The forest was eerily silent as Thaka's soul ascended, leaving behind a palpable sense of loss. Rosie arrived moments later, her wings barely making a sound as she touched down. She took in the scene—the solemn faces of the children, the stillness of the forest, and the palpable grief in the air. Her heart ached for the fallen hero, but something else quickly drew her attention.

As she approached Gracillia, the hair on the back of her neck stood on end. Arin, nestled on Gracillia's back, was emitting a dark, malevolent energy. Rosie's eyes widened in horror as she recognized the telltale signs of a curse. The dark energy swirling around the boy was like a living entity, tendrils of shadow seeping from his skin, writhing and pulsing with a hunger for life.

Her thoughts raced. Cursed creatures... they're the worst abominations. They consume the life force of those they love, leaving only death and despair. I can't let that happen here. She assumed a combat stance, her hand glowing with a lethal spell. 'Gracillia, step aside,' she commanded, her voice cold and determined. 'I have to end this before it gets out of control.'

Gracillia's eyes flashed with alarm. "Rosie, wait!" she shouted, stepping protectively in front of Arin. "You don't understand."

Rosie hesitated, her eyes narrowing. "Understand what? That this boy has become a monster? Look at him, Gracillia! That dark energy will destroy everything it touches."

Gracillia's gaze was fierce, filled with a protective fury that stopped Rosie in her tracks. "I know what it looks like, but there's another way. Killing him now will doom his soul forever."

Rosie's heart pounded, torn between her duty and her friend's plea. Is there really another way? She took a deep breath, her spell fizzling out as she listened. "Explain, then. Quickly."

Gracillia's tone softened, though it remained urgent. "The God of Nature can help Arin. There's a ritual that can cleanse him, but it requires time and delicate preparation. The curse is deep, Rosie, but it's not beyond salvation. We have to act quickly before it consumes him completely."

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Rosie stared at Arin, his face contorted in a silent scream. The shadow tendrils pulsed around him, a sinister reminder of the darkness within. Was there a chance? Was it possible to save a soul from such a powerful curse? It was a gamble, a risk that could cost her dear, but the thought of sacrificing Arin, of dooming his soul, was too horrific to bear.

"Alright, Gracillia," Rosie said, her voice weary. "What do we need to do?"

The weight of the situation rested on their shoulders as they began their desperate race against time, hope flickering like a candle in the wind, their only weapon against the encroaching darkness.

Gracillia's footsteps were muffled by the thick moss carpeting the forest floor as she led Rosie and the still-unconscious Arin deeper into the heart of the woods. The air was heavy with the scent of earth, ancient magic, and the fog covering the whole structure. It felt like stepping into a living, breathing entity.

They arrived at a clearing where the air thrummed with power. In the center stood an altar, ancient and moss-covered, and behind it, a figure shrouded in a cloak of leaves and vines – Aetheria, the keeper of the Goddess of Nature. Her presence was as ancient and powerful as the forest itself.

"You arrived at the right time," Aetheria's voice was like the rustling of leaves,

Her voice, a gentle whisper amidst the rustling leaves, greeted them. "I know why you have come," she uttered. "The Goddess has witnessed your plight."

Gracillia, her voice trembling, addressed Atheria. "My child has fallen victim to a curse that only the Goddess can heal."

"The Goddess wishes to see the boy," Atheria replied. 'Place him upon the altar.'

Without hesitation, Gracillia laid Arin gently upon the altar. Atheria nodded, and the ground beneath them shimmered with an ethereal glow.

Suddenly, Arin's unconscious body stirred, his mind slipping into a realm of shadows. He found himself in a void, devoid of light, yet enveloped by an otherworldly presence. A soft voice, like the whisper of the wind, reached his ears.

"My child, I am here,' the voice whispered. "I have watched over you since your birth. You are a child of nature, destined for greatness.'

He struggled to move, but his body felt paralyzed. 'Who are you? Where is my mother?' he asked desperately.

"You are not a beast child boy, you are a human and a speck in the vastness of this world, young one," she said, her voice a rustling of ancient leaves.

Arin strained to see her, but the shadows held him firm. "I will do whatever it takes to meet my mother," he vowed, his voice forming tense air around him.

Suddenly, the Goddess started laughing. Her laughter was like the wind through the trees. 'No one has ever ignored me boy, I said no one, yet a debt remains unpaid. I am fulfilling it, I have granted you a boon, mortal child. Use it well.'

The Goddess decided to test Arin. She appeared in front of him, devouring the darkness around him. He saw her clearly, bathed in moonlight. Her hair flowed like a silver river, cascading over her shoulders and spilling into the world, infusing it with life and energy. A halo of light encircled her head, but her face remained veiled from his view.

" Boy because of your hunger and desperation to achieve more power your blessing converted into a curse by sucking all your negative thoughts to form a being that is inside you now corrupting your soul. "