The passageway beyond the door was darker than anything Kalsei had seen in Velcyne so far. It felt as though the shadows themselves had weight, pressing against him as he and Seikan moved deeper into the Catacombs. The cold was bone-deep now, every breath they took visible in the frigid air. The heavy energy of the curse wrapped around them, thick and suffocating.

Kalsei’s body ached, his muscles stiffening with each step, but he kept moving, his usual grin wavering slightly as the reality of their situation settled in. "You know, Seikan, I was hoping our first big adventure would involve fewer cursed dungeons and more… dragon slaying."

Seikan didn’t respond at first, his cold green eyes scanning the passage ahead. His mind was focused, already calculating their next move. "You’re still alive," he said finally, his voice flat. "That should be enough."

Kalsei chuckled weakly, though it was clear he was still recovering from his earlier injuries. "Yeah, well, a big angry cow can't keep me down forever."

As they pressed forward, the whispers grew louder, swirling around them in a language neither of them could understand. The deeper they went, the more unstable the magic in the Catacombs became, the runes on the walls flickering like dying embers.

Finally, the corridor opened up into a wide chamber, its air thicker than anywhere they had been before. In the far corner of the room stood a massive stone archway, unlike anything they had seen so far. It wasn’t a door in the traditional sense; there was no physical barrier, only a shimmering veil of dark energy swirling in the arch’s frame, pulsating with malevolent intent. The runes along the walls glowed faintly, feeding power into the archway like arteries to a heart.

Kalsei’s gaze followed the flow of magic, his sharp eyes narrowing as he sized up the situation. “Well, that looks like a portal to nowhere good,” he muttered, shaking his head. “And here I was hoping for something a bit less... apocalyptic.”

Seikan, his expression unreadable, stepped toward the swirling energy. "This is it," he said quietly, his voice almost drowned out by the hum of dark power in the room. "The source of the curse is tethered to this magic. It’s not just a door—it’s an anchor, holding everything together."

Kalsei groaned, rolling his shoulders. "Fantastic. So, what, we unplug it and call it a day?"

Seikan didn’t reply immediately, his cold green eyes scanning the runes etched into the stone. "It’s more complex than that," he said, his voice thoughtful. "The magic is woven deep. If I just sever it carelessly, it could cause a magical backlash—or worse, unleash the curse further."

Kalsei’s smirk returned, but there was a seriousness behind his eyes now. "Alright, so we’re playing the delicate game. Fine. You do your thing, I’ll make sure no ugly surprises pop up."

Seikan, focused as always, nodded, stepping closer to the archway. He raised his hand, his fingers beginning to trace the runes with care, his movements precise and deliberate. The dark energy that swirled in the archway reacted instantly, pulsing in response to Seikan’s magic.

Kalsei, standing a few paces behind, shifted restlessly. "This magic stuff always takes time, doesn’t it?" He glanced around the room, his body tense as he scanned for any potential threats. "Any chance we can put this thing on fast forward?"

Seikan shot him a glance, his eyes sharp. "If I rush it, we’ll end up buried under a mountain of cursed energy. Is that fast enough for you?"

Kalsei raised his hands in mock surrender, his grin returning. "Alright, alright. I get it. Slow and steady. Just don’t take too long, or I might fall asleep."

Seikan’s focus remained on the runes, his fingers weaving through the ancient symbols with practiced precision. The air around them crackled with energy as Seikan slowly began to unravel the curse, each movement bringing them one step closer to breaking its hold.

The chamber seemed to pulse with anticipation, the dark magic shifting like a living entity, as if it knew what they were trying to do. Kalsei could feel it too—the tension in the air, the sense that something was watching them, waiting for them to make a mistake.

"You’re doing great, Seikan," Kalsei called out, his tone light but laced with urgency. "But if the big bad curse monster wants to show up, now would probably be the time."

Seikan didn’t respond, his fingers moving faster now as he pushed through the resistance of the curse’s magic. The archway trembled, the swirling energy within it beginning to fray at the edges.

