DAY 50: SIGNAL

Not everyone in 'Reca' is dead.

At least, not yet.

When morning sunshine trickles through the thick, acrid smoke carrying from the raging fire quite the distance away, that's when they slink out.

Grandparents, fathers, mothers—even toddlers who don't look past the age of three. All have lost traces of vibrancy and joy, and have nothing but a thin layer of skin, incapable of masking their protruding bones and famished countenances.

They pick up discarded leftovers and even ruined plants and fruits. Leda and Orian's attempts at approaching them for answers results in them barely mustering the energy to summon their voices to speak.

They can muster one thing, though: that the royal family has abandoned them.

The idea makes Leda sick to her stomach.

"I thought you said the royal family was kinder than anyone," she grounds out, glaring at Orian through her blurry vision. "Those assholes left their citizens to die!"

He pries his attention from the dirtied water making up the creeks. They'd come here, adamant on acquiring remnants of fruits from the burnt trees from the fire, as well as salvageable water. But what they've collected can't even amount to anything. And whatever hope they were clinging to before has vanished—buried beneath the burning air. Heading too deep into the forest is out of the question also; the possibility that the Northern Dragon will wreak more havoc than it already has is far too risky.

"The Land of Edaps is a beautiful place." Orian clings to that belief despite the strain in his face indicating otherwise. "This area was probably engulfed in some kind of war—"

"A war?" Leda scoffs. "These people aren't apart of the military; they're innocent citizens who can't even fend for themselves."

"Then, there's most likely a reasonable explanation—"

"Like what?" She chucks another rotten 'elppa' into the worn-down basket she's secured back at Reca—its name Orian told her still hard to digest. "Seriously, Orian," she continues. "Does it look like they're involved in some kind of conflict? These people—these children—are dying of hunger and some kind of illness. Drinkable water, proper food, shelter—it's all unattainable. The Northern Dragon's rampages are keeping them from exploring the forest for potential rations as well. And their damn government has abandoned them despite that. There's no way in hell they're coming back for them either!"

Orian is mute—unable to get the words of rebuttal past his throat. Leda's aches just the same, and she bites her lower lip hard enough to draw blood. Another huff passes her lips as she collapses onto a nearby log, pressing her chin into her palms.

"Real life or even in this world—nothing has changed about petty rulers whose thoughts are only about greed and power; without a care for the people beneath them on the social ladder. The rich make a living off the poor only to repay them with undeserving deaths. They've never given a shit." She can't withhold a shaky intake of oxygen. "I... I don't even have anything to help them myself. I'm so pathetic—"

"Master Leda."

Orian kneels down on one knee. There isn't an ounce of frailty mirroring his face. Instead, it's a blindingly warm smile. He extends the bag of fairy meat Rhett had provided on their journey, and drops onto the space beside her.

His gentle gaze doesn't waver for a moment. "We haven't had a break since we left the Deck Tower," he says. "You should rest."

She bites the inside of her cheek. "I'm fine. The townspeople aside, we still haven't gone back to figure out what caused that dragon's riot, and—"

"I understand. That is why this is a personal request." His words take her by surprise. She jerks her neck only to catch him elevate his arm and place his free hand on his bicep. "Leave the rest to me."

Her eyelids rise. "Orian..."

"I've already decided to equally distribute this to every citizen I can," he continues, gesturing to the crushed bag of meat in his hand. "You've already experienced what kind of mysterious healing this can bring. It isn't a permanent remedy, but so long as they're alive, even a tiny bite can help ease their pain for a short while. It even allows for humans or creatures not apart of this realm to live here regardless of Annadia's atmospheric pressures."

Leda reflects on his explanation, and bobs her head. It makes sense. She had assumed that was the case. It's why Rhett was so incessant she have a bite every day, and why she couldn't seem to get enough of it. It holds the same addictive features of an opioid drug—pain relief function as well.

She receives the tiny piece Orian offers her with much reluctance. The instant she tosses it into her mouth, exactly as it's done since her arrival, she's hit with newfound relief. The soreness of her body dissipates in the gust of wind, and the heaviness of her heart, lungs, and other organs lessen also. Promptly, her stomach rumbles from the relief pooling over her shoulders, as well as newfound sleepiness.

"Sorry," she mumbles.

Orian shakes his head with a fond chuckle. "At first I hadn't wanted to give this out. Master Rhett gave me strict orders to ration it until the end of our journey by presenting you at least a bite every day so you won't near your deathbed. But, if being with you these last two days have taught me anything, it is that you possess a kind heart."

