The Corruption- First Draft

Chapter 9

Everyone available met up together in the conference room, with Garbone still in bed, Lennon and Jaryn being checked out by the nurse, and Ryo comforting Jaryn. Havre was too drunk to talk, so she decided to retire early.
"I wish I could remember who exactly he is. I knew him personally- but he wiped my memory," Tassira said.
"There really isn't much evidence to make an accurate guess," Akae murmured, rubbing his temple.
"Well, what do we know so far about Ilflurer?" Akae asked.
"We know that he's a lich, he's likely Maefyz or is really fond of that culture. Because he's a lich he's obviously pretty powerful with magic. I want to say he's human because his ear is round, but there's no way a human of all species could be a lich," Cassius said.
"Actually, he is," Morinthir interjected. "One of the few things I do know him is that he loves to brag about his powers desire being human."
"Really? Well I'll be damned. Why would Merthicz give so much power to someone like him?" Cassius wondered, looking up at the ceiling as if looking up at her.
"Eilis, help us out. I know you know something about him," Cassius commanded.
"Hmm, let's see. What am I allowed to say?" He said out loud as he rolled his eyes in thought. "Well- I do have a theory. You all know about reincarnation right? In general, not specifically about ivierae reincarnation."
"How people are reborn as new people...?" Tassira asked.
"Yes. It works by transferring the soul to a new body. Sometimes souls that refuse to accept death but aren't fit for reincarnation will force their way into it by hijacking bodies. My theory is that Ilflurer is possessed by someone who used to be a lich in a past life- completely rejecting Lady Merthicz' fate for them."
"And because the soul is what stores magic, that's how a human ended up with so much power?" Morinthir said.
"Precisely."
"What exactly makes you think this was the work of reincarnation?" Akae asked.
"Aside for the power discrepancy- he also has multiple personalities."
"And how do you know he doesn't just have some personality disorder?"
"Personality disorders don't cause you to murder people willy nilly."
"Fair point," Akae said, shifting in his seat.
"Anyways, I only know about this because it's what Lady Merthicz herself has told me about him. I've been instructed not to go near him out of fear that I'll be possessed."
"Thaaaat explains why I haven't seen you in months," Aislin said.
"Apologies for that," Eilis said, to which she nodded.
"Right so- who do we know that might be possessed by a reincarnated lich?" Cassius asked.
Akae simply shrugged.
"Kyzaf knows. He's told me before about a few relationships he has with folk with multiple personalities at least. One of them is his former master, Hyalbtz," Morinthir said.
"Hyalbtz? I never noticed," Akae said.
"You're not very good with that sort of stuff, I'm not surprised," Cassius grinned.
Akae rolled his eyes.
"Do you know who else, Morinthir?" Tassira asked.
"I don't, but I assume one of the professors maybe?"
"I don't know, none of them seem like they could fit the description. Except maybe Micnillie," Tassira murmured in thought.
"So if we want to be sure, we need Kyazf. That's going to be difficult considering his shapeshifting abilities. If we're lucky my restraint spell should work," Akae said.
"But how do we get him to fess up?" Tassira asked.
"My power is to brainwash people. As long as he isn't as stubborn as Garbone I should be able to break him easily," Cassius said confidently.
Aislin side glanced him as he said that before looking down at the table. "But won't that make you as bad as the enemy?"
Cassius laughed. "Oh, don't be silly! I'm using my powers for good, unlike Ilflurer who's doing it for selfish reasons. He just wants power."
"That sounds like you," Akae grinned. "I haven't forgotten about that forbidden letter from your boyfriend."
"He is not my boyfriend," he gestured, almost offended. "He's my enemy and he's been so since he stabbed me in the back."
"Isn't that just regular demon relationship problems?"
Cassius sputtered, blushing deeply. "No- No!... Maybe." Everyone chuckled in response.

