The library's northeast corner was silent except for breathing—four people gathered in shadows, fighting wars inside their own skulls.
Riyan arrived last, carrying a leather medical case that smelled faintly of disinfectant. He set it down carefully before speaking.
"Trusted source confirmed the mechanism," Riyan said. No preamble. Pure efficiency cutting through golden fog. "It's a parasitic fungus. Modified. Introduced through Festival of Renewal three years ago. Dormant until detecting moral conflicts in host brain."
Gray's hand moved to his sword hilt—instinctive response to threat assessment. "Three years dormant?"
"Spores remain inactive until triggered," Riyan explained. "The 'Golden Rot' we're experiencing is activation phase. Something changed eight weeks ago. Environmental factor. Seasonal trigger. Deliberate command signal. Unknown."
