It wasn't until the bamboo flute's melody faded completely that Misha collapsed to the ground like a puppet whose strings had been cut.
She felt as though she'd lost half her life force, every ounce of strength drained from her body.
Initially planning to leave the next day, Misha fell ill that very night.
Delirious and raving, she was swallowed by confusion.
Back at their quarters, Rolf returned with a face flushed with excitement, eager to recount yesterday's events to Alvin in vivid detail.
Gesturing wildly, he said, "You should've seen it—spectacular! Those snakes came pouring in from every direction, like something out of a horror movie. It gave me the creeps just watching."
Alvin listened, his brow furrowing with each passing word.
Recalling Alma's parting words— "See that you behave" —a nagging sense of unease settled in his stomach. Misha's illness felt anything but coincidental.
"What're you thinking?" Rolf asked, noticing Alvin's distraction.
"Did Dr. Vanessa say she wouldn't let Misha leave the village?"
Alvin murmured, the fog of his doubts thickening.
"She did, but only if Misha didn't apologize. And she did apologize," Rolf scratched his head, the peculiarity of the situation weighing on his mind.
Alvin shook his head helplessly, a trace of worry in his eyes, and countered, "Do you really think Misha apologized sincerely?"
Rolf paused, recalling Misha's reluctant apology—it was far from sincere. He frowned. "If this is her doing, what do we do now?"
Alvin sighed deeply, his voice tinged with exhaustion. "Who started the trouble should end the trouble. Misha needs to make amends herself." With that, he trudged into the room.
Meanwhile, Derek lay in bed, weak and unaware of the chaos outside.
Alvin always announced himself before entering. "Alpha Derek, it's me," he said softly.
"I know," Derek replied calmly. His blindness had sharpened his other senses. He recognized Alvin's footsteps.
"How are you feeling today?" Alvin asked, concern etching his voice.
"Not well. My head's pounding," Derek said weakly.
Alvin looked at Derek, whose facial marks had faded significantly. Normally, as the toxins diminished, one's spirits should rise, yet Derek appeared more distressed than ever.
Alvin's worry grew. "Wait here. I'll get the doctor," he said, rushing out.
"Got it," Derek murmured.
Alvin, frantic with worry, could barely focus on anything but Derek's condition. He rushed to fetch the doctor, completely forgetting about Misha.
Tabitha was engrossed in a medical text, her focus unwavering as she jotted notes and highlighted passages.
Simultaneously, she tended to the fire, brewing medicine with practiced precision.
The sudden sound of Alvin's hurried footsteps broke her concentration.
"What's wrong?" she asked, already rising to her feet.
Alvin's panic was unmistakable—Derek must be in trouble.
"Alpha Derek isn't doing well. Please, take a look," Alvin panted.
Tabitha was already moving, her steps swift and silent. "I'll be there. Watch the fire and don't let anyone near," she said, her mind already racing through possible scenarios.
Though this was her territory, Tabitha remained cautious.
Derek's wolfsbane hadn't fully cleared, and the thought of someone tampering with his medicine sent a chill down her spine.
"Understood," Alvin said, taking his post by the fire.
Tabitha arrived at Derek's room, her footsteps nearly soundless.
"Is it Dr. Vanessa?" Derek asked, his heightened senses detecting her approach.
Before his vision recovered, he became unusually alert and extremely sensitive to every sound around him.
"Yes," she replied softly. The faint scent of herbs preceded her.
Derek's expression shifted—the scent was identical to the Tabitha in his dreams!
It wasn't from any single herb, but a unique medicinal fragrance that clung to Tabitha, from years of immersion in herbs and constant medication.
No perfumer could replicate it. It was the result of years immersed in medicinal plants.
Tabitha was so used to the scent that it no longer registered to her. Since she rarely engaged in close contact with others, the fragrance only revealed itself when she was near.
At the moment, her sole focus was on examining Derek, and she didn't overthink the implications of their proximity.
Leaning in slightly, she gently pried open Derek's eyelids and scrutinized his eyeballs, asking with concern, "Any discomfort?"