My palms were sweaty. I had a visitor today, one of my close friends. Out of breath, he simply said a word before running off in an odd fashion.

I was utterly confused. Perhaps my friend had partaken in excessive amounts of Dark Rum from his last sea battle? Yes, that was it.

I walked outside for my morning stroll. By Eldior, the streets were crowded! Never in my life have I ever seen such a multitude of people! However, when observing them closely, they walked with the strangest gait I have ever seen. Soon, I realized that they walked the same way that my friend had this morning!

I was unnerved now. Surely the beasts of Adan would not behave thusly? I was wrong, for they walked that way too.

Allow me to describe it. Their gait is almost...broken. It is as if they are walking, then freeze in place. A second later, they move again. This is no undead invasion, this is a phenomena far more sinister, far more dark...why must it happen?

While I was fighting a monster, something came over me. My axe froze in place, then I fainted. Later, a witness told me that everyone else was behaving like I did in that fight.

I now understand the true meaning of what my friend told me this morning. We are all doomed. Eldior, save us...please.

The word was "lag".