Chapter 67: Infection

The situation at home with Lumi was more or less stable. Syryn had taken to ignoring him as he had done in the past. The avian kept to himself but also helped out in whatever way he could. He rarely spoke to anyone, chose to work alone, slept in his cage with the wild bird, and avoided all company.

A few days after the argument with Magnus, Salem and Syryn were working together on synthesising a cure for one of the patients that came to them with a strange crotch infection that neither alchemist had ever seen. The infected flesh had turned black and leathery but the unfortunate patient was refusing to reveal where he had shoved his private parts in. With the amount of gold that he was offering them, it was a case that they couldn't turn down.

"You know, we could just.. scrape some skin off and test it," Salem suggested with a look like he had eaten a lemon.

"Fuck that. If you're willing then go ahead," Syryn returned. "I've got his blood and that's all the contact I will tolerate."

"You're right. No amount of gold is worth risking what he has."

Syryn waited while Salem put a single drop of blood in each of 5 small ceramic plates. His gaze drifted to the shelf where the transformation serum sat, thoughts back to what Magnus had said.

"Salem, do you remember what Magnus said about force shifting?" He asked.

The half-elf paused and turned to the younger man. "Yes, why do you ask?"

"He said we were violating Lumi's will."

Salem squeezed the nose of his dropper and carefully put it away. "Magnus was right about that. That doesn't mean I wouldn't have gone ahead with it if Lumi insisted on turning down Riha's advice."

"Why?"

Salem looked up towards Syryn while his hands stayed busy, pulling out several tubes of liquids.

"He still isn't one of us. Violating his will is a sin I am willing to carry the weight of if it solves the other problems that are far heavier on my mind. What about you, Syryn?"

"What about me?" The dark-haired alchemist replied. He was attempting to understand why he should give a damn about Lumi like Magnus expected him to.

"Why ask about it? You wouldn't normally care."

Syryn replied with a frown. "This is my sanctuary. I did what I thought was best for all of us. If Magnus was in Lumi's place, I would have killed anyone that tried to force-feed him the serum. But Lumi isn't Magnus." Why was he even talking about it? It was all done with, and the serum hadn't been used.

"Am I expected to empathise with everyone that comes to my home? Does Magnus do that? Why can't I just kill Lumi off if he annoys me?"

Salem put away his tools and decided that the direction of Syryn's thoughts was veering on dangerous territory. This demanded his utter and complete attention.

"Does he annoy you?" Salem asked.

"After the argument with Magnus, yes. But not enough to kill him."

That was good, Salem thought. As much as it bothered him, Lumi shouldn't have to die. "So long as he remains under our care, Magnus expects us to help him whilst causing as little damage as possible to his already fragile psyche. That's all there is to it, Syryn. You don't even have to empathise with him."

"You aren't making sense to me. What should I do? My patience runs deep but only for the people I consider friends."

"Just do it for Magnus then," Salem answered. Here he was, plotting his next murder, trying to feel less guilty about the children that would be orphaned by his actions. Then Syryn had to come along and remind him that he could choose to divorce from the guilt and become a psychopath. It would be a gradual process but Salem was sure he would eventually get there. He just had to start killing the children too.

Syryn made no reply. The blonde stared at him till the younger mage raised a single brow back at him.

"You should have this talk, Magnus."

"I'll think about it."

The next morning, Syryn was pulled out of his workroom by an excited Alka. They had a guest.

"Hi, remember me?" Rain had grown taller and her luscious hair was tied in a ponytail. She had an infectious smile that Syryn couldn't help but respond to.

"Rain, good to see you've been well," he replied while pulling a chair out. Syryn had cast an illusion on himself when Alka informed him of a guest in their home. He was glad that Rain made no mention of it though she had seen him without the illusion.

"I know it's quite abrupt but Rowan sent me here asking you for a favour," she told him while receiving a cup of tea from Alka who she thanked with another wide smile.

Syryn tried to hide the thrill he felt at hearing Rain's words. He missed Rowan and hoped for his quick return.

"There's a sick person that came back from the borders. Rowan requests that you treat him if it is within the scope of your ability." Rain told him, a frown sitting on her pretty face. "I had to return to Elysium with him but I'll be leaving as soon as we find a healer."

