There is interference? Is this strange pressure interfering with her magic?
Jack was now able to stand up more properly, so he lifted himself upright without propping himself up.
"What does that mean for me?"
Mercy's frown did not change as she answered.
"The bad news is that you might be cursed."
A curse? Two days in this world and I'm already cursed!?
She continued.
"The good news is that it targets a non-vital organ, and all curses must bring about a benefit or it won't work."
After a brief silence she added.
"Your life won't be in danger."
Jack swallowed before responding.
"That's good to know."
He paused for a little.
"I was brought here by a man named Aldric. He is pale, with dark hair tied up in a bun. Is he still here?"
She made a signal to the young nun, who leaned in slightly.
"Fio, go get the sedatives."
Sedatives? Aren't those used in asylums? Jack was a little restless.
Mercy looked back at him.
"The trainee deacon of Mardrago is still here. He was invited to an audience with the Bishop so he handed you over to one of the Braves, which carried you here."
She saw his restlessness and added.
"Don't worry about the sedative. While it has a stigma, it's used to calm people."
Catching her breath, she continued.
"The ones we make contain some warped ingredients and have the side effect of reducing pain."
Jack's posture visibly relaxed. The two of them waited for the young nun Fio to bring the medicine.
What are warped ingredients? Do they have something to do with warped spaces?
Eventually Fio came back with a few chemistry tubes with corks in them. With the medicine inside, they looked like potions.
Mercy spoke.
"Now, I will give you this sedative to drink."
She continued.
"Each one will have an effect of around three days. You will only drink it here to prevent addiction."
"So I will have to return here every three days?"
Jack asked. Mercy answered.
"Yes. The treatment is free since it's a charity funded by Count Aurus himself and done under Salvation."
Charity or not, money is still gonna be a problem.
Jack asked another question.
"Won't it be too expensive to treat everybody like this?"
Mercy countered.
"Salvation doesn't discriminate between the poor or wealthy. This is also a very rare case. Most of the treatments are done with the artifacts."
She continued.
"We only need to supply the mana and it will do the rest."
So the treatment is cheap because mana is cheap?
She handed him the tube.
"Enough with the chatting. Take your treatment."
Jack picked up the tube holding a pinkish dark liquid and took off the cork. The smell was sharp and numbing. He gulped all of it in one go. The pain in his stomach subsided as his emotions felt numbed.
Running his hand through his hair, he asked.
"How long did you say this lasted?"
"About three days. But I suggest you go meet with the Bishop yourself."
Jack looked at Mercy.
"Why is that?"
"I believe you have been cursed. I don't know who you angered, but it seems pretty serious since it targets an entire organ."
"Seeking the attention of her excellency may be your only hope."
Her excellency? Is this religion women only?
"Where can I find her?"
Jack asked. Mercy moved her hand and pressed on the back of the young nun next to her.
"Fio will lead the way."
She uncrossed her legs and kept them closely together, then placed her hand on her right leg.
"I would have done it myself but my leg won't let me."
Getting up from the bed, Jack struggled to find his balance for a moment. After a while he followed the brown-haired Fio out of the tent to reveal a very large camp filled with similar tents of many sizes. Around the place were a decent amount of armed people with swords and other weapons. Their armors were irregular but of decent quality, and their demeanor was unlike that of mercenaries.
Walking between them, Jack found himself at the front of a much larger tent. Moving the white curtains to the side, he found the inside of the tent in a similar state as the one he woke up in, only this one held about forty or so people.
On the far end of the tent he saw Aldric talking with a woman dressed in a much more decorated attire compared to the other nuns. Her pendant held three golden pieces compared to Mercy's single one.
Walking their way toward the two of them, Jack spoke in a flat voice when he was close enough.
"Aldric."
Aldric looked over.
"Jack, you're fine?"
The Bishop walked over. She was a blonde woman with blue eyes.
"Is this the friend you spoke of?"
Jack asked.
"Did I disturb your business?"
Aldric answered.
"Not at all, we were just greeting each other."
The Bishop added.
"An hour-long greeting."
Fio went closer to the Bishop and whispered to her. The Bishop looked at Jack.
"It seems you've been cursed."
Aldric spoke, startled, fearful and anxious.
"A curse?!"
"Alright, Fio, you can return to Priest Mercy."
Fio responded. "Right away."
So only priests get artifacts?
"Your name was Jack, right? Please sit down. I'll see if I can get rid of this curse."
She looked at Aldric.
"Trainee Deacon, I ask you to stand back."
After he stepped back, she began her chant, immediately translated. Unlike the others, she didn't have the need to spell her name.
"Open mana reserve."
One of the pendants lit up. She now began to slow down her chant significantly.
"Locate abnormality."
In front of her eyes two circular transparent panes floated. She looked at Jack and her gaze eventually fell on the right side of his stomach.
"Hmm."
"Well, I can confirm that this is not a curse."
The panes vanished.
"But it might be worse."
Aldric asked.
"What is the problem?"
"Before I make my assumptions I have some questions."
She continued.
"Did you recently go to a warped space? Or happen to have one open nearby you?"
The only thing that might be like that was the crystal.. I don't think keeping it secret will do me much good.
"Am I in danger?"
Jack asked. She responded.
"From what I'm seeing you shouldn't be. You can answer me without consequence."
Aldric looked at her and opened his mouth but was interrupted by a man yelling outside. One of the nuns entered.
"Your eminence, he is back again."