Nostrum: Tales of Valor

Schadenfroh

Strange whispers intrude on the dreams of those who sleep throughout the inn, causing them to toss and turn in the night. For those who've been awoken, or were awake already, the whispers only assure them of what they have already come to expect. Rushed footsteps and the banging of drawers announce even to those outside that fear has taken hold and nobody who is aware feels safe. With all that is going on, the door to Marne and Yuler's room receives light but hasty knocks from someone in the hall. The knocking stirs Yuler from what was an already shallow slumber, and with the second set of bangs, she pulls herself to a corner of her bed and gets to her feet. Turning the knob and pulling it, she is almost immediately set aside by Lee, who is followed in by Hael. Both appear slightly unsettled themselves, but not as much as those within the other rooms, who continue in their efforts to escape the confines of the building as swiftly as they can.

"What is-"

"Shh!" Lee places a finger in the air as he moves towards the window, only putting it down to move curtains aside and peer into the streets below.

"Bethel Nostrum." Hael's voice hisses in a low tone. "They're performing a purge."

"A purge?" The voice of Marne causes both women to turn in his direction, where he remains resting against the back of the chair as he rubs at his eyes. "What is a purge?"

"You lot remain here." Lee lets the curtain fall to rest and steps towards the room's door where Hael attempts to cut him off. "Hael, allow me this moment."

"What will you say? How will you ward them off?"

"Allow me... this moment." Lee's voice softens as he speaks to her, but his jawline remains tightly clenched.

Hael sighs and moves out from in front of him. With this, Lee takes off into the hall and down the stairs. Hael then seats herself at the edge of the bed and nervously fiddles with her palms using the pads of her thumbs. Yuler and Marne look to one another for a moment, then back at Hael as Marne pulls himself up in his seat.

"Heal, what's a purge?"

"The Bethel's Nostrum are looking for those who've been infected. Looking to cleanse the city of ailment to avoid any large outbreaks. That is what a purge is." Hael sighs and tips her head towards the window as if listening to what is going on in the streets below. Then, she takes in a deep breath and faces straight ahead, soothing herself with continued breathing. "Have I ever told you exactly why it is that Lee and I fled The Bethel's ranks? Or why it is that we joined the Purebloods when we did?"

Marne and Yuler share a look once again, then simultaneously nod their heads as if to say "no". Hael lets a small burst of air escape her nostrils and smiles for a moment.

"I'll take that as a 'no'." She then clears her throat and straightens herself out, allowing her body to relax in a proper form. "The Bethel has become nothing more than a tyrannical system. Its beliefs have become far too twisted for us to see any light in following the path it had paved for us, so we fled. After all that has happened under both, The Bethel and Achlys, all I wish that I'd have done differently was keep my Sigil. Not that it would serve me well these days.... The Nostrum out there in those streets... they have that gift. A gift we all know to only be given by The Bethel itself, or the contracts signed with Spatihor. Yet... even then, I don't believe it could save me. Infection is the one thing in this damned world that a Sigil will not undo. The one thing that makes it... useless."

"So it's true then." Marne states in a defeated manner. "You've been infected."

"I have, yes." Hael swallows harshly, then licks her lips in an attempt to continue explaining herself.