She folded her hands on her lap and entreated him with her eyes, "Rowan trusts you. He says that you're the only one that can treat my cousin without affecting his arcane abilities. Please, Syryn, say you will."

"I can't promise to cure him because I don't know what he's suffering from," Syryn replied. "Where is he?"

Radiant at knowing Syryn would take care of her cousin, Rain made to stand up. "He's in the carriage, reluctant to get out. I'll be right back."

Syryn wondered who this personage was, someone who was important enough to Rowan that the man sent him to Syryn. He didn't have to wait for long though. Walking up the path to their house was a mage that Syryn recognised. If Rowan was the celebrated anti mage of Sigil, this man was the mage equivalent.

"Is that who I think it is?" Alka asked in a whisper while gaping at the dashing sandy-haired man that was walking beside Rain. The mid-20s, Syryn guessed. Right hair colour height, age and face. It had to be him.

"But what is he doing here? Shouldn't he still be travelling and causing trouble in the neighbouring kingdoms?"

Rain had arrived at their doorstep, her gaze flitting between a frozen Alka and her cousin brother who looked like he wanted to be anywhere else but there.

"Alka, you're all grown up," the newcomer quietly said. "The last time I saw ya, you were still a tiny little thing." He had an accent. Syryn couldn't pinpoint its origin but it was cute on the man.

Alka nodded at their guest, "you've changed too. Big brother won't recognise you."

At the mention of Artemus, the man's eyes widened. "Artemus is here?"

Snorting at his reaction, Alka replied, "No. He's off on a mission."

Syryn observed them with keen eyes. The man with the sandy hair and gold pupils was Sigil's most powerful mage and also the kingdom's prodigal son. He had left everything behind to travel extensively beyond the borders. News of his studies and exploits reached the kingdom because Sigil kept an eye on their rebellious mage who was always causing trouble everywhere he went. The biggest scandal he had created yet was the pregnancy of a princess from a small kingdom where he had sojourned at. It was later found to be a lie, a plot to marry him to their princess, but the damage had been done. Diplomatic relations were tense between Sigil and Asmor.

"Syryn, this is my cousin, Sebastian. Seb, say hello to your new healer."

"This is Syryn?" Sebastian asked, "the Syryn that's supposed to be a better healer than Felix?"

"I'm not a healer," Syryn told him. He really wasn't though.

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"Why are we wastin' this kid's time?" Sebastian turned around to leave but Rain caught his arm and shoved him into an unoccupied chair.

"Damn it, Seb! Sit your ass down and let him have a look at you. We came all the way out here so let's make it worth the trouble."

"Look at em, he's barely a teenager," Sebastian then turned to Syryn and said, "no offence to you kid."

"None taken," the alchemist replied, drumming his fingers on the table. Rowan sending Sebastian to him meant that the illness could not be treated by a regular healer. What did it say about how much of Rowan's memories had returned to him?

"What's wrong?" Syryn asked. "I'm not a healer but I know a few things about treating sicknesses so let me try before you decide that I'm no good."

"I guess that's doable," Sebastian replied. He was still dressed in travel wear, a layer of dust encasing his entire body. Nothing about him alluded to the immensity of his reputation and power as a mage. Sebastian hid behind an act of frivolity like Syryn wore an illusion.

"So, where does it hurt?" Syryn asked.

"I was pricked by the nettle of a vine that grew from a demon I was fightin'. Ever since then, I've been leaking mana like nobody's business. I can't even cast a spell without it hurtin' my body. It feels like there's acid coursin' through me when I attempt magic-"

Syryn watched Sebastian's mouth move, hearing the words without really listening to them. He already knew what was wrong with the mage after taking a glance at the man's exposed wrist. He had light purple veins whose colour popped out stark against smooth golden sun-kissed skin.

"-And I told Felix that there was no way I was goin' to try all thirty-eight potions he had lined up for me. I'm not his guinea pig-"

"Okay that's enough," Syryn cut into his rant. Sebastian had a nice mouth. He had even nicer eyes. Syryn could appreciate the man's pretty face all day but he had work to do. "Hand," he told Sebastian.

