The Infinite Bk. 04 Ch. 04

Fever

Elisandra slept soundly in her bed, bathed in the starlight passing through the open windows of her palace. Her mattress was huge for a single occupant, but she was not alone tonight. The feeling of movement on the bed caused her to stir, and she rolled onto her back. Two hands were pressing down beside her, and she felt legs intertwine with her own.

"Sir Noah," she whispered as she opened her eyes, gazing at the man atop her.

"Your Majesty."

He wore a gentle smile and gazed with eyes that saw only her. He had no clothes on and was underneath the blanket with her. All that separated them was Elisandra's thin nightgown. She should have panicked, screamed for her guards, or wielded her magic to force him back, but her mind could not process any feelings or thoughts that would intrude on the moment. Instead, she felt that this man, this suspicious and sinful stranger she had just met earlier that day, belonged nowhere else in the world but her bed.

She reached up and caressed his cheek. "Such a handsome face."

"My face, and everything else, belong to you."

He then lowered his head, and their lips met in a tender union. They embraced each other, kissing slowly and gently like the wind kissed the ocean. There was no rush, goal, or end, just the two of them there, enjoying the taste of each other. Elves were such a clean race, producing little to no aroma of any kind, but human males wore a naturally musky scent that now enticed and intoxicated the queen. She had missed the feeling of a man's weight, a man's warmth, and a man's firmness for a long, long time.

Though she felt Noah's hands wander, he was only finding different places he could hold onto her and pull her closer. She did the same, with her fingers finding toned muscle wherever they roamed. Eventually, her nightgown was discarded, letting her truly feel his body against her own.

The moon passed by overhead, and they rolled back and forth, taking turns on top, but it never progressed beyond that deep, passionate kiss. Though Elisandra felt Noah's member pressed to her lower abdomen, the only penetration was the swirling of their tongues in each other's mouths. It was a simple bliss, but one she savored.

Elisandra didn't know how long they were together. One moment, they were wrapped together in the darkness; the next, she was alone, with the rising sun shining directly into her eyes. She sat up and looked around, finding herself back in her nightgown with no traces of a nighttime visitor. Embarrassment flooded her, unable to believe that she would have such a dream, and of Noah, of all people.

"Those stories he and Leuca told me must have really left an impression."

She pushed all her thoughts and shame aside and got out of bed. There was no point getting hung up on a dream.

----------

The sound of fluttering wings awoke Valia from her pleasant slumber. She opened her eyes, finding a hummingbird floating in front of her face as though she were a flower. Its feathers were a mix of emerald green and ocean blue, gleaming with stunning beauty.

"Hello there," she said with a sleepy smile.

The hummingbird backed away and began flying around the room with several others. She spotted Noah sitting in the corner of the room with his hand outstretched. All the hummingbirds flew over to him, landed on his fingers, and vanished into thin air.

"You've gotten pretty good at that."

"Thanks. It wasn't too long ago that just getting an illusory crow to fly was beyond me. I guess my powers are growing as I do."

"Maybe you'll be able to do a flock of wyverns next."

"First, I'd have to be able to summon at least one. I still have a way to go."

"Well, we should eat breakfast quickly. If today is a repeat of yesterday, someone will be coming to get us soon."

They got dressed and ate breakfast with steaming mugs of tea. Outside, the forest was brightening, and the elves of Sylphtoria were going about their daily lives. Once Noah and Valia were done eating, Aithorn appeared.

"You are to come with me at once," his words were blunt, but his tone lacked the usual iciness. The awareness of Noah's true identity was starting to sink in.

"Are we speaking with the queen?" Noah asked.

"There is no need for her to see you again. You wish to earn the trust of the elves, and an opportunity has presented itself. For now, that's all you need to know."

Noah and Valia followed Aithorn through the city. They were both dressed in elven clothes, further decorated with leaf-shaped talismans marking them as welcomed guests of the queen. It softened the sharp glares of the locals, but after his noisy romp with Valia, they now looked at Noah with a mix of intrigue and disdain.

"Where are Gradius and the other knights?" Valia asked.

