章 748: Whispers of Absence            

Liam's voice wavered as he introduced them to his mother, "This is my mom." His words hung in the air, revealing the deep sadness that accompanied every syllable.

The frail woman didn't acknowledge their presence, lost in the grip of her own suffering. She seemed like a vacant shell, a devil with no soul, trapped in a world where the vibrancy of life had been extinguished. 

The room now felt like a mausoleum of dreams, each breath echoing the silent struggles that had unfolded within its walls.

Evie and Elena exchanged a glance. The reality of the village's deterioration became painfully evident in the form of Liam's mother, a living embodiment of the collective agony that had befallen this once-thriving community.

Liam's eyes reflected the sorrow that words could not convey. His mother's condition was a stark reminder of the insidious grip that Desira's influence had on the lives of the villagers.