Chapter 104 - Preserving Hope

In the office at the small clinic on the east side of Noga, Dr. Ilec found himself suddenly awoken by a series of knocks on the door. He groggily wiped drool off of his chin as he found himself sitting at his desk in darkness. The oil-fed lamp quiet and dark beside him had been lit the last time he recalled seeing it. Through the thin curtains over the windows the soft orange light of candles provided just enough light to fumble for the matches and bottle of oil by the lamp, only to find that the bottle was empty.

Another series of raps interrupted the silence, “Dr. Ilec, are you alright?”

“Yes, come in.” He called out with a sigh.

The door opened and Rosalie hesitated as she saw the room draped in darkness. “Why are you sitting in the dark, doctor?”

“I was thinking about something.” Dr. Ilec said. His eyes caught Rosalie’s for a second and he saw a sympathetic look of understanding come across her eyes. The two of them had worked together long enough to know that he’d dozed off accidentally. He cleared his throat, holding up the bottle, “It seems that I’ve run out of oil, can you please fetch some for me?”

“Right away, doctor.” Rosalie said, then added, “You have a visitor, an Officer McKenzie.”

“Good evening.” An ash blonde officer with a youthful face stepped into the doorway. He politely removed his hat as he stepped into the darkened room. The light from the hallway framed his upright posture, glinting off the metallic buttons and crisp fabric of his uniform.

“Yes, how may I help you?” Dr. Ilec asked, not recognizing the man in front of him immediately. Though he had seen Finn just yesterday, the meeting was too brief and he was too preoccupied to remember the officer.

“I have come on official business from the Police Force to provide assistance with the Devileyes.” Finn said, “May I take a seat?”

“Of course, please.” Dr. Ilec said, motioning to the chair across the desk from him. Rosalie came in while they were speaking and refilled the lantern. The shadows in the room retreated as they continued their conversation.

“First, may I ask how the treatment of the Devileyes has progressed? Have you found any success in the past few days?”

“No. In fact, a few patients have...” Dr. Ilec’s expression became complicated, “...passed away. Despite our efforts we haven’t been able to find a cure, or even delay the progress of the disease. Why? Do you have news about a treatment?”

“Yes, in a sense.” Finn put on a thoughtful look as he looked directly into Dr. Ilec’s eyes with a piercing gaze, “This might sound a bit ridiculous.”

Finn examined Dr. Ilec for a moment before asking, “Do you believe in spirits?”

Dr. Ilec snorted softly with a strained look of amusement. He looked away, “I wonder... I did not used to, but recently I’ve had a number of extraordinary experiences.”

He was referring to Hakuya’s treatment of Lucelle and Anabelle, and to the brief but explosive clash between Hakuya and Reid. Things that he wouldn’t have believed if he didn’t see it with his own eyes.

“As have I.” Finn nodded. He kept his tone measured and calm, with just enough hesitation to indicate that he wasn’t totally convinced of the words coming from his own mouth, “We have recently received news that there is a shrine in the forest inhabited by a spirit. If one prays at the shrine, they will be cured.”

Both Dr. Ilec and Rosalie had a look of confused disbelief as they digested the information. If he had been told this ‘tale’ a week ago, he would have immediately dismissed the thought. However, this officer had a composed disposition, and the way he spoke the words was as if he himself barely believed the words. In other words, they were in the same position. “Has this... been confirmed?”

“Yes.” Finn said seriously, “With my own eyes.”

Dr. Ilec was stunned as he didn’t know how to proceed.

“I have a simple proposition.” Finn said, “Tomorrow I’ll return with carriages and take a number of patients to the shrine, under the care of the police. They should be as advanced as possible in their symptoms while still being able to walk on their own for a few hours.

“The trip should only take a half day. If praying to the spirit really does work, despite the unconventionality of the solution, I would think it would at least be a step forward to helping those afflicted with the disease.”

“The further they are along in the disease, the weaker they become. Stress and exertion accelerates the symptoms.” Dr. Ilec shook his head as the rational part of his mind won out in his internal dialogue, “Can such a thing really help? Praying to a spirit? If it doesn’t work and the patients’ conditions worsen it would be a failing on my part as a doctor.”

