The request Kerii had done for Fernando Milano was over and there was still plenty of time left in the day. It didn't take Kerii long to decide what she wanted to do. Obviously, she wanted to take another request, but first, she wanted to return home to feed Sylvie, her Sylveon. She was more of a companion than a pet. Although they hadn't done anything major out in the field together since the battle against the demon, she had often thought of Sylvie as a friend. Now, that may seem really odd, but that feline was wicked smart. She was certainly a whole lot smarter than most cats, or animals in general, were. Syl understood a great deal of the common speak of Fiore and Kerii's native tongue. Most dogs she met had understood a very limited vocabulary. Sylvie greatly surpassed that. She was sure that if her Sylveon could speak, then she would be able to speak to her in any language Kerii spoke to her in. She wondered if that was actually a possibility. If it was, that would be really cool. Biologically, it seemed to be unlikely. After all, how could Syl miraculously learn to talk? She was a feline. She purred. She hissed. She even screeched. If it was one thing she could not do, it was talk. The way her jaw and mouth were formed and the way her vocal chords worked, it would be impossible without the use of some sort of magic. In all honesty, Kerii really believed that there was a magic out there that could make animals talk. If it didn't cause them to be able to form words that came out of their mouths, then it would at least enable them to speak their mind, and she meant this in a literal sense. As in, magic that allowed the animal to transfer their thoughts to a disembodied voice. The concept was actually pretty cool. With all the different kinds of magics in the world, there was no doubt in Kerii's mind that this was somehow feasible. If anyone figured out how to do that, she would congratulate them and ask them to do that to her Sylveon. Either that, or ask them to teach her the magic. Maybe it wasn't even a kind of magic. What if it was some kind of enchanted item, like something Sylvie could wear, like an amulet of sorts? The possibilities were truly endless. Any of those ideas, as outlandish as they seemed, did not seem as theoretical the more Kerii thought about it. There was still so much about magic that people didn't understand yet. Even the most educated scholars may not be able to find the precise science behind magic, at least not yet. For example, why is it that some people have a tendency for fire magic while others have a tendency for water? Why is it that some people can use magic and others can't? Why is it that Kerii was able to have her magic taken away from her?

WC: 510/2000

Actually, that question was one that Kerii still begged to find an answer to. Before she had her magic taken away, she had no idea that such a magic existed. It was just never a thought that crossed her mind. Thinking about it now, she began to realize how limitless magic seemed to be. There were just so many different unimaginable kinds out there. Magic never ceased to amaze Kerii, not in the slightest. There were objects as simple as items that merely produced light, and then there were creatures that possessed immense power. On top of that, there were all these diverse races. However, to create balance in the world, Kerii did suppose that somebody, or some people, had to have the power to take peoples' magic, or magics, away. Kerii just hoped that it didn't have to be her. She personally didn't think she deserved to have her magic taken away. It wasn't like she ever did anything wrong with her magic. She couldn't do anything wrong with it. It was purely supportive. She didn't do anything wrong as a person. She never went on a request dark mages would have taken. Sure, she sinned. Everyone did, but did that give justice for her to lose her magic? Kerii prayed to Imyon that some kind of bad karma would fall upon Carnil and that good karma would return to her. Imyon was one of the many gods Kerii believed in, and he was the god of balance. If it was anyone who would sort out the odds and ends of justice, it was him, and Kerii could do nothing but put all her faith in him that he would allow her to regain her magic and punish Carnil.

Kerii walked back to her room at the inn and opened the door. Sylvie hopped off the bed and walked around Kerii's legs, rubbing her fur on her shins. That was her way of greeting her. Shortly afterwards, Syl sat down and started pawing at Kerii's pant leg. "I know, I know," she said as she walked over to her food bowl. She opened the bag and scooped out a good portion of food. She took the water bowl and went over to the bathroom. She dumped out the old water and filled it with cool, refreshing water instead. Kerii had just filled the bowl to the appropriate amount when she heard a knock at the door, just like the one she heard the day before. "One moment!" Kerii called as she set down the water bowl next to Sylvie's food bowl. She went over to the door to go open it. When she did, she half expected to see yet another bright pink envelope signed by none other than Fernando Milano, but to her surprise it wasn't. There was still a delivery boy delivering her a letter, but it wasn't send by Fernando Milano. Instead, it was sent by someone who she was still familiar with. It was sent by Dr. Gerard.