"If they know what's good for them, they're waiting outside of the forest. I've sent word that you've been granted safe haven and they are to remain on standby until further notice. Once you depart from these lands, the protection of the elves will vanish, and you will again be fugitives on the run, and it will be my duty to bring you to justice."

They arrived at a house built into a tree trunk, just like the one Noah and Valia were living in. Aithorn knocked on the entryway three times, recited a phrase in Old Elvish, and then led them inside. Art, bookshelves, and high-quality furniture decorated the house's interior.

In the candlelit bedroom, thick with the smell of incense, they encountered an elf lying on the bed, with what Noah assumed to be his wife clutching his hand. Neither looked like they could've been older than 30, but it was impossible to discern their actual age. The man on the bed appeared ill, as evident by his physical discomfort, the empty potion bottles on his bedside table, and the worried expression on his wife's face.

Upon their arrival, she spotted Noah and became enraged. "You are not welcome here! Lord Aithorn, why would you bring a human into my home?!"

"The queen believes he can help," Aithorn said. He then turned to Noah. "Isn't that right? Yesterday, you said you have extensive medical knowledge. If that is true, you can save this man."

"I know how to treat humans and animals, but not elves. Still, I will do what I can. Sir, what's your name?"

"Balil, of House Pielva," he said, though just talking seemed to hurt.

"My name is Noah. I'd like to ask you some questions if you don't mind."

He approached Balil, but his wife intervened. "Get back, human!"

"My Lady, I understand your distrust of me and respect your protective instinct. My only goal here is to find what is troubling Balil and fix the problem. It's clear you love him, but love isn't enough to heal him, and it appears neither potions nor magic is doing it either. So tell me, what would you do to save his life? What would you be willing to give?"

"Noah," Aithorn growled.

"Anything," she murmured.

"Then give me the chance to try and save him. That is the purpose for which I stand here."

"How can someone like you save him? You're just a boy."

"If my ears were pointed like yours, would you say that? If you tell me you know how to cure this disease and need no help, I will believe you and walk right out that door. But if you're out of ideas and praying for a miracle, I suggest you take whatever support you can get. What will it be?"

"Meralda, let him try," said Balil.

"He has been dispatched by the queen and is here under my supervision," said Aithorn, "so if he does anything I don't like, I'll end him."

"Very well," she reluctantly said. She wiped away her tears and moved away. "But I'm not leaving his side."

"That's fine; you can help answer questions. Balil, can you describe your symptoms to me? Tell me everything you are experiencing."

"I'm filled with pain and devoid of strength. My skin itches and my insides feel twisted. It's hard to keep down meals, and sometimes, I can't tell if I'm awake or asleep."

"Your cheeks are flushed. It looks like you have a fever as well. When did this all start?"

"After I got back from patrol several days ago. I thought I was just tired, but my head started hurting, and it just grew worse from there. I've been taking medication, but it only keeps the worst at bay and doesn't last long."

"I see bandages under your clothes. Are they covering skin lesions?"

"They started as blisters. If I don't apply ointment each day, they grow into weeping cysts."

"Did anything happen to you on patrol? Any injuries you sustained, unusual foods you may have eaten?"

"We were sent to investigate the appearance of a strange monster reported wandering in the eastern woods. When we arrived, it was already dead and rotting, but nothing was feeding on it. We burned it to ash and buried whatever was left."

"A strange monster? What did it look like?"

"It's hard to remember. My mind... my thoughts escape me. We were careful, never touched it directly."

"Has anyone around here ever shown these symptoms? Other warriors or your family? Meralda, do you know of any?"

"Just me, as far as I know," Balil said while Meralda shook her head.

"Then it likely isn't viral or hereditary." His words went over everyone's heads. He turned to Meralda. "Tell me every method you've used to treat him. If you have any leftover plants and medicines, I need to see them."

Meralda recited a list of potions, powders, and other concoctions, using everything from plant matter to water from a sacred shrine. Noah committed the list to memory and dug down to his days in the academy library. He had learned almost all of these from various books, and he just had to dust off the memories. He was also shown leftover plants from the multiple potions and recognized many of them from past lives. Oregano, basil, fennel—all herbs with powerful antiviral properties, meaning he could take viruses off the list.

"You gave him heart cloves, dragonsprig root, and wilmer berries? Well, it's certainly not poison, then. A purification potion like that would be worth a fortune."

