October 23rd
Once the tents were pitched and everyone had settled in—some resting inside, others lingering in the open—the sun appeared uncharacteristically warm. The sky was a brilliant azure, though a biting breeze whispered of the approaching winter.
Before them lay the silhouettes of distant mountain peaks, while behind them remained the nightmare they had narrowly escaped: the Forest.
The wind howled through the trees, its gusts tugging at the fabric of the tents. The scent of dry earth mingled with the humid air, creating a peculiar, earthy fragrance.
At that moment, Yousafer and Yuray approached the elder's tent with their horses, which carried the last of their belongings. The old man sat out front with three children, none older than ten.
Upon seeing them, the elder stood, as did the children by his side.
Yousafer looked at the children briefly before shifting his gaze to the old man.
"It seems we've reached a crossroads, old man. We must depart immediately; there is much to be done. But before we go, may I see the box Adelaide gave you?"
The elder nodded in agreement and disappeared into his tent. Moments later, he emerged carrying the box in his hands.
He handed it to Yousafer, who began to scrutinize it, turning it over carefully.
On the bottom of the box, there was a hidden engraving of a crown. As Yousafer's thumb passed over it, the lid clicked open instantly.
The elder's white eyebrows shot up in surprise as he watched Yousafer open the box with such ease.
"You truly opened it, my young friend."
A faint white mist drifted upward as the lid rose. Once it cleared, three medium-sized needles appeared.
The first and second needles contained a brown fluid, but the third—the one in the center—was filled with a liquid as black as obsidian.
The elder leaned in, his eyes fixed on the contents. He was visibly taken aback.
Running a hand over his white hair, the old man muttered, "Are these what were meant to save my village? How?"
Upon seeing the needles, Yousafer immediately thought of the 'Germs,' though he wasn't entirely certain. Yuray, however, stepped closer, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the box, then looked at Yousafer.
"These three needles... they contain three Germs."
Yuray knew this because he possessed the Bone Germ; he had been inoculated as a child, pressing the needle into his own neck.
Yousafer, on the other hand, lacked that memory; he could not recall when he had received his own vaccination. He didn't ask Yuray how he knew or if he was sure; his trust in his companion was absolute.
"What are these Germs?" the elder asked with mounting curiosity.
"These needles house Germs," Yousafer explained, keeping his eyes on the elder. "Those who are inoculated with them gain supernatural powers."
The man was stunned. He stared at the needles for a long time before looking up. "So, we need three people to be vaccinated with these?"
Yousafer shook his head. "Yes. But you must ask for their consent first."
"Are there dangerous side effects to these Germs?"
Yousafer allowed a small, cold smile. "Do you believe anything in this life comes for free?"
The elder stroked his chin, pondering. "This is grave... very grave."
"I know someone who won't hesitate," Yousafer said.
"Who?"
"Helmo," Yousafer replied. He turned to one of the children. "Could you go call Helmo?"
The child's eyes brightened, and he sprinted away.
Minutes later, Helmo arrived with his father, Haim, both carrying their packs.
Yousafer and Yuray understood why the father and son were already packed, but the elder was taken aback.
"Haim, why are you still carrying your belongings?"
Haim replied with a somber expression, "I am leaving. This day should have come years ago, but it was delayed by the tragedy that befell our village."
"And where will you go?"
Haim bowed slightly. "Thank you for opening your doors to us. We had no shelter, no food, no clothes. Because of your kindness, we survived. I shall never forget it as long as I live."
Helmo also bowed in gratitude.
"But you haven't told me where you are going..."
Haim answered, "We are going back to our homeland. We are leaving this continent."
A look of shock crossed the elder's face, but he didn't press further. Every man had his secrets, and he would not embarrass him.
After a brief silence, Yousafer focused his gaze on Helmo. "Do you want to become 'Possessed'?" he asked, gesturing to the box.
Both Helmo and Haim were stunned.
"Poss... possessed?" the elder stammered.
Helmo stepped forward, his heavy pack shifting on his shoulders. A tremor shook his hands as he peered at the three needles.
"If I become possessed... will I be like you?"
Yousafer's smile widened. "Yes."
Adrenaline surged through Helmo. He had dreamed of having power like Yousafer's ever since he saw the chains emerge from his hand. If they had possessed such strength, they wouldn't have been forced into slavery for years.
Helmo looked at his father, joy lighting up his face. "We have a chance. We have a chance to save Lam."
The father looked at his son with skepticism but said nothing. He turned to Yousafer. "Are these the Germs that grant supernatural abilities?"
Haim's question was grounded in knowledge; he knew that more than half of his wife's family were 'Possessed.'
Yousafer nodded, then looked at Helmo. "But first, you must understand the full risks."
The three listened intently as Yousafer began to explain the dark reality of their power.
He coughed lightly, his expression turning grim. "To become possessed is to surrender your humanity."
