An Understated Dominance (Dustin Rhys)

Tristan, Icarus, and Lenora left the mansion and hopped into the car. They soon arrived at a hospital that was under lockdown.

It wasn’t just the facility, but several surrounding streets had also been cordoned off, with soldiers standing guard, forcing all traffic to detour around the area.

Access to the hospital required special clearance, and even Tristan wasn’t exempt.

“Dr. Strum and Dr. Carmel, we’ve got many plague patients quarantined inside this facility. For your safety, I strongly recommend wearing these medical masks, “Tristan said as they approached the checkpoint.

He thoughtfully handed out the masks to Icarus and Lenora. In addition to wearing a mask himself, he’d also suited up in full protective gear. He was taking every possible precaution since he’d been frail and sickly since childhood. If he caught the plague, it would likely be the end of him.

Icarus and Lenora accepted the medical masks without protest. They put on the masks and followed Tristan into the hospital.

All non-essential personnel had been removed from the facility. Only stationed soldiers and a few masked medical staff remained inside.

The patients had been sorted by symptom severity and placed on different floors in separate wards.

Tristan led Icarus and Lenora to the elevator, and they rode directly to the 18th floor. This floor had several critical patients who were barely clinging to life.

Apart from two guards stationed at the entrance, only one nurse remained to tend the dying patients. Her “care” consisted mostly of periodic injections to ease their suffering.

“Dr. Strum, Dr. Carmel, I’ll wait out here while you two examine the patients,” Tristan said as he stopped at the doorway.

He gestured for the nurse to escort Icarus and Lenora into the ward while he waited outside.

doctors there already demonstrated considerable respect. He bet neither Matthias nor Nathaniel would have

ward and remained inside for

restlessly outside the door while

before the

Strum, how is the patient?

about a commoner’s fate, but the patient’s survival could determine whether they could contain

isn’t your typical plague outbreak. The pathogen is incredibly virulent and unlike anything we’ve dealt with before. At this rate, the patient probably won’t make it

looking hopeful. “What about you, Dr. Strum? You’re our expert in pharmacology and toxicology. Surely

Highness. My current abilities are insufficient to cure this either,” she

that this outbreak wasn’t the result of natural

eyebrow. “What makes

be a combination of multiple viruses. I’ve never seen

now we need to focus on developing an antidote. Without it, every infected patient will die. I’m counting on both of you,”

us some time, Your Highness. We’ll find a way to stop this and save as many lives as

for whatever resources you need.

compassion is truly admirable, Your Highness. We won’t

doctors wasted no time getting to work. One checked the ancient medical

now become their test

hanging in the balance and time running out, they had no

Thornwick, Matthias faced

dozens of residents had already contracted the plague. But after just one