Episode 4: Chronicles of a Curse

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Like every summer, the heat could be felt, intense, making our sweat flow like a cascade into a spring, trying to cool the environment. The trees creaked as they felt the wind caressing every part of their structure, surrounding them and making them sway gently as if they were dancing to the rhythm of a fresh melody.

Everything we went through earlier fades with the subtle atmosphere of calm that surrounds us. The warm breeze, yes, but also treacherous enough to show us that within order there is also chaos, bursting into our minds as if telling us that fear and uncertainty could chase us at any moment.

We had dispersed across the clearing without many words. Some cleaned their weapons unnecessarily. Others looked towards the trees, as if expecting Kerl to appear among them wrapped in light.

Aethen wasn't talking. He had his gaze fixed on his hands, as if he had seen something that the rest of us couldn't yet understand. Flumir scratched his head, uncomfortable, restless. Dorim walked in circles, like a caged wolf. I... I was simply breathing. Or at least trying to.

—Why do you all have such long faces? Did someone from your team die?— an imposing voice sounds behind all of us.

When I turn to see who it is, a colossal figure rises before us. Imposing, of a size comparable to a mountain... but above all, one thing "shone" more than the others...

—Master, your bald head is making the sun reflect in my eyes— I say while closing one eye, smiling mischievously.

—HAHAHA! Kid! You like to push the limits and smile at death every time you open your mouth, don't you?— says Kerl with a big smile, while grabbing his stomach from laughter.

The atmosphere, although still tense, loosens a bit. Even Aethen raises his gaze for a moment, and with a grimace that could pass for a smile says:

—And to think that stress almost killed us... and you come to give us a heart attack from laughter.—

We all look at him, in silence.

—Aethen?— asks Flumir with wide open eyes. —Did you just make a joke?—

—Don't get used to it— he replies, looking back at his hands.

—My bald head just reflects that my spirit is as bright as the sun itself!— says Kerl, looking at me again with that spark in his eyes, as if he hadn't forgotten my daring comment.

But the laughter barely settles when Kalesh's voice cuts through the atmosphere like a sharp blade.

—Master, do you have any idea why we're facing semi-humans?—

Kerl observes him for a second, as if evaluating every word. Then he sighs.

—No. Rather, I'm here to find out... or at least to ensure that none of you die in the attempt— he responds, and although his face becomes serious, his eyes still retain a mischievous sparkle.

—You'll all come with me— he adds. —I need you to explain your formation, and who will take the lead when we enter combat.—

Kerl walked ahead, his imposing presence as natural as the shadow that light left in its wake. Each of us followed his rhythm, absorbing the tension that the master radiated.

Suddenly, he stopped and looked at us with an intensity that made it clear he was evaluating each one of us, without haste or hesitation. His gaze first stopped on Aethen, who remained silent, as always, but with an air of latent uneasiness.

—I've been watching you, kids— said Kerl with a slight smile, as if he were worried. —You must be more careful with your emotions. Showing what you feel in combat is fatal. Was it very difficult to face the semi-humans?—

—Yes, master, it was quite complicated— Aethen replied, letting out a tired sigh. —Together we managed to defeat one, but we ended up quite exhausted. I had read about them and, although they are fierce and strong, I feel that these weren't normal. It's as if they were more powerful than they should be.—

—And how can I control my Lysae after an attack that leaves you so exhausted?— asked Aethen, with a curious expression, as if expecting a revealing answer.

Kerl remained silent for a moment, reflecting, before responding calmly.

—Well... that's not so easy to explain, but the answer is in your own body, kid. You have to know your limits and, more than just invoking power, learn to seek a balance. If I used all my Lysae at once, I could lose my hand. But if I charge a third of my power, condense and compress it, then recharge it again, the attack becomes much stronger. The more times you manage to condense and compress, the more powerful the blow becomes, without the Lysae overflowing.—

He paused, looking at each of the boys.

—But don't fool yourselves, condensing and compressing power is not easy at all. It takes a lot of practice and control. You should all train that if you want to be prepared for what's coming.—

—Condense and compress? How are we supposed to achieve that, professor? What you're saying sounds very ambiguous. Besides... if we're talking about using a third of the power, then I would have to condense it at least three times to use it completely. Isn't that inefficient?— I asked, raising an eyebrow with doubt.

—Kid, didn't you learn anything in your classes?— Kerl replies, frowning, with that look that clearly said: "Are you stupid or what?"

