Chapter 21, The Offer

Bickering and shouting echoed throughout the hall as Nobles and Royals bicker at each other regarding the shortage of supplies the Pale Face plague has caused them.

"The shortage of food and water is far more important than damnable supplies for postponed war!" A noble shouted, trying to convince the royals.

"True as that maybe, our days of peace with the elves are still numbered, I have yet to receive a report about them also being affected by the plague. Worst case scenario, they might use this opportunity to attack us," One of the royals said.

Both royals and nobles continue to bicker whilst the king stays silent throughout the ordeal, listening to them talk and shout over and over for hours.

The plague affecting The Kingdom Osmos has staled food production by wilting all of their yearly crops and turning both cattle and farmers into rotten mush of slabs within days.

Their rivers and lakes have also been polluted by the plague, turning them black as tar and sticky like one.

The kingdom had enforced an order for mages, alchemists, and priests to combat the horrifying plague in order to eradicate it as quickly as possible.

At first it was but a nuisance within the ongoing war with elves, now it was a threat far greater than them. The properties of the plague was as dangerous as it was mysterious.

Unlike other diseases where mages and priests could just cure with simple healing magic, what their spells did to the afflicted did the opposite of curing them.

It worsened them by rapidly accelerating the progression of the afflicted turning into a mush of flesh and blood. Holy magic performed by priests to cure the disease burns the afflicted instead whilst providing them with immense pain from the inside.

Worst, there are cases where the disease explodes the afflicted's head, spreading their influence further and further.

The king mumbles to himself "Why must it happen now of all times?" As he touches his forehead, looking more stressed than ever.

Out of nowhere the doors leading to the conference hall barges open infront of the King and all of the Royals and Nobles. A courier well dressed in uniform, hurries inside in a panic holding a piece of paper on his hands.

"Apologies for the sudden intrusion! b-but we have received message from... From-"

"From where?" The king finally talked, turning the hall silent as everyone sits back down.

"From the City Of Order my Majesty!" The Courier finally said.

Everyone within the conference hall including the King showed nothing but surprise on their faces.

The King had thought, that the message came from the Elven Kingdom thinking that both of them were on the same boat. He didn't expected a message coming from the City Of Order.

"What does it say?" The king asks, curious as to what reason would the City send a message to Osmos.

"It-it says that..."

"Make it short and simple" one of the nobles said.

"It says that they have a means- no, I mean a cure to the plague!" Said the courier with a small hint of smile.

"A cure!?" Said the king as he rose from his throne in shock.

"And it says that they are willing to sell it to us if we are willing to follow their laws and give them the city of Junos"

As soon as the word Law left his lips, the hall became quiet not even a slight whisper escape anyone's breath when they heard the word.

Both Royals and Nobles turned pale as jf they were infected by the disease even though they were not. Even the King, slightly shook in fear when he heard the word.

All of them know that their escape from this plague is served in a silver platter Infront of them yet, they knew that agreeing to follow the city's laws was worse.

Were any other kingdom or country they would have all rioted in anger and declaring war to the supposed nation. And a mere city shouldn't be a threat for a kingdom their size.

Yet there they are, silent and afraid.

Some might say that violating the terms made after acquiring a number of the cure would be the logical solution, there was no need to feel fear, but in truth, breaking them would be worse.

The City Of Order, also known as the city of absolute obedience is a place governed by one of the entities that rivaled their gods and goddesses themselves, a Servant of one of the ancient 24 Beasts.

The Servant Of Order.

Opposing or angering a servant would mean the end of them no matter which servant it is.

The last nation who had had been brutally decimated within days and all of them know agreeing to the terms is no different than being turned into a puppet, no a better term would be a slave.

"Was that all of the terms mentioned" the king asked.

"Yes, your majesty"

"I see"

Now a choice stirs in his head, to end the plague with the cure and become a slave to order or refuse and try to deal with it alone.

The choice was hard yet it was obvious, a desperate fool without information would have chosen the cure immediately, but the king wasn't a fool.

With a heavy heart he said "Tell them we refuse the offer" to the courier.

The courier doesn't seem to know why his majesty have refused, he wants to ask yet he knows talking back to him wouldn't do him any good other than getting himself blacklisted.

He bows and leaves the conference hall, still silent after the matter.

***

The throne room lay silent despite the many people present within it, including me.

When I entered the white spire 2 days ago which is basically the city's equivalent of a castle. Everyone inside stared at me as if they were observing some sort rare specimen, pretty creepy to be honest.

Now the people who I had presumed to be nobles or merchants from wealthy conglomerates said nothing to me and continued talking about me behind their smiling white masks.

The same ones I'm wearing right now.

Just as I was about to take another step, an unrealistically tall and slender man appeared from the corners of the room.

He carried dual scimitars and a pair of crossbows on his waist. Damn, even the guards are overly equipped.

The guard bows and welcomes me. He asks me to follow him inside in to the throne room where a I see a.... Well man cladded in silver armor.

Although I can't see his face since it is covered by his helmet, somehow I feel him staring at me intently.

I follow the guard's posture as he bows right infront him.

'he must be the Servant Of Order then' I thought to myself, still bowing Infront of him.

"Rise" The Servant ordered me.

My body moves on its without my own accord, I raise my head and look straight at face, hidden behind his gleaming silver helmet.

"I am Shinnoth, the Lord of this city. You may also know me as the Servant Of Order"

"Y-yes, I do" I answered.

Everyone within the court room began whisper with one another in a language I honestly don't understand. My guess is that they are talking about my etiquette when talking to someone of a higher position.

The Servant raises his hand and everyone within the room become silent, decreasing the atmosphere and pressure piled on me.

"Let us talk in a casual manner, I believe that would be easier for you" He said followed with him saying "Leave" in the same demanding voice he used when he told me to raise my head.

Everyone within the room other than the 2 guards accompanying him side by left in an elegant and orderly manner with not even a whisper escaping their lips.

"Now that everyone has left, I must thank you for presenting the cure to the Pale Faced plague that has brought misery upon the world. The book will be studied intently by the scribes of our library as well as the Alchemists of our Apothecaries"

"T-thank you sir"

"And of course, you will be rewarded a me-"

"H-hold on a moment! Instead of a medal, can I ask for a different reward?"

The Servant moves his fingers up and down from on his throne's armrest and I swear I can feel him staring at me more intently than before.

And still my body forces myself to face him straight.

"Well? What is it do you wish?" He gently asks.

"I... I heard that The Servant Of Order could bring the dead back to life, I heard and I'd thought that maybe, maybe if I brought the book to you you'll be able to bring my sister back to life"

"Hmm... I see. Now I understand the reason why you've been carrying the corpse of a girl around the city, but unfortunately that is impossible even for me"

"Wh-what? What do you mean? Can't you tell my sister to go back to life!?"

"Were I to do that, then your sister's corpse would only be a puppet with no soul, a False Undead. If you still wish for it I will give it to you"

Hearing his words I feel something inside me breaking, it's as if something that has kept me going has shattered right here Infront me.

Then I again, I feel as if that the outcome was expected. He's the Servant Of Order, thus, his orders only extends to necromancy rather than full fledge resurrection. a power belonging to another servant.

If anyone could revive her, it would be Imprisoned Servant Of Death. To meet him I'm going to need to journey the Blight Lands, the Wasteland Of The Dead.