In the vast, labyrinthine cave system that stretched deep into the earth, a group of gnome children were playing their favorite game: hide and seek. The echoes of their laughter and playful taunts reverberated off the cold, damp walls, creating an atmosphere of innocent joy.

  "Rishi, it's your turn to seek." one of the children called out, their voice bouncing eerily through the tunnels.

  "Okay, but next time, you will have to seek." Rishi replied with a grin, her excitement barely contained.

  Rishi had just turned nine this year, a milestone she had eagerly awaited. She had been exploring these ancient caves since she was three, and every corner, every crevice felt as familiar to her as her own reflection. This network of caverns was her playground, a place where her imagination could run wild, and where she felt a deep, unspoken connection to the earth itself.

  "One... Two... Fifty... One hundred..." she counted, her voice a blend of impatience and anticipation.

  As Rishi started seeking around the cave system, she moved with the confidence of someone who knew these caves intimately. The scent of damp earth and the occasional dripping of water from stalactites created a symphony that was both comforting and eerie. It wasn't very difficult for her to find her friends, who were giggling and shuffling, their attempts to stay hidden betrayed by their own excitement.

  Half an hour later, she had found four of her friends, with only one remaining. The thrill of the hunt spurred her on, leading her deeper into the caves than they usually ventured. After searching through all the usual hiding spots, only one was left: the deepest cave, a place that was usually off-limits because of its ominous, foreboding atmosphere. But today, driven by the spirit of adventure, they all ventured inside to find the last boy, named Visk.

  As they reached the end of the cave, the air grew colder and the darkness seemed to thicken around them. They saw Visk standing in a small crack in the cave wall, his back turned to them.

  "Visk! Visk! You have been found." Rishi and her friends all yelled, their voices filled with the thrill of victory. But he didn’t reply. He stood in the same position, unmoving, as if he hadn't heard them.

  One of Rishi's friends, Dai, felt a twinge of concern and ran up to Visk, his footsteps echoing loudly in the confined space. As he reached the crack in the cave wall, he stopped abruptly, sensing something was terribly wrong. Finally, Visk turned around and started running toward Dai with an unnerving speed.

  As Visk approached, Dai noticed something disturbingly off about his friend. Visk's eyes had turned a sinister, glowing red, and a grim look had settled on his face. There was a palpable sense of danger emanating from him, something primal and terrifying. Dai turned around to run, but it was too late.

  Visk caught up to Dai, jumping on him with a feral intensity and pinning him to the ground. The sound of their struggle filled the cave, a horrifying contrast to the playful noises from earlier. Visk started hitting Dai in the head with a jagged stone, the impact sickening and final.

  "Aaaaa... Aaaggghh..." Dai screamed, his voice a desperate plea that echoed off the cave walls.

  Rishi and her friends watched the entire incident, frozen in fear, their minds struggling to comprehend the brutality unfolding before them. Suddenly, Dai's screams stopped, and he ceased struggling. He had been beaten to death by Visk, his skull shattered, blood and brain matter splattering the cave floor.

  After killing Dai, Visk turned toward Rishi and her friends, his face and body covered with blood, his eyes devoid of any humanity.

  Screams resounded throughout the caves as chaos erupted. Similar changes happened to many kids, who began to attack others with a savage ferocity. It was a bloodbath, an orgy of violence and terror. Few kids managed to escape and reach the safety of their tribes. When the adults heard about the situation, they rushed to the cave system, their hearts filled with dread and desperation.

  What they witnessed was pure horror: dead bodies of children scattered around the caves, blood still gushing from their wounds. Some had open skulls, flesh bitten off their bodies, and tears still in their lifeless eyes. They had died gruesome, painful deaths, the cave floors slick with blood and despair.

  ---

  This was just the beginning of a nightmare for the gnomes. A disease started spreading in the tribes, a sickness that robbed people of their sanity and turned them into mindless killers. People began losing their minds and attacking others on sight, driven by an uncontrollable urge to destroy. They didn’t care for their children or families; they were no longer themselves, as if demons had taken their place. These afflicted individuals had to be put to a final rest for the safety of others, a grim task that filled the gnomes with sorrow and fear.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  As the fear among the gnomes grew, they started distancing themselves from friends and family, their once tight-knit community fracturing under the weight of paranoia and terror. Soon, they identified the source of the problem: only those who went near the cave system were getting infected by this strange disease. The caves, once a place of adventure and joy, had become a source of unrelenting horror.

