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[color=5486ae]Time:[/color] 10 AM
[color=5486ae]Location:[/color] Sorian Temple
[color=5486ae]Interactions:[/color] 
[color=5486ae]Mentions:[/color][hr]
[hider=Black Hole]
In other parts of Varian, especially the capital, information could be obtained by almost anybody at anytime. It was difficult to do something without somebody else knowing about it and spreading the news. Things were different in this part of the world. A disaster could be taking place in broad daylight and not a single word would reach the outer public. Not because security was tight, but it was too remote, like screaming into the void. 

[color=00aeef]"You are not making any sense here."[/color] John rebuked one of the doctors at the meeting. 
[color=00aeef]"Let me repeat the question. In your own words, necrosis began in 36 hours after first symptoms, which has never been documented in ANY Varian disease database, not to mention as a respiratory disease, and yet you called it a common regional disease. So is this an emerging new disease or a common regional disease?"[/color]

"Doctor Williamson, it's complicated, but I can guarantee you we know how to cure the disease and we have it under-"

[color=00aeef]"Yes or no, is this a new disease?"[/color]

Things were already falling apart at the meeting. There were only 2 doctors writing that report, and it was chaos. Both of them giving contradictory answers, and under even the most basics of questions, they were like bumbling 5-year-olds. And he hadn't gotten to Hania and her 'magic' theory yet.

"...Yes." Reluctantly, the doctor answered. 

[color=00aeef]"Good."[/color] John wrote on his report sheet. [color=00aeef]"In that case, the first thing we need to do, preferably a week ago already, but better now than later, is to put this village on lockdown. Any objections?"[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]"The nearby Alestal Village is very much dependent on our fish supplies, I don't think that would be a good idea doctor."[/color] The Baron voiced his concerns.

[color=00aeef]"Then we will supply them from the nearest town, Udeska. It will take longer, but they will survive. If inhabitants of this village really want to leave, they would need explicit permissions from me. Is that clear?"[/color]

[color=f49ac2]"That would not be enough, doctor."[/color] Hania spoke up. Quite convenient, he was going to ask her now. [color=f49ac2]"For the immediate future, no one can leave."[/color] 

[color=00aeef]"No one? You said this is caused by magic...sorry [i]influenced[/i] by magic."[/color] John turned to her with a neutral but authoritative tone. [color=00aeef]"Thesis please."[/color] 

Once again, the so-called doctor shrunk under John's intense questioning. She was so determined to offer a cause and solution, but wasn't ready to back them up.

[color=f49ac2]"A-Again, I'm not ready to explain fully at this time."[/color]

[color=00aeef]"Then how do you know to do a complete lockdown? As far as I heard, magic is something you [i]do[/i] on an individual or a group of them, not a disease that would spread and multiply."[/color] 

[color=f49ac2]"There is a way, it's called a curse."[/color] She answered, the confidence back on her. [color=f49ac2]"It normally passes from one individual to another at a time, but this is very much uncharted territory. I cannot say for certain if it is incapable of multiplying itself onto others, and that's terrifying..."[/color] 

He sighed. At least she was giving an answer.

[color=00aeef]"What is this 'uncharted territory' then?"[/color]

[color=fff79a]"Doctor, I don't think we should take this serio-"[/color] Baroness Salovey was about to voice her usual objection, but John's index fingers shut her up. She might be the one in charge of the village, but the real power was on him. 

[color=00aeef]"Let her speak."[/color] John wasn't enamored with anyone yet, but her next words would etch in his memories for the rest of his life.

[i][color=f49ac2]"It's necromancy."[/color][/i]
[/hider]

In moments of great trauma and grief, people tended to reach for the closest possible comfort drug they could to ease the pain, quite often literally. John considered it an instinctual response worth sympathy. However, he would judge those who used trauma as justification for their monstrous acts, for threatening the well-being of the innocents. That he had no sympathies for. 

John paced around the room impatiently, waiting for someone. A knock soon came on the door, and after confirming it was one of the Varian servants, he let him in. 

[color=5486ae]"What do you have for me?"[/color] John asked. The servant leaned into his ears. 

"The snake is on the hunt today, according to the Black Cat." He said concisely. John nodded acknowledging, the servant departed quickly. 

The notes left by his bedside this morning from Alina concurred with the Black Cat's information. She was telling the truth this time it seemed. No events for him today then.

John quickly wrote a note and passed it onto another Varian servant, then got himself ready. He wore his usual stuffy outfit, a handkerchief and his medicine in one pocket, a pocket watch and other essentials in another's. But today, he grabbed himself a scalpel and hid it in his sleeve. It was much smaller than a dagger, so it would be really difficult to notice.

He would be seen on the street looking completely normal, heading off towards the Sorian Temple.