Temptation and Pursuit

The Silver Curse – Volume 3, Chapter 5: Temptation and Pursuit

The Search Continues:The wind howled through the narrow streets of the small town as Lina and Lyra entered, their cloaks fluttering behind them. The settlement was nothing special—an outpost town for travelers, filled with merchants, tired adventurers, and wandering mercenaries. But what caught their attention was the uneasy tension that lingered in the air.

Lyra nudged Lina. "Feels off, doesn't it?"

Lina nodded. "Something happened here."

They walked further, passing a tavern where adventurers muttered over their drinks, eyes shifting toward them before returning to their hushed conversations.

Lina approached the innkeeper. "We're looking for information."

The man, a burly fellow with a scarred face, eyed them carefully. "Depends on what you're asking."

"There were rumors about a powerful warrior in black," Lyra said casually, leaning against the counter. "We'd like to know more."

The innkeeper frowned. "You're not the first to ask. But if I were you, I'd let it go. People who go looking for him don't always come back."

Lina's grip tightened on her sword. "Where was he last seen?"

The innkeeper sighed, wiping a glass. "East. Near the old ruins. Some say he fought off a demon there. Others say he isone."

Lyra grinned. "Now that's interesting."

Lina exchanged a glance with her companion. They finally had a direction.

The Darkness WithinFar from the bustling town, in the wilderness where no man dared to tread, Yuto stood alone by a riverbank, staring at his own reflection in the dark waters.

The silver rings on his fingers pulsed faintly, whispering.

You are not enough. You will never be enough. Take more.

He clenched his fists, the voices gnawing at his mind. The last battle had been different. He had lost control for a moment—just a brief, terrifying moment where the curse had seized him. And he had liked it.

Behind him, Mira watched carefully, her arms crossed. She had seen the shift in him. The way his grip had tightened around his sword. The way his expression darkened when he fought.

"Yuto," she said finally, stepping forward. "You need to stop using the rings."

He didn't answer immediately.

"They make you stronger, but they're eating away at who you are," she continued. "You know that."

Yuto exhaled sharply. "Then tell me, Mira. How do I win without them?" His voice was cold. "Do I let myself be weak? Do I let my enemies win?"

Mira flinched. "That's not what I'm saying. But if you keep using them, there might not be anything left of you."

Yuto turned away from her, stepping further toward the water. Deep down, he knew she was right. But there was a part of him—a growing part—that didn't care anymore.

He was tired of holding back.

An Unexpected EncounterJust as Mira was about to press him further, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the trees.

Yuto turned sharply, hand on his sword. Mira mirrored his reaction, her dagger at the ready.

A lone figure emerged from the darkness—a woman clad in dark armor, her silver hair flowing down her back, a confident smirk on her lips.

"You certainly live up to the rumors," she mused, her red eyes gleaming as she looked Yuto over. "But I expected more."

Yuto's expression darkened. "Who are you?"

The woman placed a hand on her hip. "Selphira. High Officer of the Demon Army." She tilted her head. "And I have an offer for you."

Mira tensed. "We're not interested."

Selphira chuckled. "Oh, I think you will be."

She took a step closer, lowering her voice. "You've felt it, haven't you? The curse growing stronger. The world turning against you. You don't belong among humans anymore."

Yuto's fingers twitched over his sword hilt.

"The Demon Army could use someone like you," Selphira continued, her tone smooth. "Someone who doesn't fear power. Someone who wants more."

Mira stepped in front of Yuto, glaring. "He's not going anywhere with you."

Selphira laughed. "Oh, I don't need to convince you, sweetheart. This isn't your decision."

She turned back to Yuto, her red eyes gleaming. "It's his."

For a long moment, Yuto didn't speak.

Mira watched him carefully, fear creeping into her chest.

And then, to her horror, Yuto lowered his weapon.

Lina and Lyra's DiscoveryLina and Lyra had barely left the town when they encountered a battlefield.

Corpses littered the ground, the stench of blood thick in the air. Some of the fallen bore the crest of the Adventurer's Guild, others were mercenaries.

Lyra crouched beside one of the bodies, inspecting the wounds. "Whoever did this… was fast. Precise."

Lina clenched her fists. "This wasn't just a fight. It was a slaughter."

As they scanned the area, a single survivor coughed from beneath a fallen corpse.

Lina rushed to him, pulling the body off. The man, barely alive, gasped for breath, his eyes wide with fear.

"W-what happened here?" Lina demanded.

The man trembled, his hands gripping her cloak. "H-he… he moved like a demon. His power—it wasn't human."

Lina felt a chill run down her spine.

The man's grip loosened as his body went limp.

Lyra exhaled. "Well. That's not ominous at all."

Lina stood slowly, her mind racing.

They had found their next lead.

And for the first time since their journey began, Lina felt real fear creeping in.

End of Chapter 5