~Chapter 18- Alternate Treatment~

~Earlier that day~

Felli and Thomas had been spending a great deal of time with Lumb and the sickly Ceptance. Though she was convinced they were helping her heal, the useless doctor said otherwise.

During one of their evening chats, a knock came at the door. Lumb expected it to be Deporah, but instead, he was met by a few Kingsguard soldiers and the King's personal doctor. Apparently, she had arranged for this doctor to meet with them.

The doctor sat with Ceptance for some time before being able to diagnose her condition.

"I've got it!" The doctor exclaimed, "I've seen this condition in one other - King Denile."

Lumb folded his arms, "That's not very helpful. Denile died."

"Yes, but I was already looking into treatment for his condition. That saves us a lot of time. Though I couldn't treat the previous King before he passed, I know of a concoction that may help you."

Ceptance's eyes widened, and she sat up in bed, "Really?"

"Yes, it'll take some time for me to prepare. I'll get a batch together, and we can start treatment tomorrow!" The doctor stood, "Rest until then."

"You truly think you can cure her by tomorrow?" Felli asked, eyebrow raised.

The doctor cocked his head, "Don't get ahead of yourselves. It should help her condition, but it'll take many doses to 'cure' her. Perhaps, a few weeks. By then, Ceptance and her family should be able to return home."

Felli's eyes remained uncharacteristically sharp. He didn't seem to believe any of what was being said. The doctor left posthaste to begin brewing his concoctions.

Lumb leaned back in a chair, nearly losing his balance and tipping over. After hearing nothing but bad omens for so long, he was relieved to finally hear good news. He'd have to give Deporah a great big hug when he sees her. Where was she anyways?

"That's good news," Felli said flatly.

Ceptance tilted her head, "You don't sound too enthused."

"I just- I know that doctor couldn't save King Denile. But things may be different this time. It's a point for celebration!" Felli's mood shifted suddenly to a more optimistic one. "Would you like me to get something from the market for you, Ceptance? Whatever you like."

Ceptance smiled, "You're the sweetest! Why not? Can you get me something sweet?"

Lumb stood, "You don't have to do that. I'll get her something."

"I'll accompany you then, if you don't mind?" Felli replied. He gave a knowing look to Thomas, "You and Ceptance will be fine on your own, won't you?"

Thomas returned his own knowing gaze and replied, "Of course!"

On his way out, Lumb hitched his axe to his hip. With the state of the city, he couldn't be too careful. As Lumb stepped out, he noticed Felli fidgeting with something within his robes.

Is that... why would he have that on him? Maybe I'm just seeing things.

The sun began to set as they reached the marketplace, illuminated by torches, dim candles, and a full moon. Normally, they wouldn't remain open that late, but given the state of the city, they weren't going to turn down a sale. Felli insisted on buying a batch of small cakes for Ceptance.

As they headed back, Felli tapped Lumb's shoulder, "I know a quicker way back. Follow me."

The monk quickly made his way towards his alternate path. Lumb nearly stopped in place as Felli turned down an alleyway illuminated by moonlight. But he continued after him.

Felli's steps slowed as they walked through several alleyways. Lumb was certain the path they took originally would've been swifter.

"You care a great deal for your mother, don't you?" Felli asked as he slowed his steps through an alleyway.

"Of course," Lumb replied simply, following a short distance behind him.

"You'd do just about anything to help her, wouldn't you?"

Lumb stopped in place, "...Where are you going with this?"

Felli stopped and turned to him, "I know of a way to save your mother."

Lumb cocked his head, "You know something that the doctor doesn't?"

"Trust me. No doctor can do what I can," Felli said with an air of seriousness that Lumb hadn't seen in him before.

Lumb humored him, "Alright, tell me about this treatment you have in mind."

"I'd call it more of a ritual..." Felli almost whispered, "There is a way for life to continue beyond death if there is a vessel. Our bodies are temporary, but our essence can be eternal."

"Essence?"

"I suppose you could call it our spirit. Our soul," Felli continued, "For this ritual, you need two willing individuals. One who is willing to forgo their body, and another who will allow the other's essence to occupy them as a vessel, for a time."

"...This is hard to believe."

"I've witnessed it before! Before Barja died, I performed the ritual with her. She still lives. Even I do not know what vessel she occupies now."