—When you absorb energy from the outside, it can feed the Lysae, making it stronger— Kalesh intervened, with a serious tone. —What the master is trying to explain is that, instead of collecting energy from outside, apply that same principle inward. That is, if your Lysae feeds itself, compressing and condensing two times a third of the power would be like multiplying it by three each time. That means that, by doing it twice, you would be expelling the equivalent of 180% of your Lysae... even though you're not using everything at once.—

He made a brief pause before looking directly at Kerl.

—But, master, external extraction has consequences for the flow of Lysae. Doesn't this method have them too? As I understand it, taking energy from the outside and mixing it with your Lysae can corrupt the flow, that's why it's not recommended unless there's no alternative.—

—Good observation, Kalesh. Yes, it's true that using external energy affects the flow of Lysae... but tell me, aren't you feeding your Lysae with your own Lysae?— Kerl responds, with an almost defiant smile on his face.

—Master, you're leaving me aside. Is the sun making you senile or what?— I ask, frowning.

—Huh? Didn't you understand your senior's brilliant answer?— Kerl responds, with that look that seems to say "you definitely are an idiot."

Kerl closed his fist, and a reddish aura began to emerge, it seemed as if he was holding water with his fists. Suddenly the aura began to mold into a perfect circle and began to shine more and then began to shrink and shine less as it became one with the skin and suddenly, a new layer emerged, repeating the process. Kerl's fist turned red and bright, the skin was less distinguishable in contrast to the red tone it had taken.

—See? This is what I was talking about! If I released this now, I would blow up a building with just a slight punch, but if I condense it...— The skin seemed to absorb the mantle it had generated but his body began to emanate an almost imperceptible layer. —Now I can demolish a mountain.—

—See that it wasn't so difficult? With that level of questions, I would also set you aside, Yeroy...— Flumir says, without thinking much, with a half mocking smile.

—What did you say?— I turn immediately, serious, without a hint of laughter. —You were also wondering the same thing, biggest idiot!—

The atmosphere freezes for a second. Even the wind seems to stop.

—HAHAHA! Boy, something tells me that you're also going to go bald— says Kerl with that playful look that doesn't leave him even in fights.

—You wish, reflector— I respond with a quite mischievous smile, closing one eye as if returning the shine.

—It seems they want to interrupt this exciting talk— says Kerl, almost whispering.

Suddenly, he turns around, and everyone begins to position themselves behind him, taking different angles.

—Yeroy, do you feel that?— Aethen asks me, approaching.

—Yes!— I respond, feeling how the pressure in the air changes.

—Damn, I think there are many more than we faced before... They must have anticipated that we would come more prepared— says Darel, with an increasingly dark face.

—What do you mean they anticipated? Do those beasts have the ability to think in those terms?— Kalesh responds, surprising everyone with his cold gaze.

—Enough talk! They're preparing to attack!— exclaims Kerl with unshakable confidence.

From among the bushes emerged a figure that we all already knew. Its mere presence permeated the air with a murderous tension; an evil aura that seemed to absorb the energy from its surroundings. It was one of the semi-humans.

—Hmm... I think it's time to show you, in a practical way, how devastating this technique can be...— said Kerl, as he began to condense and compress his Lysae with a chilling speed.

—He's doing it much faster than during training... that Kerl is impressive— said Darel, without taking his eyes away, tense.

In the blink of an eye, Kerl launched himself against the creature. His speed was such that we could barely follow it. The semi-human barely managed to react when Kerl's fist impacted its abdomen.

For an instant, everything seemed to stop. And then, from the semi-human's back, a column of pure Lysae burst forth: a ray of energy so concentrated that it pierced the body like a spear of light. The wave advanced in a straight line, destroying trees, rocks, and everything in its path. The landscape trembled.

The semi-human's body lay lifeless, hanging from Kerl's arm, with a hole where its stomach used to be. As if everything inside had been turned to dust or liquid. Death was instantaneous.

I clenched my fists with force, still with the impact of Kerl's attack reverberating in my chest. The shock wave continued to dissipate among the trees turned to splinters. My face tensed, my brow furrowed not from anger, but from a more intense emotion: hunger for power.

A smile was drawn on my face, twisted, full of determination.

—Impressive...— I whispered, almost to myself. —If that technique is possible... then it can also be mine.—

My eyes began to glow with intensity, the green and red spirals reflecting the burning desire that grew within me. It wasn't just excitement I felt: it was Lysae in motion. My body absorbed, channeled, molded that energy, as if, somehow, it already knew what to do, even though I didn't understand how.

