108 And all it took was just one seed

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.

Staring at the room one last time, the cadre of the White Hand could only have suspicions. Even if the situation was weird from one angle, it could also be perfectly normal from another one.

"A pacifist cult has many members disappearing, managed to build this place without us noticing, summoned two liches and an undead army rarely seen but no one is found beside the founder, who is dead." Looking at the ground, he saw the traces of a chair being pulled many times.

"Or, an event happened, that we don't know. Slowly corrupting the original cult. Dwindling into madness, they sacrificed themselves to invoke two liches and give them power. Only for the old man to succumb after the ritual. Which one is the truth?" Only silence answered him and even with all the agents under him, he could not be omniscient. Shaking his head, he left the cave. "Burn it!"

At the same time, a very large man was running away, in fear. Around him, five mercenaries were injured but still protected the man. The only other person present was a frail woman, that had her dress slightly destroyed and her left arm in blood. None of them had expected to end up like that, but they could only look behind, remembering the terrible spectacle.

They were part of a convoy ordered by the plump man. They were departing from the frontier with Pankow and were heading to the capital of Massalia. They were mainly tasked by the crown to supply the frontlines, and therefore, their convoy was nearly empty. Even it had been normal times, the merchant wouldn't have employed more than those five mercenaries.

But because, recently, a lot of rumors were spreading, he engaged the double of the usual number. He was so glad that he had this idea. Shortly after heading North, toward Ronta, to join the main road, they were ambushed by monstrous wolves. In his entire life, he had never seen such massive beasts. The ten helpers that worked with him for many years and the other mercenaries were slaughtered.

He could only escape with his wife and the few survivors. The three wolves did not follow them, but that didn't prevent the humans to still run as fast as they could. Who could know if the monsters didn't change their mind after tasting human flesh? Because they had chosen a random direction, they ended up in a small hill, void of any trees.

Out of breath, both the merchant and his wife sat on the ground, not capable of moving at all. The fighters that were more used to this kind of activities could only stop, otherwise, they would not be paid. They still took the opportunity to slightly patched their wounds and take a rest. They also took care of the injured woman, stopping her bleeding temporarily.

"By all the gods, what was that thing? What are those monsters? Shouldn't this region by one of the safest?" The plump man could only lament since none knew anything about those wolves. It had been a very long time since anyone entered the huge mountains in this region, besides the Organization. So, the common populace had forgotten what terrifying things were lurking in the frozen summits.

"Oh my dear, are you alright? This ... this ... don't worry, they will take care of you." All he received was a deadly stare, which quickly shut his mouth. It was not that he truly abandoned her, for he was not close to her when the attack started, but he didn't wait for her either. If not for her luck being close to one warrior, she would have died too.

Just as she was beginning to argue, the only archer of the group called everyone. Because they did not look behind the small hill, they had no idea what was beyond. But as everyone gathered, they couldn't help but be shocked. Mixing with the fresh and green grass and all the beautiful flowers, a red disease was spreading.

Carefully approaching it, they couldn't help but notice that the unusual plants were all thorny. Even their very leaves were filled with little spikes like the plant was trying everything to not be picked up. It was not in a large area, but there was still at least dozens of those red plants.

"Does anyone know about this?" The archer looked at the merchant that starred at it, dumbfounded, but it was his wife that approached it carefully. "Dear, I think ..." "Shut up! And someone, give me a glove." She harshly rebuked him but faced with such an authoritative tone, one of the warriors gave her what she asked.

Slowly plucking out a red flower, she looked at it from all side. She didn't dare to sniff it since she knew that this would be the dumbest way to die. But as she turned it again and again, she still had no idea what it was. In the couple, she was the one that mainly dealt with medicines and potions when supplying the troops. So, in that regard, she could be considered as knowledgeable.

"Drop everything that you don't find in your bags. We will compensate you for your losses. Also, don't touch it with your naked hands or directly sniff it. We will bring this back with us. Also, don't talk about this to anyone, otherwise, you will lose a lot of gold."

Her last remark was meant to the mercenaries. She was certain that if anyone offered something for the location of this place, they would have sold that information without even thinking. This was a pure bet from her since she couldn't know if this plant was useful or not. It could be sold for not even a bread or more than a jewel.

As they began to gather a few of those, they could also see some insects that had very strange forms. Scarabs with spikes on its chitin, ants with additional legs, a bee with another pair of wings. In majority, they were also much bigger than their counterpart, and one of those deformed ants was feasting on another one. The moment he saw that, the merchant stepped back, in fear, but looking at his wife, he shut his mouth. "She was trying to salvage their losses, who was he to oppose that?" He couldn't help but also think that it was just flowers and tiny insects, there was no danger with that.