THE INSUPERABLE: Death and Decay

Part 11

Kalib and Acastus passed through a small hole in the barrier created by Gerry. The hole closed behind them. In front of them, they saw a large burnt down village littered with decaying corpses, the trees bore no leaves and there was no sign of grass. Kalib looked up at the rotten snow falling from above. "I've been in countless wars, Acastus, yet I've never seen death of this magnitude," Kalib said with a low voice. Acastus approached a nearby corpse, he knelt down to inspect. "Kalib, look at this, this body must be dead almost a month, yet it doesn't seem that way," Acastus said rather confused. "Look closer and you'll find your answer," Kalib said, kneeling down next to Acastus. "There's no maggots nor bugs, just the strange rot." Acastus observed closer.

"Indeed maggots cause most of the decomposition process, yet for some reason, there is none, which makes me think the body also lacks bacteria," Kalib stuck his finger into the corpse's belly, he dug around for a bit and then removed his finger observing the strange rot he dug out. "That rot, do you think it's the cause of all this?" Acastus asked, looking at the rot on Kalibs fingers. "Whatever it is, it's slowly killing every living thing on the island," Kalib frowned. "If it's killing every living thing why are the minotaurs and centaurs not dead yet?" Acastus asked. "They are not but they'll soon be, did you not notice the minotaurs in the city coughing, I think once you breathe in the rot, it slowly grows inside of you, killing you from the inside, but the minotaurs and centaurs have strong bodies, which is probably why it's taking longer. It was a bad idea bringing you here Acastus, I fear you might not be strong enough to combat the rot," Kalib sighed with concern.

Acastus took a large gulp then tore off a piece of his jacket and wrapped it around his face. "We best get moving Kalib, I don't feel like dying soon," Acastus exclaimed. Kalib nodded his head. Suddenly a golden heron appeared in front of them, the bird started flying to the south. "Guess that's the lady showing us the way," Kalib smirked and started following the bird.