Chapter 14: Breaking the Curse

Kena's legs wobbled a bit as she walked, still tired from climbing out of the deep, dark well.

Even so, she felt good inside—better than she had since the moment she first opened her eyes in this wild place called Velmoria.

"That was crazy," she said, turning her head to look at Hope. "A ghost floating around, a snake hissing at us, and a magic flower that could do all that. This place is so weird."

Hope gave a small nod, his mask covering his whole face like always.

"You did a great job," he said in his calm, quiet way. "You saved all those people."

Kena shrugged her shoulders, but her face felt hot, and she knew her cheeks were turning pink.

"Yeah, well, I didn't want them stuck like that forever," she said.

She kicked a little pebble with her foot and watched it roll away across the dirt.

"Plus, that snake gave me the creeps," Kena added.

They kept walking, moving through a big, open field. Far ahead, the golden city shimmered under the strange purple sky.

The light was fading fast now, and tiny stars began to peek out, one by one.

Kena's stomach made a loud, rumbling noise that she couldn't ignore.

"I'm so hungry," she said, rubbing her belly. "Breaking curses takes a lot out of you."

Hope lifted his hand and pointed to a tree nearby. Its branches hung low, heavy with bright red fruit.

"Eat those," he told her. "They're safe to have."

Kena stepped over and grabbed one of the fruits. It was round and shiny, kind of like an apple, but softer when she squeezed it.

She took a big bite, and sweet juice ran down her chin, sticky and warm.

"This is good," she said, chewing quickly. She picked another one and tossed it to Hope. "Here, you eat too."

He caught it easily and somehow ate it under his mask.

Kena didn't bother asking how he managed that—she'd seen enough of his odd ways by now to just let it go.

They sat down together under the tree, taking a break.

The fruit filled her empty stomach, and the quiet around them felt nice after all the noise and trouble back at the village.

"Do you think they'll be okay?" she asked, wiping her sticky hands on her cloak. "The people in the village, I mean."

"Yes," Hope said simply. "The curse is gone for good. They'll live their lives now."

Kena nodded, her eyes dropping to the green stone in her hand. It glowed softly, like a little light just for her, and it felt warm against her skin.

"What does this thing do?" she asked, holding it up so Hope could see it better.

"Luck," he answered. "It helps you when things get tough."

"Luck," Kena said again, letting the word sit in her mouth. "I could really use some of that."

She slipped the stone into her pocket, right next to the old photo she always carried. "How many days do we have left?"

Hope tilted his head up to look at the sky, like he could read something in the stars.

"Less than half a month," he said. "We're getting close, but time's running out fast."

Kena's stomach twisted into a knot. Half a month—that's all she had to find Justice Veldric and get his kiss.

If she didn't, she'd die. The thought made her chest feel tight, but she shoved it away.

"Then we'd better keep going," she said, pushing herself up to her feet.

They started walking again, leaving the soft field behind. The ground turned hard and rocky under their boots.

The golden city loomed closer now, its tall walls glowing bright and lighting up the path ahead.

Kena's fingers brushed the stone in her pocket, and it made her feel a little better, like a tiny piece of hope she could hold onto.

She'd broken a curse today—saved a whole village. Maybe, just maybe, she could break the curse on herself too.

A sudden sound snapped her out of her thoughts. It was a rustle, coming from the rocks nearby.

She froze in place. "Did you hear that?" she whispered, her voice low.

Hope nodded, his hand already on his sword. He pulled it out, the metal gleaming in the dim light. "Stay back," he warned.

Something moved—a shadow, quick and big. Kena's heart pounded hard in her chest.

"Not again," she muttered under her breath. She braced herself, expecting another fight, maybe a wolf or some angry soldiers.

But then the shape stepped into view, and she let out a shaky laugh. It wasn't a threat at all—just a deer.

A huge one, with antlers that sparkled like they were made of glass.

It stared at them for a moment, its eyes big and dark, then turned and ran off. Its hooves didn't even make a sound on the rocks.

Kena laughed again, louder this time, her nerves settling. "Just a deer," she said, shaking her head. "Got me all worked up for nothing."

Hope slid his sword back into its sheath. "Good," he said. "No need to fight this time."

They kept moving forward, the rocky ground slowly turning back into soft grass. Kena's mind wandered to the village they'd left behind.

She could still see Lila's big smile, the way the people's faces lit up as they woke from the curse.

She'd never done anything like that before—never helped anyone so much. Back home, she'd been different.

She'd yelled at people, pushed them away when they got too close. Here in Velmoria, though, something was changing.

Or maybe it wasn't change at all—maybe she was still the same Kena, just trying harder to be better.

"Hope," she said, breaking the quiet between them. "Why do you keep helping me?"

He didn't answer right away, and for a moment, she thought he wouldn't. "You need it," he said at last. "And I can help."

Kena frowned, kicking at the grass. "That's all? Nothing more than that?"

He turned his head to look at her, his eyes steady behind the mask. "That's enough," he said, his voice firm.

She didn't argue. His mask hid so much—his face, his thoughts—but his words rang true in her ears.

She gave a small nod and kept walking, her eyes fixed on the golden city ahead.

It felt like it was calling to her, pulling her closer with every step.

The night grew colder as they went on, the air sharp against her skin. They found a spot by a little stream and decided to rest.

Kena lay down on the grass, the green stone still in her hand. She held it tight, feeling its warmth spread through her fingers.

She closed her eyes, letting her mind drift. She thought of home—of the life she'd left behind.

But then her thoughts shifted, and she wondered if maybe, just maybe, she could stay in Velmoria a little longer.

There was something about this place—something that made her feel alive.

The stream bubbled softly beside her, a gentle sound that mixed with the rustle of the grass in the breeze.

Kena took a deep breath, letting the cool air fill her lungs.

She could still taste the sweet fruit on her tongue, and her body felt heavy but good, like she'd earned this rest.

Hope sat nearby, quiet as always, his mask catching the faint light of the stars.

She didn't know much about him—where he came from, why he wore that mask—but she trusted him.

He'd been there through the ghost, the snake, the fire. He'd been there when she needed him most.

Kena rolled onto her side, tucking the stone close to her chest. The golden city wasn't far now.

She could feel it in her bones, like a pull she couldn't shake. Half a month, she thought. Half a month to live or die.

The idea scared her, but it also lit a fire inside her. She wasn't ready to give up—not yet.

The grass was soft under her cheek, and the night wrapped around her like a blanket.

She listened to the stream, to the wind, to the steady sound of Hope breathing nearby.

For the first time in a long while, she felt like she wasn't alone.

The stone glowed faintly through her fingers, a little piece of luck to carry her forward.

She smiled to herself, small and secret, and let sleep take her.

When she woke, the sky was still dark, but the stars were brighter now.

She sat up, rubbing her eyes, and saw Hope standing by the stream, looking out at the horizon.

The golden city's glow was stronger, closer. Kena stood, brushing grass off her cloak. "Ready?" she asked.

Hope turned to her and nodded. "Yes," he said. "Let's go."

They started walking again, side by side, the stone warm in her pocket and the city shining ahead.

Kena didn't know what was coming—danger, hope, or something else entirely.

But for now, she had Hope, she had the stone, and she had a chance. That was enough to keep her moving.