At the ship.

  C6 ringing. Ace stands, looking him straight in the eyes, her eyes showing anger, and Kyrin stands in front of her. He is a bit taller then her, his skin pale, his eyes dark, and his hair is wavy and messy.

  Ace: What did you just say?

  Kyrin: Oh don't worry, I don't plan to take over your body... I have a feeling you are not so easy to control...

  Ace: You got that right, but what are you planning then?

  She looked at him serious, Kyrin smiles, but his eyes emotionless.

  Kyrin: I am not sure yet.

  Ace: I think you should leave.

  She said serious, cold, fearless.

  Kyrin: But I don't want to.

  Ace: I am not asking.

  Kyrin: You know, not a lot of people are able to see me.

  Ace: Then why am I not that lucky?

  Kyrin smiles, his eyes still without any emotion.

  Kyrin: You are funny...

  Ace: Don't change the subject.

  Kyrin takes a step closer.

  Kyrin: Are you sure you want to know answer to that?

  She looks at him and he looks back.

  Kyrin: Oh you really don't know answer to that... do you now?

  Ace still looks serious, but a bit confused.

  Kyrin: You poor little thing...

  Ace: What are you talking about?

  Kyrin: I am not sure if you are ready to hear the truth.

  Ace wanted to say something bus she hears a Rin’s voice. Rin was climbing to the ship.

  Rin: Ace? You here?

  Ace: don't move...

  She told him, Kyrin just smiled. She went out of here room.

  Ace: I am here.

  Rin: Is everything okay? You didn't answer c6.

  Ace: I am fine, I was busy dealing with someone annoying.

  Rin: What?

  Ace: There is this guy... why don't I just show you.

  Rin follows her into the room. Room is empty.

  Ace: Where the hell is he?!

  She looks around.

  Ace: He was just here!

  Rin: Who was just here?

  Ace: This annoying shadow guy.

  She looks around.

  Rin: Are you on any Kaya's medication again?

  Ace: What? No! I am telling you the truth. He was just here. I even managed to cut him a bit, there is a blood on my sword, look.

  There was nothing.

  Ace: What the...

  Rin: Are you sure you weren’t just dreaming?

  Ace: I wasn't, I am telling you the truth... someone was here...

  Rin puts his arm on her forehead.

  Rin: Do you have a fever?

  She slaps his hand away.

  Ace: No. Why don't you trust me?

  Rin hesitate.

  Rin: It is not that I don't trust you...it's just...

  Ace: You think I am crazy?

  Rin: Noo. I just think that you were on a lot of medication and maybe seeing things that aren't there is just a side effect...

  Ace: I know what I saw... You know what, don't believe me I bet others will.

  Everyone back on their ship, she told them what happened.

  Nuri: You have officially lost your mind.

  Ace: Why is no one believing me?

  She is frustrated.

  Rho: It's not that we don't believe it's just...

  Rikka: You have no evidence.

  Ace: He was on the ship...

  Nuri: Then where did he go?

  Kaya: And why Rin couldn't see him?

  Nigel: Is he standing here right now...?

  He said that like she gone crazy.

  Ace: I can't believe this...

  Kai: Maybe it was just a dream?

  Ace: No, it wasn't!

  She started to feel frustrated.

  Kaya: Well maybe it is because of the...

  Ace: Don't even dare to mention medications...

  Kaya: Okay...

  Ace: I know what I saw.

  Rho: Well... what did he tell you?

  Ace: He told me that his name is Kyrin, and that he is cursed... and...

  Nigel flinched a bit at that word “cursed”, Rho managed to stay calm but her eyes looked like she knew something. She noticed Nigel flinched a bit.

  Ace: That's right! He mentioned that not all people can see him, and that there was a reason I could.

  Rikka: That sounds believable...

  She said sarcastic.

  Nuri: Okay guys, give her a break.

  Ace: Thank you....

  Nuri: She obviously has lost her mind...

  Ace looks annoyed.

  Ace: You know what? Fine. Don't believe me. I will be happy if he comes and takes over the body of any one of you!

  Rho: Our body?

  Ace: Yes. He said that is the only way to break his curse...

  Nigel: Which is?

  Ace: Not being able to exist during the day.

  Nigel: So you talked to a ghost?

  Ace: He wasn't a ghost...

  Rikka: That's right, he probably was just hallucination.

  Ace was angry.

  Ace: That's it, I give up. Believe what you want!

  Rin: Ace...

  Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

  She goes to her room and slams the door.

  Kaya: Were we to harsh on her?

  Nuri: You drugged her...

  Kaya: I helped her!

  Rho: And what if she is saying the truth?

  Se said calm, and cold. Everyone remains silent.

  Ace in her room lies on her bed.

  Ace: Was I really hallucinated that thing...

  Kyrin: I don't like being called ?thing“.

  She flinched a bit.

  Ace: You...

  She sits up.

  Ace: How the hell...

  Kyrin: Don't bother telling them, they can't see me.

  Ace: And why is that?

  Kyrin: Are you sure you really want to know?

  Ace: Yes! Now speak already.

  Kyrin: Well someone is impatient...

  Ace: I am not joking around...

  Kyrin: Okay, okay, no need for aggression...

  Ace: Well then?

  Kyrin: There is only a certain type of people that can see me.

  Ace: And what type of people?

  Pause.

  Kyrin: People with curses...

  Ace looks confused.

  Ace: What? I don't have any curse...

  Kyrin: I can tell you are not aware of that but... yes you have.

  Ace: How is that even possible...?

  Kyrin sits down too.

  Kyrin: Not most people are aware... but there are two types of mountain, well TEIRBTWIAC, with two different types of spirit in them.

  Ace: What?

  Kyrin: I mean you don't have to believe me but it is true.

  Ace: And what are those two types of mountain?

  Kyrin: Well... one spirit is a light and a second one is dark. One spirit will give you power made from your light inside of you and second spirit will give you power made of darkens inside of you.

  Ace listened.

  Ace: Even if that is a truth, I haven't stepped with my foot even near that mountain.

  Kyrin: And how sure of that are you?

  Ace thinks.

  Kyrin: What if you did, but you just don't remember?

  Ace thinks.

  Ace: Let's say it is like that... but I don't have any powers.

  Kyrin: No, you just didn’t learn how to activate it, your curse.

  Ace: Why do you call it a curse?

  Kyrin: Because that is what it is, a curse. Dark spirit will only give you a curse...

  Ace: But that would mean that I would also have some conditions...

  Kyrin: No, that is not what that means. Light spirit gives conditions, dark spirit gives you curse that in fact is strong but, it takes your emotions away from you, everything that makes you human... of course, only while you are using your curse.

  Ace: And you can sense that I have a curse too?

  Kyrin: Yes, a strong one, but it is trapped inside of you, you never used it so that's why you still have your full humanity in you.

  Ace: And how could I... use it?

  She is starting to believe...

  Kyrin: It is better that you don't. Trust me.

  Ace stays silent.

  Ace: This doesn't make any sense...I've never even been near TEIRBTWIAC...

  Kyrin: You could have been only a baby... or a child... I don't know, but I know that I am not wrong about this.

  Ace thinks.

  On the ship.

  Nuri: You seriously can keep the ship?!

  Nuri talks to Kaya.

  Kaya: Yeah, isn't that great?!

  Rikka: So first you stole it and when you wanted to return it they just decided to give it to you? As a gift?

  Kaya: Crazy right?

  Nigel: I think you are the luckiest person I know...

  Ace gets out of her room. Everyone looks at her.

  Ace: What?

  Kaya: Nothing... we are just wondering how are you feeling?

  Ace: I am good, thanks.

  She said a bit coldly.

  Nigel: Oh come on, don't be mad at us...

  Ace: I am not I just don't feel like talking anymore.

  Nigel: Is that because now you can talk with your ghost?

  Nuri: Don't say ghost!

  Ace: Watch your mouth.

  Nigel: Oh I am sorry, is he here now? Did I offend him?

  He teases her.

  Kyrin: In fact I am right here.

  Nigel looks at him, but no one else can't hear him or see him.

  Rin: You okay man?

  Nigel: I think I see him too...

  Kyrin: Oh, another curse user, how did I miss that?

  Ace eyes widen as she realizes, that Nigel’s secret is a curse. She remembered him when he used his curse, and his black eyes, emotionless.

  Rikka: You are joking right?

  Ace: Of course he is...

  She taps him.

  Nigel: No... I...

  Ace interrupted.

  Ace: Still in character, very funny... come here with me for a second!

  She pulls him towards the room. They left inside and she closed the door behind them.

  Rikka: What just happened?

  Nuri: No idea...

  Rho stayed silent, and serious, she knew something was going on.

  Ace and Nigel.

