The Academy of Doctors in the Country of Doceredon

The shadow seemed to move. Troy realized his folly and looked dumbfounded as he saw the dragon go flying above their heads. Filos nearly fainted,

"Don't be afraid; it seems like the dragon is going away. We are not the target."

Even though Filos understood it all, fear got the better of him. His horse seemed to reciprocate his feelings and ran forward as if bitten by a bee. Troy had no choice but to follow him.

The dragon flew faster and faster as it was chasing something. Troy was thinking about how to stop Filos's horse. It couldn't go anymore and stopped itself near a cliff.

Doceredon came into view across the cliff. They took a break under a tree near the cliff. After crossing the cliff through the bridge of Doceredon, they will reach their destination.

"Can you believe this, Troy?" it was still hard for Troy to fathom the existence of such mythical creatures. It seems like the chief was right. He really might have seen the dragons up close. But how could he have known?

"Let's go to Doceredon now. We are wasting time."

Even if the dragons were real, he couldn't be sure if they were safe or not. It could be that rather than helping humans, they could hurt the humans. It is better to avoid the dragons for now. The important thing is to find a cure for his mother.

After riding for half a day, the party reached the outskirts of Doceredon. The walls surrounding the country were touching the skies. They went to the guards to give them the letter Felicia gave Troy.

Armed archers manned the walls while cannons were stationed side by side between a few feet intervals. Attacking this country sure seems risky. Troy wondered what it was like inside the country.

Being cautious is part of their daily routine. Doceredon is sought after by the whole Mundus. The only country that specializes in medicine.

All the other countries are obsessed with Doceredons technology. But they can not advance to the level of Doceredon as they are blessed by nature.

The Doceredon country was protected by thick and high walls armed with archers and canons. The cliff crossed by Troy and Filos surrounds Doceredon. Any country trying to attack will have to cross those bridges.

There are only 4 bridges. The narrow path of the bridge hinders the possibility of any army coming to war with Doceredon.

Filos gagged after smelling a strong stench as if something ominous was brewing.

"I smell medicine. But how is it so bad?"

"If it were really bad, we wouldn't be here to me with Dr. Alexander!"

Even though Troy was right, Filos couldn't stomach the smell. He took out a cloth from his bag and covered his nose after seeing all the people outside the wall covering their noses.

After showing the letter from Felicia, the guards gave them a carriage to go to the Doctors Academy without much resistance.

"Felicia's letter worked!" rejoiced Filos after seeing the power of his sister's fame.

After crossing the security, the city came into their view, and the highest building in the center standing high was the Doctors Academy of Doceredon.

The sheer height is unbelievable, and yet it doesn't end there. Even though the building is miles away, the size terrifies the eye. The building looks like a mountain guarded by a forest of buildings surrounding the academy.

The stench became stronger. Filos asked a bystander about the smell.

The bystander let off a heavy sigh, "There are days when you have to have the patience to create the top-notch medicine this country is famed for."

"I guess the stench is from a failed experiment." Troy consoled Filos.

"How do you guys endure this much stench?"

"Most of the days, we don't have to. Usually, anyone passing through would smell flowers because of successful medicine manufacturing, but today seems not to be that day."

They continued their journey to the academy. The carriage pulled them through the city at a steady pace. While looking around, Filos noticed that some buildings had a plus (+) sign on them while the others didn't.

"Those might be houses with doctors in the family." troy guessed after looking at Filos's confused look.

All the houses are built gorgeously with glass windows. The inside can not be seen from the outside. High-rising buildings owned by doctors and small medicine shops beside them within the compounds of the houses allow the doctors to work from home.

Even though the academy looks big, as if it's close to them, the party reached the academy after half a day of traveling. The straight paths and controlled traffic throughout the country allow for fast traveling.

After reaching the gates of the academy, they were approached by guards. It seems the country and the doctor's academy are protected by guards.

The guard took them through the gates and told them the direction of Dr. Alexander's office.

The medicinal herbs planted inside the building make luscious greenery. This is no less than a forest. Outside the academy, you see the forest of large buildings and inside a forest of herbs. Many white-haired elders who maybe be doctors and young students of the academy are working in the garden with the herbs.

After following the direction of the guard, they reached a hallway. In the end, there seems to be an old man standing. He is looking upwards as if something is calling him towards the sky.

Troy tried to call out to him but thought it would be best to get close to him first. After reaching the room, he looked up.

The ceiling is filled with thousand stars as if the whole universe is drawn on the ceiling. Troy understood why the old man kept looking up.

"Troy? You are finally here."

The old man tried to hug Troy. Even though Troy was confused, he embraced the old man. He remembered the warmth of his grandfather.

"Felicia told me everything. You have suffered a lot."

"Not as much as my mother has, doctor Alexander. Please help me."

"The antidote is already here. I only need the blood samples from you."

Troy handed over the samples to the doctor. After carefully sorting all of the samples which Felicia collected, the doctor went to a table near them. The table housed all kinds of concoctions. Troy wished at least one potion should work to cure his mother.

The doctor started by taking a small blood sample in a tube and mixing one drop from a green potion. Smoke started to form inside the tube,

The somber look on the doctor's face relayed everything to Troy. But there were 20 more potions to be tested. It has only begun.

Filos was wandering around the garden. He found a table with papers scattered on it. Felicia's letter also came to his notice. The brother was proud of his younger sister. Even though he led a simple life, his sister has made their family proud.

He smelt that stench again that he experienced near the gates. Filos was sad to realize what that stench meant. Meanwhile, the doctor kept trying the potions one by one.

"This should do the job!" exclaimed Dr. Alexander.

Troy stared at the red potion Dr. Alexander was holding.

After mixing the red potion with the blood sample, an even stronger stench leaked out. Filos came running towards them.

"Don't worry, Troy. We will look for a cure."

Troy was happy to see that he had a friend that worried about his mother as much as he did. But the truth cannot be changed just by emotions.

"Doctor, I have made it!"

An overzealous girl came running with a green potion in hand. The doctor looked at the smiling girl and said, "Are you sure, Ilina?"

"Yes, doctor. This potion worked on all the diseases related to blood."

"Then let us try on this sample."

Ilina came forward with the potion in hand. The doctor tried one last time. He took out drops of blood and mixed them with a few drops of the green potion. Troy had been convinced that his mother wouldn't be cured after all. He kept sighing. He thought all the trouble he had to come here was wasted.

"At least I got to see a dragon." He thought to himself.

Suddenly Troy smelt lavender with a bit of the smell of blood. Troy looked towards the doctor, and both the doctor and Ilina seemed happy.

Filos, standing beside Troy, looked happy as well.

But troy endured his urge to declare anything because he didn't want to jinx the potion's success, So he waited for the right time.

After some time had passed mixing the potions, the doctor called them closer.

"I'll tell you once the mixing is finished. Let's hope for the best!

But suddenly, as if to crush Troy's dream to cure his mother, a heavy stench surrounded them all. The tube filled up with smoke, and everyone started coughing.