Saving The Raukerai

As Peccavi and the sisters approached the Raukerai's hideout, the air grew heavier with dread. The crimson mist seemed to pulse around them, thicker and more oppressive as they neared the mouth of the cave.

The cave entrance loomed like a maw, swallowing all light. Inside, the survivors huddled in a desperate cluster. Men, women, children, even infants all gathered together, trembling as though the walls themselves might collapse upon them. Their faces were pale, their skin marred with red lesions that glowed faintly in the darkness. The spores had claimed them in different stages; some bore petals sprouting from their arms, others had vines coiled around their torsos, pulsating with eerie life.

But what drew Peccavi's gaze, what made her breath hitch in her throat, were the grotesque flowers.

They stood in horrific clusters along the far edges of the cave, their petals glistening with blood and peony glows. They were the twisted remains of the Raukerai who hadn't survived.

Grotesquely human in shape, the corpse flowers were monstrous amalgamations of flesh and flora. Petals unfurled from gaping mouths frozen in eternal screams. Malformed and rigid hands stretched out from stalks that swayed unnaturally, their fingers tipped with budding thorns.

The vines were not simply rooted in the ground; they slithered, alive, writhing as if seeking more victims. In the dim light of the cave, the flowers glistened with an unholy sheen, oozing red sap that smelled faintly of decay and iron.

Some of the flowers had fused together, their bodies twisted and conjoined into massive, pulsating abominations. Peccavi could see remnants of faces; eyes that had turned to hollow sockets, cheeks overgrown with scarlet petals.

One cluster stood out. It was a massive bloom composed of several bodies intertwined. It bore the faintest outline of a family, a mother and father fused to their children in a grotesque embrace. The sight made Taryenne and Rienne gag, their trembling hands covering their mouths.

The survivors sat in silence, their eyes vacant. It was the look of people who had given up, who had no hope left to hold onto. The vines around them twitched, as if mocking their futile existence.

Peccavi unleashed her sapphire essence.

Suddenly, the stillness was shattered by an overwhelming presence. The flowers reacted instantly, their vines lashing out with terrifying speed. The survivors screamed in unison, clutching at their bodies as the flowers bloomed from their skin, erupting in grotesque, blood-soaked bursts.

The noise was deafening. Agonized cries filled the air, blending with the sickening sound of vines tearing flesh and bone. Babies wailed in piercing shrieks as tiny flowers sprouted from their fragile bodies. A woman clawed at her arms, trying desperately to rip the petals free, only for more to bloom from her fingers. A man collapsed to his knees, his chest splitting open as a massive flower tore its way out, his face frozen in an expression of utter agony.

Peccavi rushed forward, the sapphire essence surging from her in waves. The glow enveloped the cave, pushing back the thrashing vines and blooming flowers. She focused all her energy, her mind racing as she channeled her power into every corner of the cavern. The survivors cried out as the flowers within them withered, the vines retreating as if burned by an invisible fire.

After a few moments, everyone was safe. The flowers and vines came out of their bodies and they were temporarily immune to the spores for now. All four hundred of them were safe.

But it wasn't without cost.

Peccavi stumbled, her legs buckling under the strain. The effort to shield so many drained her essence faster than she anticipated. She collapsed to her knees, gasping for breath as her vision blurred.

"Peccavi!"

Taryenne and Rienne caught her just before she fell completely, their faces etched with worry.

"I'm… fine," she whispered, though her voice was faint. "Just… give me a moment."

The survivors were safe, for now. The flowers that had threatened to bloom within them were gone and the mist in the cave had cleared slightly. But the corpse flowers, the grotesque remnants of those who had already perished, remained. They stood silent and still, their monstrous forms casting long shadows that seemed to leer at the living.

Peccavi forced herself to her feet, leaning heavily on the sisters for support. Her gaze swept over the survivors, who now looked at her in shock. Some sobbed quietly, clutching at the spots where the flowers had nearly consumed them. Others stared blankly, too traumatized to even process what had just happened.

Having thorny veins being forcefully removed out of your body from your legs to your head was not a pleasant feat at all. The women immediately spoke the Healing Runes on the infants and children, quickly restoring their bodies.

The sisters led Peccavi through the dimly lit cave, carefully stepping around the remnants of the grotesque flowers. The survivors watched them in silence, their hollow eyes reflecting a flicker of hope. Taryenne and Rienne's steps quickened as they approached a secluded corner of the cave, where a small group of people sat huddled together.

