I wake up to the Shaman staring at me. "The SPIRITS spoke to you." He pulled out the ashes to sniff them.

"Did you make me smoke ashes?"

"YES."

I made a face and sit up. "How long was I out?"

"TIME has no mean in the land of-"

"Cut it before I stuff the spirits down your throat."

"...Twenty minutes."

I make a smug face. "Good. Since I passed the test, I need you to answer some questions."

"Speak."

"The Demons, why are they taking so many people away?"

The Shaman throws some ash, humming. "They are sick. They CONSUME the waste of angels, they believe to be something divine. They are WRONG. it makes them sick. it turns to a virus, making them decay from the inside."

I tilt my head. "So they try to sacrifice to get read of the plague."

He nods.

"How do I stop this?"

"Crush the TRIBE."

I got confused. "What?"

He stays silent. I stand and get up. "How do you know Demon, Shaman?"

"Simple. I just put my faith in the SPIRITS."

"Sure. I'll see you around, pal."

He hums a song and throws more ash. Weird guy.

I walk outside to Fisher. "Got any information?"

"We'll walk and talk."

I explain everything on the way back. As we reach the camp, Fisher grunts. "Bout time something bad happens to him. But there might be more of that sickness in the canyon. Watch yourself."

I gave him a fist bump before walking to Tann's tent to explain everything.

"You're gonna believe a man who smokes ashes?"

"Pretty much."

"...Huh. Well, ignore that. Got word that we found one more pocket of NRF."

"Oh yeah? Then let's go!" I yell.