The dust rose, and I saw the figures emerge: semi-humans, faster and more intelligent than the first. We couldn't give ourselves a truce.

—Let's go!— I shouted, feeling the urgency in every word. —It's now or never!—

I saw Kalesh extend his hand, wanting to warn me, but I was already too far away. I was already channeling my Lysae, forcing it to flow through my body, as I had seen Kerl do. i didn't fully understand it, but i had to try

While I ran, I began to channel the Lysae into my fist. Then I tried to mold it into a sphere.

—Just as Kerl said... it's difficult. I can't concentrate on this and face the enemy at the same time,— I thought, gritting my teeth. I was approaching the semi-human quickly.

But, as expected, it didn't stay still. It launched itself with brutal speed. I felt the dry impact of its head in my abdomen, and the world spun. I rolled uncontrollably until I crashed against a tree, knocking the air out of my lungs.

I struggled to breathe. I felt a burning in my chest and an annoying buzz in my ears, but I still managed to see how Aethen launched himself without hesitation.

His Lysae shone, dense, defined. He was molding it to perfection while running, without losing his rhythm even for a second. In the blink of an eye, his fist wrapped in energy hit the semi-human's side fully.

The impact was brutal. The sound of the blow echoed in the air and the creature staggered backward, letting out a deep growl that sounded almost human.

Aethen turned for a second to look at me.

—Are you okay?— he shouted, without stopping.

I barely managed to raise my thumb while I stood up with difficulty.

—So that's how it's done...—

A pang of frustration pierced my chest, as intense as the blow that had knocked the air out of me. He had achieved it. Aethen made it look easy... as if the Lysae obeyed without resistance. And I, meanwhile, could barely stand.

Then I closed my eyes for a few moments and took a deep breath.

I stood up, keeping them closed, trusting that my companions could cover me. I began to channel the Lysae. And I felt it.

The fire inside me began to burn freely, as if something within me had finally unlocked. My Lysae shone with intensity. Then, I began to mold it. It wasn't perfect... but it was taking shape. I compressed it, as much as I could, until I felt that heat embrace my fist with an almost living force.

I opened my eyes.

I ran.

I channeled Lysae into my feet to gain speed. The ground trembled under each step.

When I fixed on the semi-human, I saw that it was barely recovering from the previous blow.

I didn't think about it. I launched myself.

My fist burned, but not like before. It was something more than fire: an intense red, dense, powerful. It almost seemed to pulse.

Then, I hit it.

BOOM!

An explosion. Flames in the form of a vortex rose towards the sky, roaring at least five meters high. The impact shook the air. And for an instant... everything went silent.

The pressure of the fire and air threw me backward like an explosive gust. I felt my body lose control for an instant, until firm arms held me in the air.

It was Kalesh. He had intervened just in time to catch me.

—Well done, Yeroy,— he said, with a mixture of surprise and pride in his voice. —What impressive power... Did you achieve it by imagining Kerl's blow?—

I nodded, although I didn't really understand why that had happened.

Maybe I did something wrong when molding the Lysae.

Maybe I put in too much.

Or maybe... it was just luck.

In any case, I turned my gaze towards the remaining semi-human, which was now facing Darel and Keia.

Darel was replicating the same thing as everyone: Kerl's teachings. But that guy... that guy has a talent for battles. He had managed to condense and compress his Lysae twice, increasing his strength brutally. And not only that: he did it with his entire body.

—That jerk is to skilled!— I thought, between admiration and envy.

Keia, on her part, was trying to mold, although the difficulty was evident. Her posture trembled, her expression showed an almost painful concentration. But even so... something was changing in the environment around her.

It wasn't as visible as fire or explosions. It was more subtle. But I felt it.

My breathing stabilized. My movements flowed better. Even the Lysae inside me seemed to respond with greater clarity.

Darel also began to move more smoothly, as if each step, each blow, flowed with fine-tuned precision. I saw him condense the Lysae in his body twice, covering himself entirely with brutal efficiency.

At first I thought: —This guy is a damn genius.—

But then I looked again at Keia. At her focused gaze, at her trembling hands as she tried to control her Lysae. And I understood.

Maybe it wasn't just Darel.

Maybe she... was helping him.

Not directly. Not with words or tactics.

