Bad Waters!

"Apostle? The last one was three years ago. There's no way he's an apostle," the queen remarked, skepticism evident in her tone.

"Your Majesty, respectfully, there's no need to dwell on whether I'm truly an apostle," I said, my tone firm but respectful. "But I do have a proposition. The fate of your people is at stake, and I believe I hold the key to their salvation."

"How can I put my trust in you? I barely know you, and even if you truly are an apostle, the last one brought a curse upon our land. Why should I trust you?" the queen questioned, her voice tinged with skepticism.

"It's not a curse," I replied confidently, meeting the queen's gaze with conviction.

"No way, it's a curse inflicted upon us by the wrath of the orcs," the old elf countered firmly. "The previous apostle took down their king, and now they're out for vengeance."

"Hey, Mia, can I take a look at that cup?" I asked, wanting to inspect it.

I examined the water inside, and it confirmed my suspicion.

("Curse my ass, the water is clearly contaminated.")

"The water is contaminated," I announced, my voice carrying across the chamber. "That's why the entire village is experiencing the same symptoms, why there are no animal sounds, and why the vegetation is dying."

"How dare you suggest that the water from our sacred river is tainted? It's been the source of our life since our very first ancestor!" the old elf exclaimed indignantly.

"Then what's your reasoning again? Curse? Pfft," I retorted, my voice laced with skepticism.

"Enough," the king snapped abruptly, his tone commanding silence.

"Young human, you claim yourself to be an apostle of God and assert that our sacred river is contaminated. What proof do you have?"

"Your Majesty, have you experienced vomiting, insatiable thirst, and cramps ever since?"

"That's—" The king stopped midway.

"Maybe some cramps? Feeling restless even if you've been bedridden all day? Perhaps some runny defecation?"

"How do you know?" the king asked, his voice weak.

"In my knowledge, these symptoms are known as a disease named cholera," I stated.

"And if you allow it, may I check to confirm my suspicion, Your Majesty?"

The king nodded weakly, granting me permission with a feeble gesture. With careful steps, I approached the royal bed. I reached for the king's arm, pinching a part of his skin As I did, the queen and Mia watched anxiously, their eyes filled with apprehension.

Upon observing the elasticity of the king's skin, I noticed it didn't bounce back as quickly as it should, a telltale sign of dehydration. After a moment, I withdrew my hand and met the king's gaze solemnly. "Your Majesty, I fear my suspicions were correct," I began, my voice grave. "Your symptoms align with those of cholera."

"This doesn't prove anything!" exclaimed the old elf.

"Quiet," snapped the king, his tone firm and commanding.

"Young human, you claimed you could save the fate of our people, that as an apostle of God, you have the power to change our misfortune. Can I believe in you?"

"I put my neck on the line, Your Majesty," I answered confidently, grinning with assurance.

"Then do whatever you need to. I assure it in my name," declared the king, his voice carrying a sense of trust and hope.

Mia and I slipped out of the chamber, walking away, I couldn't shake off the intense glare of the old elf, her resentment practically tangible. 

In the midst of walking, Mia stopped abruptly and turned around to look at me. "Is it true? Can you save us? Can you save everyone?" she asked earnestly, her eyes searching mine for reassurance.

"Do you trust me?" I asked in return, meeting her gaze.

"I do."

"Then trust that I will do everything in my power to save this village," I assured her.

As I walked back to the town square, Mia at my side, a sense of urgency gripped me. The townsfolk had gathered, their faces etched with worry and confusion.

Stepping onto a makeshift platform, I addressed the crowd. "Listen up, everyone," I started, my voice cutting through the murmurs. "We've got a problem on our hands, but we ain't gonna let it beat us."

"Alright, folks, listen up," I began, trying to keep my explanation simple yet informative. "Cholera is a nasty bug that gets in your tummy and makes you real sick. You'll feel like you gotta puke, you'll be thirsty all the time, and you'll have some mighty bad cramps."

I paused to let that sink in before continuing. "Now, the reason why we're seeing folks getting sick is 'cause of dirty water. See, this bug likes to hang out in water that's not clean. So if you're drinking water straight from the river without purifying it first, you're asking for trouble."

I explained the symptoms of cholera in simple terms, making sure everyone understood what to look out for. "Now, here's what we're gonna do," I continued, outlining the steps we needed to take to prevent the spread of the disease. "We'll get clean water to every household, and we'll make damn sure it stays clean."

"Wait a second," one of the elves in the crowd spoke up, skepticism coloring his tone. "You're saying we ain't cursed?"

"Curse this curse that, no, you're not cursed, none of us are," I reiterated

"But, we've been drinking from the river since millennia ago, why now?" another voice chimed in, expressing the confusion that lingered among the villagers.

"I have yet to find the answer as I'm currently investigating further," I admitted, my tone serious. "But what I do know is that we gotta act now, or everyone is doomed."

"Non sense!" Han's voice cut through the crowd, filled with disdain. "Do all of you believe in this fraud? The river is sacred, there's no way it's tainted. You can't believe a single word that comes from this human's mouth."

"Listen up, Dickhead," I snapped back, my tone sharp with frustration. "I don't give a fuck whether you believe me or not. But if you wanna keep playing the skeptic while people are dropping like flies, then go right ahead. Just know that your stubbornness could cost lives. So either you can get on board and help us fix this, or you can step aside and let us do what needs to be done."

A commotion broke out among the crowd, voices rising in heated debate. Some seemed ready to believe and take action, while others remained skeptical, their doubts fueling the chaos.

I glanced around, taking in the divided crowd. It was clear that we needed to find a way to bridge this gap and unite everyone in our efforts to combat the disease. With a deep breath, I stepped forward, raising my voice above the din.

"Enough!" I roared, my frustration boiling over. "We don't have the luxury of squabbling while the village suffers. Lives are on the line, and we need to act—now. Whether you're ready to believe or not, the truth is staring us in the face. So stop with the doubt and skepticism and start listening to reason. We need unity, not division, if we're going to overcome this crisis."

A.N:

Cholera is a severe diarrheal disease caused by infection with Vibrio cholerae bacteria. It spreads through the ingestion of contaminated food or water. While some individuals may have mild or no symptoms, others may experience severe and life-threatening complications.

Around one in ten people infected with cholera will develop severe symptoms, including profuse watery diarrhea, vomiting, intense thirst, leg cramps, and restlessness or irritability. Healthcare providers should be alert for signs of dehydration, such as a rapid heart rate, reduced skin elasticity, dry mucous membranes, and low blood pressure.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases (DFWED)