Pestilence: Rise Of The Pure Undead

"He is acting out of character, Alisart Cleavster I mean, although evidently a big fan of regular battle, blades clashing with blades, up and personal, slaughters occurring as two opposing forces meet, two tides crashing against one another… It is only obvious that he would see to some revisions in his usual approach to war, but something is fishy…"

"...No offence meant, Poitirus" Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire

"No offence taken" the lieutenant that was to be in time the guardian of all that was ocean, sea and other lakes as per Loimos's vision, just raised one hand up in the air for short moment, draped in naught but a small marine blue cloak covering his shoulders and crooked back, he just sat on a chair, holding onto his spear.

"So, sudden change of heart? Could the grim situation have convinced him to start sacrificing some of his people for the sake of the majority? I have a hard time that a stubborn, war-loving living such as himself would make such concessions readily" the left hand paced around the room, circling around Erestel, Sari, Poitirus, even Alisiana and Grilt were present, even though the two representatives of the church of death were not really supposed to be involved into this conflict in a direct manner, the black knight still sought their opinion.

"Heh, if he is a war-lover as a living… Then that means he has never lost, he is a victory-lover, he must have realised that loss was getting closer and closer, and abandoned all principles to get all chances on his side, when livings feel death creeping closer, they tend to grow agitated, I was taught that in Gunlaurgh's educational class" spoke Erestel with confidence.

Sitting right next to him, Sari just shook her head, legs crossed most elegantly.

"If you have actually listened to the lizard, you would have known that this sort of reasoning was not to be applied to enemy livings unless clear signs were visible, and even then, caution is still high in demand" the vampire corrected him.

"Young undead, you are clearly in a state of confusion and unease, Saint Loimos has already told you to not allow these emotions to rule your behaviour…" Grilt's gravelly voice graced the ears of everyone present, the gaunt deacon did not often speak, maintaining silence more often than not.

Alisiana leaned back into her chair, not bothering to bring up the fact that Grilt was just about the same age as everyone else present, each and everyone of them having emerged naturally from the death-rich soils of the empire, with the exception of Poitirus.

"Trust in what both reasoning and instinct first pointed you to, do not allow either to make the decision on their own" performing the one-handed prayer of the church of death, hand and fingers perfectly flat, aligned, with the thumb facing the chest, then, he returned to silence after reminding Ourlst of what the general had already told him

"Right… Thank you Deacon Grilt…"

As the left hand said this, Poitirus slowly raised his spear, taking everyone's attention.

"In any case, although it doesn't have anything to do with your current interrogation, I came here to inform you that I have finished my investigation of all of Belliste's shores and the underwater caverns, and so, I can tell you that none led anywhere inhabited by sapient life, and that no rivers or the likes were formed, I was somewhat expecting a little piece of what was below the continent to have a specific ecosystem, but it seems like those are not linked to the flooded caves" reported Poitirus, the mistborn had not planned on coming to report to Ourlst before reporting to Loimos, but his general had told him to do just that.

And that without giving clear explanations, meaning that it was somehow an important task, Poitirus did not see what was so significant about it, and neither did Ourlst, for one second, for two second, for four second, for seven seconds and then, like a cat having been snuck upon, he sort of jolted into a straight posture, the left hand's vacuous eyes flared with a flaming shine for a moment.

"Did you just say that there were underground ecosystems? How do you know this if none were linked to a cave which entrance gave into the ocean?" asked the lieutenant, Poitirus tilting his head.

"I sensed bodies of water of course, and where there is water, you can most certainly expect life as well, I can know where water is and its state from much further away, and with much more clarity than I can sense anything else"

Explaining this aspect of his abilities, Poitirus saw as the gears began to turn rapidly within Ourlst mind.

"Tell me, Lieutenant Poitirus, was there any of those water sources that seemed… Odd? Special?"

"Well- I suppose there were a few, there was one that flowed in a constant circle, one so warm that it constantly emitted steam, yet, the source never decreased…"

"...There was also a big one that seemed to be housing a fair bit of marine life, a sealed pocket filled with extremely dense waters, and also a few small, water sources, that were perfectly potable despite being stagnant, even nourishing the environment enough to grow something, I wouldn't know what exactly though… Didn't seem to be anything other than plants-" listing all that he knew in just a few seconds, not even requiring to think about it, each and every one of them already noted down in his mind to be filled with his mist.

"The others beside that last one were not drinkable?"

"Well, a few should not cause any problems as well, but yes, really only the last one reached the expected levels of acceptance for typical livings" to him, all of those sources were wonderful things that deserved proper studying and acknowledgement.

Ourlst however, only cared for one.

Pulling out a map from his desk, the black knight slapped it down directly on the ground before Poitirus, kneeling down as he could not even be bothered to fetch a table or chair.

"Do pinpoint its location"

Manifesting a small needle similar to the great crystal serving as the tip of his spear, the mistborn planted it upon the precise place where the stagnant waters stood.

Silent filled the room, Grilt performing the prayer hand sign again alongside Alisiana.

"My fellows, we got them" feeling triumphant, Ourlst raised his fist and walked out of the room "I'm certain of myself here, but considering the war model I have to work with, I can't get to them, and following the intended procedure would be severely inefficient"

"I'll go inform General Loimos"