As the veil of night had fully descended, Iris had changed into attire that was easy to move in. She wore riding clothes to minimize exposed skin, covered her mouth with a scarf in place of a mask, and donned gloves. To collect scabs, she prepared a silver knife and spoon, along with jars for storage, and packed any other essentials she thought necessary into a cross-body bag.
“What an elaborate getup,” a teasing voice commented as she turned towards the door, where Serj stood, faintly glowing inside the room.
It was astonishing—no sound, no presence!
Coming from a family of knights, Iris was surprised.
“Smallpox isn’t contagious, is it?”
Iris laughed at Serj’s words.
“I believe smallpox isn’t contagious. But other diseases might be. Since I’m not sure what Serj-sama intends to do with me, I thought I should take every precaution.”
“Good thinking,” Serj chuckled, finding amusement in her earnestness. “Let me clarify something first. We fairies aren’t visible to normal humans. You’ll appear to be alone to others, so be cautious.”
“Understood. I’m quite confident in my martial arts skills,” Iris replied, flexing her arm to demonstrate.
“Ah, knight’s blood runs through you. Then, I shall bestow my blessing upon you.”
“Serj-sama’s blessing…?”
Serj kissed Iris on the forehead, leaving her flustered.
A fairy’s blessing? From a small fairy, maybe, but from an adult like Serj… and him being male, and me… Oh, how embarrassing…
Blushing furiously, Iris blinked rapidly.
Serj narrowed his eyes as if his mischief had succeeded.
“While you glow, nothing can harm you, not even diseases. Now, let’s go.”
Looking at her hand, Iris saw a mist-like purple glow enveloping her.
“Amazing…”
Serj suddenly took her hand, and Iris’s body felt light as he effortlessly lifted her up, making her cling to his neck.
“Yikes! Scary!”
“Haha, there’s something even you fear?”
“Yes, there is!”
“That’s delightful!”
Serj’s laughter echoed as the world around them seemed to warp.
Ugh, this is so disorienting! I’m going to be sick.
Being of knightly descent and magically resistant, Iris felt the magic even more acutely.
She squeezed her eyes shut, clinging tightly to Serj.
“That’s enough,” he finally said.
Iris cautiously opened her eyes to a darkness so profound, not even her glow could illuminate it. The oppressive smell of death and beasts filled the air. Weak moans and sparse presence were detectable.
“Where are we?”
“North of the royal capital, in the Black Forest’s Cave of the Dying.”
“Even if we light a lamp?”
“Fairies.”
At Iris’s query, Serj responded. Instantly, fairies glowing like fireflies appeared around her, unseen by others.
In the soft fairy light, Iris strained her eyes against the darkness. Blankets lay discarded on the ground, sheltering people writhing in pain.
“Those stricken with plague in the town are cast here. The numbers are still few.”
Iris swallowed hard. A mother and her child, both covered in smallpox pustules, gasped in pain. The mother, recently infected, had fewer and whiter pustules; the child was entirely covered with crusted scabs, appearing utterly exhausted.
Their parched lips indicated dehydration.
In such dire conditions, recovery was unlikely.
Iris knelt in front of them, taking a water bottle from her bag and pouring it into a clean glass.
“Please, drink this.”
The mother, fearful, eyed Iris suspiciously.
“Don’t kill us! Please spare my child!”
Iris’s heart ached at the pleading voice.
“It’s just slightly salty water. It’s safe,” she reassured, demonstrating by drinking some herself.
“Are you thirsty?”
When Iris offered the glass again, tears spilled from the mother’s eyes. After tasting the water to ensure its safety, she pressed the glass to her child’s lips. The child drank with vacant eyes.
“Thank you,” the mother bowed deeply.
“You’re welcome. In exchange, may I take some of the child’s scabs?”
The mother widened her eyes in shock.
“The scabs, you mean? Is this alright?”
Showing the child’s arm, covered in ugly scabs and scratches, the mother seemed resigned.
Iris removed her gloves, trusting Serj’s assurance that the disease wouldn’t transmit.
She carefully scraped off the scabs with the sterilized silver knife, collected them with a spoon, and transferred them to a jar. After removing the scabs, she applied Camille’s Camellia Oil to the child’s arm, which seemed to comfort him.
“It feels nice…”
Hearing the child’s voice, the mother looked at Iris.
“Is it a special medicine?”
“It’s sold in town as ‘Camille’s Oil.’ It’s not expensive.”
“Oh, I know of it. It’s Camille-chan’s then.”
The mother smiled relievedly at Iris’s response.
“Could you possibly inhale these scabs? You’ve only recently been infected, so you might still be saved.”
“The scabs?”
“We’ll neutralize the poison with magic, turning them into a sort of vaccine. I haven’t tried this before, so I’m not sure, but it should prevent severe illness. You’ll be the first I try this on. You may refuse if it’s too frightening or repulsive.”
Iris bowed deeply.
“It’s not disgusting at all. If I die, what will become of my child? The thought is too sad…”
The mother looked at her child with a mournful expression, moving Iris.
That’s why I want to vaccinate you!
“The chances of survival are slim as it is. Wouldn’t you want to grasp at any straw?”
“Thank you! Thank you so much!”
Iris took the mother’s arm.
“I will make sure this succeeds!”
Whispering to Serj, Iris requested the vaccine be created.
[Vaccination? I can make it happen as you wish. Hold up the jar with the scabs.]
Doing as told, Iris held up the jar.
[Desire strongly what you want to happen. I will lend my power to fulfill your wish.]
My wish… A safe, effective, and storable vaccine that retains its antigenicity while being detoxified!
“Please! Become a safe vaccine!”
Serj’s hand enveloped Iris’s, and the jar glowed faintly as the scabs inside disintegrated into shimmering silver dust, appearing magical to the onlookers.
[Your wish has been granted.]
“Holy Maiden?”
The child’s faint murmur went unheard by Iris.
Taking a straw from her bag, Iris placed it in the jar. She instructed the mother to inhale deeply through her nose, which she did without hesitation.
“Are you alright?”
Iris asked tentatively, to which the mother nodded slightly.
“I don’t feel any different, but is it working?”
“It’s not something that heals instantly. I will come again to check on you.”
“You’ll come again?”
“Yes, of course.”
Monitoring progress was only natural.
“If you need anything, I’ll bring it. Feel free to use the oil I left.”
Overwhelmed, the mother sobbed.
Iris, perplexed, looked up, only to see several eyes staring at her from the depths of the darkness.
