Cure or Conundrum?    

Horizon had stayed in U'drutz for a few days, though time seemed to blur in the Catacomb Reaches, where eternal twilight bathed everything in a constant, dim glow. There were no clocks, no calendars — no concept of time as he had known it.

He made a mental note of these facts, knowing this information could fetch a good sum of gil when he returned to Eternia and reported it to the ARK.

"Hey Horizon, ready to head out?" Von's voice broke through his thoughts.

Horizon nodded and walked over to him. In the days they'd spent together, they'd made a routine of hunting for anything useful and searching for a way out of Drakha that didn't involve the Red Moon.

The Red Moon only appeared once a year. The last one only appeared a few days ago. They couldn't wait for another year to get out of Drakha. Or at least, they could get out the Catacombs Reaches and explore other parts of Drakha. 

Before they could leave, another tribe member called out to them.

"Von. Horizon. Tulemo is looking for you."

"Tulemo? What does he want?" Von asked, curiosity and concern mixing in his tone.

The tribe member shrugged. "He didn't say. He's in his lab."

"Let's go, Horizon. If it's Tulemo, it must be serious."

"Tulemo is the head physician for Vodgo, right?" Horizon confirmed as they headed toward the lab.

"That's right," Von replied. "He's the healer in charge of Chief Vodgo's health. He's been growing more frustrated by the day — unable to cure the chieftain's strange illness and worried sick about the tribe's future. Vodgo's death could tear the tribe apart even more."

Von paused before continuing, "Tulemo's also one of the tribe's elders, but with Vodgo's decline, he's worried that the younger members will try to seize power or push one of their own to become the new chieftain like Atyan."

In the few days Horizon had been in U'drutz, he had begun to understand the intricate power structure within the tribe.

"Maybe you should bring up the issue with the skeletal dragons from before," Horizon suggested.

Von grinned. "That's right. I didn't get the chance to tell the other elders because they've been so busy, but if it's Tulemo, he'll listen. We might finally get someone to investigate why Nix's brood is venturing so close to our borders."

When Horizon and Von reached Tulemo's lab, they found the half-human healer engrossed in mixing potions, his lab a chaotic of flasks, vials, and bubbling concoctions. Tulemo's focus was solely on his work, his hands moving nonstop.

Linji, an elf and Tulemo's apprentice, hovered nearby. Like his mentor, Linji was deeply concerned about the chieftain's deteriorating health. The room was filled with a sense of urgency and tension.

"Tulemo, you wanted to see us?" Von began.

Without lifting his gaze from his experiments, Tulemo's voice emerged from behind a haze of steam. "Yes. Are you heading out into the Catacombs?"

"Yes. Do you need us to bring something?" Von asked.

The pair were the tribe's designated scavengers, a role Horizon didn't mind — anything was better than being a guard or a cook, or worse, washing clothes.

"Actually, yes. Please bring more Twilight Flowers. My supply is nearly exhausted."

"Twilight Flowers?" Von scratched his head. These were the only things that thrived under the eternal twilight of the Catacombs, but they were notoriously difficult to collect due to the dangerous presence of Nix's brood.

"We'll get you those flowers," Von said, "but hear us out first."

Tulemo finally looked up, his dark skin and hair making him appear even more haggard than his actual age. He looked like he carried the weight of the tribe's troubles on his shoulders.

"What is it?"

"I don't know if Rysamora has informed you, but we encountered seven Nix'udjar dragonkin about four days ago."

"No, Rysamora hasn't told me. She's been too occupied with tribe issues, keeping everything together while managing Vodgo's condition."

"This is serious, Tulemo. No Nix'udjar has ventured this far before. Something must be amiss."

Tulemo considered this for a moment before sighing deeply. "As much as I want to investigate this myself, Vodgo's health is my priority. I'm stretched too thin right now."

"Then let us talk to Vodgo himself. He might have some idea on what to do!" Von insisted.

Tulemo frowned, clearly torn but silent.

"We'll be quick, I promise," Von added.

Tulemo exhaled sharply. "Fine, but don't let Rysamora or Atyan see you. Linji, go with them."

Von's face lit up with a relieved smile while Horizon remained quiet, observing from the side. Linji led them through the winding corridors to Vodgo's quarters.

As they moved through the dimly lit passageways, Linji suddenly broke the silence. "Twilight Flowers won't solve the core issue."

Horizon raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Linji's expression was grave. "They're a temporary fix. The real problem is far more complicated. And if we don't address it soon, the situation might spiral out of control."

"Huh?" Von and Horizon exchanged a confused glance.

"Twilight Flowers won't make a difference," Linji explained, his voice low and urgent. "Neither they nor any standard healing potions will help Vodgo. His illness is not only rare but defies common and magical remedies. In fact, using them could make his condition worse."

"Have you told Tulemo about this?" Von asked.

A troubled frown creased Linji's brow. "He wouldn't believe me. Besides, I have a plan to address Vodgo's sickness, but it's unconventional and would likely be met with disapproval from the elders. For now, it's best to keep it under wraps."

Linji was confident he'd found a solution, though it involved methods that weren't exactly mainstream. He was eager to try anything that might delay Vodgo's death and the ensuing power struggle among the Amberskins.

"Well, then," Von said, taking a deep breath. "We'll head to Vodgo's chambers now."

Linji's expression remained stoic. "Don't take too long. Vodgo's condition is worsening rapidly. More bad news could be detrimental."

"We'll be mindful of that," Von replied. He stepped into Vodgo's chambers, while Horizon threw a final, cautious glance at Linji.

There was something unsettling in Linji's gaze, but Horizon chose to ignore it for now. He followed Von into the dimly lit quarters, ready to face the leader of the tribe himself.