"An alchemist?" Blanc asked, "In the forest?"
"No," Miyanna shook her head, "Outside the forest, north-east of here."
"How do you know of it?" Blanc asked.
"When we came as the vanguard, we were ordered to encircle the forest through the north side and attack Tarn Village from the east of the forest, unseen," explained Miyanna.
"And?" Blanc asked.
"And that part had no villages nearby, because of the interdiction for commoners to enter, and all that, but when we were marching, there was a cottage there. My men wanted to rob and plunder, but an old lady lived there. An alchemist who, in exchange for a few potions, was left with her life and everything she owned."
"How so?" Blanc asked, confused and angry, "How could they leave her alive, then go and massacre an entire village?"
"Alchemists are valued greatly by commoners since we don't have any Daughters that can heal us. And Tarn village was an order. I'm sorry," Miyanna said, with an apologetic look on her face.
"There will be time for that. But are you certain?" Blanc asked.
"I'll put my life on the line. If it's not, is all the same. All four of us will die," Miyanna said.
Miyanna's bronze eyes showed no lie.
And there was no time to doubt.
The situation required even more urgency than it ever did.
Lune was bleeding to death.
Celine was, too.
And even though slower, the blood loss might affect her pregnancy greatly.
Kael and Miyanna, too, were wounded and might bleed to death in a few days, but the festering might just be what kills them.
He was not wounded. So he would be able to move fast, and hopefully the old woman would have what was required.
Brimstone, obsidian, and fireweed were required to create a concoction in alcohol that would remove the curse itself and seal the wound with the fire imbued in the ingredients.
Also commonly known as Vita's Mercy.
But the risk of other Morois coming here was just another worry Blanc could not shake.
Unfortunately, there was no time to lose.
"Celine, my love," began Blanc, getting back on his feet and preparing his weapons, and grabbing the coin purse from his bag, "I will move fast. Dawn should be here in two or so hours. Hopefully I'll be back by then. But in any case, I will block the entrance before I leave."
"Do what you have to do. We will wait, love," said Celine, trying to get to her feet but falling back on her chair, "M- may the Vita be with you," she said.
"Do not push yourself. Make sure to change your bandages when they get full of blood, and if you can, please check on Kael and Lune and do the same for them," Blanc requested.
Celine smiled at him, "Be at ease, my love, I planned on doing it anyway."
"Thank you," he said, going to her to kiss her, before turning and leaving the cave.
He placed all the heavy rocks he could find, one atop the other, making a blockade that was more there to hide the cave than protect them.
A Moroi's strength would dispose of the rocks in a matter of moments, after all.
But there was nothing more he could do.
So, he turned and began running northeast, towards a part of the Golden Forest he had never been in, hoping that the cottage Miyanna spoke of was visible enough for him to find it quickly.
Thus, Blanc found himself running at full speed once more.
Several worries followed his every step.
The dead Moroi had not been disposed of, still dead on the ground near the entrance.
He hoped that by letting them lie dead there, whatever came near the entrance would be scared enough, seeing all the dead Moroi, to change their mind and leave that place alone.
The other was the condition of everyone inside. He had to make sure he would fix this somehow.
His lack of strength created the situation, and the guilt was eating him alive.
His little sister, fiancée, and unborn child might lose their life before they even begin to properly live.
If he had the time, he would punch his own face until he grew tired of it.
Yet, he only cursed.
Knowing damn well, once more, that there was no time for him to break down.
The forest itself felt like it was pitting him.
A warm wind followed him as he ran. Making him feel warm despite the cold spring night.
The ground filled with golden leaves was dry, making every step he took considerable progress towards his unknown destination.
And no sticks, fallen trees, or beasts blocked or announced his approaching.
As if the forest was making way for him.
Aiding him.
He took it as a pity from the Vita itself, for which he was grateful.
After all the bad things happening around him, he welcomed a bit of hope and pity from the Vita.
It was too much otherwise.
Even for him.
After about forty minutes of running, he made it to the exit of the forest.
There was no cottage near him, so he began running eastward along the forest, hoping he would soon find it.
Twenty minutes later, as he ran, in the distance, he began seeing what looked like the cottage in question, hidden behind smaller trees, as if it were part of the forest.
What gave it away as being what he was looking for, that the plants that stood drying in the sun were tied to strings on the cottage's wall.
The cottage looked well taken care of, and even fresh straw was placed on the roof of the house.
However, there was no light coming from the house.
The old alchemist must have been asleep.
His heart was racing as he stopped, and after a few breaths to calm down his beating heart and breathing, he began praying that the alchemist would have and be able to depart with what they needed.
Thus, with a sharp breath, he knocked at the door.
No answer came.
Another knock. This time louder.
Movement came from inside, yet it soon stopped.
Blanc realized how the situation he was in might look, so he spoke out loud, "I apologize for disturbing you at this early hour, madame. I've heard you are an alchemist, and I am in need of your assistance."
Movement again.
Still no answer at the door.
"Madame, please, my family is dying," muttered Blanc, barely able to hold back his tears.
Only then, Blanc noticed a candlelight coming through the opening in the door.
Moments later, the door opened, and an old lady stood in front of it, still in her nightgown.