Grimoire of Cultivation

Chapter 103: Curse of the Past

The damp, warm air clung to everyone like a blanket as Barrond’s smile faded, his gaze settling on the center of the table. A soft amber glow emanated from his eyes, and the colored sand atop the table began to shift, forming into a replica of the supercontinent.

Darius’s eyes narrowed, catching details in the map that even his own hadn’t shown. Instantly, he activated his lightning mana, focusing on his triple-burner meridian, absorbing the map’s layout as fast as he could.

"For you to truly understand," Barrond began, his voice unusually somber, "I need to take you back to the beginning." The map shifted again, the continent splitting apart, its pieces drifting until five distinct landmasses lay before them.

Darius grinned slightly, the map was fully committed to memory.

Crelos’s eyes lit up as the realization hit him. "The first age..."

Barrond’s eyes swept over the group. "How much do you know of the primordial age?"

Haku tilted his head. "Never heard of it."

'Neko?'

Darius shrugged, his expression neutral. "Very little."

"I read a bit about it once," Crelos added, beaming with pride as he glanced at Haku. "But detailed knowledge of that era is scarce. What little there is... well, it’s all highly guarded."

Haku rolled his eyes, clearly unimpressed. However, his attention quickly shifted as the map began to glow, each of the five continents lighting up in a different color, representing the elements.

"It’s no surprise your knowledge is limited," Barrond said, his tone serious. "That’s all the more reason to start here."

Darius’s gaze remained fixed on the table, a chill slowly creeping up his spine. 'Whatever they want from me… it’s bigger than I thought.'

"In the beginning, Gaia was a world of raw, chaotic mana—a realm of untamed potential," Barrond continued. "From this chaos, the five Beasts emerged, each embodying a primal force of the planet."

The sands shifted, molding into colossal figures towering over the continents.

"Thalgram, the Beast of Earth," he gestured to a massive form. "Incidara, the Beast of Fire; Arkor, the Water Beast; Skaldris, the Wind Beast; and Astralith, the Lightning Beast. They were the sovereigns of their domains, shaping the very fabric of Gaia."

The group watched intently as the sands depicted the Beasts' immense forms.

"Life struggled to flourish under their dominion," Barrond went on. "Yet, from the essence of Gaia, the Ancient Races were born."

Ethereal representations of beings appeared across the lands.

"The Fae Lights, ethereal orbs of pure magic. The Feralyth, a race born with their souls bonded with animals. The Fomorians, colossal beings of stone and metal. The Heliarchs, radiant creatures of fire and light. And the Ondrids, half-water, half-wood entities."

Haku's ears perked up slightly, but he remained quiet, absorbing the information.

"For millennia, they learned to survive under the Beasts rule, but were stifled in their growth. The Primordial Beasts consumed vast amounts of mana, preventing its inhabitants —and Gaia—from evolving."

The atmosphere in the chamber grew heavier, the weight of ancient history pressing down.

"But there came a time when the Primordial Races sought change," Barrond's tone deepened. "They devised a plan—a monumental endeavor to free Gaia from the Beasts' grasp."

The sands depicted scenes of preparation, weapons being forged, energies being gathered.

"Each race crafted weapons and strategies unique to their abilities," he continued. "In unison, they challenged the Beasts."

The chamber seemed to vibrate with the echoes of ancient battles as the sands illustrated colossal confrontations.

"The battles were cataclysmic," Barrond said softly. "The land was scarred, the skies torn asunder. But in the end, they succeeded."

A moment of silence lingered, the weight of sacrifice palpable.

"Yet, victory came with a price," he said, his eyes reflecting sorrow. "Three great curses were unleashed upon Gaia."

Haku felt a chill run down his spine.

"First, the Mana-Beast Curse," Barrond explained. "Corrupted mana spread across the land for a hundred days, twisting wildlife into the monstrous creatures we now know as mana-beasts."

Crelos clenched his fists slightly, the realization sinking in.

"Second, the Calamity Curses," Barrond's voice echoed. "When the Beasts died, their energies twisted into living disasters—Calamities. Each Beast left behind a curse that can randomly turn a Mana-Beast into a Calamity, powerful enough to reshape the world."

He paused before continuing. "Third, the Soul Dissolution Curse. Only affecting the strongest amongst the Ancient Races and their descendants, upon death, they found their souls dissolved into mana, never to reincarnate. This effectively weakened the races over time."

