anything?"

Aruki shook his head, "No need for that yet. Let's not lose our hope, we'll figure out something."

He then stood up and went to Kou, "Are you okay, Kou-san? You don't really need to be in here if you felt uncomfortable. Why don't you join Isolde to find somewhere for us to stay for the night?"