This odor of iron and rotten mud. The weak, listless movements of the afflicted sheep, too ill to even shy away from an unfamiliar hand. The sores near the eyes and mouth, weeping black ichor unrecognizable as blood. It's obvious that this is no ordinary illness, though that much was never in any doubt.

A frown crosses my lips.

There's only one thing to do. Though it isn't the focus of my skillset, any paladin worth her salt should be able to perform a basic ritual. Even those without their own supply of usable mana should at least be able to use a blessed icon.

I reach into my bag as I approach the nearest sheep. It's simply lying their, motionless. If not for its breathing, it would appear dead.

"There's no doubt in my mind this is some kind of curse," I respond to the snake. I don't have much experience directly with curses, but you'd have to be an idiot not to recognize it for what it is even if you don't have any kind of training.

My fingers wrap around my holy icon, and I pull it from my bag.

"I might not have seen a lot of curses first hand, but it's obvious," I continue as I raise the icon. The shape of a golden lily, in the style of Reon's most favored symbol, gleams faintly in my palm. At its center is a polished, finely-cut red gem. Just like a mage's catalyst, a holy icon can be made a number of different ways, but one of the most effective ways to make one is to use orichalcum and a mana crystal.

Unlike a mage's catalyst, it's not just a tool. This is a symbol of my service of justice, and to Lady Reon, after all!

"Oh Lady of Sunlight, please grant your blessing."

The words leaving my lips are ones I recited over and over again during my training. A litany against wicked afflictions and purify evil influences.

I'll burn away this curse.

"May your warmth burn away the darkness, and purge all wickedness and poisons."

I can feel heat spreading through my fingertips, a warm light flowing through my veins. It rushes over my holy icon, the lily's gleam growing brighter as I stretch out my arm to hold it near to the afflicted sheep. There is no need for these animals to suffer, so who did this?

Why?

Who would curse a bunch of sheep?

[@Raineh Daze][@Rune_Alchemist][@HereComesTheSnow][@Octo][@ERode]