But channeling a different flow, one that enhanced that of others.

Maybe that's what happened when her Lysae tried to mold itself: it didn't focus on herself, but rather fine-tuned those of others. Without knowing it, without wanting it... she was pushing us beyond our limits.

—Molding your own Lysae is very difficult,— Aethen murmured, with narrowed eyes. —She... is helping Darel mold his. Not only that, she's strengthening it. Her Lysae is gradually increasing Darel's strength.—

I turned to him again.

Now he looked wrapped in a mantle of Lysae. It wasn't just an aura: it was as if his entire body had learned to breathe with that energy.

He threw arc kicks as if each one were an axe blow seeking to split a trunk. Then, a sequence of punches and uppercuts that flowed with lethal agility. Blow after blow, like a brutal dance of precision.

He wasn't the same one who had fought against the first semi-human.

He was another.

One enhanced.

One who shone, without knowing it, with the strength of two.

The remaining semi-human roared with fury, its skin hardened like rock and its arms as heavy as maces. Darel didn't stop. His body burned with Lysae, wrapped in a vibrant reddish layer that seemed to tremble with each step he took.

But that energy wasn't just his.

Keia was a few meters behind, with both palms extended towards him, as if directing an invisible current. Her Lysae, of a pale blue tone, spun in soft spirals around her, sliding towards Darel like wind feeding a flame. Every time he moved, the air around him vibrated, as if anticipating his blow before it happened.

Darel threw a spinning kick. The compressed Lysae in his leg was released like an expansive wave of heat. The semi-human backed away, growling, its right arm smoking after receiving the impact. Immediately, Darel slid forward, and his fists moved like lightning: an ascending loaded uppercut, followed by a descending fist that seemed to carry the weight of an incandescent hammer.

The semi-human counterattacked with a savage roar, throwing its enormous arm like a stone lever. Darel managed to dodge it by a little, but he staggered. His Lysae flickered.

—Keia!— shouted Aethen.

She already knew it. Her Lysae intensified, enveloping Darel with a sudden gust. The fire in his body rekindled, and with a cry of effort, Darel propelled himself forward, wrapped in an explosion of flames.

His fist impacted right in the semi-human's chest.

BOOM.

A blaze spun towards the sky like a burning flower, raising dust, leaves, and fire alike.

When the cloud dissipated, the semi-human lay unconscious, and Darel breathed heavily, with Lysae still dimly glowing on his back.

Keia fell to her knees, panting heavily. Her hands trembled, and the wind that had previously danced around her slowly dissipated.

—I... did it,— she murmured, with a half-exhausted smile.

But then, the cracking.

A dry, brutal sound. Like bones moving where they shouldn't be anymore.

The semi-human, covered in burns and with a dislocated look, began to rise. It staggered, but didn't give up. Its body creaked with each step, driven by pure rage.

Darel tried to move, but his steps were clumsier. The mantle of Lysae that had enveloped him before was now just a dim flash.

—Keia...— he looked towards her, noticing that she could no longer help him.

The semi-human charged.

Darel gritted his teeth. He had no time. He had no strength.

But he had memory.

He remembered the sensation from before. The heat. The pressure in his chest. That energy that wasn't just his.

He closed his eyes for an instant.

And the fire lit up again.

It wasn't as intense. It wasn't as perfect.

But it was his.

And it was enough.

He shouted and channeled with his whole body. His Lysae rose like an imperfect reflection of the power from before, but more stable, more conscious. And just when the semi-human was centimeters away, Darel threw a punch with all his soul.

BOOM!

An explosive blaze, not as tall as the previous one, but dense, direct. The impact sent the semi-human flying backward, this time with no strength to get up.

Silence.

Then, the soft sound of the wind returning.

Darel slowly lowered his arm, with his chest heaving and the Lysae vanishing from his body.

He turned his head towards where he had seen Keia fall... and his heart skipped a beat.

Aethen was no longer next to him.

The boy ran through the dust that still floated in the air, dodging roots and broken branches, until he reached her. He threw himself on his knees beside her.

—Keia!— he exclaimed, and placed a hand on her shoulder. —Are you okay?—

She opened her eyes slowly, with broken breath. She smiled with difficulty.

—Yes... just... tired,— she murmured, without strength.

Aethen held her carefully, as if afraid to hurt her. He looked at her hands, trembling. The wind that always surrounded her was now barely a warm breath. The image hit him harder than any punch.

