Rot Heart: A LitRPG of Rot Magic in an Ancient World (Book 1 completed)

"What happened to you, Lug?" Segorix asked, his voice shaking.

"We agreed on this," Lugsellos said. "Did you think we could let her go?"

"No, but…"

"Then what would you suggest?" Lugsellos asked, standing up and walking away from Liara's corpse.

Div took a deep breath. It was done. His hands were still trembling. They had been since he had executed the man named Galph. It was the first time he had killed a person.

He had hunted plenty of beasts. He had even massacred countless faceless all those years ago in the rift. But it wasn't the same.

Galph and Liara were humans. People with convictions, fears, hopes, and so much more—things Div couldn't even imagine.

"You two are insane," Ambisena said, calmer than Div had ever seen her. "You didn't even hesitate."

She was right. Div had followed Lugsellos' order without questioning it. His friend hadn't even needed to speak for him to take action.

"Do you think it was easy?" Lugsellos asked.

"I don't care!" Ambisena said.

"It worked!" Lugsellos raised his voice.

"There were other options," Segorix added.

"Then tell me what those were," Lugsellos answered, crossing his arms.

Div was already stepping back. He didn't want to be part of this senseless dispute. He could see where Segorix and Ambisena were coming from, but he was also annoyed that they complained after it was done instead of taking the lead in the interrogation.

"First time?" Tougen asked in Ameian.

Div nodded. "First kill."

"No, it's obvious that this is your first kill. I'm asking if it's the first time your group has a fight."

Div had to think for a moment. Over the past years, they had their disagreements. A few conflicts here and there. But nothing of this scale and importance.

"Why are you avoiding it?" Tougen asked. "No matter your opinion, sitting it out won't ease the tension."

Div didn't want to argue with Seg, Ambi, and Lug. He didn't want to think about what he'd just done. Still, he considered Tougen's words.

Should he intervene?

Running away didn't feel right. Avoiding the confrontation would only make things awkward the next day when they had to travel together back to Camboaci.

"Guys," he said, trying to get his friends' attention. "Let's stop this."

They paused, turning toward him.

"We could have communicated better," he continued. "But we agreed on this earlier. Blaming Lug and I for dirtying our hands when you sat back and watched doesn't sit well with me. Lug, you have to recognize that what we did wasn't right either."

"You killing that man in cold blood is what's not sitting right with me, Div," Ambisena said. "Don't try to pin your actions on me. I never agreed to this."

"Right," Segorix added, "We did say we couldn't let them go but we hadn't exactly decided on killing them."

"Then we misunderstood each other," Div said. "I'm sorry."

"Fine," Segorix sighed. "I don't want to fight with you two."

Ambisena took a step toward Lugsellos, her eyes burning in anger.

"If you tell me you misunderstood, I'll never talk to you again," she said. "With your skill, it's impossible."

"I can only sense emotions," Lug said. "I cannot read your mind. We were all hesitant back then."

"Lug."

"But I admit I sensed you were not committed to the plan. But so what? You can talk. Why didn't you say anything?"

Div exchanged a look with Segorix. Neither Lugsellos nor Ambisena seemed willing to let their anger die down.

"Let's sleep on it," Div suggested. "I have a lot to think about."

Segorix was the first to agree. Reluctantly, the two others did too. Their dispute wasn't going anywhere. Hurtful words would not convince anyone.

But sleep didn't come for Div. When he closed his eyes, all he could see was Galph looking back in shock as his torso was pierced by Div's spear.

He stood up and sat in the night. Soon after, he was joined by Lugsellos.

"Can't sleep?" Div asked.

"Neither can you."

They sat together in silence. The wind whistled through the leafless dead trees, the only sound in the lifeless forest.

"Three people," Lugsellos said. "I killed three people today."

Div looked at him but didn't say anything.

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"The first I shot when the battle started. The second I asked you to execute. The third…"

"Don't take responsibility for what I did," Div said, cutting in.

Lugsellos didn't need a lengthy explanation to understand how Div felt.

"Fine."

"How do you feel?"

"Bad," Lugsellos said, almost chuckling. "Terrible. I hate it. I felt it all Div. Their fear, their pain, the panic when they died, their confusion and hatred."

Div nodded slowly. It was hard to imagine.

"But," Lugsellos continued. "It's nothing compared to the rest."

"The rest?"

"They were humans. I felt their desire to live, their longing for home, their love for their family. Do you know what Liara last felt? There was someone she wanted to see again. I don't know who or why, but it was so powerful…"

"This skill cannot be good for you," Div said.

"I know. But look at the results. We have critical information to bring back with us."

"Still…"

"No, Div. This is the role I'm suited for. I want to protect our home, even if I have to suffer from it."

Div needed a moment to think of an answer. He wanted to comfort Lug, but he didn't know what to say.

"You don't need to say anything, my friend. I can sense your support."

"Lug, you shouldn't say this sort of thing," Div said. "I'm not bothered because of my experience with En, but other people will find it disturbing."

Lugsellos sighed.

"I know," he said. "You're right. It feels like pulling teeth when people cannot say what's on their mind but I have to be patient."

Nobody slept well that night. Even Tougen was up before the sun rose above the snowy mountain peaks of the eastern range.

