Seeing Victims of the Plague

Catallina was in a state of deep melancholy at the moment, in the newly established refugee camps in the middle of the deadly plague-stricken city of Blanchill. The surrounding scenery made her heart feel heavy.

The people in these camps were suffering, and there were screams of pain that filled the air. Victims were indiscriminate; there were men, women, small children, and even babies who were not spared from this plague.

Catallina tried hard to hold back her tears, clenched her teeth, and swallowed saliva with difficulty.

Lord Elias, the leader of the city of Blanchill, who had accompanied her, tried to provide some solace with his words, "Forgive us, my lady. We should have been able to entertain you in a much more pleasant atmosphere. I apologize profusely for this insult."

Catallina turned to him with a look that radiated deep sadness, "There is no need to apologize, Lord Elias. I understand why the King sent me to this city."

The two of them walked around the refugee camp full of suffering people, followed by General Dorgs behind them.

The medics were so busy, that their traffic among the sick patients seemed to never stop. Sweat poured down their tired faces, and they moved relentlessly from patient to patient.

When they stopped for a moment in the middle of the camp, their eyes fell on an old man wearing a black robe. He was kneeling, reciting a prayer with an open bible in his right hand.

"Ah, Lord Elias," the priest said, raising his head respectfully, noticing their presence.

"Reverend, you look tired. You should take a short rest for your health," Lord Elias said politely.

The priest shook his head, his gaze fixed on the misery-filled camp. "I cannot stand idly by when I see the townspeople in this condition, Lord Elias." Then, his eyes shifted to Catallina, and his expression turned foreign.

"I have yet to introduce," Lord Elias said politely, "This is Princess Catallina Heirs of de Golden."

The priest immediately saluted and replied, "My respects to the beauty of the Kingdom of Berillan." He bowed sincerely, but as soon as he did, Catallina took his hand quickly.

"You don't have to do that, Reverend," Catallina said gently, trying to remove the distance between them.

The priest looked at her with eyes full of respect and appreciation, and he nodded in her honor. "Thank you, Princess. But I cannot forget my appreciation of you for coming here during this crisis."

Their conversation paused for a moment as they proceeded to look at the refugees one by one. They tried to pray for them and give them some encouragement.

Catallina looked around her, her heart ached to see all this, she desperately wanted to help the city and its people affected by this plague. Lord Elias walked beside her, knowing that a great responsibility also rested on his shoulders as the leader of the city.

Night had fallen on the city of Blanchill, and the darkening atmosphere only added to the tense atmosphere that continued to rage in the hearts of Catallina, the Temple Priest, and Lord Ellias. They were gathered in a quiet room in the center of a refugee camp bustling with people suffering from this terrible mysterious disease.

Catallina sat anxiously at one end of a simple wooden table, sharp eyes scrutinizing the files of notes scattered across the table.

The Temple Priest, a wise old man in dull robes, sat next to her, his face full of contemplation. Lord Ellias, meanwhile, took his place beside Catallina.

Catallina started the conversation with a voice full of worry, "We must find a way to deal with this disease, and we must do it quickly."

The Temple Priest, who had closely observed cases of this disease from the beginning, nodded in agreement, "You are right, Princess. This disease is so mysterious, it's unlike anything we've seen before. It eats away at the victim's skin until their bones are visible. And what's more frightening, the medicines we concoct only provide a temporary effect."

Lord Ellias, with a thoughtful expression, added, "Yes, that's right. Our medics have tried various medicinal formulas, and the effects are indeed remarkable. However, unfortunately, the effect of the medicine only lasts one day. The next day, the wounds again spread rapidly on the victim's skin."

Catallina pondered for a moment, trying to make sense of this increasingly tense situation. "We need to find out the real cause of this disease. Is it connected to something in the city?"

The Temple Priest nodded, "It's possible. There are rumors that some of the townspeople have been engaging in dark practices and following teachings that go against our beliefs."

Lord Ellias added, "I have investigated reports of secret meetings within the city, but to date, we have not found any concrete evidence of anyone's involvement."

The Temple Priest then explained his theory, "There may be an evil force trying to destroy our city through this disease. We must find out who is behind this and stop it before more victims fall."

Catallina nodded in agreement, "We must work together to uncover this truth. I will find out more about what is happening within the city."

Lord Ellias offered his support, "Princess, you will not be alone in this mission. For this is my sole responsibility."

The Temple Priestess closed the conversation with a prayer, "May we find answers and endeavor to save this city from destruction. Amen."

As the day grew late, Lord Ellias and Catallina bid farewell to the Temple Priest. The two of them walked towards the exit of the refugee camp, accompanied by the loyal General Tobias who always stayed close to Lord Ellias.

However, at an unexpected moment and without the knowledge of Lord Ellias or his guards, the Temple Priest approached Catallina with a worried look on his face. He tugged Catallina's arm gently, almost inaudibly, and bent down to speak in secret.

"Please, Princess Catallina," the Temple Priest whispered in a tone full of urgency, "Come to the temple alone. There is something very important I must tell you."

Catallina was surprised by this sudden request, but she soon nodded solemnly. She felt that there was something she needed to hear from the Temple Priestess. With a thoughtful heart, Catallina followed Lord Ellias who had exited the camp, leaving the Temple Priest and the room full of unanswered questions.

The two of them walked out of the refugee camp and stepped into the night, under a sky filled with thick clouds. At that moment, they felt that their task was harder than ever, and they both mused about the next step they should take.

*****