Jacob froze upon reading the last line. His mouth opened wide, yet no words escaped. He could feel his heartbeat pumping blood into his brain with every thought. He slowly rolled his eye back to its normal position and looked at Maria with a deadpan expression.
"Corrupted... destiny. And there's nothing I can do to change it."
He grabbed his head and fell to his knees. Maria ran over to catch him, but he held his hand up.
"Don't. Please."
Maria backed away slowly, afraid that her gesture upset him in some way.
Jacob laughed under his breath.
"So... that's what's so funny, huh cultists? And as long as I have this... curse on me, there's nothing saving them?"
He slowly stood up and turned his back towards her. Jacob pulled out some extra scales that he had pocketed from slaying the dragon earlier. He threw one into his mouth and swallowed it whole.