Leda wearily grins. "Don't hold me on that high a pedestal. Whenever someone's hurt it's obvious to not want to give up on them; do all that you can to help." She cranes her neck back to the light of the sun, currently flickering through the grey clouds. Wryly, she continues, "So, if it'll help bring them energy, even a little, distribute them. I came on this journey out of boredom, anyway—me alone being on my deathbed beats the population of an entire town."

   Her eyelids promptly droop shut. She leans against the tree behind her for support then groggily ruffles the top of his silky hair.

"Thanks, Orian. I'm relying on you."

He brightens immediately—fluffy tail wagging back and forth, evidently pleased with the gesture.

Her palm slips and falls to her lap. It's when her consciousness begins to fade she feels ginger pat atop her own head.

   "I truly am glad to have met you, Master." The whisper is gentle and quiet enough to skim her ear. However, it carries unbelievable warmth. "You're compassionate, virtuous, and true to your morals no matter the circumstance. You may not see it, or you choose to brush it aside, but in comparison to me, you're definitely far deserving of a high pedestal."

♥♦♣♠

The next time Leda awakens, she finds glimmering amber irises boring into hers. A gasp catches in her throat, her heart catapulting to her gut. The back of her skull connects with the tree she's forgotten she's propped against, allowing her to teeter and hiss in pain.

She peeks through a strained eyelid but the culprit is no longer. In fact, they've retreated as far back as the tree across from her. Their blue hair pokes untidily between the splotches of the low-hung twigs alongside widened eyes capable of piercing her very soul.

The sun has risen to its peak in the sky, but due to the clearing smoke, the warm beam does little to illuminate the greenery around her. Leda straightens her posture, and it's that tiny gesture that causes the child to hide further. He waits painstakingly before cautiously protruding his head again.

Unable to keep herself from grinning at the adorableness, Leda beckons him forward. He yet again shields himself behind the skinny tree.

He can't completely conceal himself but he's convinced he is. He cautiously whips his head right and left before getting up on his knees and looking out for the umpteenth time.

Leda, crouching as well, flashes him a wide smile. "Boo!"

He flinches with a ear-piercing yell then falls onto his bottom.

Hands over her abdomen, Leda laughs loudly. "Don't be scared. I was teasing you."

The boy backs away from her regardless, his already large eyes bulging. He stares at her like a monster. Used to the treatment since she first arrived, Leda stays still, a grin in place to affirm her innocence. Soon, the boy tumbles onto his bottom, wrapping his thin arms around his scuffed ankles and battered blue and brown outfit. Black dots trail his exposed arms and legs—identical to the markings Leda's seen on the Edaps corpses from last night.

She subconsciously outstretches a hand but the boy jolts, terrified. This time, her heart drops.

"Sorry," she apologizes before he can run away. "I was only worried."

   "You... aren't from Edaps are you?"

    Leda turns to address the old lady who's accompanied him, standing a fair distance away. Her blue hair has dulled to a pale grey, and she's in as much a weak state as everyone else in this town.

"Thank you so much," she continues, a soft smile in play. "For you and your friend helping us the way you have. My name's Annika, dear. That boy in front of you is Adi."

   She takes a seat on the log Leda was previously resting on. Once seated, the little boy—Adi—dashes to her side. The lady retrieves a rotting fruit from her coat, and hands it to the little boy. He merely halves it only to return the bigger piece.

   Their benevolence even amidst this hardship is heartwarming. And judging by her words, Leda can at least be assured that Orian's already gotten a good way around town.

"We've had quite a few tourists over the years," Annika drawls, tenderly caressing Adi's hair as he continues to nibble; as if every little bit and flavour is scarce. It hurts Leda to watch—that behaviour is only common for someone who's had small amounts to eat for the longest time; something she can wholeheartedly empathize with, seeing as that's the way she's lived most of her life. "But once they see what's become of us, they're overwhelmed by fear and leave immediately. We've always told them that this peculiar illness only targets the citizens of Edaps. However, they still run out of fear anyway."

She airily chuckles at the notion. However, what's starts off as a discreet way of brushing the memories aside converts into a loud, lung-scratching cough. Leda flinches, but Annika waves off her concern and settles down before long.

Leda's stomach sinks to her gut. The more she stares at them the more their frail bodies grow evident, and the worse she feels. For something she's assured herself to be as unrealistic as a dream only hits her harder and harder that this is reality. Their feelings, their terror, their suffering... It's too lucid; too heart-rending.

