Chapter 73: The Devil’s Heart Flower
She swallowed hard, struggling to contain her anguish for this young woman lying before her. The girl was clad in a wedding gown; it must have been her special day, cruelly ruined by the Lord vampire’s vicious attack. The injustice of it twisted painfully within Ren’s chest as she thought they were transforming what should have been a joyous occasion into a nightmare painted in blood.
"Our past attempts failed; the soldiers’ hearts stopped after they succumbed to the hallucinations induced by the fever. But this girl hasn’t started hallucinating yet. We must swiftly gather every possible remedy to reduce the fever. If we can eliminate it, she has a chance to survive," Ren urged.
Her knowledge of this fever was limited. She had only studied medication for three short years, her training abruptly halted when she was brought here.
"The strongest herb capable of combating fever is the Jomen flower, which blooms only in the harshest winters and loses its effects if not used instantly and fresh. Unfortunately, it’s extremely rare," Healer Rigo explained somberly.
Ren nodded slightly, but her thoughts drifted elsewhere, memories guiding her to the temple stairs. She vividly recalled descending those steps, her gaze catching on a peculiar sight in the cursed garden at the mountain’s base. Amidst lifeless vines and frozen earth had blossomed a radiant, purple flower, its vibrant glow defiantly alive amidst decay. Could she somehow retrieve it?
Turning resolutely to Agara, she declared, "Please, take me to the Cave Temple."
Agara shook his head, cautious yet curious. "Why?"
"I know of an herb capable of purifying infected blood. Perhaps it can even kill this fever. Please, let me try."
"What herb is it, exactly?" Healer Rigo asked warily.