As Seikan worked, a System Window appeared before both of them, its familiar glow cutting through the darkness.

Quest Update: The Curse of Meliora. Objective: Break the seal and defeat the curse’s manifestation.

Rewards:

• 1000 experience points.

• Shadow Band (Kalsei).

• Rune-etched Cloak (Seikan).

• 500 Gold.

Kalsei’s grin returned, albeit faintly. "Well, that’s something to look forward to, I guess."

Seikan didn’t respond, his attention fully on the archway as the swirling magic within it began to shift. The cursed energy crackled and hissed, resisting Seikan’s attempts to break it, but he pressed on, his fingers tracing intricate patterns through the air.

The tension in the room grew unbearable, the whispers reaching a fever pitch as the runes around the archway's frame began to crack. Seikan’s hands moved faster, pushing through the resistance as dark energy poured from the archway's inner vortex in waves.

"Almost there," Seikan said through gritted teeth, his voice tight with concentration.

Just as the vortex collapsed in on itself, the runes once protecting it, erupted into splinters, the air around them exploded with dark magic. The whispers turned into a deafening roar, and from the center of the chamber, a figure began to form—a twisted, shadowy mass of energy that pulsed with malevolent intent.

The System Window flashed again, this time with a warning:

Boss Encounter: Curse of the Void. Level: 7 Health: 2000

Abilities:

• Void Chains (Lvl 3): Summons dark chains that bind and drain life from targets.

• Shadow Pulse (Lvl 2): Releases a pulse of dark energy, causing damage over time.

• Curse Infliction (Lvl 4): Places a curse on enemies, reducing their stats by 10% for a limited time.

Kalsei’s eyes widened, his grin faltering as he raised his sword. "Oh great, more chains. I love when things get kinky."

Seikan shot him a look but didn’t comment, his focus shifting to the manifestation before them. "Stay back," he warned. "I’ll handle the curse’s magic. You focus on keeping it distracted."

"Yeah, sure. I’ll just casually distract the evil shadow demon. No problem," Kalsei muttered, already moving as the Curse of the Void lashed out with its dark chains.

Kalsei’s agility kicked in, allowing him to dodge the chains with ease, though the effort was clearly taking its toll on his already weakened body. He activated Blink Strike, darting behind the manifestation and delivering a swift strike to its back. The cursed energy hissed, but the attack barely seemed to faze the creature.

"Okay, that’s not good," Kalsei muttered, ducking under another chain as it lashed out at him. "Seikan, anytime you want to do your magic thing, now would be great!"

Seikan didn’t respond, his eyes glowing faintly as he activated Rune of Decay. Dark energy spread across the floor, forming a circle around the manifestation. The curse let out a guttural roar as the rune sapped its strength, the shadows around it flickering and weakening.

Kalsei, seeing his opportunity, activated Rift Strike, sending a pulse of distorted energy through the air. The shockwave slammed into the curse, causing it to stagger as the rune drained more of its power.

"That’s right!" Kalsei grinned, his usual energy returning despite the pain coursing through him. "Not so tough now, huh?"

But the celebration was short-lived. The curse retaliated, releasing a Shadow Pulse that rippled through the room, hitting both Kalsei and Seikan with a wave of dark energy. Kalsei grunted in pain as the magic burned through him, his strength waning.

"Oh... fuck..." Kalsei gasped, barely keeping himself upright, his eyes having trouble keeping focus on the enemy as he felt the room spinning.

Seikan, sensing Kalsei’s struggle, made a decision. He had no choice—he knew Kalsei couldn't take another hit. With a grim expression, Seikan activated the Skill Menu, his fingers hovering over his available points. He had earned one new skill point during their last level up, and he hadn’t yet used it, and though he never imagined himself talking a support skill, this was Kalsei.

He didn’t hesitate. His fingers moved swiftly, selecting a new ability from the list:

New Skill Unlocked: Rune of Restoration (Lvl 1)

• Effect: Creates a healing rune that gradually restores health to nearby allies over time.