The weight of those words hung in the air, shifting the mood instantly.
Helmo stood in silent thought, then raised a hand to interrupt.
"I don't want to hear any more. The risks don't matter to me. I want to do this because—"
*"A wise choice,"* Yuray whispered to himself. *"That is what it takes."*
Yousafer had expected the interruption. He knew that if he had finished his explanation, he might not have allowed Helmo to go through with it.
"Are you certain?" Yousafer asked.
Helmo nodded, the resolve in his eyes unshakable. To him, this was the only path to saving his mother.
He stepped toward Yousafer. "Guide me, please."
Yousafer studied the young man's eyes. "Choose one."
Helmo looked at the three needles, reached out, and pulled the one containing the black fluid.
Every eye followed the movement.
At that moment, Yuray spoke, offering only a few words of guidance: "Beside your left shoulder, beneath the neck."
Haim called out to his son, "Helmo!"
Helmo turned toward his weary father, remembering his tears and his suffering. *"There is nothing else to be done. This is the hand life dealt us,"* he thought.
*Tuck...*
The needle sank into his flesh. He depressed the plunger until every drop of the black liquid vanished into his body.
Crimson veins bulged in his neck, crawling downward. He gritted his teeth, eyes clamped shut as he endured the agonizing heat.
Inside Helmo's body, the Germ—a dark, orb-like creature with ten spectral hands—began its journey. It swam through the blood vessels with a clear destination: the Heart. It sought his veins like a sovereign claiming a long-forgotten throne.
As the Germ moved, Yousafer continued his explanation.
"Once inoculated, the Germ heads straight for the heart. Once it settles there, it releases nine cord-like veins. These invisible threads head straight for the brain."
*Flow... Flow...*
From heart to brain, and from brain to the rest of the body.
Outside, Helmo collapsed to the ground, writhing in agony. His skin flushed a deep red as veins protruded across his frame.
Haim rushed forward in panic, but Yuray stopped him. "Don't worry. This is normal."
"How can I not worry?" Haim cried, watching his only son suffer.
Yousafer didn't stop. "Once those veins spread through the entire body, they leave no place untouched. Then, silence falls. Nothing is heard but the heartbeat."
*Thump... Thump... Thump... Thump...*
"After the veins settle, the first cord breaks. This means you have reached Level One and possess a power based on your Germ."
Yousafer paused, observing the pale, terrified faces of his audience.
"After the first cord snaps, eight remain. Breaking the second means Level Two; the third means Level Three. With each level, the person grows stronger, but the cords become harder to break. If you fail to break a cord during an ascension, the Germ seizes control. And if it takes you... nothing awaits but death."
The elder swallowed hard, whispering to himself, "This is beyond dangerous."
Yousafer smiled; he knew exactly what the old man was thinking.
"You said one loses their humanity," the elder spoke up. "What is the difference then between the Possessed and monsters?"
Yousafer gave a cynical scoff. "To live in this world as a mere human is a form of suicide. If you aren't killed, you are enslaved. Even if not everyone becomes possessed, one or two strong individuals are enough to protect the many."
The elder knew Yousafer wasn't speaking empty words; their years of suffering were proof enough.
"It is a treacherous path," the old man muttered. "You are in constant peril."
"That is only natural. To possess something extraordinary, a price must be paid."
"What happens if someone breaks the ninth cord?" the elder asked.
Yousafer looked up at the blue sky, watching an eagle soar high above. His voice rang in the elder's ears: "How should I know? I am still only Level One."
"What happens at Level Two?" Haim asked, his face pale with curiosity.
"Breaking the second cord grants a new ability. Every sense becomes sharper, faster. As for the nature of the ability, that depends on the user's mind."
"How so?" Haim whispered.
"With the snap of the cord, a wave of memories hits the mind, explaining what the power is and how to wield it."
Helmo was now engulfed in a feverish heat.
"And is it like this for every level?" the elder asked.
Yuray finally spoke: "We cannot say for certain. But from what I know, this remains true until Level Five. Beyond the sixth, we know nothing."
"It is baffling," Haim said, clutching his hair as he watched his son. "You said it gets harder. How do we know when we are ready to break the next cord?"
"When the Germ releases its veins, the user can see them as if they are right in front of him. From levels one to three, the veins are filled with small red spheres. At levels four and five, the spheres turn brown. Beyond that, I know no more."
"To move to the next level, you must ensure that the spheres in the cord you wish to break have vanished completely. This signifies that all the energy of that cord has been extracted."
The elder looked confused but grasped the essence of the warning.
"And how long does it take for those spheres to vanish?"
Yousafer looked down at the suffering Helmo. "Even we do not know the answer to that."
"What happens if someone tries to break a cord while it still holds its energy?"
Yousafer's tone turned cold and final. "It means you surrender yourself to the Germ. As I said before... death awaits."
End of Chapter.