Chapter 13

Tal poisoning.

It's a rare condition that affects those with a buildup of excess Tal in their body. It commonly is found in infants born with birth defects associated with the tallo. Its also been seen in warriors who have had their tallo punctured.

Every bit of Tal that enters the body flows through the tallo before reaching the heart. The tallo then acts to extract and store the Tal from whatever is currently being purified.

This is an incredibly important process, as Tal acts as a thickening agent when mixed with blood. As Tal enters the bloodstream, the flow begins to thicken and slow. This buildup can cause blood clots and organ malfunction.

Symptoms start as lightheadedness, weakness, and migraines, but over time become as serious as organ failure and death.

The longest recorded survival was 6 months, after a man was impaled cleanly through the tallo. However, most cases are born with the condition and do not last more than a week.

-

Fie sighed, "I don't know what your situation is Hale, and I won't pry, but I think you should prepare for the worst. A few months at best, at worst? A week."

The camp was silent following Fie's explanation.

"Pffft... Haha ha ha ha ha." I couldn't stop myself from laughing.

The entire camp was looking at me like I had really lost it this time, but I couldn't help myself.

"I thought you were going to tell me something serious! That look on your face, I cant." I wiped away tears of laughter.

Fie pouted at me, her obvious concern shifting into annoyance, "Hale, this IS serious. You could have a week left to live."

I smiled back at her, "As far as I knew, this morning I had just a day left to live."

I paused a moment and looked around the room, gesturing to the team as they were obviously listening in, "Aren't you all the ones who dragged me down here to die anyway? As far as I'm concerned, a week is the best odds I've heard in days!"

"Hale, you cannot put that guilt on any of them. I alone decided to bring you down here, they've been doing their bests to keep you alive," Bern shouted sternly, anger and frustration apparent in his voice.

"No- Bern, he has a right to say that. We're all complacent in this." Dulmir said from beside him.

The room once again sank into a gloomy silence.

Aw shoot, I didn't mean to bring down the mood like that. Well, it wasn't like I was unjustified in what I said, but it may have been a bit much.

I tried to salvage the awkward air, I looked back to fie who was staring down, guilt showing on her pale features, "Look, it's not like there are any known cures or remedies, right?"

"Not that I know of." She said, her voice trembling slightly.

Oh man, now I really felt bad.

I put my hand on her shoulder, it felt small in my palm.

"Then don't worry about it, any of it. Dead Yesterday, dead today, dead in a week, isn't it the same regardless?"

I pulled my hand away and looked up to address the room, "That's the same for all of you," I forced a smile, "It seems like some god out there seriously wants me dead, so you guys better not pity me if I do, alright?"

I stood up from the bedroll and stretched slightly.

I sighed, then smiled at them, a real one this time.

"But me? I'm planning on living. If you all really feel bad then don't spend your time regretting your decisions. Instead, help me come up with something that could fix this mess."

Fie looked unconvinced, "But the chances are so small-"

I cut her off there.

"I guess we'll just have to come up with something to increase my odds."

-

I had spoken far too much and most definitely stepped out of my lane.

These people were here with a singular mission, to clear this dungeon. Up until now, I was already presumed to be dead, a piece of bait just waiting to be taken.

For that bait to go begging those fishermen for help, appealing to their guilt... It was a lost cause, they had families to feed.

At least, that's what I expected.

A few moments after my little show had ended, Bern stepped forward.

I met his gaze head-on my time for speeches was over, it was time to face the music.

"Hale, you understand that, come tomorrow, you will still be leading for us, putting your own life in danger for the sake of the expedition, correct?"

I nodded.

"And Hale, you understand that in all situations, we will put our lives first, that if there is someone to sacrifice, it will be you, correct?"

I nodded, my eyebrow twitching a little. I knew all that Bern, you didn't have to spell it out so brutally.

Surprisingly, Bern smiled, "Then you're more a member of this party than anyone else."

He held his hand out to me as if he was going for a handshake.

I cautiously extended my own, hoping the behemoth of a man wouldn't accidentally crush it.

Suddenly, his own rough and scarred hand grabbed my own, swinging me into him. I was pulled into a half handshake, half hug. Our fists were locked, and each of our heads was looking over the other's shoulders.

It was surprisingly intimate, if the person who pulled me in was anyone other than this goofy bald piece of meat, I may have blushed.

The handshake thing was over as quickly as it began and I stumbled away from Bern.

"What was that?" I asked, confused.

Dulmir chimed in, "That is our handshake, it means that we trust you with our backs."

I looked back towards Bern, his smile was as wide as ever, "Welcome to the party, Hale."

Bern gestured to the others, each of them wearing some sort of smile.

"We take care of our own here, I can't promise anything, but we'll do what we can to help your situation."

Bern coughed, "Only to an extent that doesn't interfere with the mission, that is."

Dulmir let out a loud laugh. "Ha! Even now, Bern's trying to pretend to be the cool stoic leader."

Suddenly, the whole room was laughing.

Tarkas walked up to me and slapped me on the back, "We'll do our best, boyo."

Dulmir smiled at me, still laughing, "I'm sure Fie will come up with something eventually, ha!"

Lail looked away from me, trying to hide his smile, "I'm... not too helpful with Tal, but I'll do my best to keep you alive until she does."

Next to Lail, Hallia nodded at me with smiling eyes, as if she was agreeing with him.

Finally, Fie approached me with a teary smile.

"Thank you for trusting me with your life, Hale, I'll do my best not to let you down."

-

"What's your guy's party name anyways?" I asked, curious.

Dulmir snickered, "Don't have one."

"What do you mean you don't have one? Haven't you all been adventuring together for years?"

"Ha, it may look like that, but we're all just old friends. We may have explored together a few times by chance, but never anything like this." He smiled, looking nostalgic.

I sat up and looked at him, a little bit dumbfounded, "Then what name are you going to tell the world when people find out you were the first to clear this absurd dungeon?"

"I don't care much for popular-"

Tarkas interjected over Dulmir, "Actually, I do care. Hale's right, we need a name."

Bern rolled his eyes, "A name? After all these years? Seems a bit late for that."

Lail slowly raised his hand, and spoke quietly, "I, too, am in favor of choosing a name."

Next to him, Hallia shrugged, as if to say "don't look at me for this."

"Panacea," someone said quietly.

"Huh?"

"Pan·a·ce·a," They said louder, making sure to annunciate each syllable.

The room turned towards Fie.

Her face flushed red.

"It means a cure-all. To represent that we can overcome any hardships or difficulties that stand in our way." Her voice trailed off as she said it as if she was losing confidence with each word.

Bern's laugh boomed from behind us, "Pain-a-ce-auh? I love it!"

Fie looked around from face to face, everyone seemed content with the name.

Dulmir stood up from beside Bern, "I guess that settles it, all in favor raise your hands."

One by one, each of the members raised their hand until there was only me.

Bern looked at me, "Cmon Hale, you gotta vote too. You're one of us now. Unless you don't like the name that is, ha!"

Fie looked like she was on the verge of tears from that jab. I quickly raised my hand.

Bern clapped his hands together.

"It's official. All of you, welcome to Panacea."