It's exactly the thing she was glad to have forsaken before arriving in Annadia.

Her shoulders tighten, and she drops her gaze. She can't muster her typical confidence.

As if reading that, Annika speaks on. "Reca used to be so beautiful and full of life—akin to the rest of the Land of Edaps. It wasn't as if we had abundant resources. In fact, we received many of our supplies from the capital city, Depree, where the monarch lives. Our kingdom was connected through everything in that way. Our happiness stemmed from the belief that as long as we had each other, we could easily overcome a couple days of famine or hardship. We believed that nothing in this world could harm or divide us."

Annika defeatedly peers Leda's way.

"It may sound like a distant dream, but we truly could live up to the prestige the Land of Edaps is known for. If only you and your kind companion visited a few years ago. We could have offered you food, shelter, clothing... As it is now, we fail as Spades."

"Spades?"

"It's how we address the citizens of Edaps," she informs her, then flattens her lips. "Leda, is it? I know it may be a little odd for someone like myself to remind you, but I highly suggest you keep the fact that you're a human a secret."

Her eyebrows elevate on her forehead, stunned. "May I ask why?"

"Htrae's people aren't always well-received around Annadia."

Leda's mind pumps with rapid thoughts. It's the exact opposite sentiment Rhett and Orian have relayed to her. Aren't otherworldly creatures like humans a rarity in Annadia? Could that be why they aren't so readily welcomed? Meisyr was filled with refugees and outcasts who couldn't make a living around the realm, which may explain why humans were fine there. But if Annika's words are true, as she accompanies Orian on his journey, there may come a time when it backfires on her.

"A... human. She's a..." Adi has stopped eating his fruit to gawk at her, awe mixed with wonderment on his features. "A real one..."

Annika silences him with another ruffle of his hair.

"Master Leda! There you are!"

She swerves in the direction of the call. Orian strolls towards her, and when he comes to a halt, his tail wags giddily. "I've successfully delivered the meat to all of the citizens. They're all feeling much better. I also did my part in aiding with the funerals of the bodies of the deceased."

He's full of accomplishment as he tilts his head forward, grinning from ear to ear. Almost as if he's expecting Leda to... "Do you want me to pet you?"

Orian becomes rigid. His joy slips at once, tail and ears flattening as he retreats in apology. "I-It really is impudent of me, huh?" Tears fill his eyes. "O-of course it is. Master Rhett didn't once bestow me with any encouragement so just because you praised me so sweetly earlier doesn't mean..."

Unable to handle his cuteness, Leda readily rests her palm on his head. Stricken, Orian gapes. The smile that pokes into her cheeks broadens. "You did amazing, Orian. Thank you."

He automatically glistens. His wolf features lift as another radiant beams envelopes his lips until he's practically sparkling. Identical to a puppy—one with a charming human face on top of that—he titters.

"A human, and even a Mond... Not a duo you'd see any day."

Orian lurches to his senses, frazzled to find they have company. Then, he's consumed with newfound concern. He's at Annika's side in an instant. "Are you all right?"

"Better than before," she reassures him. "I'm not too sure what kind of miraculous magic you've used to regain my strength, but I give you my sincerest gratitude."

Orian returns a sincere bob of his head. Adi has risen from Annika's side and curiously prods at Orian's tail. Orian freezes up and Adi inches backwards, twinkles in his eyes.

"I-It really is a tail! And he has wolf ears too!"

His amazement at Orian's twitching tail and ears honestly makes Leda snicker. It's exactly how she reacted when she first met him. None of the citizens of Edaps have animal features like Rhett and Orian; maybe it isn't as natural in Annadia as she believed.

"Hey, Adi," Annika scolds.

Adi's head hangs in guilt. "O-oh... I-I'm sorry."

Orian flails his hands. "It's fine! I guess it is odd to have ears and a tail. Here, at least."

Adi hopefully cranes his head and Orian politely reaches for his hand.

"Have you ever heard of the Land of Dia?"

"The Land of Dia?" the boy asks.

Orian bobs his head and smiles. "Everyone in Dia have animal ancestors so it's not odd to find people like me there."

Adi gasps. "People can be half-rabbit, too?"

"There can even be half-birds or even dragons."

Suddenly, Orian brightens like a light. He sticks out his free hand, slipping it through one of his instantaneous portal. Adi is a gawping mess when Orian pulls out a large history book.

"Wow!" he exclaims and latches onto his arm. "H-how... How did you do that?"

