108 And all it took was just one seed (1/2)
A completely armored man was putting his fingers on a table, gathering all the dust on it. Looking at the infinitesimal amount that tainted his glove, he could only shake his head. Around him, a few shadows and a knight wearing a skull helmet were patiently waiting, examining the room with their eyes. A few seconds later, a dwarf opened a door nearby and got closer.
”This ... I am afraid that I can't pronounce myself on this case. I managed to learn the cause of death, but it is truly baffling. I have only seen this situation a few times, but that can't be the same. But he died before the attack started, I am only certain of this.” Hearing the report f the dwarf, the Hand of Avenio couldn't help but be surprised.
They had waited a few days after the end of the battle of Archet to get their hands on an experimented alchemist, and even him knew that if the one in front of him was clueless, others would be even worse. The more he stayed in this region, the more he saw things that shouldn't happen. As for the aftermath of the battle in itself, it was not nearly as important as this. Whoever will become the Mayor of that city would inevitably someone from the White Hand one day, so it was not really urgent.
”Master dwarf, whatever you have in mind, say it. Even if it seemed to be coming from a tale or a legend, it is of the utmost importance.” He couldn't let common sense influence anyone right now. The report he should have received from the other side of the mountains was still delayed so he couldn't know what the supposedly dark gods were doing. And to be truthful, he wanted to get as far as possible from them.
”Legends? No, no, no, you misunderstood me. It's just that ... can I speak of this here?” While saying this, he was staring at the knight that took a few seconds to realize it. Feeling that everyone was looking at him, he was escorted outside with those that were not necessary.
”That's better. This old man, he died of exhaustion. But not just something banal, his entire body is like the string of a bow being pulled. In my opinion, he had not slept the few days preceding his death. I only saw this type of death caused by one thing. That drug we experimented a few years ago.”
”The Dragonroot one?” It was one of the main researches back when he was first promoted at his position. A diluted Dragonroot could grant an increase of strength and stamina for hours, before leaving the body weakened for days. It was a very good potion, and it sold extremely well, since it could be used as a last resort and was effective.
Following this, many alchemists were hired to improve it to its maximum potential. One day, one of them managed to nearly remove the drawback, reducing it to just half of a day. This was an amazing breakthrough, and the tests were all showing good sign. Until something more insidious was revealed. The subjects of the tests gradually lost their sleeping and were always moving. They could not be stopped, they were caught in a frenzy.
Nearly all of them died and the one survivor was left in a vegetative state. Their bodies were all tense, forced to move for too long without any sleep. But besides the fact that it was a failed project, not many people knew about it. And normally, no one should have any vials from this event.
”Exactly, but I was there when they gathered everything and burned it to the ground. The formula and all the diaries were destroyed. Even if the one that created it is still alive, he wouldn't be able to produce it.”
”You are not mistaken. In fact, he is currently in Genablum and was for the past months. That means it is something else. Anything else?” The dwarf turned around to look at the opened door, but he couldn't add anything. There was no sign of any attack on the body or any sign of tortures. If not for the fact that the body was in an unusual state, the old man could have been mistaken to have died in his sleep.
”Then we will escort you back. Thank you for coming in such short notice.” Lifting his hand, two shadows approached and left with the dwarf. At the same time, the knight of Kirof returned inside the cavern. He was not particularly thrilled to be surrounded only by assassins and killers, but it was them that asked for his help in the first place. And not a lot of people could refuse an invitation from them.
”So, what do you think of this place? Good enough for two liches?” The Hand of Avenio was slightly tapping with his fingers on the table as he walked around it. Sometimes, his index touched a fissure in it, sometimes, the surface was so smooth it felt nice.
”Yes ... I mean, no. This, this looked normal. There is the smell of blood, bones shattered, everything. Books, actual manuals that I have found elsewhere, but ...”
”But what?”
”I don't know. I don't feel anything. We are trained from our birth for this. I killed my first skeleton at the age of 8. Every one of us could feel the aura of the undead, but I don't feel that here. Even if outside, there are the traces that skeletons and zombies walked out, the liches were not here for a very long time. Maybe not even for 1 minute, but I can't tell.”
This was the longest discussion the knight held for a very long time. But even if he was not habile with his words, their meaning was easy to convey. Looking around, the white-haired elder saw the shadows protecting him approving the knight. Even if he also felt the same, he was not a fighter and thus, could be mistaken. But this unanimous consensus still proved something.
”Very well, I will not hold you any longer.” None of them discussed the rewards, but the knight knew he will not be swindled. In fact, the Organization had asked their help more than anyone else, sometimes just to help train the new recruits of the Black Gauntlet. Nearly everyone could kill a skeleton, but how to be efficient and not waste any stamina was very hard to learn. Even if it seemed that the Order of Kirof was composed of lunatics, the way they thought was perfected by the centuries of innovations.