WC: 510+503=1013/2000

Kerii thanked the delivery boy and shut the door. She was anxious to read the letter. She was praying that Dr. Gerard wanted her to scrub in with him again, but when she opened the letter, she was disappointed. Dr. Gerard did need assistance, but not in the OR. While she was sad that she was not able to participate in another operation, she was equally intrigued by the contents of the letter. In the letter, Dr. Gerard explained a sort of virus or plague that was spreading through Baska like a wildfire. The people affected by the virus became extremely violent because of it. They would basically run rampant, attacking everything in sight. Kerii furrowed her eyebrows as she read the letter. Even animals were being affected by the virus. She looked at Sylvie who looked to Kerii, blue eyes wide and full of wonder. All the Sylveon knew was that Kerii was obviously concerned with something, perhaps even a little bit disturbed as well. Kerii could safely say that she was seriously concerned about what this virus could be, especially since not only she, but Sylvie could be affected by it as well.

Over where a nearby lake was, there was a pack of wild boars. Though usually docile, they have recently become rather violent. Dr. Gerard suspected that the boars too, were affected by the virus, plague or whatever this mysterious illness was. Given that the boars were most likely affected by the virus, Dr. Gerard wanted Kerii to bring back the body of a boar to him. Of course, the boar would have to be alive, meaning that Kerii couldn't kill the boar. That meant that she had to somehow sedate it. She didn't even know where to get tranquilizer and she didn't have any magic, so there was that. Kerii looked at Sylvie again. She may not have had any magic, but Syl sure did. The elf debated going alone or taking Sylvie. Surely, taking down a boar wouldn't be too difficult. She was bigger than it... but what if there were multiple? Dr. Gerard did say that there was a pack of wild boars at a nearby lake. She didn't know how many boars were in a pack. She estimated that there would be around five or six. There may be more, but then again, there may be less. Just to be safe, Kerii decided that it was best for her to take Sylvie with her. "Want to come on a request with me, Syl?" she asked. Sylvie's eyes lit up. They hadn't gone on a request together before. The only more difficult requests Kerii went on were ones she took before she met Syl. Now, it was time for her to go questing with her sweet companion. She had seen what Sylvie was capable of when she fought the demon, but she was still interested to see how this feline would handle the upcoming situation. While not as grave, it was still something neither of them could take lightly.

WC: 1013+506=1519/2000

Sylvie wrapped a ribbon around Kerii's wrist as the duo walked out of their room. "Are you ready for this? It's gonna be our first request together!" the elf exclaimed. Sylvie looked up at Kerii and meowed in a high pitched voice, a tiny smile appearing on the corners of her dainty snout. If Syl could speak, Kerii would imagine she would say something like, “I know, right?” or some kind of exclamation. As much as Kerii wished she could hold an actual conversation with her Sylveon, it was also kind of nice just to talk and vent to Sylvie. Since Syl understood her, it made Kerii feel good that someone was actually listening and had zero chance of blabbing her personal life to anyone. She absolutely dreaded anyone finding out about what was going on between her and Carnil, especially the part about him taking away her magic. She wondered what the guild would think if suddenly, someone they knew to be a mage, suddenly became magicless. Then, she wouldn’t be a mage anymore, now would she. She would just be an elf who knew how to use a sword and a bow, but an elf that had neither of those with her. Aside from that, which wasn’t much to boast about, she felt useless. Well, not completely useless, she supposed. She was still able to do requests such as the one she was about to start with Sylvie... but would she even be able to complete it without Syl? Kerii was supposed to be naturally good with nature, and since animals were connected with nature, she should have an easy time with the boars. But then again, the boars, if they were indeed plagued with the virus, were probably not acting of their own accord, so she may not be good with them after all.

Ribbon still wrapped tightly around Kerii’s wrist, Sylvie walked side by side with the elf. Even as they approached the edge of town, they both remained calm. It wouldn’t do either of them any good to get worked up. As they neared the lake, the duo could see boars lapping away at the lake’s water. At the moment, Kerii couldn’t see what was wrong. They just looked like ordinary boars. An isolated one, however, saw Kerii and Sylvie, and instantly came charging at them. “Don’t kill it, Syl,” Kerii reminded her. After a few blows to the head, the boar went unconscious, but that drew the unwanted attention of the four remaining boars. They only needed to bring one back to Dr. Gerard, so Kerii told Syl that she could go all out. In a fury of swipes and claws, Syl slashed at a lot of the boars and even managed to hit some of their vital spots. Kerii helped out too, punching and kicking, as that was the only thing she could do without a weapon. They both finally killed the four boars and Kerii took the remaining living, but unconscious, boar back to Dr. Gerard, who thanked Kerii and paid her, promising to get back to her later with more information on this disease.

WC: 1519+523=2042/2000