Orian chuckles. From where Leda stands, she understands he's retrieved it from her bag right beside Annika. However, without knowing how it functions, awe is expected. Securing his hold on Adi's hand, Orian crouches and opens a hazy vortex in the ground. Adi pales but with a reassuring nod from Orian, they both jump into the hole only to magically reappear a good distance away.

Adi stumbles but Orian helps him balance.

"We disappeared! Th-then reappeared! Wow! Wow!"

The child beams from ear to ear—an amount of joy Leda can only wish to have summoned in him. She can't help but laugh as he continues to bombard a grinning Orian as to how. But Orian is enjoying himself too and handles his excitement with equal optimism. Leda's smile expands further. So he's good with kids, too? Orian is quite the individual.

"That boy hasn't smiled like that in months... I really can't express my gratitude," Annika says, fulfilment soaking her weary features. Her eyes are watery, and she covers her mouth with her hand to stifle a sob. "Thank you."

Vast heaviness washes over and weighs down Leda's chest. "What exactly happened?"

Annika isn't quick to respond. "What didn't happen?" she eventually sighs. "We've been stripped of everything we have, and there's not even the hope to regain it."

Leda falls onto the nearby grass and draws her knees closer to herself. Annika collects her thoughts for a moment.

"It started off with a cold. We all believed it was an average one, and considering we'd always received enough supplies from the castle, nobody considered it much. Then, Mayor Maki passed away." She exposes her arm to me. Unlike Adi's, her gashes are a lot more severe, more so where the black dots are most concentrated. "These weird spots began spreading to every citizen until all those who classified as citizens of Reca had it. People kept dying left and right thereafter... We started dropping like flies. Just last month, we had to bury Adi's mom and older brother... Now he's all by himself. And nobody other than I am willing to look after him. Even our land, including all the animals, bodies of water, and food withered in due time as well."

Plentiful tears stream down Annika's cheeks, but she remains firm.

"Our beliefs began to shift, slowly but surely," she snivels. "Us Spades who pride ourselves in our selflessness; in our belief that we don't need magic to live a good life... that all we need is each other... have becomes self-centred and individualistic. Have started caring only of ourselves.

"Proof to that, when we all got infected by this seemingly incurable disease, the royal family and the rest of the Land Of Edaps quarantined us here and stopped supplying us with food and water. They stripped us of our Spade status to hide us from the world, but only continued to tax us for remaining on their land." Annika clenches her fists. "The warm-hearted royal family we'd always honoured had become devils in our eyes. Even now, they come every week to take everything we have. They don't even try to help us regardless of our pleas and signals for aid. And none of us can even hope to comprehend why they've abandoned us.

"The royal family is kind—we'd wanted to believe that they'd neglected us for a reason. But now, many years later, most people have stopped holding onto hope. There aren't enough resources here so people have stopped sharing and helping each other out. We've started gathering whatever we could from the forest in hopes of a remedy, but we can't go in too far because someone stole the Northern Dragon's egg, wrongly convinced they can use it for nutrients."

Leda's eyebrows shot upwards. "Wait, that's why..."

"It was already infected by the illness itself, but with the egg, the Northern Dragon is furious and won't let us anywhere near the forest. Securing food or water has essentially become impossible. More have started dying much quicker than in the past..."

Leda swallows hard. "The egg... is it already..."

She shakes her head. "The royal family confiscated it for their use. The one who's stolen it is long dead also. And those of us who've journeyed to Depree to beg the royal family for assistance have yet to return. We truly are... goners."

Leda bites the inside of her cheek. Shutting her eyes, she exhales heavily and hoists herself to her feet. As she dusts her clothes, Annika raises her head in confusion.

"Leda?"

"Guess it's settled," she merely replies, setting her palms on her hips. "I'll go smack the king upside the head."

Annika chokes on seemingly nothing, resulting in an incessant hacking fit.

"Orian," Leda call out nonetheless, beckoning him over. "We'll have to postpone our trip to the Northern Dragon. Let's first head to Depree to see the royal family."

Annika's coughing grows more and more hysterical.

Leda places a hand onto her shoulder.

"Don't worry, I won't hit the guy too badly. The two of us have something he and the rest of his family have to listen to, anyway." Annika's slack-jawed stare doesn't relent even when Orian arrives by Leda's side, Adi beside him. "But, I promise to come back with a solution, Annika, Adi." She breaks into a smile. "Just tell everyone in Reca to hang on a little longer, all right?"