Seikan’s eyes flashed as he activated the rune. A faint glow surrounded him as he traced the symbols in the air, his movements precise and controlled. The rune flared to life at Kalsei’s feet, its warm light washing over him as his wounds slowly began to close.

Kalsei’s breath steadied, the pain in his chest easing as the healing magic took effect. "Whoa… okay, that’s new," he muttered, feeling the strength return to his body. "Didn’t know you were into healing now, Seikan."

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Seikan’s cold expression didn’t change, though there was a hint of relief in his eyes. "Don’t get used to it."

With his health restored, Kalsei grinned and launched himself back into the fight, using his high agility to dart around the cursed chains as they lashed out at him. Seikan continued to drain the curse’s strength with his Rune of Decay, weakening it with every passing second.

Finally, after what felt like hours, the curse let out one final, agonized wail before collapsing in on itself. The dark energy that had filled the room dissipated, leaving only a faint whisper in its wake.

Curse of the Void defeated. 2000 experience points earned.

The system window flashed again, this time with the rewards they had earned for breaking the curse:

Quest Complete: The Curse of Meliora.

• 1000 experience points earned.

• Shadow Band (Kalsei - Accessory): Increases Kalsei’s Agility by +5 and grants a 10% chance to avoid incoming physical attacks.

• Rune-etched Cloak (Seikan - Armor - Light): Increases Seikan’s Intelligence by +4 and enhances the potency of dark magic by 10%.

• 500 Gold.

As the system notifications disappeared, Kalsei let out a long breath, collapsing against the nearest wall with a tired grin on his face. "Well, that was fun. I’m thinking we should celebrate by never doing that again."

Seikan stood over the spot where the Curse of the Void had been, his cold eyes scanning the room for any lingering traces of magic. Satisfied that the curse had truly been dispelled, he turned to Kalsei, his expression still unreadable.

"Rest while you can," Seikan said, his voice low but firm. "There’s more to do. We still need to retrieve the relic before we leave."

Kalsei groaned, wiping the sweat from his brow as he sat up. "Right. The side quest. Because apparently, fighting cursed monsters isn’t enough for one day." He gave Seikan a lopsided grin. "You sure you don’t want to take a nap first? I promise not to tell anyone."

Seikan raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "We retrieve the relic, then rest."

Kalsei rolled his eyes but pushed himself to his feet, the effects of Seikan’s Rune of Restoration still working through his system. His body still ached, but he was feeling significantly better than he had just minutes ago. "Alright, fine. Let’s go grab this shiny thing and get out of here."

They moved deeper into the chamber, toward the far wall where a small, intricately carved alcove had been hidden behind the cursed energy. Now that the curse was gone, the alcove was visible, glowing faintly with a soft, golden light.

Kalsei curiously approached the alcove first, peering inside. His golden eyes lit up as he saw the object resting on a pedestal—an ornate, ancient relic, shaped like a small, intricately designed medallion. The surface of the relic shimmered with an otherworldly light, and strange symbols danced across its surface.

"Well, there it is," Kalsei said, reaching for the relic with a smirk. "Time to cash in on some sweet loot."

Before his fingers could touch the relic, a System Window appeared in front of him, warning him of the relic’s properties:

Relic of the Lost Ages (Quest Item).

Type: Unique.

Effect: Holds powerful ancient magic. Beware of curses linked to the relic. Must be returned to the town to claim your reward.

Current Status: Dormant.

Kalsei frowned at the warning but shrugged. "Cursed relic, huh? Not like we haven’t dealt with worse." He picked up the relic, feeling the strange warmth of its magic pulse through his fingers. "Alright, we’ve got it. Time to head back to town, claim our reward, and maybe get some decent food."

Seikan glanced at him, his expression serious. "Be careful with that. There’s no telling what kind of magic is bound to it."