"But it did make him a bit better, if only for a short while."

"Amending certain symptoms for a short period? None of this makes sense. Valia, I'll need your help with this. Can you use your detection magic like you did for my leg?"

"Consider it done." She stepped forward and placed her hand on Balil's chest. "Zodiac: Avagath." A magic circle appeared around her and encompassed the room. "What am I looking for?" she asked.

"Any physical abnormalities. Strange growths, foreign items, broken bones that might leak marrow into his blood, and signs of damage."

"I'll try, but my power isn't that specific."

"I thought you could feel everything within the magic circle?"

"I can feel things outside my body the same way I feel things inside my body, but that doesn't give me total omnipotence. Can you feel all of your muscles? Your innards? Your bones? An arrowhead is much easier to notice than a lump somewhere. Besides, I don't have the same knowledge you do. I typically use this spell to detect slight movements in my enemies to predict their attacks."

"Just trust your instincts."

"So, can you save him or not?" Aithorn asked.

"That depends. Balil, how old are you?"

"I believe I'm 773 years old."

"Sir Aithorn, what about you?" Noah then asked.

"Around 810, why?" he asked with his arms crossed.

"Like I said, I know little about elven physiology, so I need another elf of his demographics to compare to. Lie down next to Balil and count to one hundred. I need you to be in a relaxed state."

Aithorn reluctantly laid down on the bed next to Balil and began his count while staring at the ceiling. As Valia searched for anything unusual, Noah measured the two men's pulses, finding them much slower than a human's and with Balil's the weaker of the two.

"Balil's pulse is faint," he said.

"You're right, but it feels like his blood is under greater pressure than Leuca's," Valia added.

"Low pulse, but high blood pressure. It could be hardening of the heart tissue... Before I can begin treating him, I need to run tests, and to do that, I need to construct the right equipment, and that'll take some time." He turned to Meralda. "Until then, it would be a great help if you could find at least five other male elves like your husband. They should be of similar age, weight, height, and diet. Once I start performing tests, they will be what I compare Balil's results to. For now, with your permission, there is something I can give Balil to help block the pain and restore his appetite."

"Whatever it takes."

"Thank you. I just need some parchment, ink, water, and coal or charcoal."

Supplied with stationery, Noah began writing out long runic formulas from within his notes, with all the elves watching him closely. Once finished, he mixed water and charcoal in a cup and set it on the table with his inked scroll.

"Tell me, Aithorn, what do you know about alchemy?"

"I know it's used for making certain potions."

"Correct, and we need it to make this one. However, I can only write out the formulas. I need you to activate the actual spell."

"I'm not foolish enough to trigger a stranger's spell when I don't understand it."

"Leuca, it's true; we need your help," said Valia. "Valon can use runecrafted spells, but Noah and I have severe limitations."

"Honestly, I'm a bit embarrassed this issue came to light only after we left Colbrand. It's made things rather difficult."

"I told you, you should have invited Veres and Rosege to come with us."

"Yeah, yeah. Aithorn, just come here and activate the spell. It's called Molecular Construction."

Aithorn was hesitant, but since everyone was watching, he stepped forward and placed his hand on a scroll Noah laid out. "Molecular Construction," he cast.

Fueled by his mana, the water and carbon fused into a powder. While the process took place, Noah retrieved an apple from the kitchen and carved it into a pipe. He then looked through the various plants used in Balil's treatment and ground them up. Noah took a pinch of the created powder, mixed it with the plant mash, and poured it into the top of the apple.

"I noticed all the plants and medicinal incense you've been burning, but this, you'll want to smoke up-close and personally."

"What is this?" Balil asked.

"The powder I made is a naturally-occurring substance found in a specific plant, maybe the one plant you can't find in this forest. Its effects are quite intoxicating and enjoyable. It'll keep you comfortable and raise your spirits while I figure out what's wrong with you. I often mix it with my gonlief." As a show of good faith, Noah lit the top of the apple with a match, took the first hit, held it in, and released a smoke cloud. "Ah, that's nice. I probably shouldn't have done that, considering the work I have to do. Anyway, enjoy. Take a pinch of that powder and mix it with whatever you can smoke. You'll figure out your preferred dosage in time."

