Something spread through him like a wildfire. An unknown, yet somehow familiar sensation, as though experiencing it for the first time, but knowing everything about at the back of his head. As if he had forgotten.
Standing before the bright, nearly blinding palace, he stared at the cold glare he was constantly receiving from the front. Staring at the angry look around her face, he lowered his own head in defeat. The goddess was angry at him, but it was clear to him why. At the same time, it was deserved, very well deserved.
Soon, her sorrowful voice spread through the entwined with gold, marble court, shivers spreading around his body, freezing it in place, but the look on his face remained, not breaking or bending under her will.
Although he did those things, in the end, it was his decision to do so, and he would take responsibility for that.
“Why?”
It was a simple question, yet it almost brought him on the verge of collapsing.
“Because I wanted to. I didn’t think about it, so I just killed them.”
With his head still lowered, he admitted all of it to her, but hearing the lengthy silence, he started to doubt the actions.
The previous anger on her face was already gone, a look of loss and uncertainty replacing it as she didn’t believe it was him standing right before her.
“Do you at least know how many times you killed them? How many times you’ve taken their blessings?”
Barely holding himself together, he raised his head, a clear answer coming out of his mouth.
“I don’t.”
Once again, a loud silence spread through the throne palace of the goddess. Resounding in her ears, she wanted it to disappear, the carefree tone she heard inside his voice. Regardless, she stood up, coming closer to the boy with her bare body.
“Ten thousand, five hundred and eighteen. You reaped through their hearts every time, with that damn sword of yours. Tell me, was it fun?”
She asked him while looking deep into his eyes.
Hearing no answer, she finally got infuriated. His calm face angered her. His indifference irked her. She wanted to make him disappear from her sight, but deep down, she knew she shouldn’t do it. No matter what he did, she wouldn’t do it.
He was the best she had, after all. Even if he lost himself, she still had a sliver of hope left for him.
Still, after a minute, there was no response.
“Then, let me help you remember.”
A light flew from her fingertips straight to his head. Immediately, his pupils dilated before they lost any shine. Only after a few moments did he regain his consciousness.
“Happy?”
There was no answer, only apparent disinterest in talking with her.
With a thought, she repeated her actions, and the memories of all the times he killed her daughters replayed themselves in his mind.
“Happy?”
No answer.
She surrendered after who knows how many times.
“We don’t have any more time left, you know that. I gave you so much freedom and potential, but you wasted it, succumbing to your soul.”
The blazing anger left her a few recollections ago. Instead, her eyes glistened, both with guilt and sorrow after what she did to him. This much was possible to break his soul, yet not thinking reasonably, she did it. Blaming herself, she simply turned back to her throne, her eyes not knowing how to proceed forward.
Just then, as she was walking there, she heard something she didn’t expect. She thought he had broken down from the pressure on his mind, but it seemed otherwise. The smile around his face screamed something completely different. And, as he said the last part, her eyes wavered.
“I may have wasted a lot of time, but you helped me recall all of it right now. I found it. The way to save all of them combined.”
Instinctively, she knew it. That he wasn’t lying. Her senses told her he was telling the truth. But she couldn’t believe it either way.
“What? So, you?”
Dumbfounded, she suddenly realized while tears threatened to give way around her eyes. Wiping them off, the goddess couldn’t stare at the smile he was giving her any longer.
“You really are stupid.”
Chuckling at her comment, he wasn’t able to speak as she continued.
“Why? Was it all on purpose? I almost broke your soul apart because of my carelessness.”
“Kind of, but it was mostly because I wanted to repent a little.”
“And, while recalling the events, you came up with a plan?”
“Exactly. Though there is something I will have to ask you for.”
Shaking her head, she no longer looked angry or sad. Instead, with a perplexed look, her eyes turned to his ones for the second time.
“That doesn’t matter. If it can save them, I will give you everything in my power.”
“That’s the issue.”
Somewhat surprised, she still trusted him, no matter what. With a smile of her own, she broke the silence and repainted the lost colors around his seemingly indifferent face.
“Conall, I will ask you one final time, do you think you can save them?”
Hearing his name being called by her, his face suddenly changed. A resolute, solemn expression replaced the calm look. His yellow eyes gazed deeply at the goddess in front of him.
“I promise. I promise I will save them and kill him.”
His word reached the goddess very clearly, to which she clenched her fists subconsciously.
“Tell me.”
“I need curses. The strongest ones in particular.”
Although he hesitated, in the end, he said those dreary words that no god wanted to hear. In-game and outside.
After all, why should they waste their powers for a mortal, when they could just kill them? It was unreasonable from any side of the matter.
To ask that from a god, he was fully prepared for her to lash out at him for giving such a consideration, yet, she seemed to ponder over it carefully.
“How many?”
“All ten divine and the strongest five high curses.”