“I understand.” Finn said, “However, given that there hasn’t been success so far, I think it would be worth a try.”

“If praying was so simple, why wouldn’t praying to Lord Noga work?” Rosalie asked carefully, “After all, this is a big concern for all of us. If he had the power to help us I’m sure he would. But praying to a spirit in a shrine is supposed to work?”

As devout followers of Lord Noga, both Rosalie and Dr. Ilec understood that praying enabled their thoughts and feelings to be heard by the recipient of the prayer. The rulers of each of the provinces had been appointed by divinity and thus were able to receive prayers, but prayers could also be directed towards Gods and spirits. Notably, the Goddess Yuima was a benevolent God that served Huan to the west, as well as other lands on the continent.

However praying was simply a means of communication. Lords were not all- powerful beings, but people who had the responsibility and power to lead. In the minds of Rosalie and Dr. Ilec, praying to Lord Noga was the way to ensure that their needs were heard. Taking the concerns of all the citizens into account, Lord Noga could give instructions to his ministers to best lead the province.

In contrast, praying to a God offered no direct or perceivable benefit. Gods did not speak to their followers, did not heal their sick, did not enact laws and protect the populace. Thus, even citizens in Huan who prayed to the Goddess Yuima also prayed to their Lord Matsuhara.

As for praying to a spirit, this was something that children did, not something an upstanding citizen of Kumin would normally believe in.

“That is why we should choose patients that aren’t so progressed in symptoms.” Finn said, however he could see that he was losing the debate.

“No,” Dr. Ilec shook his head, “I appreciate the gesture and trying to help, but grasping at straws won’t help us. Worse, it might ruin our credibility with our patients and the medical community, hurting our ability to help others.”

Finn nodded. He wasn’t bothered by this rejection, in fact he was completely prepared for it. In the end, it didn’t matter to him whether the patients received help from the spirit or not, he was merely following through on his previous word. He’d only promised Char Char and the others present at the shrine that he would attempt to get the support of the police force. If he failed, it wasn’t a failing of himself but rather a rational rejection of an unconventional far-fetched solution.

Still, he didn’t want to give up this line completely. The impression of cynicism that he had shown Dr. Ilec was merely a facade to gain the doctor’s trust. Finn himself knew that the maiden at the shrine was real, and that there was a connection between her and Edwin’s master.

The same master who Finn heavily suspected as the murderer of Chief Yun.

“I must disagree.” Finn said, about to follow up with another argument when Dr. Ilec stood up.

“No, sorry. I think I’ve convinced myself.” Dr. Ilec shook his head, “There are many people looking to the clinic for hope, I cannot waste it out of desperation. The best doctors in the city are here, we still have hope to find a cure.”

Dr. Ilec said the last part with as much conviction as he could manage. Hope was precious. It was the one thing keeping the clinic running, despite the lack of success of treating the disease. The doctors did their best to comfort the sick and their families, they smiled and comforted each other, but Ilec could see the hope fading in their eyes.

Already they’d had to- had to kill - almost two dozen patients that had reached the final stages of the disease. The part where the eyes at the end of the vines bloomed and the humanity left the patients’ eyes.

Everyone had seen the vampirs in the streets. They knew what the final stage of the disease was. It was an unspoken secret what happened out of sight in the tent where they kept the patients in the final stage of the disease.

The words “I’m sorry, your loved one passed away last night.” Had never carried with them so much awful meaning.

To agree to send his patients to a shrine in the forest, and have them come back ill, that would be as much as admitting defeat.

Dr. Ilec shook his head, gesturing for the door, “I’m sorry. I can’t waste that hope.”

“I see.” Finn said, standing up. “Is there anything that can change your mind?”

“No, thank you for coming tonight, officer.”

Finn didn’t want to admit defeat, but he couldn’t think of any way to flip the situation. His lips tightened in frustration as he turned towards the door.

As they were about to leave a figure stepped into the doorway. She had on a fashionable double-breasted coat with two lines of brass buttons, grey leggings and tall black boots that accentuated her slender legs. Her long black hair was tied into a ponytail. Her almond eyes were lively and there was a beaming smile on her lips.

The room seemed to brighten as Char Char Zhao’s voice filled the room. “Good evening, doctor!”