  All the gnome tribes convened and decided to make the cave system and its surroundings a forbidden area, enforcing a strict no-entry policy. After this rule came into effect, the situation improved significantly. The illness stopped spreading, and the gnomes began to breathe a collective sigh of relief. However, their respite was short-lived. Just when they thought everything was returning to normal, people who lived near the forbidden area started catching the mental illness and turning into demons. These afflicted individuals began killing people by biting them and smashing their skulls with rocks, behaving like savage beasts. It was clear they were no longer the same people as before.

  Further research revealed that the illness, curse, or whatever it was, originated from the cave system and was gradually spreading toward their tribes. If they wanted to survive, they either had to solve this problem or move far away, abandoning their ancestral home.

  In the end, the gnomes decided to leave, as the illness had already claimed enough lives. This exodus was why they were attacking the dwarves so relentlessly. They had no choice; they had to act. If they didn’t, it would mean the death of their entire kin. That’s why they fought with such ferocity against the dwarves, seeking new land for their survival, a place free from the curse that haunted them.

  ---

  After the Gnome King explained the whole situation, he got on his knees and begged Zain for help. His eyes were filled with desperation, his voice quivering with the weight of his plea.

  "Why didn't you ask another power for help?" Zain asked the Gnome King, his voice tinged with curiosity and concern.

  "Who would help us, young lord? We are surrounded by three human empires. They are already busy with their own problems. Do you think they care for people who are not even of the same race? Especially when they have nothing to gain from us." the Gnome King replied, his voice heavy with resignation.

  "And as for the Gnome Empire, they are so far away. It would take too long to contact them. Even if we managed to, they wouldn’t bother helping a small group of tribes. They would just say we should relocate to the Gnome Empire. We have tried asking for their help before. The reply is always the same."

  The gnomes were truly in a difficult situation. They were being forced to leave their home, but they had no choice. If they stayed, they would succumb to that strange curse. Desperate, they put all their hopes on Zain, hoping he could get the Duke to save them from this crisis.

  Now, Zain was stuck in a dilemma. He didn’t want to abandon the gnomes, who were an excellent resource for the development of the Dukedom. With their mechanical knowledge, they could help increase wine production and assist in many other sectors. The gnomes' craftsmanship and ingenuity were unmatched, and Zain knew their skills could greatly benefit his people.

  But he couldn't make this decision alone, so he called Raina for advice. Raina, a powerful mage with an acute sense for danger, created a magic dome around them to prevent anyone from eavesdropping.

  "So, Raina, what do you think we should do?" Zain asked, his voice tinged with worry.

  "Zain, I am not trying to scare you, but there is something in these mountains that gives me an eerie feeling. Whatever it is, it is trying to hide its presence. But for a split second, I felt it. It’s not an opponent I can fight." Raina replied, her expression serious.

  "So, I suggest we leave this place right now. We need to talk to your father about this and decide what to do." she continued, her tone leaving no room for argument.

  Seeing Raina so worried, Zain decided they would leave and start moving the gnomes to their territory. Just as he was about to talk to the Gnome King, he noticed that Draig was missing. He looked around but saw no trace of him in the hall.

  "Raina, Draig is not here!" Zain shouted, his voice filled with sudden panic.

  The Gnome King answered first, his voice calm despite the situation. "Young lord, the boy who came with you just left the hall when you were talking with that madam."

  Zain and Raina ran outside, their hearts pounding with urgency. The guards they brought were standing outside, their expressions a mix of confusion and concern. Before Zain could say anything, they interrupted, their voices tinged with alarm.

  "Young master, Draig! Draig! He turned into a dragon and flew toward the cave system. Half of the guards have gone after him." one of the guards reported, his face pale.

  Zain and Raina were shocked. They knew the cave system wasn't safe. Draig was an Apex powerhouse; if he caught this strange curse and went on a rampage, it would not end well.

  "Zain, go back to the Dukedom with these guards. I will handle the situation here and bring Draig back." Raina prioritized Zain's safety, her voice steady despite the urgency of the situation.

  "No, Raina, I am coming with you. Draig is my responsibility. My mother trusted me with him. I can't let her down. And if he has gone mad, I might be the only one who can bring him back to sanity." Zain argued, his determination evident in his eyes.

  Seeing Zain so resolute, Raina relented, recognizing the depth of his commitment. "Very well, Zain. But stay close and follow my lead." she instructed, her tone firm.

  They ordered the remaining guards to return to the Dukedom and inform Izark of the unfolding crisis.

  NEED EARLY CHAPTERS ON PATREON?