Kalsei flashed him a grin, tossing the relic up and catching it with ease. "Relax, Seikan. It’s fine. I mean, what’s the worst that could happen?"

Seikan’s eyes narrowed. "Don’t tempt fate."

With the relic now in their possession, the two of them made their way back through the winding corridors of the Catacombs. The oppressive weight of the curse had lifted, and though the air was still cold and the shadows still clung to the walls, it was clear that the worst was behind them.

After what felt like hours of navigating the twisting pathways, they finally emerged back into the main chamber, the faint light from the entrance just visible in the distance. Kalsei let out a sigh of relief, running a hand through his messy hair. "Finally. Fresh air."

Seikan, still remaining vigilant, glanced around the room one last time, ensuring that no other threats lingered. "We need to rest before we head back to town," he said, his voice firm. "You’re still not fully recovered."

Kalsei raised an eyebrow. "Rest? You’re the one saying that? I think the curse messed with your head."

Seikan shot him a cold look, but there was a flicker of something softer in his eyes. "You were nearly killed. I’m not taking any chances."

Kalsei, for once, didn’t argue. He knew Seikan was right, and as much as he hated to admit it, he was still feeling the effects of the earlier fight. "Fine, fine. We’ll rest."

They found a small, secluded alcove near the entrance to the Catacombs, where the air was less oppressive and the darkness wasn’t as suffocating. Seikan set up a basic barrier rune around them, creating a small protective shield that would alert them to any approaching danger.

Kalsei collapsed onto his bedroll with a groan, his body finally relaxing as the tension of the day melted away. "Man, I could sleep for a week."

Seikan, ever meticulous, sat down beside him, his eyes scanning the entrance. "We’ll only rest for a few hours. Then we head back to Meliora."

Kalsei grinned, though his eyelids were already drooping. "Whatever you say, healer."

Seikan shot Kalsei a look that would send anyone else running. "I am a Rune Master."

As they settled into the relative safety of the alcove, a System Notification appeared before them once again:

Level Up! Kalsei: Level 4

Stat Points to Spend: 5

Skill Points to Spend: 1

Kalsei’s Stat Allocation:

• Agility: +3

• Strength: +2

New Skill Unlocked: Void Step (Lvl 1)

• Effect: Allows Kalsei to briefly step into the void, becoming intangible for a short period. Can be used to avoid attacks or reposition in battle.

Kalsei, barely awake, glanced at the system notifications with a sleepy grin. "New skills, huh? I guess I'll take this one."

Level Up! Seikan: Level 4

Stat Points to Spend: 5

Skill Points to Spend: 1

Seikan’s Stat Allocation:

• Intelligence: +3

• Wisdom: +2

New Skill Unlocked: Rune of Restoration (Lvl 2)

• Effect: Increases the healing potency of the rune, allowing Seikan to heal multiple allies over a larger area.

Seikan chose the skill, despite Kalsei's ribbing. They had broken the curse, retrieved the relic, and survived the Catacombs—but Velcyne was full of unknown dangers, and this was just the beginning.

They rested for a while, before Seikan stood, giving Kalsei a hard look. "Let's go."

Kalsei groaned as he lifted himself up off the floor, but didn't complain. The idea of a soft bed to sleep on instead of a hard stone floor was worth the push to get up and leave.

As they made their way out of the Catacombs, the crisp air hit them like a welcome wave. After hours in the damp, cursed atmosphere, the outdoors felt refreshing. Kalsei stretched, rolling his shoulders to work out the lingering stiffness from the battle. "Finally, some real air," he said, grinning as the sun started dipping toward the horizon.

Seikan followed silently, his usual unreadable expression in place, but his gaze flickered briefly toward Kalsei, who was casually flipping the relic between his fingers. He didn’t say anything, though. Kalsei had no idea how much magic could still be dormant within the object, and Seikan had no interest in explaining his growing suspicions just yet.

"Think the town’s still cursed?" Kalsei asked, looking at Seikan curiously. "If they start handing out medals for curse-breaking, I want mine made of pizza, and I want it in stuffed crust."

