Chapter 94 - 094: Abnormal reaction
The work continued almost immediately.
The people spread across the settlement, carrying wood and clearing the ground where the shelter would stand. The stronger beastmen handled the heavier pieces while others gathered smaller branches and leaves for the roof.
Kenai and Kai stayed with the group, helping wherever they were needed.
Anaria moved between them and the people who needed treatment.
The first few settlers she examined were still weak. Some had fever, while others complained about pain in their bodies. A few were too exhausted to even sit for long.
Anaria treated them one after another, using what she had brought with her.
The improvement was slow, but noticeable.
One of the women who had been lying inside a shelter managed to sit up after Anaria finished treating her.
"I feel better," she said quietly.
"Rest for now," Anaria told her. "Don’t try to work yet."
The woman nodded and smiled at her
Anaria moved on to the next person.
As she worked, a notification appeared in front of her.
[Warning: Prolonged exposure to corruption may weaken immunity over time.]
[Host is advised to act fast]
Anaria paused for only a moment. She dismissed the message and kept working.
So the immunity was not permanent. That was useful to know, even if it changed nothing right now.
She kept the information to herself and continued treating the settlers.
Outside, the shelter was beginning to take shape.
Kenai carried several pieces of wood toward the construction area before stopping when he heard Ana fussing.
He looked down at her "You’re hungry again?"
Ana giggled and moved against his chest.
Kai glanced over from where he was helping with the frame "She has your timing."
Kenai snorted. "She’s a baby."
"That doesn’t stop her from carrying her dad’s trait."
Kenai shook his head and carried Ana toward Anaria "She probably needs her mother."
Anaria looked at them and smiled faintly "I’ve been waiting for that."
She took Ana and settled her against her chest before sitting down for a short while.
Kenai remained beside her "She hasn’t slept for long."
"She doesn’t seem interested in sleeping today."
Ana made a small sound and moved closer.
Kenai smiled. "She knows everyone is busy."
Anaria glanced at him. "She knows how to get attention."
Kenai laughed quietly.
After Ana settled, Anaria handed her back to Kenai so she could continue helping.
The construction moved faster as the afternoon went on.
The main posts were already standing, and the people had started attaching the wooden supports. Those who had been too weak to work stayed nearby, watching the progress.
Anaria noticed something else.
The people were no longer watching them with the same suspicion and some even approached Anaria without being called and that was good cause it would have been difficult, if they don’t.
One young beastman brought her an injured hand.
"I hurt this while carrying the wood."
Anaria examined it. "It isn’t serious."
She treated the injury and wrapped it before sending him back.
"Be careful."
He nodded and returned to the others.
Anaria watched him leave.
It seemed the settlement was slowly becoming more comfortable with them.
She returned to the shelter and continued helping.
By late afternoon, the basic frame was standing.
It was still unfinished, but it was already stronger than most of the homes around it.
Kenai stepped back to look at it "We’ll have the roof done before dark if everyone keeps this pace."
Kai nodded. "Then we can finish the inside tomorrow."
Anaria looked over the structure.
They had made good progress.
But there was still plenty left to do.
The work continued as the afternoon slowly faded.
The people began carrying the roofing materials while others worked on the walls. The settlement was much noisier now, filled with the sound of wood being cut and people calling to one another.
Anaria returned to the shelters to check on those who were still recovering.
Most of the people she had treated were doing better.
One man who had been unable to stand earlier was now sitting outside, eating a small meal.
Another had regained enough strength to help sort the materials.
Anaria was pleased to see the improvement, but she did not let herself relax too much.
The strange condition was still affecting them.
She continued checking everyone carefully.
Near the edge of the settlement, Kenai was carrying another piece of wood when Ana began fussing again.
He stopped and looked down at her "You really don’t want to sleep, do you?"
Ana answered with another little sound.
Kai walked past and glanced at her. "She wants to see what everyone is doing."
Kenai adjusted her against his chest. "She has been watching us all day."
Ana reached toward the wooden frame.
Kenai followed her gaze. "You want to help?"
Kai laughed. "She can’t even walk."
Kenai smiled. "But she can supervise."
Anaria heard them from nearby and shook her head "You two are encouraging her."
Kenai looked at Ana. "She has already decided she’s in charge."
Anaria smiled before returning to the people she was treating.
As evening approached, the shelter had begun to look like a real building.
The walls were partly covered, and the roof was almost complete.
Several people stood nearby, looking at the structure with quiet satisfaction.
The woman who had first spoken to Anaria walked over. "You’ve done a lot today."
Anaria glanced at the others still working. "Everyone did."
The woman looked toward the shelter. "We haven’t had something like this before."
Anaria didn’t respond immediately "It will make things easier for those who need somewhere to recover."
The woman smiled, She seemed less guarded than before.
Anaria returned to the shelter where the sick people were resting.
One of them caught her attention.
It was a young man she had treated earlier. His breathing had become heavier.
Anaria crouched beside him "You were feeling better before."
He nodded weakly. "I was."
She checked him again.
His skin felt warmer than it had earlier.
Something cold settled in her chest.
The treatment should have helped him.
She looked around the shelter.
The others were still stable.
Only his condition had suddenly changed.
Kenai noticed her stillness and approached "What happened?"
"He’s getting worse again."
Kai came closer as well.
Anaria carefully examined the young man. His body trembled slightly, and his breathing became uneven.
She tried another small amount of the healing treatment, but the change was slower than before.
The young man opened his eyes for a moment. His pupils looked strangely unfocused.
Then he suddenly gripped Anaria’s wrist.
She froze.
A low sound escaped him before he released her again.
Anaria looked at him carefully.
Something was wrong.
She had treated several people that day, but none of them had reacted like this.
A notification appeared in front of her.
[Warning: Abnormal reaction detected.]
Anaria’s expression became serious.
She dismissed the message immediately before Kenai or Kai could notice anything unusual.
The shelter around them was still unfinished, and the rest of the settlement continued working outside.
But Anaria could no longer ignore what had just happened.
Something about this man’s condition was different.