The Outergod's Avatar-Chapter 75: Underlying Revelation

"What did they do?" Izikel wondered aloud, eyes narrowing at the scene before him.

"Nothing," Flavius answered flatly. "They are not criminals. We’re keeping them here to contain whatever is wrong with them."

One of the men in the holding cell suddenly lurched forward, doubling over with a guttural heave before vomiting violently to the side. The sight was revolting—thick, black sludge pooled on the floor, steaming faintly as it oozed between the cracks in the stone. Izikel didn’t flinch. He kept watching, expression hardening. That sludge—he recognized it. It was the same substance Felvin had coughed up before his transformation.

"This thing might be contagious," Flavius said, folding his arms. His eyes narrowed as he turned toward Izikel. "Are these the same symptoms Felvin exhibited?"

Izikel nodded grimly, his jaw tightening.

Without saying more, the three of them turned and left the holding area, walking in tense silence through the stone corridors of the barracks until they reached the Legion commander’s office. The air in the room was dry, heavy with incense and iron. Stacks of scrolls and unfinished reports littered the commander’s desk, a silent testament to the growing unrest.

"So far, all we know is that only the Druids are experiencing this mutation," the commander began, gesturing for them to sit. "And with the information you and Sophia provided, we can confirm that it is indeed a corruption of chaos. But this is different."

Izikel felt a chill crawl down his spine at the mention of chaos. The word alone carried a weight of dread.

Flavius continued, "Corruption of chaos usually begins from the soul. But this one seems to be affecting only their physical body. It’s bypassing the soul entirely."

Sophia furrowed her brow. "That mean it could be influenced by an external party?"

"External party?" Izikel echoed, raising an eyebrow.

"It means," the commander said, leaning forward, "this might not be a natural occurrence. It could be an attack on the Druids... Over the years there has been random missing Druids, we’ve paid little attention to it since people go missing all the time,"

Flavius was quiet for a moment, rubbing his jaw thoughtfully. "but if that’s the case, and these two things are indeed connected, then the culprit must be from this village."

Izikel hesitated. "Or... it might be High-priest Vircan Argenthex?"

Flavius glanced up sharply. "I’ve considered that. But I doubt even Vircan would dare to meddle with chaos. Interacting with it is incredibly dangerous. To orchestrate something like this without getting corrupted himself? Almost impossible."

"And besides," the commander added, "he’s never shown any open hostility toward the Druids."

Flavius sighed deeply, the weight of the situation settling on his shoulders. "For now, there are only seven in the holding cell. They say they began feeling symptoms two days ago. But today, thirty more Druids reported falling ill. Tomorrow, that number will likely double."

Izikel’s eyes widened as the scale of the outbreak came into focus. Thirty today. How many tomorrow? How many after that?

Suddenly, a thunderous crash echoed through the building, shaking the walls and loosening a few pebbles from the ceiling.

"What was that?!" Izikel asked, rising from his seat.

"You don’t have to worry about anything, my lord," the commander said calmly, rising. "Sophia will escort you back."

With a firm nod, he turned and left the office without another word.

It was then that the truth hit Izikel like a stone to the chest.

The crash—the noise—had come from the direction of the cells. It was the sick Druids.

’So that’s why they kept them in there,’ he thought grimly. ’Not to stop the sickness from spreading, but to make sure when they mutate, they’d be easy to kill.’

It didn’t matter to the commander that whatever was happening wasn’t their fault. They had already decided their fate. Izikel could see it now. The moment they realized what this sickness truly was, they had prepared to execute them, to contain the threat with a merciless resolve.

These thoughts haunted Izikel as he walked home, Sophia silent beside him.

Later, standing in his room, he gazed out the window into the forest. Shadows danced among the branches, and the air was thick with questions.

How far were the saints willing to go, just to protect this kingdom?

’I doubt the Chief even knows what’s going on,’ Izikel thought.

If he did, he wouldn’t sit idly by while his people were locked away, waiting to be executed.

Just like how the Chief was hiding the fact that his daughter, Lyzah is a Druid who could kill.

And just like how they were both hiding the fact that the Old Tree—the sacred heart of the village was dying.

’and I’m involved in all of it,’ he thought bitterly, exhaling a long breath.

It is just one secret to another. Then the thought hit him, sudden and sharp.

"What if all these things are connected?!"

He turned from the window, pacing now. His mind raced.

’Lyzah isn’t the only Druid I’ve seen take a life. Felvin killed a group of heretics just before he transformed into that... thing.’

That couldn’t be a coincidence. The ability to kill, something Druids were forbidden, or perhaps even biologically incapable of, seemed to be connected to the corruption.

And what did all these afflicted Druids have in common?

’Their fate is tied to the Old Tree.’

Izikel felt his pulse quicken.

"The corruption might just be another effect of the Tree’s decay," he murmured aloud.

Then a more personal question followed, one he didn’t want to ask.

"Does that mean... Lyzah is also corrupted?"

He shivered at the thought. She didn’t look sick like the others, yet it was obvious there was also something unusual with her.

"I need to get to the bottom of this... but how?"

Izikel paced the room, deep in thought. He needed answers fast. Too many Druid lives were hanging in the balance.

’It takes two days from the onset of symptoms before the mutation happens’ he recalled grimly. ’And the commander said thirty more Druids reported falling ill today...’

If he didn’t uncover the truth before time ran out, he knew exactly what would happen.

’The Legion commander won’t hesitate. He’ll slaughter them all the moment they turn’

Izikel rubbed his temples, forcing himself to think. Every conversation. Every odd moment. Every strange choice or lie.

’Think. There has to be something I missed.’

Until finally something clicked behind his eyes.

"When Chief Markis found out about Raynoel’s death, he was more interested in keeping it a secret than figuring out how it happened..."

At the time, Izikel believed it was to protect Lyzah. But what if he’d been wrong?

’What if there were other reasons he wanted to keep it quiet?’

Izikel stood straighter, resolve setting in.

"I better go find answers," he whispered to himself.

Before it’s too late.