As the days passed, a strange illness began to spread throughout the kingdom. It started with a few isolated cases, but soon, more and more people were falling ill. The symptoms were severe - high fever, body aches, and a terrible cough that left the victims weak and exhausted.

Alexander was deeply concerned. He had never seen anything like this before and he knew that if it continued to spread, it could be disastrous for his kingdom. He called for his advisors once again and they discussed possible solutions.

Some suggested quarantining the sick and finding a cure, while others suggested seeking help from neighboring kingdoms. But Alexander knew that time was of the essence and he needed to act quickly.

He remembered the lessons he had learned on his quest for the lost kingdom. He knew that sometimes, the answers could be found in unexpected places. He decided to seek the advice of the wise old sage once again.

The sage listened carefully to Alexander's concerns and then spoke, "There is a rare herb that grows in the mountains, it is said to have healing properties that can cure any illness. But be warned, the journey to retrieve it is treacherous and only the bravest and most skilled can survive."

Alexander knew that he had to take the risk. He gathered his most trusted allies and set off on the journey to find the herb. They faced many challenges along the way - steep cliffs, dangerous creatures, and harsh weather. But they never gave up.

Finally, they reached the mountain top and found the herb. They quickly brought it back to the kingdom and began to distribute it to the sick. Miraculously, the herb worked and the people began to recover.

But just as things were starting to look up, a new problem arose. The neighboring kingdom of Aranthia, who had recently signed a peace treaty with Alexander, had also been affected by the illness. Their ruler, who had become a good friend of Alexander's, was on the brink of death.

Alexander knew that he had to make a difficult decision. He could either keep the herb for his own people or share it with Aranthia and risk losing it all. After much contemplation, he chose to share the herb with Aranthia, knowing that it was the right thing to do.

The herb worked its magic once again and the ruler of Aranthia was saved. The two kingdoms were forever bonded by this act of kindness and trust.

The mysterious illness eventually disappeared and the kingdom was at