I Awakened A Divine Curse

Auren fell silent. So did everyone else—an awkward, heavy quiet settling over them.

Asenya studied them all, her expression a mix of amusement and something stranger, something unreadable.

Then, a second later, she yawned—loud, exaggerated, like a cat stretching in the sun.

"Oh my! Gods! I'm getting so sleepy. Did someone poison the air with sedatives? Honestly, the stench of boredom is enough to knock a person out."

Auren shot her a sidelong glance and sighed before turning to his other two companions.

"We haven't found the relic that brought down Dawn. But I have another way to end the war."

Meredith lingered, her eyes fixed on the ground as she sat cross-legged.

"But how can we be sure the Trial will end without restoring Dawn?"

Auren exhaled sharply.

"There's no rule saying Dawn has to be restored. Everything we've been taught about the Trial says our actions dictate its end. And you said it yourself—the first Trial is about confrontation."

Meredith glanced up at him, a slight crease forming between her brows.

"But we don't even know what we're confronting."

Auren smirked.

"You sounded so certain before—what, a few hours ago? Now you're not so sure?"

"I was never sure of anything except what we learned at the Preschool."

She hesitated, lips parting as if to say more, but no words came.

Auren watched her, indifferent, then added:

"My plan, however, is to use… to make use of Asenya's help to destroy both kingdoms."

Jasper and Meredith stiffened, shock etching their faces.

Then Jasper's eyes narrowed. He leaned forward, voice dropping to a mutter.

"Master Auren… it's impossible for one person to destroy both kingdoms. You might not realize how powerful they are. Their Knights can leap impossible distances, strike down iron gates with a single lance thrust."

Auren straightened his back and folded his arms, a possessive grin spreading across his face.

"None of you have seen how strong Asenya really is. Plus, she can craft statues that walk and fight for us! In time, we'll have armies of our own."

Asenya, meanwhile, stared into the dark sky, the pale moonlight washing over her face like a quiet lament. It cast a somber glow on her features, etching the flawless mask of a mysterious enchantress—one as enigmatic as the night itself.

Slowly, she pulled away from the shadows and turned to them.

"Yes… you called?"

Auren stared at her, indifferent.

"No. We didn't."

He turned back to his companions, oblivious to the way her demeanor fractured behind him.

"We'll need to prepare a lot. But I know we can do it."

Meredith and Jasper sat in silence, chewing over his plan. After a long pause, Jasper finally spoke, his voice barely above a whisper.

"But will she agree to all this? And... didn't she say the Priestess is her daughter? Would she really fight against her own blood?"

Asenya's voice cracked through the air like thunder.

"That wretched girl? Please! I'd be delighted to tear her apart."

Auren glanced between them and allowed himself a small smile.

"Well then? What are we waiting for? Let's start preparing."

Asenya rose abruptly, cutting them off as they moved to stand.

"Not so fast, little ones."

Her voice carried the weight of centuries.

"If you want stone armies, you'll need to fetch me materials. First - soul hearts. Second - body hearts of Cursed Creatures. The stronger, the better."

She leaned in, her eyes glinting.

"The number you bring me determines how many soldiers you get. No hearts, no army."

She paused, turning toward the window to gaze downward.

"Good. The desert teems with Cursed Creatures that survived the flame storm."

Turning back to them, she added a warning:

"But be careful. Those that endured those scorching flames didn't do so by accident."

Auren's face darkened.

'...Déjà vu.'

Asenya flashed him a radiant smile.

"Hey! Cheer up! At least no one's throwing you down a well this time!"

Meredith and Jasper exchanged confused glances at Auren.

Asenya clapped her hands sharply.

"Chop chop, little ones! Get moving while I gather stone scraps for your army!"

She lunged forward without warning, grabbing Auren by the collar and hurling him through the window.

Before Jasper could react, Asenya's hand clamped around his collar too—then he was airborne, crashing after Auren.

Meredith scrambled back, eyes wide, but Asenya vanished and seized her from behind. One long stride, a sharp heave, and she went flying after the others.

The only thing that saved them was the thick blanket of cold sand below.

Auren had just pushed himself up when Jasper slammed into him. They were both staggering to their feet when Meredith came down on top of them.

Gritting his teeth, Auren finally stood, brushing gray soot from his clothes. Jasper and Meredith did the same, their faces pale as they stared at him.

Meredith's voice, usually so calm, now carried an edge.

"What—who—is that woman?"

"The source of every bitter moment I've endured in this hopeforsaken Trial—"

He stopped short, memories flashing through his mind.

"Well, maybe not all. But most of them. At least I'm certain she'll be useful to me."

Jasper's eyes traveled up to the floating cubic Spire before settling back on the pair.

"Doesn't she seem... too eager about this?"

Auren met his gaze without emotion.

"Obviously. You think she'd help us without getting something in return?"

Jasper gave a slow nod.

"That makes sense."

He hesitated before voicing his next question:

"But do you know what she wants?"

Auren's head moved in a tight denial.

"No. But it doesn't matter. If our goals align, I'll use her until the moment comes to cut her down."

His hands unfolded like blooming steel, summoning a sword of deceptive purity — its pale metal gleaming with false innocence. The blade whispered through the air as he sliced downward, its elegant form belying its deadly purpose.

Then he was moving.

Auren's sudden burst of speed left both of them blinking at empty space where he'd stood.

By the time they landed, the surrounding dunes already stirred with movement. Cursed Creatures turned toward them in unison, their lumbering steps kicking up swirling black clouds of sand.