Morning light filtered through the trees as the group trained in an open field near town. Liza and Sara lay sprawled on the grass, chests heaving, sweat soaking their clothes.
"The exam is in two days," Kai said, arms crossed, tone dead serious. "And you two aren't ready yet."
Marcos snorted. "Quit talking like you're their master."
Kai smirked. "But I am their master."
Marcos walked over and crouched beside Sara. "You okay?"
She gave a small, tired smile. "Yeah."
Kai leaned toward Liza and whispered, "He only asks her if she's okay. You're lying right there too."
"Shut up," Liza hissed.
Kai straightened. "Alright, next—Eris's turn. Let's all find some animals to practice on."
He froze mid-step, eyes narrowing. Then he bolted toward town without another word.
"You all keep practicing," he called over his shoulder. "I'll be right back."
Marcos stared after him. "Why does he keep running off like that lately?"
Liza stood up. "I'll go see what's wrong."
Eris blinked. "Now what's up with her?"
In a quiet side street, Kai sat slumped on an overturned crate, breathing hard. He peeled back the bandage on his shoulder—purple-black veins spiderwebbed across swollen, inflamed skin.
"Ahhhhhh—" He lurched to the side and vomited onto the dirt.
"I thought this would get better with time," he muttered through gritted teeth, "but it's getting worse."
"What the hell is that?!" a rough voice barked.
Kai looked up. Jeff stood at the mouth of the alley, frowning.
"Old man," Kai muttered. "You stalking me now?"
"First tell me why your shoulder looks like that."
"That Monster in the cave got me," Kai admitted.
Jeff's face darkened. "You need a doctor. Now."
"The doctor won't have anything for this poison," Kai said.
"But you should still go." Jeff turned. "I've got work nearby. Stay put—I'll be back when I'm done."
"Okay, okay," Kai muttered.
Jeff hurried off, but at the end of the street he paused, muttered something under his breath, and kept going.
"Why's the old man acting so weird?" Kai grumbled.
"Hey. Why didn't you tell us?"
Kai whipped around. "Fuck! Liza—what are you doing here?"
"You should've told us," she said, voice tight.
"I'll be fine. Don't worry."
Liza grabbed his good arm and yanked. "We're going to the doctor."
"Wait—"
"No!"
They reached the clinic. Liza dragged him inside.
"Good morning," the doctor said, looking up from his desk.
"Sir, please check his shoulder," Liza said urgently, already pulling Kai's sleeve down.
The doctor leaned in. His eyes widened as he traced the purple-black veins spiderwebbing across swollen.
He froze for a long second.
Deuman poison…The thought hit him like cold water. I've only ever read about this in the old texts—never seen a living case. The illustrations never captured how fast it moves… or how grotesque.
He swallowed, forcing his voice steady.
"This is Deuman poison," he said grimly. "Most victims die within hours. You're a miracle, young man… but it's spreading fast."
Liza's grip tightened on Kai's arm. "Can you give him medicine?"
The doctor shook his head slowly. "Sadly, no. There's no known antidote in this town—or in most places. The poison is too rare… and too deadly."
"So there's nothing we can do?" Liza's voice cracked, barely above a whisper.
"All you can do is pray to the gods," the doctor said quietly.
"Huh. Gods," Kai muttered, stepping forward.
Liza yanked him back. "Hey—"
"Shut up and move," she snapped.
Outside, Kai asked, "Now where are we going?"
Liza didn't answer. She just kept walking—straight back to the training field.
"What happened?" Marcos asked as they approached.
Liza pulled Kai's sleeve down. "Look."
Sara and Eris gasped. "What's that?"
"It's nothing," Kai said.
"Deuman poison," Marcos said flatly.
"Yeah," Liza confirmed.
"You got poisoned by that thing?" Eris asked, eyes wide.
"Yes," Kai admitted.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Sara asked softly.
"I thought it'd cause trouble."
"Shut up, you moron!" Liza shouted.
"Eris—can't you heal it?" Marcos asked.
Eris shook her head. "My magic doesn't work on poison yet."
"Marcos," Liza said, "is there any other way?"
"There is," he said slowly. "But I don't think we can find it around here."
"Just tell us what it is," Liza pressed.
"Tacca chantrieri," Marcos said. "A rare herb that can cure it. But it's almost impossible to get."
A small voice spoke from behind them.
"You can find it in the forest west of Redscar."
Everyone turned.
A girl—tiny, dark hair, sharp eyes—stood there, arms crossed.
"How—" Kai started.
His knees buckled. He collapsed.
"Kai!" Liza caught him before he hit the ground.
Sara dropped to her knees beside him, hands shaking. "Kai—wake up!"
Eris started crying openly. "He's—he's burning up!"
Marcos knelt, checking the pulse. "Poison's spreading fast."
He looked up at the girl. "Who are you kid? And how do you know about the herb?"
The girl huffed. "I'm not a kid. I'm sixteen. Name's Lucy. I'm Jeff's niece. He sent me to check on his 'friends in the field.' Said one of them might be hurt. If you need Tacca chantrieri, it grows in the forest west of Redscar."
Marcos noticed the small tattoo on her shoulder—same design as Jeff's.
"She's telling the truth," he said.
Liza looked up, eyes red. "Can you take us there?"
Lucy nodded. "Only to the entrance. I won't go inside."
"Deal," Marcos said.
"But Kai—" Liza started, voice thick.
"Leave him with my uncle," Lucy said. "He'll be back soon. He can watch him."
Liza looked down at Kai's pale face, then back at the group.
"Okay," she whispered. "But we're getting that herb. No matter what."