He handed the apple and match to Balil.

"Thank you," Meralda said.

"You've been taking good care of him; very well done. Keep treating his symptoms as best as you can, and I'll do what I can to cure him. Hopefully, I'll be back before nightfall." His kind words filled her with relief, and Noah turned to Aithorn. "Aithorn, can you please take Valia and me to meet an expert glassworker? There is a tool I need to construct that will help me identify the source of his sickness."

It looked like Aithorn was going to refuse on instinct, but he couldn't find the energy for indignation. "Very well, follow me."

The three left Balil's home, Noah nearly stumbling on the way out, and Aithorn began to lead them to a new destination.

"So, what are you thinking? Is there anything you didn't want to tell them?" Valia asked.

"That's a bit morbid," Noah replied.

"Knowing you, there is a lot that was left unsaid. So come on, out with it."

"Even if I can determine what category this disease fits into, that doesn't mean I can save him. Your society may not understand medical science, but the potency of your medicine is inarguable, and the fact that these plants and potions can treat him but not cure him has me concerned. This disease is likely something I've never seen before."

"Then what good is all that other-worldly knowledge?" Aithorn interjected.

"There is still a chance he can be saved. Once I've determined the exact cause of his disease, we can properly fight it. However, I'm surprised. I read that elves were all but immune to mortal ailments. Despite the power of elvish medicine, it's very rarely used."

"That's half correct. We elves do get sick, but not often. They say an elf will cough once a year, blow his nose once a decade, and get a fever once a century. I'm sure you can understand now why Her Majesty is so concerned, and why she's willing to place her hopes in someone as dangerous as you."

They arrived at a house on the forest floor, surrounded by realistic and abstract glass statues. Inside, an elf was busy working a kiln, filling his home with hot air. As he had with Balil's home, Aithorn knocked on the doorframe and announced a greeting in Old Elvish, then led Noah and Valia inside towards the workshop.

"Hoapfa, greetings," Aithorn said, causing the man to turn around. He was one of the few elves Noah had seen with facial hair.

"Lord Aithorn, what brings you to my humble abode after so much time?"

"This man needs your help."

Noah stepped forward and bowed while reciting an Old Elvish greeting. "Hail Hoapfa, master craftsman. I am Sir Noah, of Uther."

The elf crossed his arms, now agitated. "What do you want?"

"I have been tasked with treating Balil of House Pielva, who suffers from a mysterious illness, and I'm here to ask your help in making a tool, called a microscope, that will allow me to identify his disease. I need you to create a series of lenses using a very particular kind of glass. I saw from your work outside that you understand the optical uses of glass and how it can enhance your sight. I also need several flat glass pieces, as smooth, thin, and clear as possible. This is to save a man's life, so it will need to be your greatest work."

Hoapfa looked past Noah at Aithorn. "Should I accept this as a personal request from you?"

"And the queen as well," Aithorn replied.

"Very well, I'll do it. Just give me the specifics."

"First, I need to prepare the ingredients for the glass. May I see what you have to work with?"

Hoapfa pointed his thumb at a storeroom. "Everything I have is back there. Just don't make a mess."

Noah disappeared into the storeroom, and Valia and Aithorn went after him, finding him looking through shelves of various jars and bottles, each holding materials used to change the color and texture of glass. Not all of them were labeled, so he examined them in the light, smelled them, shook them, and everything else to identify each material.

"He has a lot of good ingredients in here. I can make plenty of stuff with alchemy using this."

"I suppose you're going to tell me that you used to be an expert glassblower?" Valia asked.

"Well, not compared to Hoapfa. I spent several years studying and performing various techniques. I even had my own shop for a while. On top of art, I also made glasses for people with eye problems."

"Eye problems? You mean like Elyot?"

"Yeah. The world was more technologically advanced than this one, but not so advanced that I could make the lenses with machinery. It all had to be done by hand. Books were becoming more widely available, and more people were learning to read, so glasses were a hot market. The problem is that it was such a long time ago that I'm too rusty to make this thing myself. I'm having a hard time just remembering how to make optical glass. My teacher once told me something, some joke I think it was... what was it?"