Once again, the goddess shut herself as she began to calculate the costs of such an operation.
“We only have one last chance now, and the cost of these curses isn’t low.”
“I know, that’s why I hope you will keep your faith in me.”
A brief silence followed their exchange. Starting from the very beginning, he explained every part of his idea, every minute detail he would be making and all of his decisions that would play out in the world. And, as countless hours passed by with her listening, she finally heard him stop.
The two looked each other into their eyes, both waiting for confirmation of the other.
“Are you ready? Even though you’re still not in your new body, you will feel the curses right now. There is no going back once I curse you.”
A resolute fire was burning deep down in his irises.
“Thank you, so please do it.”
With a snap of her fingers, dark and deathly energies flew towards his soul, integrating themselves with him one by one.
Conall fell down to his knees as he experienced the searing pain on his soul. No matter how hard he curled his fists, the pain wasn’t physical. He couldn’t elevate it no matter what. Yet, blood still flowed around his skin, quickly tainting the marble floor
The goddess watched him writhe in pain with pained eyes. Even though she integrated the curses in a way that would be the least painful, they were still divine curses.
After minutes of constant pain, he finally started to get back to himself. Slowly but surely, he stood up from the marble floor, his broken body somewhat healed up thanks to this place.
“How do you feel?”
The goddess asked, worried that the curses might have destroyed him from the inside.
“Weak. Awfully weak. I can’t muster up any strength.”
However, seeing his response, she could only smile. Once he spoke up, she felt that his soul was stable. Even though he went through that much pain and divine curses, his soul was as calm as if nothing had ever happened.
“Can you see it?”
Conall’s eyes caught something on the side. During the integration of the curses, he already saw something, but couldn’t focus on it.
On his side, there was a transparent, purple screen showing multiple texts.
You have been cursed!
Current Curses:
DIVINE
Obstructed: Your aura pathways are almost fully blocked. You don't possess an aura core.
Glass Body: Everything is much more painful.
Hateful Determination: Giving it your all costs you.
Fool’s Spirit: You cannot learn more than three skills.
Giant’s Spirit: You need ten times as much experience to level up.
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Unrewarded: On a level-up, you gain one free stat point instead of three.
Cursed Blood: You lose 2 stat points of every attribute each day.
Uprooted Core: You will never be able to use your mana and magic.
Fate’s Ploy: Limits are harder to overcome. You will never reach your true potential.
Split Soul: The effects of your skills are halved for each skill you possess.
HIGH
Glutton: You need more food for the same result.
Shattered Mind: You’re extremely prone to mental attacks.
Unrested: Sleep is not as effective.
Resistant: Potions and pills don’t work on you.
Intolerance: Poisons work on you five times better.
Conall chuckled to himself after looking at the beautiful list. In the game, curses were only available to be gained in the middle of the game, but at that point, there was almost no way to get rid of them, making them quite pointless.
Now, however, he had them from the very beginning. Just imagining the rewards that could be gained from them, his determination lit anew.
“Conall.”
The goddess suddenly called out to him, and he stopped checking out the window. He heard urgency in her voice, making his smile disappear.
“I can’t hold you here any longer. I have to send you to the world immediately.”
It was understandable. She spent way too much divinity on the plan. There was no other god that would indulge in such a stupid idea, as it was far too dangerous. Sacrificing their powers and influence for a mere mortal was something none would dare comply with.
She stretched out her hand and a peculiar light gathered at the center of her palm.
With a confident smile on his face, he said a sentence before disappearing.
“See you in a few years.”
“Take care, and good luck.”
After she muttered in an incoherent voice, her limbs felt weak. She made her way towards the throne with debility. The pillars upholding the ceiling started to crack, slowly crumbling. Despite being the goddess of this world, this much was still enervating.
…
It threatened to collapse, the train. The thunderous storm rummaged through its metallic layers on the outside unlike any previous time. Countless droplets beat onto it rhythmically, increasing their might with each passing second.
Nonetheless, the machine was far too sturdy. Made from the finest and toughest alloys that conducted mana better than most swords of the knights, the outer layer of the magical energy protected it against the seemingly unimposing rain.
Yet, with time, the rhythmic pounding took on a chaotic reverberance, and the magic train felt it wholeheartedly. The blue film that was making up its tough skin started to be shredded through and washed away along with the storm. Furiously, as the mighty beast of metal roared, more mana was burned into the exterior while a second layer protruded itself from beneath.
The heavens roared at the puny attempt, spreading its hatred onto the train, the mana attracting the bolt of energy from high above. A blinding light spread through the space, not failing to wake those that had fallen to the soft embrace inside.
Falling victim to the attack, the boy that suddenly woke up from the ear-deafening lightning, still lingering inside his head as he tried to shake up the feeling. Still, it simply didn’t feel like it would go away, no matter how many times he rubbed to get the pain off.
