Back at the White Griffon, Professor Marth was facing an unexpected complication. After the state of national emergency had been issued, all the academy’s staff that had even a shred of knowledge in medicine had been tasked to pack their things and reach Kandria as soon as possible.

The Professors had been permitted to bring along anyone they deemed could help, even students. It was part of the cover story the King had devised to make Lith’s presence in Kandria seem unimportant.

He would just be one of the many youths accompanying their mentors, hoping their talent would be recognized by the Crown or at least to gain practical experience. Having only one student from the White Griffon among all the experts would rise too many questions.

The departments most affected were two, the light magic and the alchemy department. Despite they were used to cooperate for the most difficult cases, this time the approach on the matter couldn’t be more different.

For alchemists, this was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Working without a budget limit with only state of the art instruments, with the opportunity to have them even custom made, was an offer too good to turn it down.

Hence, the alchemy Professors had no qualms about bringing students along. They would have minimal interactions with the infected, studying the disease only through tissue samples and in the safety of their labs.

For, healers, instead, it was a nightmare. Daily contact with the victims, high risks of exposure to the plague, not to mention that according to the reports the mortality rate was akin to a warzone.