Chapter 167


    Chapter 167 Hope


    CAS SANDRA


    I struggled to keep up with Lancel’s long strides as we reached Merliscire. The older guard was much


    taller than I, so the effort made my heart race, but I managed to speed up enough to follow alongside


    him. His urgent gait only made my worry


    increase.


    What had Spi ke discovered?


    And how did he manage to get Lancel’s attention in the first ce? Had the guard been posted near


    the dungeon at the right time? Or had Spi ke merely waited for him to appear so he could ry the


    message?


    Focus, Cas s andra, I urged myself. I knew the more questions I asked, the more I would panic, and I


    needed to remain level-headed. For all I knew, the news was going to be important, and I needed to be


    calm in order to think clearly.


    When we reached the dungeon, we practically raced down the stairs until we arrived at the hall of cells.


    I nearly tripped as I speed-walked, but Lancel managed to steady me before I could fall and hurt myself


    on the cold stone floor.


    “Thanks,” I said gratefully, and after he nodded, I slowed my pace and walked at a normal speed


    toward Spi ke’s cell.


    As we approached, I was surprised to see that the imprisoned imposter was in such high spirits. His


    face was visibly excited, and his trembling hands repeatedly skimmed over the paper he held. He


    murmured phrases like “right”, “brilliant”, and “perfect”, and with each utterance, my curiosity grew


    stronger.


    myc


    As he noticed me, Spi ke tossed the paper aside onto the table and rushed over to the bars in an


    almost frenzied manner. His dark eyes were frantic, and if it weren’t for the iron fence that separated


    us, I wondered if he might haveunched into an attack.


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    “What’s going on?” I wondered, curious about our unexpected meeting. “Lancel mentioned you urgently


    wanted to see me. This isn’t our usual time to meet.”


    Spi ke’s eyes glinted with even stronger intensity and he clenched the bars so tightly that his knuckles


    paled.


    “Where did the water sample originate from?” he asked.


    I hesitated for a moment as my stomach twisted into a knot as I considered telling him it was none of


    his concern. While confidentiality had been the name of the game this entire investigation, I quickly


    debated whether or not I needed to continue on with the secrecy.


    But before I could make that call, Sp i ke spoke again.


    “You were right, Cas sandra,” he blurted out. “The water you brought me is contaminated. If what I’ve


    uncovered is correct, it likely caused the disease that was recorded in the coroner’s report.”


    My heart suddenly ski pped a beat and my lips parted in shock. I struggled to find words and my


    thoughts raced through my mind in disbelief.


    Becky’s theory and suspicions had been correct.


    The people of Wild Crawler were getting infected by their water supply.


    I took a moment to men tally praise my assistant’s scientific mind. For someone so young, Becky was a


    force to be reckoned with, and I was lucky to have her as my partner. Her discovery had the potential to


    save a lot of lives.


    But before I could get ahead of myself, I had to ask Sp i ke a question, one I’d been wondering since


    Becky had shared her theory.


    “Does this discovery mean you could find a cure for the disease?” I wondered.


    Spi ke’s lips curled downward into a slight frown, and I started to grow worried, but before I could panic


    too much, his expression shifted into one that was borderline arrogant.


    O


    L


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    “Of course I can,” he proimed, and then his words grew even more confident. “I don’t appreciate you


    questioning my abilities, Healer Cas sandra. Though I’m not as proficient as some talented sorcerers, I


    hail from Dark Abyss, after all. I should be able to cure it easily.”


    Relieved yet dizzy with euphoria at this revtion, I took a long, deep breath and tried to steady myself.


    This was an incredible development and I wasn’t sure how to handle this news.


    “Well, please develop the cure as quickly as possible,” I urged him. “How long do you think it could


    take?”


    At the mention of a timeframe, Spi ke hesitated, but then he shrugged.


    “I won’t take too long,” he said nonchntly. “Perhaps a week or so.”


    “A week or so?” I repeated back in surprise, and again, my heart leaped in my chest. Could we really


    come that much closer to healing the people of Wega within a week?


    Could we be that much closer to healing Asher in a week?


    “Yes,” Spi ke replied.


    “That would be perfect,” I agreed, eager for the results. “Please do your best, Spi ke. This could do


    wonders for the country.”


    “Of course,” he said, and then he got a strange glint in his dark brown eyes. “You know, I could use


    something to inspire my creativity…”


    “Oh?” I asked, and immediately, rm bells rang out in my mind. “What did you have in mind?”


    “I do my best work after a drop of ale,” he mused, and a devilish grin crossed over his lips. “Perhaps a


    mead or a nice wine would do the trick as well.”


    I felt conflicted by the proposal. While giving the imposter at least a little something for all of his trouble,


    providing alcohol to a prisoner of the Alpha King’s


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    raised viable concerns.


    Lancel and I exchanged a nce and his eyebrow raised up but then he


    nodded.


    “I think something can be arranged,” I agreed cautiously. “Or at least be


    considered.”


    Spi ke nodded and then shrugged. “I suppose that’s all I can hope for. Now, leave me be. I would like to


    get to work at once if this is going to get done in a week. Goodbye, Healer Ca ssandra. The next time


    we speak, I should have something to give you.”


    “Thank you, Spi ke,” I said gratefully. “I appreciate it.”


    Without a moment’s hesitation, I gestured down the hall and Lancel began to lead me at once. As we


    ascended the stairs back up to the main floor of the pce, an idea crossed my mind..


    “Lancel, is there a possibility of reaching the Alpha King?” I asked. “I think this is something he should


    be made aware of right away.”


    But the older guard shook his head in response. “He’s unreachable. But he’ll return in a few days and


    he will be briefed then.”


    “Okay,” I decided, though that answer didn’t satisfy me much. “And Lancel, I think it would be best for


    us to ept Spi ke’s request. I’ll bear the responsibility if anything goes awry.”


    Lancel nodded and that was that.


    I immediately returned to the clinic and ryed this new information to Becky, who appeared surprised.


    “I was right?” she asked quietly and when I nodded she shook her head in shock. “Wow. I can’t believe


    it.”


    “I know,” I agreed. “It’s insane.”


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    “Well, I promise I’ll double-check the findings for uracy,” she said. “Just to make sure that we’re not


    getting too excited.”


    “Of course,” I said with a nod.


    Hope surged through me as I anticipated sharing this new development with


    Asher.


    Hope. It was something I hadn’t felt in a while, and it was refreshing.


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