Spirit Game

"Rain."

Rain looked over and saw Hana approaching.

"What's up?"

"I think I can find a cure for this coughing sickness," Hana said, though her voice trembled with uncertainty.

Rain's face brightened with hope. "Really?"

"If this isn't a curse and it's caused by natural means, then I can find a cure," Hana continued.

Rain grasped Hana's hands, his excitement barely contained. "I had no idea you could do that!"

"We Hanamoris have a special affinity with plants and nature. We can grow a herb that cures certain diseases," Hana explained.

"Amazing, Hana! So what do we need to do?" Rain could finally see a glimmer of hope in their darkest hour.

However, Hana's expression remained somber. "I have to get the virus inside my body."

Rain's smile vanished. "But then you . . ."

Hana nodded. "Yes, I would get sick too. But there's a chance that my body could adapt and grow the plant that's the cure to the disease."

Rain's eyes narrowed with concern. "How likely is that?"

Hana hesitated, her gaze dropping to the ground. ". . . About fifty percent." she lied.

The truth was, even she didn't know how successful this venture would be. This would be her first time attempting it, so she wasn't really sure.

Rain fell silent, the weight of Hana's words sinking in. Fifty percent? That was too low, wasn't it?

"Only fifty percent?" he echoed, his voice barely above a whisper. "That's not much of a chance."

Hana sighed, her shoulders drooping. "I would have a better chance if I were an adult. But since I'm still young, I don't know how my body will respond to the virus, if at all."

Rain felt a lump forming in his throat. The odds were grim, and the thought of losing Hana to the virus was unbearable. There were already report of villagers succumbing to the virus, making their situation dire enough as it was.

"There has to be another way," he said, desperation creeping into his voice. "We can't risk your life like this."

Hana looked up, determination flashing in her eyes. "Rain, this might be our only hope. If this disease is natural, then I can do something about it. But if we don't try, we'll never know."

Rain's mind raced, trying to find a solution that wouldn't put Hana in danger. "What about the others? Could they help? Maybe they know something we don't."

Hana shook her head. "The healers and elders have tried everything they know. This is beyond their knowledge. It's up to me now."

"But what if this disease isn't caused by nature?" Rain's voice was filled with dread.

"Then . . . I'm afraid you'll have to find the cure, and quickly," Hana said.

Rain couldn't believe this was happening now, especially with the Hobgoblin fast approaching. Panic clawed at his mind, threatening to tear his sanity apart.

He hid his fear as best he could, not wanting to worry the others, but it seeped into his voice, which choked with emotion. "But that's risky, right? What would happen to you? We can't risk it . . .

we're already short on manpower . . ."

Rain felt himself sinking deeper into despair, spiraling into a dark hole with no way out, until Hana slapped his cheeks.

"Pull yourself together!" Hana's voice was sharp. "This is no time for weakness. I know you're scared, anxious, and frustrated, but you have to hold it together and never let it show. Even if the whole world turns against you, even if hope seems lost and the night grows darkest, you must remain unbroken. At times like this, everyone need to see strength and confidence in their leader."

Her words sliced through Rain's doubts like a sword through fog.

"Everyone else may waver and lose hope, but not you. You must be our unwavering pillar of strength. While others may falter, you must always stand tall, a beacon of hope. That's what it means to be a lord!"

Rain clenched his fists, feeling the crushing weight of their predicament. The Hobgoblins were closing in, and time was running out. But Hana's resolve gave him a glimmer of hope, even if it was faint.

"But . . . Hana you . . ."

"Everyone has a role, Rain. Mine is to help you, no matter the cost, and yours is to think of the greater good. In times like this, you must be ready for sacrifices. For everyone's safety, you have to take every chance you have and make decisive moves. Hesitation can cost lives, and we can't afford that now. Your people are counting on you to lead them.

We can't have you falter now!"

Rain gritted his teeth.

"Alright," he said finally, his voice steadying. "If this is our best shot, then we'll do it. But we'll take every precaution we can. We'll get through this together."

Hana nodded, a small smile breaking through her serious expression. "Thank you, my Lord. I know it's a lot to ask. But I believe we can do this."

Rain took a deep breath, steeling himself for what's to come. "We don't have a choice. Let's get started."

That night, Hana stayed with the quarantined, determined to get herself infected. It didn't take an hour before she was already coughing and burning with fever.

Now came the hardest part for Rain: the waiting. He prayed and hoped that Hana would develop the cure and that her body could withstand the disease.

However, that didn't happen. Two days passed, more lives were claimed, and Hana's condition worsened.

Rain fervently prayed that Hana would push through.

"Rain, lad . . ." Druger tapped Rain's shoulder as he waited outside the quarantine area.

"I'm sorry, Druger. Because of me, Hana is . . ."

Druger shook his head. "No one blames you, Rain. Not me, not Lyncon, not anyone here. She chose this path to help, and all we can do is hope she comes out of this alive."

Rain clenched his fists. "If only . . . if only I could do more."

"You're already doing more than anyone could possibly do, Rain."

Rain smiled bitterly. "Why is this happening, Druger? Just when I thought everything was finally going my way, this happened. I thought we could finally build the village and live in peace, but then this happened . . ."

Druger took a deep breath. "Everything happens for a reason, lad. And always remember, there's always light after the darkness. I'm sure Hana will come out alive and produce that cure. And I'm sure we can defeat the Hobgoblins and defend our town."

Rain forced a smile. "Thanks, Druger."

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Druger forced a smile . . . but beneath it, he was holding himself not to cough.