Library:The World on the Other Side

In a time of disease and fear during the Great Plague in Paloa, a group of magicians and non-magical people band together to form a secret society dedicated to healing the sick and finding a cure. But as their methods become more extreme and their beliefs more radical, they are forced to go into hiding and face persecution from the government.

Prologue

16th of Hunyo, 1142 CE. Leitao, Paloa.

It was a cold summer night in Hunyo. There were no sounds apart from the rushing waters of a nearby stream and no light except for a twisted lamp post which illuminated a small corner of the slums. The feeble light revealed a scene of utter desolation – broken and dilapidated shacks with rotting wooden roofs huddled together for warmth, mounds of trash littered the ground, and stray dogs prowled the narrow alleys in search of scraps. A faint smell of smoke hung in the air, a testament to the makeshift stoves that the residents used to cook their meagre meals.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows and scurried towards one of the many abandoned and decrepit buildings of the slum. The figure knocked three times on the wooden door and waited. After a few moments, the door creaked open and the figure was ushered inside.

In the dimly lit basement of said abandoned building, a group of individuals had gathered in a circle around a tall man. The air was thick with the smell of herbs and incense, and the flickering candles provided the only source of light. In the centre of the circle stood a man with a commanding presence, his dark cloak billowing around him as he spoke in a low voice.

"We are here today because of the great sickness that plagues our land," the man spoke. "The king has failed us, and it is up to us to find a cure and heal our people."

The figures around him murmured and nodded in agreement.

"But we cannot do this alone," the man continued. "We need to form a society, a brotherhood of healers, dedicated to finding a cure and helping those in need."

The group fell into a tense silence, considering the implications of such a plan.

"But we must be careful," the man continued after a prolonged moment of silence. "The state will not take kindly to our..." he paused. "Vigilantism... and we risk persecution and punishment if we are discovered. We must operate in secrecy, and only those who can be trusted may join our ranks."

The new arrival, a woman named Hunya, shifted nervously. She knew the risks that came with such a task, but she was determined to help her people. The man in the centre of the circle stepped forward, his eyes scanning each of their faces.

"Who will join me in this mission?" he asked quietly. "Who will pledge their allegiance to this cause and work tirelessly to find a cure for the Great Plague?"

Hunya’s heart raced as she contemplated the offer. She knew what she had to do. "I am willing to join this society and pledge my skills and resources to the cause," she spoke up, her voice barely above a whisper.

And so, one by one, individuals stepped forward. They were willing to risk everything to save their people, even if it meant going against the laws of the land. As the meeting drew to a close, Hunya couldn't help but feel a sense of both fear and hope. She had joined a group of rebels, dedicated to bringing about change in a world that had left so many behind. The road ahead would be long and treacherous, but she knew that together they could make a difference.