Time marched on inexorably, and with each passing day, Brynja and Roland approached their twentieth birthday. Their friendship had evolved into an unbreakable bond, founded on absolute trust that no being or curse seemed able to shatter. However, despite the closeness they shared, the abyss of the Blood Moon curse loomed over them like the axe of an executioner, a shadow threatening to sever everything they had built together.
The curse, which had for centuries transformed trolls into fierce, flesh-hungry creatures, was imminent. Every time the Blood Moon appeared in the sky, the trolls lost control of themselves, becoming insatiable monsters. For hundreds of years, their people had tried to shut themselves away and protect the humans, but sometimes the inner beasts that emerged were too powerful to be contained. This curse had raised an insurmountable wall between trolls and humans, a barrier that even Brynja and Roland were unsure they could overcome.
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"We have to face it together, Brynja," Roland said one night, his eyes filled with a mix of determination and desperation. "We can't let this tear us apart. If what we feel is real, we must overcome this trial."
Brynja looked at him with her heart in her throat. Roland's words touched the deepest part of her being, but the fear she felt was overwhelming. "Roland... you don't understand what you're asking. I won't be able to control it. If I hurt you... I would never forgive myself."
"And I would never forgive myself if I left you alone in this moment," Roland replied firmly, taking Brynja's hands in his. "We have overcome so much together. I don't want this to be what separates us."
Brynja's eyes filled with tears, but she nodded, knowing that Roland would not back down. "Alright. If you're determined, we'll do it. But only if you promise to take every precaution. We can't take any risks."
"I promise," Roland said, his voice soft yet resolute. "I will do whatever it takes to keep us safe."
Together, they chose a remote cave, far from any village or human settlement, where they could carry out their plan. Brynja insisted that Roland use strong chains to immobilize her during the process. "It's the only way," she said, her voice breaking as she imagined what could happen. "I can't allow anything to happen to you."
Although Roland's heart broke at seeing her chained in such a way, he knew it was necessary. Each nail he fixed into the chains hurt him more than any physical wound, but he did it without hesitation, for his desire to be by her side was stronger than his fear.
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As the sun began to set and night covered the sky, the tension in the cave grew. Brynja could feel a dark energy starting to invade her body. The transformation was near. Roland, sitting beside her, looked at her with a mix of concern and hope. He knew he had to stay calm, he had to be her anchor, but he couldn't help but feel a rising fear.
"I'm here, Brynja," Roland whispered, taking her hand even though it was chained. "I won’t let you get lost in this."
Brynja squeezed Roland's hand tightly, struggling against the rising wave of darkness that loomed over her. "I'm trying... Roland... but it’s so strong..."
With each passing minute, Brynja felt as if a dark and wild force was taking control of her body, pushing her toward a bestiality she could not stop. Brynja's consciousness hovered on the edge of a precipice, watching as her own body surrendered to the most primitive and cruel instinct. She fought against that darkness, but her effort was in vain. It was like trying to stop the flow of a river with bare hands.
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"Brynja, hold on!" Roland shouted, desperate as he watched his friend's eyes turn red, the unmistakable mark of the curse.
"I can't!" she screamed, her voice already transformed into a roar. "It's too strong!"
Finally, the dark force overpowered Brynja, and the only thing that stopped her advance toward Roland were the chains that held her. She roared and thrashed, trying to break free, but the chains, though strong, barely contained her fury. Roland stepped back, his eyes filled with tears at the sight of his friend transformed into an unrecognizable creature, but he refused to flee. He could not abandon her, not after everything they had been through together.
The night was long and agonizing. Roland spent every second with his heart in his throat, fearing that his friend would not return from that darkness. But when the first rays of sunlight began to peek over the horizon, the transformation came to an end.
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When Brynja woke at dawn, the first thing she saw was Roland by her side, still vigilant, his face marked by sleeplessness and anguish. The chains that had bound her now hung loose, without tension, and she, exhausted and defeated, slowly sat up, her face covered in shame.
"Roland... I felt everything," Brynja murmured, her voice trembling. "I was aware of what I was doing, but it was as if my body no longer belonged to me. That... that darkness took control of me, and I couldn’t stop it. I was just a mere spectator... of all the horror."
Roland knelt before her, gently taking her face in his hands. "It wasn’t your fault, Brynja. I knew this would be difficult, but we overcame it together. And I promise you, we will find a way to break this curse."
Although Brynja nodded, doubts still lingered within her. How could two young people break such an ancient and powerful curse? The shame of what had happened, of having shown that monstrous part of herself to Roland, consumed her. She wasn't sure if she could ever move past that feeling.
But before she could say anything more, Roland surprised her. He wanted to dispel all the doubts of his beloved, and with a silent determination, he leaned in and kissed her. It was a gentle kiss, full of promises and hope, and in that moment, the spark of a deeper love ignited between them.
"We're going to make it, Brynja," Roland whispered, a smile illuminating his face. "Together. We will break this curse."
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Together, they would embark on a quest to find a way to destroy the terrible curse that weighed upon their lives. They knew they had a hard journey ahead in search of the truth. Roland would delve into his research in the human world, where tales of ancient legends and the secrets of the elders might offer clues on how to break the curse. He would venture into forgotten libraries and meet with scholars, willing to risk everything for Brynja's salvation and their love.
Meanwhile, Brynja would do the same in the spiritual realm. She would explore the mysteries of her lineage, seeking answers among the echoes of her ancestors. The visions of her past might reveal to her the key to controlling the darkness that threatened to consume her. In every ritual, every invocation, she would feel Roland's presence close to her heart, giving her strength in her darkest moments.
It would be hard years of separation, filled with challenges and trials that would test their love and determination. But their conviction could not be stronger. With the spark of love guiding their steps, they knew that, although the path would be difficult, together they could overcome any obstacle and find a way to defeat the curse that kept them apart.