“Yeah,” Elliot said, nodding as he flipped through the pages of his own book. “The gods fought amongst themselves in a battle to claim the throne. Their conflict caused so much destruction that the earth itself and all living things were on the verge of extinction. To survive the fallout, the earth is said to have created the purest form of energy—something capable of defying the gods’ power and preserving life.”

Towan’s eyes widened as he processed the information. “So… you think this ‘Original Essentia’ is that energy? The pure force the earth created to protect itself?”

Elliot tapped the passage on the page, his expression thoughtful. “It could be. But this book paints it in a completely different light. It says the corruption came from its misuse, which doesn’t make sense if it was supposed to protect the earth.”

Towan frowned, leaning over to read the passage again. “I always thought the corruption was what protected the earth from destruction. That’s what most stories and myths say, right?”

“That’s what I thought too,” Elliot admitted. “Most of the books I’ve read say the corruption was a desperate response, like a shield that became unstable. But if this book is right, and the corruption is a byproduct of Original Essentia being twisted…” He paused, his voice trailing off as a troubling thought crossed his mind.

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“…Then the corruption wasn’t just an accident,” Towan finished for him. “It was caused by someone, or something, using that energy in a way it wasn’t meant to be used.”

Elliot nodded slowly, his face grim. “It would mean someone deliberately weaponized the purest energy in existence, knowing full well the consequences.”

The brothers exchanged a glance, the weight of the discovery settling heavily between them. The idea that corruption wasn’t a natural phenomenon but the result of intentional misuse added an entirely new layer of danger—and mystery—to their investigation.

“This changes everything,” Towan said softly. “If Original Essentia really is tied to the corruption, then finding out the truth about it could be the key to stopping it for good.”

“Or,” Elliot countered, “it could make us the next target of whoever is trying to hide it.”

The thought sent a shiver down Towan’s spine, but he forced himself to focus. “Either way, we have to keep digging. If there’s more about Original Essentia or the Great War, we need to find it.”

Elliot nodded, determination hardening his expression. “Agreed. Let’s keep reading. There has to be more here.”

By the time they left the library, their heads were swimming with questions, but they had a plan: explore the location marked on the map and, when the time was right, confront Rheon about what they’d learned.

“This is just the beginning,” Towan muttered as they stepped into the cool evening air, his mind already racing with possibilities.