Chapter 5 : A New Threat

"Azriel!?"

"Where are you?"

"If you don't come out right this second I'm going to tear all of your books!"

"You wouldn't do that, Morfeo,"

"I wouldn't,"

I stifled my giggles as I watched Tyr, Yeomfra, and Morfeo search for me. We're all playing hide and seek in the forest near our cabin. Today is my twelfth birthday, And every year we celebrate my birthday by playing hide and seek in the woods.

Although Tyr, Yeomfra, and Morfeo are teenagers now, they always grant my childish requests because since I'm stuck in a kid's body, I might as well act like one.

Plus, who could resist my charm?

As I grew older, I became more adorable.

The first time I look at myself in the mirror was four years ago, and I thought there was a fairy trapped in the mirror.

After learning about my irresistible charm, I began to abuse my power and found their reaction to my cutesy manner amusing. Tyr would pinch my cheeks and carry me everywhere, refusing to let me down. Yeomfra, who had a cold demeanor, turned into a blushing mess whenever I attacked him with my deathly puppy eyes.

And Morfeo still pulled minor pranks on me, but he would literally hunt a bear for me.

Watching them playing like little kids like this was fun!

Right now, I'm hiding in the shrubs with my small arms curling around my knees. I let out a breathless giggle when they walked further away from me.

As I waited for them to return, I reclined back onto the tree, sighing softly before closing my eyes. The foliage overhead shielded me from the scorching hot rays of sunshine, penetrating through the leaves and creating a mesmerizing kaleidoscope on the ground.

In this moment of tranquility, my thoughts began to wander off.

I've lived in this forest with Darcio, Tyr, Yeomfra, and Morfeo for twelve years. My vysu improved a lot to the point where my frail body couldn't physically accommodate the amount.

Darcio told me that there were tons of artifacts in Evren that served as extra magic storage. Sadly, obtaining those artifacts wasn't easy. Artifacts cost enough money to buy two people. Influential folks like aristocrats or nobles could obtain them through auctions. Commoners could get a hand at low-ranked artifacts by completing quests.

When I discovered that there were a lot of things I didn't know about this world, I was starting to feel the temptation to explore the empire more. I've been cooped up in this godforsaken forest for so long. I'm bored!

Darcio wouldn't let me go just yet, though. We could only leave once the magicians find the cure for my curse.

With a dejected sigh, I got up and patted the dirt and leaves off of my black shorts.

I'm not in the mood to play anymore.

When I turned my heels to the dirt path, I heard a distant rumble of footsteps from behind me. Was it the others? But it sounded like there were more than three people.

Curious, I pivoted toward the sound; my tattered white boots crushed the leaves and twigs underneath as I strolled closer. Then, my body tingled when I felt a faint wave of vysu in the air. Vysu was coming out of a person.

Since Darcio and the others couldn't awaken their magic, I'm sure that this frizzle I'm feeling was definitely vysu. The books said people who awakened their magic could differentiate natural vysu, and people with vysu within their system. Allowing them to size each other's magic.

Since I never met anyone else other than Darcio, Tyr, Yeomfra, and Morfeo for the past twelve years, knowing that I'm about to meet new people made my heart stutter excitedly.

Automatically, I quickened my pace until I stumbled over my steps clumsily. I grinned so wide my cheeks starting to hurt.

New people! I can finally see new people—

But then.

I abruptly halted my steps, when I saw five freakishly huge bulky men wearing black robes and scary masks standing in front of me.

Their heads slowly turned toward my way, and my heart dropped to my belly.

"Found him," One of the men spoke in a low tone, successfully making my skin crawl.