  Nigel: How can I see him too? I didn’t even do any drugs... well not today at least.

  Ace sights.

  Ace: You can see him because he is real... and we can both see him because we are apparently curse users.

  Nigel is silent for a bit.

  Nigel: Oh... I see...

  Her face darkness a bit but he stays calm.

  Ace: Wait? That's it! Don't you have any questions?

  Kyrin: He doesn't have to, he knows that he is a curse user.

  Nigel looks down.

  Ace: You know, bro, you forgot to mention in which mountain you entered...

  Nigel: Okay, I admit, I did skip that part...

  Ace: Why?!

  Nigel: Because not much people knows about that, only the curse users do... and I didn't know that you are the one.

  Ace: Okay, I have so many questions now. How come that I don't know and I am apparently one?

  Nigel: I don't know, I would like to know that too.

  He thinks. Ace is confused.

  Kyrin: She never used it, and she can't remember for some reason, that's why.

  Nigel looks at him.

  Nigel: Who are you again?

  Kyrin: My name is Kyrin, curse user.

  Nigel: Understandable

  He said calm. Ace more confused.

  Ace: What!? Is that some kind of cult now or what? And if it is, I am not interested!

  Nigel sights.

  Nigel: It is not a cult... It is just a secret that government wants to stay hidden. That is probably why he is only able to be seen by curse users, and when he is not using his curse, he is completely different person who still knows it has to be a secret.

  Ace thinks.

  Ace: So, you two are trying to tell me there are two mountains, two spirits, and there is also a curse, which I apparently have, because well why the hell not, it is just like my life, I guess I didn’t need a mountain for that… but never mind now. And also government is trying to hide that information, and you seem to know a lot more about that… it’s just like…

  She stops, she realizes something and she looks at him. She knows his past, he told her alone, she remembers it all.

  Ace: I see... Let me guess, Orobas?

  Nigel nods.

  Ace: So that's how you know so much and why there aren’t many of them. Tell me... is Orobas a curse user too?

  Nigel nods.

  Ace: But that still doesn't answer why I have a curse and why I don't know anything about it. I never had any connection with him, only Eligor did.

  Then she realizes.

  Ace: Oh...

  Nigel: You still should remember though, except if you were only a...

  He stays silent, she looks at him.

  Ace: Baby?

  Ace stands up.

  Ace: Is government doing that?

  Nigel stays quiet.

  Nigel: Orobas is a part of government who does the dirtiest jobs... and when you are part of that, that kills you inside. You are not a human any more... you are...

  Remembers Orobas killing his little sister...

  Nigel: A monster.

  Ace stays quiet for a bit.

  Ace: So... you are telling me that there is a chance I was part of that kind of experiment? Since I was born? I was just a baby... and someone decided my future... and I didn't even have a choice?

  Kyrin: Now you can see why it's called a curse.

  Ace sits down she couldn’t believe what was happening.

  Nigel: I am so sorry Ace...

  Ace sights.

  Ace: It is not your fault... you were also a victim.

  Silence.

  Ace: So Eligor was never really my family...

  She laughs crazy a bit in pain.

  Ace: And all these years I thought that there was a time where he actually cared for me and Aaron... But no... We were only his experiments till the end.

  Nigel: I am sorry Ace...

  Kryin is without emotions the whole time.

  Kyrin: Welcome to the club.

  Nigel: Oh shut up.

  Kyrin: What? She is one of us now.

  Ace holds her head. She is holding her tears, she is not crying because she never cries in front of anyone. She remembers her past and all happy memories are lie. Their training, they as a kids laughing, her and Aaron as a kids...

  Ace stands up.

  Ace: We can talk about this more later... but I don't feel like talking anymore.

  Nigel: Ace...

  Ace: Later.

  She doesn’t look at him, she goes outside. Nigel looks down.

  Kyrin: And that's why it's better to stay a secret.

  Nigel: Get lost.

  Kyrin: What? You know I am right.

  Nigel: For every rule there is an exception.

  He leaves room too.

  Outside the ship.

  Rho, Rin, and Rikka on the ship, Nuri and Kaya in the kitchen.

  Rin: Where are you going?

  Ace: Oh just for a walk. I was on the ship this whole day anyway...

  She walks away and Nigel gets out too. Rho looks at him.

  Rho: Everything okay?

  Nigel stays silent. Rikka looks confused.

  Rikka: What is going on? Why do you all look so serious?

  Rho: We are worried about Ace.