Looking around him while rubbing his cloudy eyes, he needed a bit of time to adjust to the nocturnal shade, but eventually, he had gotten the hang of it, looking at the train cabin’s interior. Glancing to the side, the main attraction was the practically flooded windows that were automatically shut from the inside. The yellow eyes he wore changed slightly, but nonetheless, he steeled his resolve. He would do it, no matter what.
Gazing back to the rest of the surprisingly large space of the cabin, his eyes eventually got to the timid-looking boy, sitting in the corner next to the cabin’s doors. Ever since he first got onto the train, he had been stuck in here.
Not that he complained, of course. The cushions were comfortable, a bit fancy, but impressively snug. Also, the boy was a nice companion since he didn’t need his attention at all. He could get back his very needed sleep, though it was already time, and the storm reminded him at any given chance.
Somewhat startled by the sudden gaze, the boy quickly closed the book that he was reading before swiftly catching the chain of the dim table lamp on his side. A guilty expression spread out on his face as his head lowered itself a bit.
“Did I wake you up with the light? I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…”
“Don’t worry, the lightning woke me up.”
“Lightning? There was a lightning strike?”
The boy’s face suddenly sprung back, surprised at what he had just heard, but the world quickly explained it to him, painting the whole window on his right bluish-white.
“See?”
A slight smile appeared on his face, ready to chuckle. On the other side, realizing that he was too immersed in his book to hear it, Marthy covered his ashamed face with the book.
“No need to be embarrassed. Even if it came from stress, it’s a good sign for an aspiring alchemist.”
“Is that so? I’m not really sure about that. Especially tomorrow.”
Marthy replied, the book still in his face. He didn’t know for which time it happened, but the boy could see his companion’s eyes light up in anxiety, going back to the printed text before him. A slight shake of his head was unnoticed as he looked out of the window with crossed arms.
Even if he wanted to look at the landscape they were traveling through, it wasn’t really possible, the rain omitting any of his chances to do so.
Once again, he looked at his new friend before asking.
“Say, do you want to make a bet?”
“Huh? A Bet?”
Marthy was startled for the second time. He was already back to repeating the book in his hands, and it was simply so different to what he was thinking about at the moment that Marthy couldn’t help but spit his words out.
“Yes. On what the answers to your exam are. What do you think? If my prediction loses, I will buy you anything you want if we meet again in the future. If I win, you get to enter the house of alchemy. What do you say?”
He waited for an answer, but the boy on the other end seemed confused by the suggestion. He was dumbfounded that someone even proposed such a thing.
Yet, he didn’t know why, but it felt like there was something nagging at the end of his head. That he might lose something very precious if he didn’t give the right answer.
“Okay.”
Marthy answered softly.
“Check ‘c’ in every answer.”
“Wha-?”
He screamed dumbfounded at the blunt answer.
However, before he could ask for an explanation to such a ridiculous solution, a feminine voice resounded throughout their wagon.
“Attention all passengers, this is an announcement for the Harricks Train arriving at John Talise Station. In a short time, the magic train Talise will have arrived at the final station. We ask all potential academy students and passengers to please gather their belongings and prepare to leave the train.”
“Listen to me and you will pass.”
Without even saying his goodbyes, he simply left, leaving Marthy questioning everything.
Although he felt somewhat bad to just leave him hanging, there wasn’t time to think about such things. He had arrived at the capital, and that was what mattered the most. Running through the masses of people going out of the train, he made some enemies, but once again, he could only apologize in advance before ramming onto their shoulders as he made his hurried run.
The station was large and expansive, illuminated by the standing mana lamps. Running through the hard tiles on the ground, he quickly made his way up from the platforms, all the way to the exit, where tides of people walked through, the city being as busy as it was at day. Using umbrellas to stop the heavy rain was useless, however, these parts weren’t wet at all, the magic systemes above the buildings guiding the rain.
Still, he didn’t think anything about it. It wouldn’t impede his advance nor destroy his chances. This was the center of the capital, unlike the place he was going to. A warmth quickly engulfed his feet and legs, almost instantly sharpening themselves to a stirring pain that made his teeth grit and jaw clench.
Stomping onto the hard bricks that the road was made from, he ran with all his legs had to offer, quickly experiencing the outcome of having done just that. The white, linen shirt he wore under his light, leather armor was quickly tainted, similar to his body, sweat intertwining with the blood that came out from the same orifices.
His legs tried to give out even with just a simple, few minutes of sprinting, shaking incessantly, to which he gave them even more reasons to hate him, running faster than ever.
Receiving the countless gazes of contempt for ruining the nightly peace, from nobles and merchants alike, he simply ignored them, spraying his blood onto the world with carefree eyes. Before he could rejoice at changing the streets, however, someone just had to interrupt.
“Hey! Get back here right now!”