"Syryn, how old are ya anyway? You look fifteen. You're only old enough to apprentice aren't ya?" He continued to talk while placing his hand on the table, between him and Syryn.

"I'm old enough for most things," Syryn replied. He focused on the darker veins that climbed Sebastian's arm, higher up towards his elbow. "When did these turn purple?"

"Uh, must've been a coupla days after the fight. I don't know, I wasn't payin' attention. I had bigger things to worry about."

"Like what? Screwing around with Lena?" Rain cut in.

"Rainy, you're still mad about it? I swear I had no idea she was married!"

"Tell that to Rowan. He's the one left to clean up the mess you made." Rain had her arms crossed, still angry about Sebastian's indiscretion.

"Have you been feeling like you've lost time?" Syryn steered them back to Sebastian's health woes.

"How did you know?"

"So that's a yes. How often is it happening?"

"It happened twice. First time, it took place when I was with Felix and I lost track of time. He shook me out of a daydream that lasted an hour though it only felt like a minute to me. The second time happened on the journey back to Elysium. S'wrong with me, Syryn?"

"You're pregnant, congratulations." Syryn grinned at the stunned mage.

"Quit fuckin' with me," Sebastian replied, fear swimming in his golden eyes.

"The vine seeded you, Seb. Somewhere inside your body, there's a tiny plant growing and drinking your mana like the parasite it is. It likes to latch onto the spinal cord but I can't be sure without cutting you open."

"Are you for real?" The horrified mage asked.

"Lucky for you, I can kill it without cutting you open."

"Even Felix couldn't tell what was wrong with me, and others are showin' the same symptoms back at Nunox. You're not just jerkin' my leg are ya?"

"Rowan sent you to me for a reason Sebastian. It's up to you to decide whether you want to believe me or not," Syryn replied. Creating the medicine that would kill the parasite without affecting its host, now that was a task that he would not enjoy. If Rowan hadn't asked for his help, Syryn would have thrown Sebastian to Salem with the recipe for his treatment.

"I believe you," Sebastian swept a shaky hand through his sandy hair. "What do ya need from me?"

"Ingredients," Syryn took the sheet and quill that Rain pulled out of her bag. She had come prepared.

"We need to start your treatment as soon as possible. The memory lapses are an indication of the parasite releasing chemicals into your brain. If this is allowed to go on unchecked, you'll turn into a drooling mess of a living corpse." Just like the mice that Red is experimenting with, Syryn thought.

"That's terrible!" Rain let out, aghast and fearful for her cousin. "Damn it, Seb! Couldn't you have waited one single minute like Rowan had asked you to!"

"Fucks sake Rainy, like I knew there was a demon waitin' to impregnate me! Tell my mother that she's a grandmother. She's been wantin' a grandchild all this time hasn't she?"

"Then give birth to it first you dumbass! you went and got knocked up before me!" Rain dissolved into loud laughter even as her cousin scowled.

"Yeah laugh all you want. You won't be laughin' when you hafta travel a week back to Nunox all alone."

Rain stopped laughing and the air was punctured out of her. "Yeah, it's gonna suck."

Syryn had quickly written down everything he needed. He pushed the sheet towards Rain. Turning to Sebastian, he said, "drink a cup of filtered blistrewort juice every morning before you breakfast. It'll help slow down the progress of your symptoms."

"Blistrewort juice, okay."

"We're done," Syryn nodded to both of them. "I have something important to do so I'll leave you with Alka." The plant mage had been hovering next to Syryn the entire time.

"No, we hafta get goin' as well," Sebastian replied. "Thanks, Syryn, I'll return after collecting the ingredients."

Rain turned to Alka and smiled. "It's a pity though that Artemus isn't around."

"Let's leave Rainy."

"See ya soon Syryn, Alka."

From his kitchen window, Syryn watched them board their carriage.

"Artemus and Sebastian friends or something?" He asked Alka.

The plant mage was engulfed by memories of his childhood in the forest, running behind Sebastian and Artemus. "They used to be best friends," he answered, a wistful smile on his face. "Now they pretend the other doesn't exist."

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