  Rho talked calm and cold as always but this time was hint of worry in her voice.

  Rikka: Why? She just said that she is going for a walk... I mean can you blame her? Beside, how do you know that something is wrong?

  Rin looks at her direction. Ace walking, she is already a far away, but enough for her to see her appearance.

  Rin: Ace never uses excuses, for anything, and for some reason she gave us one right now.

  Rin looks at Nigel.

  Rin: What happened?

  Kyrin next to the Nigel, nobody else sees him.

  Kyrin: Will you tell them the truth?

  Nigel stays calm.

  Nigel: I don't know, maybe she was just annoyed because no one believed her story.

  Rikka: Well, there you go.

  Rin and Rho don’t believe him, but Nigel walks into his room.

  Ace was training, punching the threes, she was angry and sad but she didn’t cry yet.

  Past

  She was also punching a three.

  Eligor: Didn't I tell you to stop doing that?

  Ace (16) stops.

  Eligor: Your hands are your weapons, and you should never hurt them, you need to hurt with them.

  Her hands are bloody.

  Ace: I am sorry...

  Eligor: Just don't do it again, now, pick up your swords.

  Ace: Yes master.

  She does so.

  Present

  Ace: I thought you cared for me!

  Ace hits the three really hard. Ace keeps doing that.

  Ace: But no, you just needed a weapon...

  She hits harder.

  Ace: Well here is your weapon now!

  She hit that hard that whole big three completely broke and fell on the ground. She was breathing heavily.

  Ace remembers the past.

  Ace and Aaron stands together in front of Eligor, head towards the ground.

  Eligor: You may raise your head.

  The look at him.

  Eligor: This is my good friend Orobas, I don't believe you remember him.

  They nod as a hello.

  Orobas: How the time flays, you were so little the last time I saw you.

  Present

  Ace wants to lean on three but then realises that she nocked the three down.

  Ace looks at three and her hands.

  Ace: did I... did this?

  At the ship.

  Most of them asleep.

  Rho, Nigel, Rin awake.

  Rho: She didn't come back yet?

  Rin: No.

  Nigel sights.

  Nigel: She will be fine, she can take care of herself.

  Rho: I know but...

  Nigel: You should get some rest, today was a busy day, and tomorrow will be probably too.

  Rho sights.

  Rho: You are right. Well, good night.

  Nigel: Good night.

  She walks to her room. Rin and Nigel alone.

  Rin: So, when are you planning to tell the truth?

  Kyrin: Someone is onto you...

  He is still here but Rin doesn't see him. Nigel sights.

  Nigel: It is complicated...

  Rin looks at him.

  Rin: I don't care. It is obvious that you two have some kind of a secret, she is protecting you for some reason, but tell me, is she safe?

  Nigel: I would never do anything to hurt her, she is my friend.

  He talked serious.

  Rin: Then why she looked like she was hurt?

  Nigel: Listen, I get it... you care about her, but trust me, some things are better not to know.

  Rin took a step closer and looked at him serious.

  Rin: Then how about this. If I see her like that again, like she is in pain, and I find out that you had something to do with it, in any way, you better watch your back.

  Rin starts to walk away but stops when hears a Nigel’s voice.

  Nigel: If I ever hurt any of you, in any way, you have my permission to kill me.

  Rin is quiet for a bit. Considering his words, in that moment he believed in him.

  Rin: So be it.

  Rin walks away.

  Kyrin: Well that guy looks like he is not joking around...

  Nigel: Why are you still here!?

  Kyrin: Because I am bored...

  Nigel sights and looks at the sky, leaning on the edge of the ship.

  Kyrin: What are you thinking about?

  Nigel: I... I didn't know she was one of us.

  Kyrin: Well, not yet.

  Nigel: What do you mean?

  Kyrin: She never activated it, and until that happens, she is normal.

  Nigel: Then she is even stronger then I thought…

  He looks at the sea.

  Ace drinking at some bar, few people there. Her hand bloody as she holds the beer...

  If you could choose, in which mountain you would enter?

  Light spirit - power from light inside of you (but you have work really hard to be the strongest, but is possible, with condition or more)

  Dark spirit - power made from darkness inside you, (very strong, if it not the strongest, without the condition, yet you are loosing everything what makes you human)

  The stronger your light inside of you, the stronger your power is, the stronger the darkness... well you get the rest.

  What do you think? How strong you really are if you get your darkness to get over you? What do you have from being able to kill someone else if you already killed yourself?