Merlin and Catrine walked toward the village. From afar, they could already see the wooden houses built neatly and in order.

Unfortunately, the atmosphere was gloomy, making both Merlin and Catrine uncomfortable. The villagers wore sad, upset, and helpless expressions.

Even the children, who should have been cheerful, looked depressed and lifeless.

Soldiers were patrolling the area, keeping a close watch in case anyone showed signs of the mysterious disease spreading among the villagers.

However, when they saw Merlin and Catrine approaching, their eyes widened in shock and surprise.

"Young Master Merlin and Young Lady Catrine, what are you two doing here?" a young soldier asked in confusion.

He had an unremarkable face and was not very tall, yet the soldier's gear he wore somehow gave him an air of authority.

Merlin smiled and replied, "My sister and I came to check on the situation. Don't worry, Uncle Gover has given me permission."

At the mention of Gover's name, the soldier's worried expression softened and turned into relief.

"Since Captain Gover has already given you permission, I won't ask further. Would you like me to accompany you?"

"Thank you for the offer, but it's not necessary. I'll just go with my sister," Merlin replied politely.

The soldier said nothing more and allowed them to pass.

Merlin and Catrine stepped deeper into the village and found the situation far worse than he had expected.

The villagers' activities had become more limited, so many of them preferred to stay indoors. Fortunately, Clay's family had sent food and other necessities, allowing them to survive even without working.

"Brother," Catrine called in a sad tone. "They're all so pitiful."

This was the first time she had ever left Droswen City and witnessed such a painful reality. Her heart ached at the sight before her.

Merlin smiled gently as he rubbed the back of her hand that he was holding. "It's alright. We'll find the cause soon."

He couldn't bear to let Catrine see such a scene, but he was also helpless. She was so stubborn that he couldn't stop her.

Even so, this wasn't entirely a bad thing. At least she wasn't a flower in a glass house, ignorant of the world outside.

The two of them continued walking past each household, checking their condition. Suddenly, Merlin spotted a young man from the village carrying firewood up ahead.

Merlin quickly approached him and greeted him, "Excuse me. Can you show us the way to the nearest river?"

The young man was startled and became even more shocked when he realized the one speaking to him was a child not yet ten years old.

His brows furrowed as he warned, "Kid, what are you doing here? The situation in this village isn't good. Go home immediately. It's not safe."

His tone was cold and stern, but his intention was good—and Merlin understood that.

"Thank you for your concern, but I came to check on the plague that has infected this village. By the way, I'm a mage."

As he said that, Merlin opened his palm, and a magic circle appeared, followed by bright sparks that flickered in the air.

The young man was stunned at the sight. Then, he quickly bowed his head and apologized, "I'm sorry! I didn't mean it like that!"

He hadn't expected this little kid to be a mage, which made him feel embarrassed and foolish for his earlier words.

"It's okay," Merlin said, waving his right hand. "Now, can you show me the way? You don't have to come with me—just point me in the right direction."

The young man let out a sigh of relief, grateful that Merlin didn't take offense. He then pointed toward the river, which turned out to be quite close to their position.

"Thank you," Merlin said softly.

"You're welcome. But be careful," the young man warned. "There are a lot of beasts around there. The children who used to bathe in the river once claimed they saw a crocodile over ten meters long. I don't know if it's true or not, but you should stay alert."

Even though Merlin was a mage, the young man didn't know how strong he really was. He didn't want the young mage to lose his life.

"I'll remember your warning. Once again, thank you."

Without wasting any time, Merlin walked off with Catrine toward the river.

Ten minutes later, the sound of rushing water reached their ears.

They exchanged a glance and quickened their pace. Sure enough, a wide river with a swift current came into view before them.

"Wow! The river is so fast! The water's so clear. Is this drinkable, big brother?" Catrine asked excitedly.

All this time, she had only seen rivers in storybooks. This was her first time seeing one in person.

"Of course," Merlin chuckled softly. "But let me check the water first."

He crouched by the riverside and dipped his hand into the water.

The water felt cool and refreshing. Merlin raised his hand and let a drop fall onto his tongue. It wasn't salty or bitter—the pH was stable and safe to drink.

'The soldiers were right. The river is safe,' he murmured. 'So what exactly caused this outbreak?'

He had already checked the forest, soil, and air around the village, and everything seemed fine.

'Could it be the game they eat? Or poisonous plants?' he thought.

But he quickly shook his head. Clay's family had already hired mages to study the disease that had infected the villagers, and the result was clear: the disease or poison couldn't be cured. In fact, its type had never been recorded in the mages' catalogs.

So, the source of the outbreak most likely came from something they hadn't discovered yet.

"Big brother, is the water drinkable?" Catrine's curious voice came from behind him.

Merlin nodded slightly. "Yes, the water's drinkable. Try it—it tastes quite fresh."

Although he had only tasted a drop, the water was indeed fresh and cool.

Catrine eagerly crouched down beside him. Just as she was about to scoop up the water with both hands, Lyserra's loud voice suddenly echoed in Merlin's mind.

"Don't touch the water, you fool!"

Merlin gasped in shock. With lightning speed, he swung his right hand and swatted Catrine's hands away.

"Ahh!" Catrine cried out as she stumbled backward and fell. She stared at her brother in surprise and confusion, then asked frantically, "What happened, Brother? Why did you hit me?"

Merlin didn't answer. He scooped her up and quickly dashed away from the river.

When he was finally far enough, Merlin gently set her down and took a deep breath. He reached out and softly rubbed her head.

"I'm sorry, Catrine. But Lyserra said the water was dangerous. I reacted without thinking to stop you from drinking it."

"Dangerous?" Catrine was stunned. "Is it poisonous?"

Merlin narrowed his eyes, watching the river warily. "Yes… it seems so."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.