Chapter 96: Greatness reduced to rubble

The Typhon Tribe wasn’t just a rival to the Nemean Tribe. Long before their rivalry, they were a group of proud, powerful warriors, and they created their village in that image.

The Typhon Tribe’s village had been one of the greatest settlements in the region. Its huts and cabins were crafted from the finest wood available, each structure carefully built to withstand the harsh seasons.

Important buildings, especially those used for spiritual practices, were constructed from sturdy stone, their walls carefully carved and arranged with pride. The entire village had been designed with purpose. Paths connected every part of the settlement, buildings were positioned with care, and the layout was so well planned that few villages could compare.

The land surrounding it had once been just as impressive. Rich soil produced abundant crops, while the forests and fields were filled with life. Spirits thrived throughout the land, flowing through the earth, trees, rivers, and air. The Typhon people had built their home in a place where nature itself seemed to welcome them.

Now, almost none of that remained. The village was barely recognizable.

Wooden huts and cabins stood in various states of collapse, their once-sturdy beams rotting away beneath years of neglect. Some roofs had caved in completely, leaving only broken frames behind.

Stone buildings that had once represented the strength and spirituality of the Typhon Tribe were covered in thick moss, their walls cracked and crumbling with age.

The paths had disappeared beneath weeds and dirt, while many of the buildings had been reduced to piles of debris. Even the surrounding land had lost its life. The rich soil had become dry and cracked, crops no longer grew, and the once-thriving spirits were nowhere to be felt.

What had once been a proud and thriving village had become a lifeless ruin. It was difficult to believe that this desolate place had ever been home to a powerful tribe.

Jol, Itha, and Zuna looked around in awe. They had never been to the Typhon Tribe’s village before, and though it was in ruins, they could see how it was once majestic.

"Wow. This place was once your home?" Jol had to admit that he was impressed. Sure, the place was destroyed, but even in ruins he could see the once great village.

"Yes, though it was some time since we last set foot here," Helgan answered

Itha furrowed her brows, confused about how the village was in such a state. "I thought that your people only moved recently before getting taken into our tribe."

"It started twelve years ago, with the threat to our land." Mika started to explain. "First, our crops were dying, then it was our livestock. At the time, we didn’t know that the Verminus Plant was destroying our land."

"That’s when you pillaged our village, right, after using the poison?" Zuna asked

"That’s right. We had to survive. The Verminus Plant crawled its way into everything, sucking whatever nutrients that it could. And since it’s a plant, it’s not surprising that it made our village look as if it had been abandoned for centuries in a matter of a decade."

"When did you all move out?"

"Only a few months before our most recent attack on your village. Though most of us were already gone by then as the village wasn’t safe, we kept the sick here so the plague wouldn’t spread to our healthy."

Itha understood. "So this place became fully abandoned once all of your sick died."

"Correct. By then, most of us were already living outside for a while, some even a year. We moved in groups, so it wasn’t all at once. I was part of the first group." Helgan remembers leaving this place behind. Horrible memories it brought back.

"We can reminisce about the past later." Wen chimed in. "Let’s get to work first."

"So what are we looking for?" Jol asked

"Come on, man. Were you paying attention to the elders and the shaman? We’re investigating to see how far this place has been taken over by the Verminus Plant. So we’re not really looking for anything specific."

"No, no, I got that. I was just wondering because I could have sworn I saw a young child moving behind that giant piece of rubble over there."

"What? That’s impossible! We made sure no one was left behind!"

"Maybe you forgot someone?"

The six of them moved carefully toward the location Jol had pointed to, Mika using her earth abilities to remove the piles of stone that blocked their path.

"Nngh." She grunted

"What’s wrong? Do you need me to heal you?" Zuna asked

"No, I’m fine. It’s just the Verminus Plant."

"You’re infected?"

"No. We’re sensitive to the Verminus Plant if it makes a place its habitat. Since our power comes from the spirits of nature, when this plant makes a place its domain, it becomes strenuous to control the spirits in that area."

"I see. That makes sense."

Helgan looked around but couldn’t see the kid Jol was talking about. Regardless of their feelings toward each other, he knew that Jol wouldn’t lie about something like this.

"Jol, are you sure you saw a person? Maybe your eyes could be playing tricks on you since we didn’t sleep too well?"

"No, I’m positive that I saw a child around here. They peeked over the rubble just here. Oh, and there was a mark on their face that covered their eye, like a birthmark."

The Typhon warriors froze and turned to Jol. Helgan lunged for him, gripping his shoulders tightly, but not out of malice.

"Jol, are you sure you saw a child with a facial birthmark? Don’t fuck with me, Jol!

"Hey, man. Take it easy. Yeah, I promise to Lord Nemean that I saw a child with a facial birthmark. What’s wrong?"

"If what you’re saying is true, then we need to leave right now! We need to report this to the council right now!"

"Hold on, what’s going on? You can’t just leave us in the dark like that, man. Explain what’s got you spooked? Was this person your family? If so, I’m sorry, man, but we can save them, so it will be fine."

"No!" Mika shouted. "No. Listen. There is only one person in our village with a facial tattoo, and he’s the grandson of Witch Anuwat. When he got sick, she did everything in her power to save him, but nothing worked, so when he died, she buried him. He was her last living relative."

Itha and Zuna all felt her pain.

"That must have been tough." Even Jol felt bad.

"Jol, use your head! If he’s who you saw, then this means that he’s not buried! And if he’s not buried, then this means that something is controlling him! Just like those animals!"

"W-Wait! Then are you saying that–"

Before Jol could even finish, hundreds of people had them surrounded; their expressions blank, vine-like markings spread throughout their bodies, with a flower budding out of their heads.

"Anuwol," Helgen muttered under his breath.