A heavy silence settled over them.

"The world was irrevocably altered," Barrond said. "The Great Change reshaped Gaia, merging the continents into one vast landmass."

The sands showed the continents being thrust together, forming the world as they knew it.

"In the aftermath, the Primordial Races adapted," he continued. "The Fae Lights became Faeries and Dryads, nurturing the new world. The Feralyth fused permanently with their animal companions, giving rise to the Werefolk."

Barrond's gaze softened. "The Fomorians, unable to reproduce, sacrificed themselves to birth the dwarves. The Heliarchs, in a desperate bid to save their kind, attempted the Shadow Rebirth Ritual. It backfired, transforming them into the first Vampyres."

He sighed lightly. "The Ondrids, losing their connection to the sea, tranformed into Forest Elves, bonding solely with the land."

The images faded slowly, the sands settling back onto the table's surface.

The chamber remained quiet, the weight of Barronds revelations settling over them.

Haku finally spoke, his voice hesitant. "Why share this with us now?"

"Because Gaia is dying."

Haku's eyes widened, a rare seriousness crossing his features. "What do you mean, dying?"

Barrond's expression grew grave. "When the Primordial Beasts were defeated, Gaia was finally freed from their oppressive influence. The planet began to settle from its chaotic landscape into the world you know today. It was able to evolve."

He gestured to the map as it shifted, showing life replacing molten wastelands. "But Gaia's evolution is not complete. During the Age of Twilight, mana was abundant—saturating the land, the air, the very essence of life. The planet was gathering strength for its next and final step."

Crelos leaned forward, captivated. "But something changed."

"Yes," Barrond nodded. "During this time, a massive stone fell from the stars, impacting Gaia with unimaginable force."

The sands depicted a fiery meteor descending upon the world.

"From this event, you humans came to be," Barrond continued. "Whether they arrived with the rock or their emergence was mere coincidence, none can say for certain."

Haku's eyes narrowed. "Humans..."

"At first, their numbers were few," Barrond said. "But they multiplied rapidly, spreading across Gaia. They began to understand mana, to wield it in ways previously unseen."

The sands illustrated humans learning, building, expanding.

"They developed their system’s," Barrond's voice took on a somber tone. "And soon came into conflict with the elder races. The culmination of this struggle was the humans' triumph and the dawn of the current Age of Wonder."

"As the war unfolded, we Elemental Kings—then formless—watched in silence."

"Why didn't you stop them?" Haku asked firmly.

"At first, there was no need. No matter the dominate species, as long as there was balance, we wouldn't interfere," the bear replied, his gaze steady. "But as humans grew and built their towers, the balance tipped."

He looked at each of them, his tone serious. "When the elder races, mana-beasts or even we Elemental Kings use mana, it flows naturally, returning to Gaia. But humans... they destroy it, depleting Gaia permanently."

Crelos felt a knot tighten in his stomach.

"As humans gained power, their mages and knights progressing in their systems, the planet began to suffer," Barrond continued. "The surface level of mana dwindled."

He waved his hand, and the sands showed areas of Gaia fading, becoming desolate.

"In response, certain regions of Gaia gave birth to the Chaotic Mana Regions," Barrond explained. "Areas where mana spews forth into the world, trying to combat the depletion caused by humans."

The map highlighted these areas, pulsing with elemental energies.

"When these regions formed, we Elemental Kings truly gained form," Barrond said. "We took control of our respective domains, acting as guardians and regulators of Gaia’s mana."

"But it's not enough," Darius murmured, his brow tightening.

"Correct. Despite our efforts and the mana regions, humans continue to grow unchecked. Gaia is dying. The planet cannot sustain the rate at which mana is being destroyed."

Crelos looked pale. "Is there no way to reverse it?"

"There is a way," Barrond said, his eyes locking onto Darius. "And that is why we need you."

Darius met his gaze steadily. "You don't seriously want me to save the world?"

A heavy silence settled over the chamber.

"Not entirely," Barrond replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "But we Kings believe you are one of the keys to restoring balance."

Darius shook his head, his brow furrowing. "How much time do we have?"

"We’re not certain," Barrond replied, his voice heavy. "But if I had to estimate, at the rate humans are expanding… a thousand years, at most."

