"Because…"
"…you are gonna die."
The words hit Azren harder than anything he had ever heard. His eyes widened, and a sharp panic rose inside him before he could stop it.
"What do you mean!" His voice came out higher than he intended, trembling with fear even though his body was too tired to react properly.
Fateli stepped directly in front of him, her expression firm.
"Listen carefully, Azren! Don't panic!"
But he couldn't help it. Sweat gathered on his forehead, and his breathing turned uneven. His fingers shook as he gripped the sides of the chair. His eyes wouldn't stay still.
"I need you to listen carefully and remember everything," Fateli said, lowering her voice but keeping it steady.
"If you don't, your chances of dying are guaranteed."
Azren stared at her, frozen. He didn't even know what to say. The thought of his own death crept up his spine. His chest tightened.
"Stay calm, Azren!" Dezork said from the side, stepping closer.
"I know you can survive because you are strong, Azren. Stay calm and listen to what Lady Fateli says."
Azren looked at Dezork's face, serious, grim, but trying to comfort him, then slowly turned back toward Fateli.
When she saw his attention return, she took a small breath and began speaking again.
"Azren….. you are infected by a very dangerous infection, one that only we Heyumans suffer from."
She paused, letting the weight settle.
"The infection comes from the blood of The Mother of All."
'The Mother of All…?' Azren repeated in his head, confused and scared.
Fateli continued.
"There is a lot to say about her, but… if you survive this, I'll tell you everything. For now, you need to understand TMOA infection."
She walked closer to the table, lightly touching the glowing blood.
"In evey place tiny particles of her blood scattered across the world. They are invisible… undetectable… and they never disappear. They're everywhere floating through the air, settled in the dirt and water, drifting through places we pass every day."
Azren listened, eyes locked on her, trying his best not to break down.
"These particles aren't dead," Fateli said.
"They still hold an immense, strange power that we don't fully understand. And only Heyumans are affected by them."
She folded her arms tightly.
"Anytime… at any moment… without warning… a Heyuman might be infected by just one stray particle. There is no known trigger, no cure or protection."
Azren swallowed hard.
"Once infected," Fateli said slowly.
"the victim begins a transformation process known as The Five Symptoms Of Death..."
Her eyes narrowed with worry.
"This lasts for one full moon cycle. Twenty eight days to say... Every week gets worse, and very, very few survive to the end."
Azren's stomach twisted.
Fateli lifted her hand and began explaining each symptom.
"First… Tiredness."
"The body starts shutting down. No matter how much you sleep, the exhaustion never fades. Your muscles ache, your thoughts slow down, everything feels heavy."
Azren remembered the last two days and he froze from shock and realization.
"Second… No Sleep." Fateli Continued.
"No matter what you try...drugs, medicine or anything...you won't be able to sleep. Your mind will stay awake while your body slowly breaks."
Azren felt his heart beating faster.
"Third… No hunger and a fear of food."
"Your appetite disappears. Worse, your body develops a deep fear of eating or drinking anything. Even a sip of water becomes terrifying. People panic, vomit, or choke from fear alone."
Azren felt cold sweat run down his neck.
"Fourth… Hallucinations."
Fateli's expression darkened.
"You'll start seeing things... shadows… strange shapes… dead friends… versions of yourself. You'll hear voices calling your name. You won't know what's real anymore. And you'll lose trust in everyone, including yourself."
Azren's fingers tightened on the chair.
"And the fifth and last symptom…" Fateli spoke softly, but her tone was heavy and serous.
"A strong… overwhelming desire for death."
She didn't sugarcoat it.
"Most infected do not survive this stage. The urge becomes so strong that even if someone is chained, tied, or watched, they find ways to make themselves die. Some force their hearts to stop, some burst their own blood vessels. Some fall into a coma by sheer will."
Azren felt his whole body trembling.
"Most Heyumans infected with this die before the month ends. Either from hunger, lack of sleep, madness… or the final urge."
Fateli then took a small breath and looked directly into his eyes.
"And if someone dies during this cycle… they don't stay dead."
Azren felt his chest sink.
"They come back as Heyuman monsters… without mind or control. Just instinct."
The room went completely silent. Azren couldn't move. He felt like he was sinking into the chair, into the floor.
He felt like the room was slowly going far away from him, his head was dizzy, he was sweating and shaking.
Azren forced a small smile, though his lips trembled and his breath shook.
"That can't be true right… there is no way something like that exists right…"
The smile didn't hide the fear in his voice. It only made it more painful to watch.
Fateli slowly shook her head.
Dezork, standing to the side, lowered his gaze. His eyes softened with quiet sadness, watching Azren struggle to hold himself together.
Azren suddenly pushed himself up from the chair. The wooden legs scraped loudly, and the chair toppled backward onto the floor with a heavy clatter.
"No!" Azren shouted, voice cracking from fear.
"It must be some serious sickness only! Please tell me that you are lying!"
His hands were shaking, his whole body looked like it might collapse at any moment.
Fateli met his eyes calmly.
"That's what Moltur also thought," she said quietly.
"He was afraid you might be infected, so he sent you to me hoping it was only some illness. But…"
She turned back toward the table, her eyes falling on the glowing blood.
"But that thin yellow layer in your blood is the proof that you're infected by the TMOA blood."
Azren stared at her in pure horror. His breathing came in uneven gasps. His mind felt like it was breaking apart.
"This can't be…" he whispered.
"I… I… have dreams…"
His voice softened, like his strength was slipping away with each word.
For a moment just a heartbeat a face appeared in his mind.
A warm smile.
Proud… gentle… comforting.
His mother.
He heard her voice in his memory, calling his name.
Then another face appeared.
Old man Moltur, smiling nd waving his hand.
'I have someone waiting for me…'
Azren's heart tightened painfully.
'I promised Mr Moltur I'd come back… I promised…'
Fateli's expression softened, a small sad shadow crossing her face. But she didn't say anything.
Dezork stayed silent too. His fists tightened slightly, but he didn't speak.
The room felt heavy.
Azren's head slowly lowered until he was staring at the floor. His breath trembled. His voice broke.
"I knew that this world was cruel… but this…"
"I… I…"
His legs shook.
"I'm going to die…"