"A vessel..." Lumb paused, "You mean she lives 'in' another person?"

"Precisely! She was once an old woman, but now, I'm sure she resides in a youthful body full of vigor and strength!" Felli answered excitedly, "When I saw you and your mother, it seemed perfect. She could give up her withering body, and you could act as her temporary vessel. Once she's accustomed to that new way of life, she'll be able to take any vessel that she wishes."

... He was serious. But Lumb maintained his composure. "If this is true, what happens to the person my mother... would be residing within?"

"Your mother would be able to exert a great degree of control over them in time, even completely controlling their body."

"That sounds like possession."

"I-I wouldn't phrase it like that."

Lumb took a step back, but Felli inched towards him. He was maintaining a close distance from him.

Felli fidgeted his hands in his robes again, "I want you to understand. This is a heavily guarded secret. I didn't share this with you lightly."

Lumb remained quiet, staring intently at Felli. The monk's compassionate eyes had changed... They were now the eyes of a predator, waiting for his prey's next move.

"Well?" Felli asked anxiously.

Lumb shook his head. He didn't want to believe what he saw before, but now he knew. "You're not really leaving me much of a choice, are you?"

"Pardon?"

Lumb calmly replied, "Did you think I didn't notice you trifling with something in your robes? It's a dagger, isn't it?"

Felli's eyes dilated, and his body went rigid. Lumb tapped the axe at his hip.

"I'm guessing if I don't agree to this ritual, you'll make sure your secret doesn't get out. That only leaves one question. Who's faster, you or me?"

Felli froze up before frantically reaching within his robes. At the same time, Lumb skillfully drew the axe from his hip and hoisted it into the air. There was a missed slash from Felli, and Lumb brought his weapon down.

An ear-splitting shout reverberated from the alleyway, and Felli fell beside his dismembered hand which still gripped the dagger. The monk began to scuttle his legs along the ground to crawl away.

Lumb gripped his axe tightly and towered over the monk, "You can't really believe all this, can you?"

Felli chuckled through the pain, "You have no idea what is possible."

Lumb sighed and approached the monk, "I'm bringing you to the Kingsguard."

"No, you won't. Otherwise, Ceptance is as good as gone already!"

Lumb tightened his grip on the axe, "Wh-What're you talking about?"

"Thomas should've forced a poison into her by now. It won't be long before she succumbs. The only way to save her is through our ritual," Felli explained through gritted teeth and uneven breaths.

Lumb stepped back, loosening his grip on the axe. Normally, he'd be furious, perhaps hacking away at the man for daring to harm his mother. But for once, all that rage and anger turned to sadness.

"I trusted you."

"It's for the best, Lumb."

Lumb took one more rageful look at the monk before sprinting past him through the alleyway. Towards his mother. Perhaps if he was fast enough, he could save her.

With moonlight shining overhead, Lumb put every ounce of strength into him as he ran, trying not to allow his axe to slow him down.

He spotted the house they'd been staying in, ran into the door shoulder first, and hurried to the backroom.

"Mom!"

He came to the room and saw something he couldn't have predicted.

Thomas was lying in a pool of his own blood with slash marks across his throat. Beside the bed was a breathless Ceptance, her hands covered in blood. In one hand was her hand axe coated in red, and in the other was a red book with a metal binding around it and a lock. She didn't have the strength to stand, only to watch Thomas's life draining.

Lumb knelt beside her, "Are you okay?"

Ceptance didn't take her eyes off Thomas, "The kid just lost it suddenly!"

"Di-Did he force you to drink anything?"

"He tried. I may be sick, but I'm not helpless..." Ceptance answered through slow breaths, "He was insisting on some ritual and this book."

Ceptance gathered the strength to raise the book in her other hand. Lumb took it and attempted to open it, but the lock kept it shut.

He held the book in one hand, and gripped his mother's hand with the other, "We need to get out of here! Can you stand?"

Ceptance furrowed her brow, "Who do you think you're talking to?"

Lumb smiled. She was still a spitfire. "Do you want help up?"

"Yes, I'd like help up."

Lumb stood and pulled Ceptance up to her feet. Though she tried to hide it, it took every bit of strength she had not to fall over. He supported her body weight, and they walked over Thomas's dying body outside before disappearing into the night.