Darius considered the bear’s words, his gaze sharp as he met Barrond’s eyes. ‘There’s no way they expect me to challenge the towers and the union. It must be something else.’

"Tell me exactly what you want from me," Darius said, his tone calm but firm. "If I can help, I will. But don’t mistake your past aid for some kind of blood debt. I have no obligation to risk my life—let alone take on the entire world—just because you’ve helped me a few times."

Barrond squinted at Darius’s words, a low chuckle rumbling in his chest. “We’re not asking you to wage war against the mages," he said, amusement flickering in his eyes. "What we need is for you to destroy the curses left behind by the five Beasts."

Both Haku and Crelos sucked in a sharp breath, while Neko, oblivious to the tension, started playing in the sand, flicking it with his tiny paws.

“I assume you have some kind of plan for this?” Crelos asked, his voice tight.

Barrond turned to him with a slight smile, waving his paw to summon a small tornado for Neko to chase. “We do.”

Darius frowned, unease settling in. “And why exactly am I the one for this? Does this have something to do with me wielding all five elements?”

Barrond raised a brow, nodding slowly. “Exactly. But understand, I can’t explain the full process yet—not until you’ve proven yourself. For now, you’re only a possibility, not a certainty.”

Darius sighed internally, his thoughts turning sarcastic, ‘Why is it always like this with these types? Was I this cryptic when I tested Wu Chen?’ He glanced toward Crelos. "Your thoughts?"

Caught off guard, Crelos blinked before gathering himself. "Honestly, I don't see a reason to refuse at this point. It's likely there’s some kind of spell requiring all five elements. They’re probably holding off until they can trust you—or until you’re actually able to cast it." Turning to Barrond, he added, "I assume they plan to keep you in the chaotic mana regions for training before teaching you how to break the curses. Am I close?"

Barrond’s laughter boomed, shaking the room as his paw hit the table. "Exactly! Seems this one’s really got a 'rooted' understanding!"

"How will breaking the curses help save Gaia?" Haku’s voice cut through Barrond's joke, his lips sneering as he calmed himself.

The Elemental King hesitated, a rare sign of uncertainty. With a deep sigh, he waved his paw over the table. The sand began to shift and swirl, gathering around a surprised Neko, forming the massive shapes of the five Primordial Beasts. "When each Beast died, as I said, they released the three curses. The one we want you to focus on is the Calamity Curse."

The sand beasts spasmed, their towering forms crumbling until only five glowing orbs of sand floated above the table. "In truth, the Calamity Curse isn't a traditional curse at all. This is something only the Elemental Kings know. When the Primordial Beasts died, part of their souls survived, binding themselves to the world. These soul fragments are what we now call the Calamity Curse, and they also act as anchors for the Soul Dissolution Curse, maintaining its power."

Crelos and Darius exchanged a glance, both clearly surprised. After a beat, Darius spoke up. "So, if we destroy the soul fragments of the Primordial Beasts, we can also break the Dissolution Curse. But you still haven’t explained how that will help Gaia."

Barrond’s eyes narrowed slightly, his voice turning grave. "Because once freed from the Dissolution Curse, the elder races will reclaim their true strength. With their power restored, they will finally have the ability to stand against the towers. If they break free from the curse—and with our aid this time—we can push humanity back and restore balance to Gaia."

Both Crelos and Haku turned toward Darius, their expressions expectant, waiting for his decision. After a few moments of silent contemplation, Darius spoke, his voice steady. "I will agree to this on three conditions. First, you must provide me with a safe and secure place to break through. Second, if I succeed in breaking through, you will support me and my companions in any way I ask, as long as it’s within your power—this extends to the other Kings as well. And third," his tone hardened slightly, "you must allow me to seek my revenge against Rainslif Crowley. When the time comes, you will not hinder me."

Barrond’s laughter echoed throughout the chamber, a deep, rumbling sound that seemed to shake the very ground beneath them. His massive form began to grow, filling the space even more. "Agreed! Pass our trials, and we will grant you anything within our power—even your revenge."

Darius allowed himself a small smile, nodding to Barrond. "Its agreed. Now then, since that’s settled, there’s something I need to take care of immediately."

Fidgeting with his signet ring, Darius hesitated, a rare flicker of awkwardness crossing his face. "Would it be alright if I… carved something into the wall here?"

Haku suddenly leapt onto the table, his fur standing on end. "Shit! I completely forgot about the kids!"