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''W-what? Homicide!?'' Belmont nearly yelled, dropping his current book on the desk.
''Sometime last month.'' <span class="mu-i">Given his attitude toward Mamonos, I'll keep some details to myself.</span>
''Have there been cases of widespread death with people's pets in the city?'' Seyraphal spoke while approaching. The way Belmont's eyes narrowed as she got close made you ball your hands into fists. <span class="mu-i">Ugh.</span> ''Nature around Eichenwald has grown perilously thin as of late, with only insects remaining as a stable population. I know winter is soon, but there ought to be many more squirrels, bunnies, deers...''
''I'll ask around,'' answered the priest, turning away to cough. ''Dogs and men have a sacred bond; this song is a danger to all good children of our gods.''
Searching through his notes, the little glimpse you managed to read revealed detailed descriptions of the patients. Family, ages, general circumstances before their coma... <span class="mu-i">Belmont was a bookkeeper.</span>
''There it is.'' He pointed to a particular line in his newest notebook. ''Yesterday you were attacked by Risen; yesterday night we had our latest death in the hospice. Toma Grecht, 55-year-old father of five children with a loving wife. He woke up in hysteria, screaming about the same ''It,'' that ''its song'' will consume everyone in the city... nothing about dogs, unfortunately.''
''Odd timing,'' said your blue friend.
<span class="mu-r">[Outsiders]</span>
You'd been privy to dangerous knowledge about the greatest enemy of mankind and monsters; nothing fit this situation wholesale, only similarities... Because Outsiders have always been solitary. You couldn't recall any recorded cases of a genuine epidemic; strong entities, however, caused many catastrophes in many villages of Kreszenz. Never outside.
''Soul parasites or soul eaters can cause similar symptoms.'' These two Outsiders were the most widely known and the source of far too many odd legends. ''Souls being slowly or rapidly consumed cause weaknesses in bodies, loss of memory, and eventual coma, but I can't recall anything about people waking in a fear frenzy, screaming about a song... although there have been many cases of people dreaming about the predators latched onto their souls.''
''Hm, potential Outsider?'' Belmont bit off a piece of his nail. ''Even more reason to find the truth before ringing the bells of higher authority.''
''I'd like to help if I can,'' you said, facing the much older man, looking him straight in the eyes. ''But there's a more pressing problem.''
''The monsters?'' At least he didn't scoff when he said it now.
''Yes. Their situation remain inexcusable, but given recent circumstances, I won't force your hand with Olin's situation. The Mamonos need a shrine, food... gods above, they need clean beds, sheets, and supplies to repair and wash their homes.'' It wasn't easy controlling the anger squeezing your chest. You started walking back and forth to loosen some of that stiffness.