—Don't strain yourself like that again... without warning,— he said, with a hoarse voice.

—He needed it,— she whispered. —Darel needed it. And it worked... didn't it?—

Darel, still with his chest rising and falling at a frantic rhythm, approached with heavy steps. His face was covered in ash, but his eyes shone with genuine gratitude.

—It wasn't the wind that made me rise at the end,— he said. —It was what you left in me. That sensation... that impulse. I recreated it thanks to that.—

Keia closed her eyes again, with a soft smile.

—Then it was worth it.—

Aethen lowered his gaze, his brow still furrowed with concern. But his voice, when he spoke again, was softer.

—Just promise me that you won't break yourself like that again. Not if I can prevent it.—

She didn't respond. But the wind, subtle, began to dance around her again. As if her strength, little by little, was returning.

I approached them while watching Keia practically collapsed on the ground.

—Do you need me to carry you on my back?— I asked, arching an eyebrow.

She opened her eyes and frowned with that mischievous look she used when she wanted to act superior.

—Do you think I need your help? I'm a genius who managed to give power to another just with my Lysae. In the future you'll have to treat me with more respect... because I'll be the one helping you.—

I crossed my arms, smiling.

—And how can you say you're a genius if you're there, lying down, exhausted, making someone else work for you?—

Keia snorted, rolling her eyes without being able to hide her laughter.

—Tsk. Sometimes geniuses also need to rest, you know?—

Aethen, who was still by her side, said nothing. But his gaze hardened just slightly, as if my comment didn't amuse him at all... just that loaded silence that says more than any phrase.

Darel, from further back, let out a laugh between his teeth.

—And that's with her being tired. If she were at a hundred percent, she'd bury us with a single phrase.—

The battle had ended.

The wind blew softly, as if the forest itself exhaled with relief. The leaves fell slowly through the dissipating mist, revealing exhausted bodies, faces stained by Lysae and earth, but with sincere smiles.

Darel sat on the ground, panting, while Keia remained leaning against a trunk, still catching her breath. Aethen looked at the sky, with his hands on his knees, without ceasing to cast the occasional furtive glance towards her. And I... I could only feel a new fire inside. One that was no longer just Lysae. It was pride.

Kerl came down the hillside. His steps were slow, but firm. He observed us one by one, with that look of his that didn't give away praise... but this time, he smiled.

—Well... I didn't think you would make it.—

His words cut through the silence like a warm breeze.

—You didn't just win,— he continued. —You learned. You adapted. And above all... you grew.—

We remained silent, listening. It was the first time Kerl spoke like this. As if for a moment, we weren't just apprentices. As if... we were already something more.

But then...

The leaves stopped moving. The wind ceased, not with a whisper, but with a mute blow that left us in a terrifying stillness. The atmosphere, charged with Lysae, began to tense like a cable about to break.

It felt strange, a strange feeling stuck to my throat as if it wanted to choke me. Rather, I felt as if something else wanted to strangle me. I began to look everywhere, and my mind began to play a heavy joke on me. I could see how the trees distorted, and from the branch of one of the trees came a shadow. My body, instinctively, stood up and positioned itself in combat form. I began to accumulate my Lysae to mold it again, as if I already had control, and then...

—So, some little bastards finished off my trackers.— The voice was deep, resonant, as if darkness itself had become tangible.

Kerl turned to look at the shadow that began to speak as if he already knew it was there.

—It's impressive that you've been so close to me with that diabolic Lysae...— says Kerl with a defiant smile.

The shadow became denser, taking form, as if darkness itself wanted to devour everything. A tall figure, wrapped in a sinister aura, emerged from among the shadows of the trees. It was as if each step it took crumbled the stillness, with a presence so oppressive that the air itself seemed to become denser.

A corrupt, deep energy invaded the space. A cold that shouldn't be felt in the forest extended to our bones. And then, that figure spoke, its words filled with an echo that resonated in the depths.

The man, who for some reason remained blurry to my sight—as if reality itself refused to focus on him—didn't respond immediately. He only listened to Kerl's words in a heavy, almost offensive silence. His brow furrowed slowly, as if each word were an annoyance. All that came out of his mouth was a slight —hum...— that resonated more than it should.

The darkness enveloped him like a living mantle, and his eyes, empty as the abyss, shone with a light that wasn't natural.

A cold sweat ran down my back.

This wasn't just any enemy.

This... was the beginning of true danger.