“Contra Pestem ac Immortalem Amet”
Hours ticked by agonizingly slowly. Being eternal already provided a warped perception of time, but the waiting magnified the feeling. Lilith took the time to walk through the manor again, plotting out a tour she could give to any doctors who arrived. She’d assigned rooms to certain people, having furnished each room with someone specific in mind. This would not preclude changes or freedoms of choice, to be sure, she just recognized the particular aesthetics and preferences of each doctor she’d hazard to call a friend.
Working her way through the bedrooms alone took time, but not enough yet, so she sorted through the apothecary. It was a bit of a meaningless task, however, as she had kept it meticulously clean and organized. Being around the herbs and ingredients made her feel at peace though, so that solace made the task have merit.
Checking the clock, she let out a groan of annoyance- it had only been 5 hours since she sent out the letters and, if she remembered correctly, the nearest doctor was at least 12 hours away for the crows. Looking at the vials and canisters of herbs, she weighed the merit of making a sleeping draught for herself, just to pass the time. Sleep wasn’t a necessity for her, nor food, but she partook in them with great joy usually. Unfortunately the nerves and excitement were too intense to allow her sleep any time soon. Since the only other idea she had to pass the time was a night hike, which admittedly had gone very poorly the last... 5 times she had done so, she elected that a sleeping potion was the safest bet.
Settling into bed not much later, she uncorked the small potion, hoping that she hadn’t overestimated her ingredients... again. Lilith had a bit of an tendency to be heavy handed when making potions for herself since they did have to be more potent for her demonic anatomy- but this also had the side effect of often knocking her out much longer than intended. Downing the contents of the vial, the syrupy, floral taste made her cringe, but relax into the plush sheets. She set aside the container and turned out the light, falling quickly into a dreamless sleep.
Far from the warmth and comfort of the nest, the murder of crows fanned out and continued on their way to deliver the invitations. They flew in small groups, working together to navigate their way across the vast stretches of land and sea. There was a reason Lilith referred to all of them as her brilliant baby birds after all, and she was absolutely right.
Receiving the letters in the wee hours of the night, brought by a crow no less, was a bit shocking for most of the doctors- though there were a few that she kept contact with enough that the corvids were a common and welcome sight. Or at the very least it was confusing and unusual. While each letter was hand-penned in Lilith’s spidery handwriting and personalized, the letters all followed a similar pattern:
To the esteemed Doctor ____,
Greetings, I hope this letter finds you well. I also hope you remember me, as I have seen fit to deem you one of my colleagues and friends. While this may seem odd, I have a proposition for you: as an ætherial being, I have been around for long enough to plan far in advance for things and thus I have worked for centuries to create a safe have of sorts for those I so long ago deemed most worthy. The plague doctors I have known have always been honorable and just, and it is for that reason I now reach out to you. The world is not a hospitable one for us right now I’m afraid, and I offer an escape where we as doctors may come together. It is not a school per se, though I suppose it is something similar to a university from the 1800s. I think that we all have much to learn from one another, and that the struggles and cures we each seek on our on can be best solved if we work together. The proposition: Come live at my manor. It is remote, safe, well stocked and able to handle any who come. I have been preparing for this for a long time, and I hope you’ll join me. Attached are the exact coordinates of the manor house, as well as some more details about the living arrangements if you’re interested. You’re welcome to visit if you like, but I will assume that no reply or no taken action is a decline to my offer, which I wholeheartedly understand. Take all the time you need in consideration, but know that we would be stronger together.
Contra Pestem ac Immortalem Amet
What she didn’t expect, however, was how many, upon reviving said letter, began packing immediately.
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