"Let’s hope they’re not still cursed," Seikan replied dryly. "Otherwise, we’ll be spending the night in that tavern you keep dreaming about, surrounded by nightmares."

Kalsei shuddered dramatically, though the playful smirk remained on his face. "More shadows? No biggie. As long as I don't get blindsided by a Minotaur, I'll be good."

Seikan said nothing, his attention shifting back to the relic—this time tucked safely in Kalsei’s inventory. He wasn’t planning on handing it over to the townspeople just yet. The curse might have been dispelled, but there was something about the relic that didn’t sit right with him. Its power felt… unfinished. He needed more time to examine it, to understand the layers of magic wrapped around it.

"How much further?" Kalsei asked, his voice a little more strained than usual.

"Not far," Seikan replied. "Another mile, perhaps."

Kalsei groaned dramatically. "Ugh, a mile feels like a hundred right now. I’m about ready to summon a horse or something."

"Do you know how to summon a horse?" Seikan asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Nope," Kalsei said with a grin. "But I’d figure it out if it meant not walking."

They walked for a while in silence, the familiar sight of Meliora coming into view as the golden light of the setting sun bathed the town in warmth. The town’s depressive atmosphere had lifted somewhat. The air no longer felt thick with fear and magic, but there was still a lingering unease, though it was too soon after the curse was lifted to see any remarkable improvement.

"Looks like we did it," Kalsei remarked, gesturing toward the town. "Meliora: now with 50% fewer curses. You think they’ll throw a parade for us?"

"They’re still recovering," Seikan said, his eyes sweeping over the townspeople. "They’ll probably be more interested in the relic than a parade."

Kalsei stopped for a moment, pulling up the System Menu to look over the relic. He paused, giving Seikan a sideways glance. "So… we’re not handing this over yet, are we? I mean, you haven’t exactly said it out loud, but I know you."

Seikan didn’t bother to hide it. "No. We’re not handing it over yet."

"Thought so." Kalsei’s tone was casual, but there was a glint of curiosity in his eyes. "You think it’s still dangerous?"

Seikan’s eyes narrowed slightly. "It could be. The curse is broken, but there’s still something about this relic that I don’t understand. Until I know what it’s truly capable of, we’re better off keeping it."

Kalsei shrugged, dropping the subject. "Alright, then. Guess we’ll hold onto it for a while longer. Can’t say I’m mad about it. Something tells me they’d stiff us on the reward anyway."

They continued walking, until they reached the town gate, Kalsei’s usual playful energy seemed to return as his eyes scanned the surrounding buildings. "So, first stop—tavern, right? I could use something that isn’t dried meat and stale bread."

Seikan shot him a look. "We’ll rest first. You’re still not fully healed."

Kalsei raised an eyebrow, pretending to be offended. "Me? I’m fine. Didn’t you see me back there? I’m practically invincible." He winced slightly, still feeling the dull pain from the earlier battle. "But yeah… maybe a little rest wouldn’t hurt."

Kalsei continued to scan the town, his golden eyes twinkling as he caught sight of a wooden sign sitting over the door of a building. The sign read 'The Thirsty Ox', and he grinned, knowing that was their destination. "You think they’ll name a street after us?"

Seikan didn’t respond to the joke, his mind already shifting back to the relic. It needed to be studied, but that would have to wait until they were in a safe place. He wasn’t sure what else the medallion could trigger, and he wasn’t going to risk testing it in the middle of a recovering town.

"We’ll rest at the tavern for tonight," Seikan said. "Then we’ll decide what to do next."

Kalsei grinned, his usual energy back in full force. "Tavern it is! Room and bathing, but i am first in the tub, Mr. Dark and Mysterious."

Seikan rolled his eyes but didn’t argue. He needed the time, and for now, getting Kalsei off his back would buy him that time.

Together, they made their way toward the tavern, the relic still safely tucked away in Kalsei’s inventory—its secrets waiting to be unraveled.