Chapter 44
The campfire was doused with water.
Unlike Azek's assumption, they didn't spend the night at a roadside camp. Instead, they continued toward the nearest village post, changed horses and coachmen, and traveled throughout the night.
The carriage was spacious enough for them to rest, but they were surprised when Ainsworth opened the panels and a four-bed cabin took shape. The Margrave brothers let the students rest while they took turns keeping the night watch.
When the morning sun rose, the carriage came to a halt. Although at first everybody tried to stay awake and alert, they drifted into sleep slowly one after another due to the long, arduous journey.
Morning sunrays showed through the trees and warmed the earth, and by the time the sun was fully out, they had already covered a significant distance and only stopped at a town for breakfast before resuming their journey.
By the morning of the third day, they had arrived at Solar City, the nearest major junction city from the North Front.
It was a prosperous city bustling with merchants, but now the atmosphere was a bit gloomy. There was not as much traffic from the north side, as the Ronian kingdom had abandoned its land, which was originally a trade route. Now monsters rampaged the path.
The influx of people on the streets had increased over the past several days as refugees from Northcastle and nearby villages were rescued. Soldiers from the Milborne family's private army could be seen patrolling as well.
Queen Seraphina belonged to the Milborne family, and under her direct orders, Solar City became a refugee camp. Local nobles took part by offering money, manpower, medicine, and daily necessities.
Azek looked at the scene in front of him. They had arrived in the city earlier that morning and had some free time. Later that evening, they would resume their travel to the Northwest Front.
Some personnel from Northcastle were supposed to join them here with the latest information in the morning, and they would be spearheading the assault on the Northwest.
But due to an unexpected monster assault the previous night, they were occupied and could only join them by evening, so they had some time for themselves.
Azek took the opportunity to look around Solar City's refugee camp, while the rest of the students also took the chance to explore.
But the condition on the periphery of the camp was unbearable. Healthy people and families were separated from the injured.
Their families also couldn't take care of them, as more and more continued to die.
Before their wounds could become a source of contamination, entire limbs were cut off.
But it didn't relieve the symptoms of the poison. The only thing healers could do was render them unconscious so they wouldn't feel pain. If someone showed irreversible symptoms of contamination, they were immediately executed by the military and burned outside in a large ditch.
There were no priests available here to use holy fire, so the area itself was actively becoming a source of infection.
Azek looked at this and closed his eyes.
"What are your thoughts, Willowheart?"
He opened his eyes and looked straight ahead. Princess Layana was standing there in front of him. When he had shared his idea of visiting the camp, she had followed him immediately.
"It's horrible, Princess."
"What is?"
"The life of these people has become horrible. Dying is painful, and those who live will spend the rest of their lives in pain, with nothing but regrets. And the worst part is that their loved ones couldn't even get a proper burial."
The Princess's hair fluttered slightly in the air.
"I guess you are right. The situation is a lot more dire than I thought."
She gazed at the horizon, her expression hard to read.
"Come with me."
She gestured and went toward the pharmacy direction. Azek followed behind her and entered the medical camp.
A person provided them masks and enchanted holy robes. He looked at the robes and was impressed with the Princess's thorough preparation, as there wasn't enough available for even medical staff.
They put on everything and went inside the contaminated area.
A slightly pungent smell of disinfectant lingered in the air.
There were rows of patients lying unconscious, limbs amputated, bodies filled with bruises and blisters. Even if the infection was limited in the camp, more people arrived every passing day as people traveled with infected ones from far distances.
By the time they reached the camp, another three or four victims would emerge. It was an endless cycle. After all, they couldn't simply abandon their families.
The medical personnel worked tirelessly to make things work, but there was only so much they could do without any healers and priests.
The Princess looked at the rows of patients lying down, her gaze drifting. At the end, there was a little girl sitting in a corner.
She asked the assistant about her.
"She is a suspected case. There were no parents or guardians with her when she arrived, and the people she traveled with all died after coming here. Only a lady survived. She and this girl are kept here until the incubation period is over."
The assistant replied respectfully.
The girl was barely 8 years old, her hair unkempt and figure frail.
The Princess looked at her for a few moments and then went toward her.
She gestured for Azek to follow.
"I want you to examine her."
She asked Azek while pointing toward her.
Azek looked at her dumbfounded. For a split second, he couldn't comprehend what the Princess asked of him.
"Hurry up."
The Princess's tone changed. Azek jolted from his reverie and hurriedly placed his hand on the little girl's wrist.
He had almost forgotten that in front of him was the only princess of the Saika Empire. How could she be unaware of the academy incident details?
I let my guard down.
He slowly conjured mana and asked the priest to cast a healing spell so he could examine her without her feeling any pain.
The little girl was around eight years old, huddled in a small corner wrapping her arm around her bent knees in disheveled clothes. Mana slowly seeped into her, and she shook slightly, her body trembling.
The Princess bent down and took her other hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. The girl looked at the beautiful woman in front of her and then looked back at her hand. A small piece of cookie was placed in her palm. Her eyes sparkled at her newfound joy. Princess gave her a beautiful smile.
Azek slowly let go after a few moments.
"Well, what did you find?"
"She is not contaminated for now, but there is a seed inside her."
The Princess looked at him and gave a beautiful smile.
"Well then, get rid of it."