At the center of the group was a woman, her hands glowing faintly as her hands were over the chest of a man lying on the ground. The man, Indulis, was gaunt and pale, his body trembling as veins of red pulsed faintly beneath his skin.

The woman, Siranna, whispered in a steady rhythm, her voice a melody of power and desperation. Each word she spoke wove into the runes she etched in the air, forming sigils of soft blue light that hovered momentarily before sinking into her husband's flesh.

"Father!"

Taryenne called out, her voice wavering. Siranna's head snapped up, her exhaustion momentarily replaced by relief as she saw her daughters.

"Thank the heavens!" Siranna dropped her hands, rushing to embrace them. Her arms wrapped around the two girls, pulling them close as though afraid they might disappear again. Tears brimmed in her eyes, but she quickly blinked them away, her gaze shifting to Peccavi.

"And you… You brought them back to me. Thank you.'

Siranna's gratitude was evident but it was tinged with worry. She turned back to Indulis, who coughed weakly, his body trembling as the red veins spread further across his neck.

"My husband... he's..." She choked on her words, her hands instinctively returning to the runes she'd been crafting.

Peccavi stepped forward, her sapphire essence flaring softly as she knelt beside Indulis. She gently touched the man's forehead.

"He's strong but ...he doesn't have much time. You've done well, Siranna, but I can't stabilize him further. The peonies already did too much damage to his internal organs. However, I can help him survive this if he leaves the island."

Siranna nodded, stepping aside to allow Peccavi room. As she worked on him, Taryenne spoke softly.

"Mother, this is Lady Peccavi. She's one of Vastarael's subordinates. She saved us."

Siranna's expression lit up with recognition. "Lord Vastarael? The one who helped us during the migration? He's alive?"

Peccavi nodded, "Yes. I was sent here to assist in any way I can, though I didn't anticipate this... situation."

Her gaze briefly flicked to the grotesque corpse flowers before returning to Indulis. "I will do my best to help you, but we must act quickly. Time is not on our side. We need to leave this island."

Siranna bowed her head.

"Thank you. Truly. If you hadn't come…"

Her voice trailed off, trembling at the thought of what could have happened to her daughters.

Indulis groaned softly, his eyes fluttering open as Peccavi's essence began to flow into him. He looked up at her weakly.

"You're… helping us?" He rasped, his voice barely audible.

"I am, but you need to listen carefully. The immunity I gave your people is temporary. Once it fades, if you're infected again, there's nothing I can do. You'll die."

The weight of her words settled heavily over the group. Siranna and Indulis exchanged a look of fear and determination before nodding.

"What can we do to protect ourselves?" Siranna asked, her voice trembling.

Peccavi reached into her pouch and pulled out a small white rock. She crouched down and began to draw a series of runes on the cave floor.

"This," Peccavi said, gesturing to the rune she had just completed. "This is a Repel Rune. It will amplify the temporary immunity I gave you and create a barrier against the peonies' influence. But you must activate it regularly and it won't last forever. You'll need to be vigilant."

Siranna and Indulis leaned closer, studying the rune with focused intensity.

"We're Rune Speakers," Siranna said. "We can maintain this."

"Good. You'll need to carve it into the walls and floors of this cave. Make it strong and ensure everyone stays within its boundaries. It's the only way to buy yourselves more time. None of you are ready to leave now so you need time."

She looked at Siranna, her expression grave.

"Once I heal someone, that's it. I can't do it again. If they're infected a second time, I can't save them. You need to make sure no one touches the flowers or breathes in too many spores. Because if I extract the vines again, it will lead to a very painful death."

The entire group fell silent, the weight of Peccavi's words sinking in. Siranna bowed her head in gratitude.

"We'll do whatever it takes," she said softly. "Thank you."

Peccavi placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Save your thanks for when we're all out of this alive. For now, let's focus on securing this place. Lord Vastarael said that he had to help you migrate out of the Erna Frozen Isles and I'll for the same."

As she stood, the survivors began to move, their despair tempered by a fragile thread of hope. The Repel Rune's faint glow seemed to push back the oppressive darkness of the cave, offering a small but crucial chance for survival.

The longer they stayed on the peony island of doom, the worst their chances of survival got.