Some guard was running after him from the other end. Somebody must have informed him, mused the boy, only to use more of the hidden energy that made his body scream in agonizing pain.
Appearing on his right hand as well, a simple flask appeared in his hands, and he suddenly jumped into a dark valley of the surrounding buildings.
Quickly uncorking the small bottles, immediately, the dark space was engulfed with vivid and bright fumes, an image appearing made from them. Changing into what appeared to be the construct of a potent spell, he quickly drank half of the murky, light gray fluid, and his body replied.
Hearing the steps of a couple, armored knights arrived right before the valley’s entrance, instead of going back, he ventured right into them, quickly seeing their tall figures, standing upright with their swords brought out.
Clearly, being in the center of the capital, they weren’t some random people he could simply ignore, however, he did. To their stupefied expressions, the boy simply walked right past them.
“Where the hell is he?”
“Are you sure there even was somebody here? Haa, and I was practically in her legs already.”
“Don’t call for us next time.”
“No, no! I was sure that kid was here just a second ago!”
Leaving them to bicker around, he sped through the large capital’s streets, of which were many and vast. Now that he was already free from any sight, the world around him veiling his body and energy, he brought out another simple flask, the last in his possession.
This time, however, it was bright. Practically glowing in its deep, crimson red shade, it was tantalizing just looking at it inside its glass. Opening the fabled elixir, he drank it without saving anything, unlike the previous one.
Almost immediately, his muscles and bones creaked as the power they released was impossible to achieve with the boy’s small and lethargic frame. Practically flying through the gradually less crowded streets, at the same time, he finally experienced some rain, using it as his compass.
Going to where the downpour intensified, he soon came to an area where his skin threatened to give way and tear apart under its excessive force.
Finally, after two minutes of running at full power together with the elixir, going through countless streets while looking out for passersby on his way. Seemingly, he ran through almost half of the city with the impressive strength his legs showed.
And, as he stared at the images playing out before him, his steps faltered, coming to a complete halt as he froze in place. Was it fright, shock, or the combined together, he had no idea, but gazing at the figure with tattered robes, his heart wavered, beating with uncertainty unlike ever before. Taking a step forward, he watched carefully, waiting for the events to unfold.
Coming out of the hood, the long, bluish silver hair fell to the ground, with a body already broken and shattered from the countless attacks she had to either block or dodge. The blood around her bare feet flowed and washed away in the dead of the storm.
Countless thunders spread through the city, alarming the people inside since the barriers should have protected such instances from happening. Although she tried to move her arm out, to grab for something indescribable, it was all stopped as soon as she felt yet another danger incoming.
Flying straight at her like a flash of deadly light, the red energy around the assailant made the water around him dissipate, being so overbearing. With his two swords at play, the man almost instantly reached her from beyond the dark valley, where he threw her out a second prior.
Having broken a lot of the bones inside her body, she was no longer capable of moving around, much less putting up a fight. Not that she was able to to begin with. Slashing down both of the swords, the man’s face let out a surprise as he felt a tough barrier of mana protect her body and stop his weapons.
But, before any miracle could ever display itself, the blue barrier of the magical energy shattered into millions of pieces, giving way to the man’s weapons while her consciousness faded. All of her mana was spent on the last measure, wearing the girl out.
The storm intensified to the point of bruising those that stood beneath it. The droplets felt more like pellets instead, but the man with his two swords didn’t care. Gripping them even tighter, he positioned them right over her head and heart, ready to pierce through and finish the very important mission he had at hand.
The sword started to cut through the air, ready to pierce through her most vital points, but, before it could truly happen, a warm spread through the center of his body. It was a weird feeling, something he had never truly experienced before.
Why was his body stopping all of a sudden, his muscles not responding to his commands? Forcefully taking a step to the side, the swords in his hands fell to the ground, the assassin falling onto his knees as he tried to reason out whatever the hell just happened.
Searching for the weird feeling in his body that came from behind, he quickly reached there, only to realize that something happened, which it should never have.
A dagger, stabbed right through his back to where the heart was, a scalding sensation deep inside it.
He quickly looked around as his strength slowly faded away. There was nothing. No presence whatsoever. Who has done it? Was there anyone here that could even do such a thing?
Countless questions wreaked havoc in his head, unable to come up with a soluble solution.
Still, this was only a stab to the heart. He had endured much over the time of his life.
But then, why was he hugging the ground? Was he weaker than he remembered?
That couldn’t be, after all, he was one of the strongest fighters of the empire.
Although he kept thinking, distraught, he didn’t fail to sense the presence appearing in the middle of the empty street.
The rain had lessened considerably by now, but the man didn’t care about that. His gaze focused itself on the glowing in the dark, cold yellow eyes of the red-haired boy. Fear struck his ruptured heart as he looked at him.
“Who are you!?”