[PK] The Silent Killer

[WestCarolina 1784]

***

A young girl can be seen running in the distance, her long, wavy auburn hair batting in the wind, laughter echoing through the valley. Close up, one would see a woven basket topped with herbs and berries in her left hand, fresh from picking. Her right hand was surrounded by her father’s, one of the most important and influential figures in her life.

 

 

***

It was evident that Althea had a passion for medicine from a young age. In her late teenage years, she spent the majority of her time traveling across Arcas, visiting villages in need of medical assistance, and those villages pack-full of medical knowledge. During her time traveling, she not only learned and gained that knowledge, but she also experienced events that would later escalate and become detrimental to her mental health. 

 

Althea stumbled upon The Duchy of Westmarch, where she met and became friends with the small community that resided in the wooded landscape. His and Her Grace, Lugh, Niffle, Pepper, Victoria, and Reynault, becoming of her closest friends, is what led her to stay in Westmarch and halt her travels. Later in her time at Westmarch, Althea would be appointed to Court Physician for the Ducal family, this being one of the most pivotal and proudest moments of her life. She then not only settled in Westmarch with her small family but also created a medical guild in hopes to spread knowledge of medicine with fellow practitioners and apprentices in Arcas. 

 

 

***

It was a quieter day in the clinic of Westmarch. Althea was tending to a patient with a slight gash upon their hand when three men barge through the white curtains that hung from above. “Al! Althea! He’s been attacked!” one man would muster up and say hastily. She would jump up from the practiced bandaging, her head swiveling to a sight she will never forget. A ravished man. Torn. Untreatable.

 

That night, Althea had experienced the first of many nights where her mental health began to deteriorate. There were vivid images of the man, begging for help, pulling at her feet as if he were actually standing at the end of her bed. She froze, shaken up by the events unfolding.

 

 

 

***

Althea hid this side of her. She did not want it to ruin her reputation as a physician, especially being the Court Physician. She feared for her relationships and did not want to become a burden. However, little did she know, this is what would lead to her inevitable death. A physician— killing herself slowly — subconsciously. 

 

The following day, she opened up to her husband. It terrified her, but she went on about her day. It wasn’t till the last few years of her life, where her husband was off working on restructuring his military and their manor remained vacant, that she began to hallucinate. She’d have more vivid dreams of these awful war-torn, traumatic medical cases. Althea stood, her weakened, shaking legs dragged her body over to the table that sat in the corner of the bedroom. Her hand reached for the drawer, pulling out a few items. 

 

 

My dearest, and new friends, my husband, my children,

 

I do not wish this disease that occupies my being, on anyone. But I also cannot go another waking day living in this body, and this mind that haunts me day in and day out. The sweetest moments I will forever cherish in my afterlife, and I hope to meet you all again, someday.

 

With love, 

 

Althea Fournier 

 

 

 

The note would be left upon the table, a crippled and wilted magenta lilac corsage beside it and an empty glass that once contained a liquid. She laid her slow, weak body on the bed, her eyes fluttering until she saw her last glimpse of light. 

 

 

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[[ OOC: I felt as though it was time to switch it up, and start with a clean slate. This is by far the most fun I have had on LotC. I made so many amazing friends in character, and out of character through Althea. She’s by far my favorite character I have ever had, and it does hurt killing her off. I hope to create and come up with a new story that is just as impactful! **I decided to wrap up Althea’s story by starting with one of her fondest memories** ]]