Meanwhile, Jaryn lay in bed, pale and drenched in cold sweat, each shallow breath a struggle. His eyes, once bright, stared emptily at the ceiling, as if searching for an escape from the poison overtaking him. Beside him, Ryo curled close, pressing his nose to Jaryn's hand now and then, a quiet plea for him to hold on.
'I'm sorry for arguing with you earlier. Truth is, I'm struggling with the depression too. I, I just didn't want to admit it.  I thought I could be like Akae and just toughen it out.'
"It's okay. I get it," Jaryn said, petting Ryo. "I get why you'd wanna act like him."
"He is pretty admirable at times," Lennon chimed in, wincing as the nurse disinfected  his scars. "Definitely a little too focused on being 'the tough guy'."
"You could say that again. You've known him your whole life- was he always like that?"
"He's always been like that, though he used to be less judgemental of others. But enough of him, how're you holding up?"
"Not well," Jaryn murmured, looking at him. "That poison is no joke."
"Kyazf really doesn't mess around. I don't think there's a cure for it."
"Not yet. The ambassador is helping create a cure for it. Just promise you'll stay alive long enough for it," the nurse butted in.
"No promises," Jaryn joked. "I'll do my best," he coughed up blood, wiping it away with his arm.
He was about to say something, but he suddenly jolted up and double over as he let out a violent cough, blood splattering all over Ryo though he didn't flinch. The taste of iron lingered in his mouth, mixing with the pain building up in his abdomen.
'Jaryn- are you okay??' Ryo asked, standing up as he faced him.
Jaryn couldn't respond as he felt the room tilt around him, his eyelids fluttering as he groaned. Every inch of him ached, as though the poison was burning its way through his veins, hollowing him out with each heartbeat.
Heart beating fast, Ryo curled up closer to his hands, the brushing of fur helping ground him slightly. He purred, bringing him more momentary relief as Jaryn laid back on the bed, catching his breath.
Jaryn's vision blurred, and for a moment, he thought he saw flickers of familiar faces in the shadows- friends, memories of laughter, and moments long past. A pang of regret twisted in his chest, sharper than any poison, as he thought of all he hadn't done, of the future he would never see. He wanted to cling to these memories, but they seemed to slip from his mind as quickly as they had appeared, fading like mist in the morning light.
The pain flared again, sharp and unrelenting, and Jaryn shuddered, his grip on Ryo's fur tightening for a brief second before his hand fell limp. His breathing grew shallower, each inhale a struggle that left him more drained than the last. A chill settled over him, sinking deeper with each passing moment, a darkness that seemed to creep from the corners of the room, swallowing up every sound and light.
The nurse's hands moved in a frenzy as he scrambled to prepare a potion, his fingers deftly measuring herbs and roots, his eyes flicking between Jaryn's frail form and the bubbling cauldron before him. Sweat beaded on his brow as he ground a sprig of valerian and sprinkled it into the mix, muttering under her breath, urging himself to stay steady. The thick, earthy smell of the brew filled the room as he added drops of tinctures and crushed petals, each ingredient meant to dull pain and calm the body. He knew the potion wouldn't be enough to save him, but it might ease his suffering, give him a few moments of relief. As the potion simmered, he clenched his jaw, willing himself not to look at Jaryn's paling face, not to listen to the labored, rattling breaths that were growing weaker with every passing moment.
Ryo started to shake, as if he felt something fundamentally wrong shifting in his soul. 'Hurry, nurse!' He yipped out.
But he was too late. Jaryn's body began to convulse violently, throwing Ryo off the bed. Ryo couldn't move though he tried to climb back up the bed, howling out. The nurse rushed over with the finished potion, but paused upon seeing Jaryn foaming at the mouth.
The nurse went to try and aid him, but Ryo's howling seemed to have cause him major pain as he dropped to his knees, dropping the potion.
Jaryn's movements became weaker and weaker until he was too weak to convulse at all. It was then that everyone rushed into the room sans Garbone and Havre to see what was going on- only for them to be brought to their knees from the loud howling.
And then silence.
Akae looked up to see the lifeless eyes of Jaryn, the last of the bloodied foam falling from his mouth.
Ryo panted heavily, finally gaining the strength to climb up on the bed, and be met with the lifeless gaze of his brother. 'Jaryn..' he whimpered, curling up in his arms.
"Oh no," Akae whispered as the others peered in the room to see what was happening.
"Ryo, I'm so sorry," Lennon said quietly. Cassius just watched quietly, his expression soft for the first time in a long time.
'Please, leave us alone. I need some time to process this,' he said telepathically.
Eilis aided the nurse in moving Lennon out along getting his supplies as everyone left the room, all meeting up in the living room.
Garbone quietly shuffled into the living room, looking as if she woke up from a 300 year nap. "What's going on?"
"There's a lot to fill you in on. But Jaryn just died," Lennon said.
"What? Oh no- is Ryo alright?"
"He's not handling it well. He's in major pain because of his spiritual bond being severed."
"I see. I hope he'll be alright," she said, taking a seat.
********
After a few hours, Ryo emerged from the room, a look of determination in his eyes.
'We need to get Kyazf. He's got to know who Ilflurer really is,' he said, walking into the living room.
"Before Jaryn died we were discussing that. But it's dangerous, considering the poison he has. We don't even know how Akae's confinement spell would work on him," Cassius said.
'Akae and I will figure that out when the time comes. But I'm determined to get him, even if it means permanently blinding him,' he hissed.
Eilis sighed in resignation. "That won't be necessary, Ryo. Akae and I will handle it." Everyone looked at him in shock. "I know it goes against my angelic duties, but I'm tired of watching you all struggle like this. I'm the least likely to be bit by him, so I should be the one to get up close to him."
"No offence Eilis, but you're very weak. How are you going to restrain him?" Akae asked.
"Physically I am, but I do have quite a bit of magical strength. At least my powers will be enough to distract him while you use your containment spell."
"It's a death trap Eilis, please don't!" Garbone pleaded, hands clasped together.
"A little bit of pain won't kill me. I think, anyways. In all the cycles I've lived through, I've uh, never gotten involved like this before so I can't say for certain how safe I'll be."
"Cycles?" Morinthir asked.
"It's complicated. I'll explain after Akae and I come back with Kyzaf. You ready to get him?"
"I didn't think I'd ever go on a mission with you. But alright, if you think it'll work," Akae said, shaking his hand as the two left the room.