Curse cycle

The heat began to increase almost exponentially, causing Atlas to have to wipe the sweat from his forehead with his arm so that it wouldn't obscure his vision.

It was mid-summer, the temperature was already high, but not high enough to make a green, forested area feel like a desert.

Soon, small pieces of smoke began to rise into the air. The fierce trees of the forest were beginning to burn slowly. The green grass began to blacken from the heat and the temperature was beginning to become unbearable.

Atlas made mana flow throughout his body to alleviate the thermal sensation around him.

"What is happening?"

"A fire that burns life, this is the curse"

Thyxia still remained stoic, but Atlas saw that her eyes were slightly narrowed. Although he couldn't tell if it was anger, sadness or helplessness.

The trees were now completely dry, the grass had completely disappeared and now the entire meadow was nothing more than an expanse of black earth. In the distance, although Atlas could not see it clearly, the town was destroyed, its buildings had collapsed from the heat and was now nothing more than ruins.

"This…"

"This is the cycle, it happens at the end of each month, consuming the little life left in the empire"

Atlas didn't know what to say, so he remembered the people in the capital.

"What about people?"

"The same thing, they are burned until there is nothing left of them… but they are reborn again shortly after"

"What?"

"Look carefully"

Atlas didn't understand anything, but he listened and looked at the completely burned meadow. Everything was devoid of life, everything was dead land, but, incredibly and before Atlas's incredulous gaze, everything had now returned to normal.

It was in the blink of an eye, but the meadow was now completely fine. The trees were full of leaves again and the grass was as green as ever.

"W-what?"

"This is the illusion, everything is dead, but for some reason we see everything normal"

"So… the entire empire is like this?"

Thyxia nodded.

"With each cycle, a part of the empire's vitality was consumed. First there were plants, then animals and beasts, and finally humans. With each cycle, a limited amount of vitality was consumed, but one cycle per month for 10 years… ended up consuming everything"

Atlas looked outside the forest completely stunned.

"So, this forest…"

"Yes, eventually it will be completely consumed. I have defended my territory for 10 years, but I won't be able to hold out much longer"

The curse affected every living being within the empire, except for children who were born after everything began. But there were also them, the Heavens sin clan, plus some kingdom explorers and surely other people who entered without knowing anything.

"What will happen to those who will not die from… this?"

Thyxia, understanding what Atlas meant, smiled slightly.

"They will not die, but they would live in an illusion until their death"

Atlas frowned, looking at Thyxia with slight hostility.

"You tricked me"

"Did I? I simply gave you two choices and you decided to come to the forest"

If Atlas had chosen to leave the empire, then he would have been freed from the curse and from being trapped in the curse. But instead, he had decided to go to Hera's forest to look for Thyxia.

Now, even if he could reach the border in less than a month before the next cycle, Atlas doubted that the Dryad would let him leave.

"So? Did you bring me here because you want me to help you?"

Thyxia stopped smiling, then she looked at Atlas with a look she had never shown before.

"Your help? …Yes, I thought you would be helpful, but right now you are of no use to me." Atlas bit his lip. Although he already knew it, hearing it from someone else's mouth was somewhat painful.

"Although you possess the power of heroes, you are so weak that you are simply another ordinary mage. Even that girl from the imperial family has more potential than you"

Atlas frowned at the mention of Irelia, but did not ask.

"One attack, a simple attack from Orth was enough to kill you if I hadn't intervened"

Thyxia turned around starting to walk towards the portal.

'Who?'

Atlas stood still, not knowing what to do, then he began to follow the Dryad towards the portal. When they got there, Thyxia stopped and looked at him seriously.

"If you want to be of help, find a way to exploit that power of yours, then maybe, and just maybe, you will be somewhat useful"

Atlas wanted to reply, but the words did not come out of his mouth.

"I…"

Thyxia crossed the portal, returning to the intermediate area, and just as Atlas was about to cross, she saw how Thyxia looked at him from the other side.

"What are you doing?"

Although he couldn't hear what she was saying, judging by the smile that was reflected on her face, Atlas felt a slight tremor in his body.

Although he didn't know how to read lips, he somehow understood what she was saying.

"Come back if you can"

Atlas opened his eyes in surprise, but before he could even approach the portal, it was completely gone.

"Shit!"

Atlas hit the trunk of the tree that functioned as the portal door, then looked around him.

"Come back if you can… Really?"

Atlas smacked his lips, then straightened his back and summoned his staff.

"This counts as attempted murder!"

Atlas looked around him, and although he couldn't see them, he could sense at least a dozen beasts around him. Raising his staff, he formed an ethereal blade and positioned himself to defend himself.

"Well… I'll come back if you want it so much"