My parents had the woman stay at our home. Even in her weakened and broken state, she was a sweet person. She often came to see me and wanted to be called aunty Luna. Luna Rald was the woman's full name. She had been a part of another group of free elves. She had been separated from her kin and was ambushed by goblins. She failed to prevent them from taking her alive and was dragged into their breeding den.
Curious, I studied the embodiment of evil that was latching onto her. I admit that not checking my curiosity is one of my weak points. I mean my job in my last life was studying the unknown and once I start... I get absorbed into my work! All that seems to exist to me then is the task at hand.
Having Luna living at my home gave me time to study the curse that resided inside her. Having the subject of my curiosity so close I couldn't help myself. After a few days, I finally understood how curses worked! The curse used life force to make a barrier around the parts of itself that touched the host. The life force barrier prevented her body or light magic from reacting to it.
I had even figured out the source of the power in its bloodline and possibly even why it was cursed. Many creatures in this world could breed with others. Elves could breed with humans but not, dwarves, beast men, etc. Human's could breed with the most but not all species, and there was a high possibility of sterility in the offspring. Dragons, however, had the unique power in their blood to breed with anything. Dragons were known for their lust and ability to shapeshift.
It seemed that Goblins inherited only the lusty nature of their dragon ancestors. Goblins were small and had big feet because of their Halfling blood that the curse made a dominant trait. Instead of just being a crippling handicap it helped make goblins sneaky and silent. Their teeth sharp because of beast men and lizard men genes. The pointy ears that Goblins all had were elven in origin. Their green skin belonged to orcish ancestry and a bulbous Dwarf nose right in the center of all that mess to top it off.
Goblins were a mix of all races! The mixing of blood that only a dragon could cause. I knew that was why there was a curse. Someone had feared the power of the mixed blood and had done something about it. It would have taken a powerful dark mage to curse a whole lineage. Whoever did it intended to devolve and weaken them as much as possible? They probably meant to wipe them out entirely, but the rabbit-like breeding instinct of survival caused them to survive the ages.
A person may not be stronger than a human just because they had such a bloodline. In humans, two genius parents may not give birth to a brilliant child but they could. The curse maker feared an individual born with all the positive traits of every species. So they made the curse and caused the suffering of an unfathomable amount of women. I could feel a vengeful rage build in me.
I felt horrible for Luna as I had overheard the choice laid before her. She could use a potion to kill the fetus inside her, but it would cause permanent sterility. Elves could only produce three offspring in their lives, and Luna would lose all three. I also learned that elves were pro-life of all creatures usually, but Goblins were an exception as they were considered a monster. The only other option was to birth the beast and then kill it. I knew she hated her decision from the saddened look she sometimes had when she looked at me. I wondered if I could find another way.
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I thought of two possibilities, one I could destroy the curse. Second, I could do nothing and wait decades. Maybe, I could figure out how to cure it, but I know nothing about medicine. I know even less about the internal workings of even a human woman's reproductive organs inner workings! I mean... I remember it looked like a moose head but little else. It is worse being a different species altogether! It wasn't safe to make assumptions, so then waiting to cure was off the table. My best option then would be to break the curse and tell her that there is another potential choice! I mean, when has someone broken a curse and it turned out to have been a bad thing? Curses are bad M'kay!
Determined, I focused my attention on the pseudo-soul in luna's womb. I couldn't see the organ itself but the pseudo-soul and curse energy that existed therein. I used light magic to attack the curse itself. Focusing, I made a life-force barrier around the collision of magic. The curse resisted but eventually began to fall apart. After the curse broke apart, I suppressed the genes it had bolstered and activated some of the ones I had sensed were powerful. Suddenly a lot of new prompts greeted me.
You have broken " Cultist of Muiren's Curse."
A curse made by the joint efforts of a large cult. They are a cult that follows the Evil God Muiren.
Title gained "Curse Breaker."
+50% resistance to curses
+10% more power to light magic
Title gained "Life Bless Master."
+20% efficiency with life force.
Your creation of a [potentially sentient female fetus] has caused a stir among even the realm of gods!
Warning you have angered " Lesser Evil God Muiren."
Although This foe is currently unaware of your location, he has been angered by your actions and will seek vengeance upon you,
Well, fudge! I thought. I made an enemy of an evil god. Now I had two problems! First, I had to reveal myself to talk to Luna. I had to tell her there was another choice should she choose it. I didn't know if telling her that the child would not be a monster but something "special" would make a difference. The knowledge that the baby was female would help with that as no goblin had ever been female before. Ultimately, the choice would be hers. While I was pondering, a bright white and blue orb appeared before me. It looked very similar to my soul's initial appearance and hovered there a moment. I felt its gaze, but it wasn't hostile. Heck, I even felt warm feelings from it.
Before I could analyze it or do anything, it flew into Luna's belly. The fetus inside hadn't had a soul yet, but now it did. I didn't know if that's how it usually looked when a soul was granted to an unborn child, but it seemed unusual. There was a mild sense of foreboding as I had personally caused this. Whatever or whoever was inside, however, was not my enemy and would most likely be my strongest ally should they be allowed to live.
I admit my emotions may have gotten the better of me this time. I was afraid because the last person I knew who had experienced Luna's trauma killed herself. They sank into a dark depression... and in my past life, there was nothing I could do. Since I had the power to do something I felt I had to do something. Now I realized I a should have asked first before taking action. The fetus had initially been soulless which meant it would be stillborn after removing the curse, but now it had a soul. Damn! I messed up! Luna could very well be pissed off by this. Well... here's hoping she isn't too mad at me.