THE INSUPERABLE: Death and Decay

Part 14

Kalib, Acastus, and Cedari were approaching the area of the ruins. Cedari seemed lost in thought. "Something troubling you Cedari?" Kalib asked with concern. "Cough, you are correct dugan, the elder has turned us all into mindless murderers. We were ordered to murder every minotaur we saw, women, children, it did not matter, our clan will always be tainted, branded defalthain, forsaken ones in the eyes of the ancestors," Cedari had a look of great anger on his face. "Why did you agree to it? Surely you saw the madness in your orders?" Kalib asked confused "Cough cough, the elder is chosen by the ancestors to guide our people, we were always told that the elder knows best, we merely trusted that what we were doing was right," Cedari seemed ashamed. "Just because someone in power says it's correct, doesn't mean it is. No one ever truly knows best. One can only ever know better or worse, even gods," Kalib explained. Cedari did not answer.

Suddenly Acastus started coughing uncontrollably. Blood started pouring from the cloth covering his face. He collapsed. Kalib immediately stopped and caught Acastus. "What's happening to him?" Cedari asked concerned. "It's the rot, Acastus is a normal human, which means he's weaker than us, the rot is killing him quicker, we have to move." Kalib wiped the blood from Acastuses face. "Tie him to my back Kalib, I'll carry him," Cedari shifted his horse body towards Kalib. "Thank you," Kalib lifted Acastus and gently placed him on Cedaris's back, he tied a rope given by Cedari around Acastus' body. "That will hold, come Cedari take me to the ruins." Without a moment's hesitation, Cedari galloped in the direction of the ruins, Kalib following close at heel.

Cedari suddenly stopped, he tilted his head and observed a strange sight in front of him. Kalib also stopped and pulled his mouth strangely. "What in Hades is that?" Kalib asked. Before them was a clearing of dead trees but in the middle of it all was a chunk of blooming forest, trees had leaves, the grass was exceptionally green and flowers were in full bloom. "Why is this chunk not dead?" Kalib asked again. "I... I don't know," Cedari walked towards the living chunk of wood when he stepped over to the living grass he suddenly vanished from Kalibs sight. Kalib became interested. "Hmmm, an Illusion," Kalib thought to himself, "I'm guessing I'll find some answers here." Kalib cracked his neck and slowly approached the illusion.

When he passed through, the beautiful meadow that was just in front of him turned into a large stone circle built on the ground surrounded by large chunks of rot and decay. Kalib's eyes searched for Cedari but instead met with the eyes of a long-haired man wearing a long white robe. The man was busy casting a spell in the middle of the stone circle. Kalib grimaced and walked closer.

As he approached the man, Kalib noticed Cedari lying unconscious on the ground. He noticed a horrific undead creature standing next to the man, the creature looked like a child, a boy with no eyes and covered in rot. Kalib came to a halt before the man, he noticed the man was casting a spell at the heart, seemingly draining the life from it. "I'm guessing you're the troublemaker that's been causing all this mess, my dear man?" Kalib asked in a calm tone. "I am," the man spoke. "I see you're more than just some random sellsword. This is an extremely toxic environment yet you're still conscious. Who are you?" the strange man asked. Kalib noticed the skin was slowly growing back on the strange undead creature next to the man. "I am Kalib, a misthios sent to stop whatever is causing the death of this island, and I'm guessing I've found it." Kalib grew serious. "I don't wish to hurt you Kalib, but if you try to interfere with my spell I will be forced to stop you," the man said, still casting his spell. "That depends, is this spell killing the island?" Kalib asked. "Indeed and I will not stop until there is no living thing left to kill," the man explained, not taking his eyes off the heart he is draining. "Can't let you do that," Kalib frowned.

He reached out to grab the man, but suddenly the man turned to smoke.

Kalib grew confused, then suddenly everything around him turned to smoke, the floor beneath him disappeared in a cloud of smoke sending him falling into a dark abyss. Kalib fell for quite some time but suddenly hit a stone floor. When he stood up he was knee-deep in water, his surroundings were pitch black. Kalib observed his surroundings. Suddenly from the ominous fog, a crowd of people emerged, they surrounded Kalib and simply looked at him. They were all in bad shape, some had no arms, others missed heads, all were badly wounded. Kalib's face turned to horror as if he knew all these people. Suddenly a voice echoed, "Remember them misthios!?" the voice asked rather ominously. Kalib's face turned bleak. He closed his eyes, refusing to look at the people surrounding him. "Who are they misthios? Come now, say it!" the voice grew louder, "Say it!" louder and louder repeating the same phrase over and over. "Say it, say it, say it!!!" Kalib had tears in his eyes. "a...Aros... the people of Aros." Kalib said in a saddened voice.