Chapter 119: Chapter 105 – Death Toll

"When I first learnt of the toll exacted by the plague on the empire, I felt sick to the stomach, despite that being an impossibility due to what I am now. These days… such things still sicken me no less than it did then. I just got better at mentally shoving it aside." - Diary of Aideen deVreys, the Silver Maiden, circa 102 FP.

Palace of Bones

Tohrmutgent

Lichdom of Ptolodecca

6th day, 3rd week, 11th month, year 83 VA.

 

Even as Aideen prayed for the best, as the years passed, her fears came to reality. The entirety of the empire quailed under the plague that struck them, all the way to the western isles, and the death toll from the plague itself bordered on the horrifying.

 

At least tens of thousands lost their lives to it, although there was no certain number to be had due to how messy the situation was. Of the empire's people with death affinity who caught the plague, less than one in forty survived, nearly wiping out that demographic as a whole from the empire.

 

Even amongst those with death's derivative affinities, barely one in two survived. Other affinities were better off, with maybe one in five perishing from the plague amongst those who caught it, with those of the life affinity being best off.

 

Ptolodecca itself instituted a very strict quarantine to any refugee headed for their borders during the period. One benefit of employing undead as their sentries was that they could afford to literally line their entire border with the empire in skeletons.

 

Any refugee found was forced to stay beyond the border, in isolation from others beyond the group they came with, and were only allowed entry if they showed no sign of the plague after a month. As for those who developed the plague, they were turned away, by force when need be, as the lichdom took no chances when it comes to this virulent plague.

 

On the empire itself, the plague had finally run its course and petered out a year ago. That didn't result in the return of stability, but in the outbreak of mass rebellions that led to civil war instead. The draconian measures used to contain the plague when it approached the capital, paired with how the rich and powerful had hoarded healers to look after themselves and their families instead of helping the populace, had triggered the already dissatisfied populace to a furious rage.

 

Almost overnight, nearly every single region of the second Elmaiya Empire rose into rebellion, with the western isles, having been semi-independent for its history, straight up seceding from the nation.

 

The conflict that embroiled the nation in the past year naturally resulted in fresh waves of refugees from the empire to the lichdom, and it had apparently gotten so bad that none of the refugees even protested about being forced to remain in quarantine for a month before being allowed entry, and many of the tales they related, told of gruesome acts happening in broad daylight.

 

With the breakdown in the government, and with how most of the rebelling groups focused their efforts against the former regime - which still held the capital city of Sabaya - security deteriorated throughout the land. Bandit groups both old and new roamed with impudence and it was the common people left to suffer for it.

 

Some were even stupid enough to target the refugees in quarantine outside the Ptolodeccan border, only to suddenly find themselves surrounded by hordes of skeletons and summarily butchered on the spot instead.

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The most recent news Aideen received was how the rebels were victorious, having eradicated the last remnants of the empire's government in Sabaya just a couple weeks ago.

 

Sadly, that had not resulted in a return of peace. Instead, the five remaining rebel armies turned to one another, each one claiming themselves the successor of the empire, and blood was shed once again.

 

All the news and revelations that the chain of events starting from their mission to Fort Asconix has resulted in this chaotic mess had tormented Aideen, as she had felt burdened by guilt for having been part of how it all started, even if indirectly.

 

Despite her brother's counsel, and even grandpa Aarin's wise words to not feel so burdened by what happened, she couldn't help but feel guilty for having caused it all in the first place. Drink was only a solace for when she wanted a dreamless night's sleep instead of one plagued by nightmares, and was of no help during her waking hours.

 

Instead, she filled those hours with work, volunteering to help out the refugees in quarantine and treat their injuries, if any, the best she could. It naturally necessitated her to be washed with death magic after each visit, to ensure that no vestige of the disease latched on to her.

 

She welcomed the excruciating pain as a penance of sort, as the death-attuned mana corroded through her flesh down to the bone, ensuring that nothing living would have hitched a ride on her person through the quarantine.

 

Regenerating her body from that was simplicity itself for her by now, and she had worn disposable robes for her visits because she knew what awaited at the end of it. Even so, she felt that it was worth it, even if just to help reduce the suffering she had indirectly inflicted on these people.

 

She didn't know, but the sight of her walking in amongst the refugees to heal them had gained her notoriety amongst those people, especially after some of them had inadvertently seen her leave and endure a "washing" of death magic, and return again the day after.

 

Even the most bitter of the refugees who had cursed at her when she first came was moved when they learned of what she had to endure every day to help them, and while Aideen herself never heard of it, some of the refugees had begun worshiping her like some sort of savior for her actions.

 

Had she found out, she would have been quite horrified by the revelation.

 

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