"I'm sorry, Lug," Ambisena said, first thing in the morning. "I still don't agree with your methods, but I heard you talking last night. I didn't realize it affected you to this degree."

"It's fine," Lugsellos said. "I'm not proud of myself for what I did. Even though I think it was the right call."

The group of four and Tougen packed up and started their journey back home.

Even with the supplies scavenged from the mountaineers' camp, they had just enough food to reach the village. Tougen's former party had not been in a good position. The artifact their leader carried drained the land's vitality, making it nearly impossible to forage or hunt.

"Even if you hadn't found us, we were on our last leg," Tougen told Div. "The situation in the valleys is even worse. There's nothing to eat."

It was a disaster in the making. Even without the Ascended Rank trying to rise further, a starving population would look for food elsewhere.

"The entire Lien River basin is in danger," Segorix said. "We need to hurry and warn them."

"I'm sure Theaphilia can contact the other villages," Div added. Her dreamwalking skill had to be powerful enough to reach Bavacium. At least, that's what he hoped for.

The group decided to move faster and rest less. They wanted to shave a few days off their return journey. Thankfully, they weren't attacked by any beast.

"I'm not sure if this is a good thing," Ambisena said somberly. "Covering this much distance without meeting a single monster… in spring…"

"It's spreading faster than we thought," Lugsellos said.

Unfortunately, Tougen wasn't much help in understanding the source of the curse. He wasn't from the deep valley clans that answered directly to the lord. He hadn't been trusted with information about their means and goals.

It took them five days to reach the wall of trees. Two less than expected.

Brigaseta was waiting for them behind the wall with Theaphilia, and Brimeta.

"Who's that?" The old druid asked, pointing at Tougen. "With the news the delegation from Bavacium brought us, we can't allow anyone inside."

"What news?" Lugsellos asked. "This is Tougen, he's from the eastern range. I can vouch for him. We have important information to report."

"Let's talk somewhere else," Theaphilia said.

"No," Brimeta said. She waved her hand and the wall of trees began to morph. Slowly, but too fast for a plant, the wood shifted and surrounded them, locking them into a room inside the spirit's body. "We can talk here. Lugsellos, report."

Lugsellos told them everything. Their departure from Camboaci, the difficulty they had in finding food, their encounter with the targ, their fight with the mountaineers, and the subsequent interrogation.

He didn't leave a single detail out of his report. Even the points painting him in a less-than-positive light.

"I see," Theaphilia said. "We'll need to have a conversation about this interrogation, but the situation is worse than we feared."

"Do you think that lord has a shot at transcendence?" Div asked.

"Hard to say," Theaphilia answered, shaking her head. "Transcendence isn't so easily achieved, and this method doesn't align with what the few known Transcendent Ranks did. However, it would be foolish to completely rule it out. Regardless, we have a crisis on our hands. Briga, do you want to tell them about it?"

"Yes," Brigaseta said. "They've earned it."

She gestured toward Brimeta.

"As you know, the yearly gathering in Bavacium was underway when you left. Our delegation came back with concerning news. News that is now corroborated by your report."

"Lepante is under attack," Theaphilia cut in. "The village is being besieged by forces from the east. They've asked the other villages for help, but with the forest being drained all along the eastern front, we are too worried to dispatch troops."

"This is war," Brimeta added. "Real war."

Div and his friends took in the news silently. It wasn't completely unexpected, but things were progressing faster than they could comprehend.

"This isn't the first time turmoil reaches us," Brigaseta said. "With Kheiron showing more and more interest in our affairs, I'm afraid we need to be extra careful. I'm concerned that since we cannot support each other, some villages will turn toward the southern city for help."

"This is how Ameian colonies operate," Theaphilia agreed. "We'll need to tread carefully"

With Lugsellos assuring them that Tougen meant no harm, he was accepted into Camboaci. He would be under surveillance as the trust wasn't there yet.

Brigaseta took the archer with her while Theaphilia wanted to talk to Div alone. Segorix and Ambisena left with Brimeta.

"Div," Theaphilia started. "How do you feel about what you did?"

"Killing that man?"

She nodded.

"I feel bad, but not as bad as the day it happened."

"You did the right thing," Theaphilia said. "I know it sounds callous, that you shouldn't have to do that, but we are on the verge of war. As an Evolved Rank, you have duties you can't escape."

"I know," Div said. "My only regret is letting Lugsellos dirty his hands."

"Don't. It was his choice, and I can sense he is on the verge of evolution. Anyway, this isn't why I wanted to talk to you."

"Then?" Div cocked his head.

"We may survive this conflict. But even if we do, Kheiron will gain influence in the basin. This is unavoidable. You need to think about your future."

"You mean…"

The more influential Kheiron became, the less secure his position in the Lien River basin. Reading between the lines, he realized he might be forced to leave again.

"I can't live in fear of what might happen."

She studied him carefully. "Are you ready to act, then?"

"Theaphilia," Div said. "I was already exiled from Kheiron. I will not turn my back on Camboaci. I will defend the village. I owe it to my friends, to Belilamos and Carmeta, to everyone who helped me."

"Then be ready, Div. I don't know if the Leios clan will try and push you out of here. But, if they do, I will be there for you."