Ashes

Arch I. Enia and Xentaron. Story 2. The Plagues

Many years have passed since then. Xentaron became a prosperous city. People renounced knowledge about magic. Magic has been replaced by the technologies. With the help of technology, they were able to build new buildings and were able to provide the neighboring city with the resources necessary for life. People were able to create things that could save human lives and also replace missing body parts with bionic prostheses equipped with various gadgets. But there was no talk of stopping death itself. Thought people of Xentaron until the day a young scientist arrived the city. His name was John Ward. He came from far away. They say that before arriving in the city, he lived in Thais, in which, according to rumors, an unknown virus appeared, called the Dragon Flu.

According to a description John gave, people infected with this disease, fell into a deep slumber with a subsequent increase in temperature. Then a human feels unbearable pain in the whole body. In this state the patient spends next three days. After three days the patient's skin turned black and began to resemble dragon scales (that's why the virus got this name). And then the patient dies.

However, while John was in Thais, he could create a cure that could stop the virus. A lot of patients were cured. Also Ward found out that this virus happens once in a human life. "The thing isn't in the fact that human dies from this virus. The thing is that the disease is not contagious." this what John was saying every time people ask about it.

Soon, due to unknown circumstances, John left Thais. No one on Xentaron asked him about this part of his life. Even those who he was working with. He worked at a local pharmacy. He was mainly involved in the development of new meds. In his spare time, John enjoyed inventing. First his more or less useful invention was a Stimulator that could bring a human from the Far Side. Of course, that human never lived longer anyway. But John works on it.

After some time, the talent of the young apothecary was noticed by the Mayor of Xentaron, whose name was Deimos. He offered him a work in a castle's laboratory located below the castle. In one hand - it was a great way to rise from the bottom and finally leave this pharmacy. In another hand - young Ward did not like the chance of living his new life in the castle. From the childhood he hated nobles. He thought they were worse than usual people who don't have anything. But one way or another, John agreed. Thus began his new life, full of regrets.

But there was something he didn't regret at all. Her name was Galatea. She was a maid in a castle. Her blue eyes, childish smile and ringing laugh attracted John's attention.

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After five years the virus reached Xentaron. It took Galatea's life, but she left a lovely daughter. John was completely immersed in work, trying to create a new medicine that could save the city. As it turned out, the virus has mutated, and the old medicine could no longer help. It could only delay the inevitable.

John never forgotten about his little girl. He was trying to pay attention to her so she never felt herself alone. But Ward never let her leave the castle while the virus was outside. Very soon everyone who was inside, became the prisoners of their home. That was a command from the Mayor. Out of boredom, the girl learned to make things and tried in every possible way to help her father, even though she was still a child. John never argued and tried to maintain the interest of the young inventor. Sometimes he helped her with the things she tried to create, but never knew how to make them. 

"Father" little girl started to speak while they were working on a new thing.

"Hm? What's wrong?" John started to worry "Something happened?"

"I don't feel so good" the girl's voice sounded quieter than usual.

Then came the clink of a metal part. The last thing she heard before she closed her eyes was her own name. Abby.