It is because of what people with the sickness become, Kleos said. He paused for a moment. I… I could show you, but it might be better not to. There might be more peace in not knowing what awaits.

Nerra didnt hesitate. Show me.

No one else had been able to truly show her where her disease was going to lead. The physicker had told her, but that wasnt the same, not even close. Nerra needed to see it for herself. She followed as Kleos led the way to a different part of the community, to a stone building whose door seemed solider than the rest. He took out a key, unlocking it.

We must be careful within, he warned. The ones here… they have little humanity left.

But you said that there were ways to help, Nerra said.

There are, Kleos agreed. But do not let that lure you into false hope, Princess. There is no cure. Eventually, even with all I do, it leads to this.

He stepped back to let Nerra inside, so that she could see. Inside the building it was shadowy, the darkness cut through by the whimpering and moaning of those within. There was nothing human about this sound, though.

There was certainly nothing human about the creature that rose up in front of her. It was larger than a man, with scaled, clawed hands, teeth that looked as though they could bite straight through flesh, and features that had been distorted into a kind of lizard-like snout. Its body was bulky and misshapen, muscles seeming to grow under the skin in ways that made no sense. Its eyes were human, but there was no humanity left in them, only rage, and pain, and hunger. It was a thing that was no longer human, but wasnt quite a dragon, either, caught somewhere between, unfinished, twisted out of one form but not quite into the next.

It lunged forward at Nerra, and she was too slow to dodge in that moment. The bulk of the creature was on her then, knocking her to the ground and looming over her. Its claws rose up, ready to strike, and Nerra was sure then that Kleos had only brought her there to die at its hands for reasons she couldnt begin to fathom.

Then Kleos was there. He had a wavy blade in his hands that seemed to have been made of some dark metal, the knife as long as Nerras forearm. He thrust with it, catching the creature in the chest so that it shrieked out in an animal cry. It fell back, claws up as if to ward off more cuts, but Kleos was already advancing.

Im sorry, he said, as Nerra started to stand. When I brought you here I did not know that this one would be quite so far along. It… it is time for him.