Madness

The public's anger kept building, filling all of Athkatla's society with unease and violence. This was simply the best breeding ground for followers of evil gods. Wherever there was suffering and injustice, some people were bound to stray down the wrong path.

During this time, the cults that had previously lain dormant in Athkatla began stirring restlessly, constantly expanding their strength. Some bizarre, inexplicable cults even joined in the commotion, while certain demon worshippers began spreading seeds of chaos everywhere.

The entire city was now a powder keg that had yet to be lit. It was only because the Council and the Masked Mage Guild remained extremely powerful that they could suppress those destabilizing elements.

Unfortunately, that fragile balance was broken tonight!

When night fell once more, the commoners' district, which should have been quiet, became unbearably clamorous.

"My son!!! Give me back my son!!!"

A sallow-faced woman, so thin and frail that she looked as though she might collapse at any moment, clung to a man dressed like a noble's servant and wailed incessantly!

"Get lost! You crazy old hag! Who's your son? I don't know you at all! Why are you grabbing me if you're looking for your son?"

Though the woman looked as if she did not have an ounce of flesh on her body, once she went mad, even a grown man could not break free of her grip!

"Give me back my son! My son left with you! You said there was work for him, so I let him go with you! But he still hasn't come back even now! Tell me, what did you do to him?!!!!" The old woman ignored whatever the servant said. She merely clutched him and screamed madly, demanding her son back.

More and more people gathered around. As the