Gifts and Curses.

  Power always came at an annoying price. Curses were the price for Gifts. Gifts came from the gods, but who knew where Curses came from?

  Maybe they came from the gods - or from the system itself. Kai didn’t know.

  The trio stood amidst the blood and gore of their previous conquest. The red sun’s light beamed on them and their grisly surroundings. A chilling scene.

  Alira’s glare was as cold as ever, while Rusk’s smile remained bright and cheery.

  He twisted Space God’s silver ring with his thumb.

  His question was a dangerous one - an offensive question, even. It was ill-advised to ask a Marked to reveal their weaknesses.

  But they knew his weakness, didn’t they? Wasn’t this just making things fair? They’d need to know each other’s flaws to coordinate and plan around any pitfalls.

  Kai remained steadfast as he stepped through the puddle of blood at his feet, moving toward a corner of the maze with less…debris.

  His new companions followed.

  Rusk was the first to answer. He sighed. “My Curse isn’t so bad - I fear no danger. It’s a Gift of bravery when you think about it.” His chin rose toward the heavens.

  Kai disagreed with his assessment. He’d assumed Rusk’s Curse had something to do with his fashion obsession, but the reality was much worse - though it explained his nonchalance in the face of brutal murder.

  His Curse seemed like a boon at first glance, but it was a fatal flaw in disguise. Fearlessness led to recklessness, and bravery was a curse of stupidity.

  Healthy fear was key to survival.

  “That Curse is…deadly. How long can you survive if you always run headfirst into danger?” Kai warned.

  “I’m blessed by fate, so I’ll be fine!” Rusk’s smile radiated a youthful naivety.

  His curse was lethal.

  Kai needed to keep him on a leash to save him from himself.

  He sighed and turned toward Alira.

  “What about you? Is your Curse trying to kill you, too?”

  Alira looked at him with little emotion, as if her Curse were a minor inconvenience. “I can’t lose.”

  Kai’s brows furrowed, his mouth hung open, and he stopped in his tracks.

  She can’t lose? Is that a Curse or a Gift? How is that fair?

  “You’re joking, right?”

  “No, my Curse is: I can’t lose.”

  Kai’s heart grew heavy at how unfair the world was.

  His Curse was minor, but he couldn’t even use his Gift! Alira could create and control ice - already a rare feat.

  And her Curse prevented her from losing? Where’s the balance in that? Kai’s mouth formed a firm line as he shook his head.

  “How?” Kai asked.

  “How? What do you mean, ‘how’? I got my Curse with my Gift like any Marked. How else would it happen?”

  Kai’s eyes narrowed.

  Rusk nodded, as if this were normal to him.

  Did her family perform a bloody ritual? Did she sell her soul? Did she…lie?

  Kai glared at Alira. “You know both of our curses…is this bravado necessary?”

  Alira scoffed, her tone dripping with contempt as she spoke. “Are you calling me a liar? Men have died for less. I…admit my curse is a bit unusual. But accusing me of dishonouring our pact is uncouth.”

  “Lying’s more uncouth than calling out a lie!” Kai snapped.

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  ‘A bit unusual’ was an understatement.

  Alira shook her head lightly. “Fine. I’ll prove it. Let’s spar. When I win, you’ll apologise for your lack of decorum.”

  She spoke as if the result had already been decided.

  “I’m unarmed - you refused to spend your essence on making me a weapon, remember?”

  Rusk cut through Kai’s tirade with boundless energy, his voice carrying from further away than expected. “There’s a sword over here!” Rusk had returned to the bloodbath a short distance away.

  He crouched, rifling through the bodies - if the bloody chunks could still be called that - while threads stitched themselves into clothing on his body.

  He had already covered his lower half with stylish black trousers - suspiciously similar to the trousers of Kai’s exquisite suit.

  Imitation was flattery, but it wouldn’t do for them to wear the same outfit.

  A steel sword lay in the bloody pool beside the pile of once-owned limbs. Rusk gestured to the sword with a casual smile whilst threads continued weaving themselves around his body.

  Kai appreciated Rusk’s enthusiastic help. Being unarmed was a burden.

  But he couldn’t allow Rusk to continue with his devious plan.

  “Thanks, Rusk.” Kai stooped to claim the steel longsword, then shot him a hard glare. “The noble spider won’t be pleased if you copy my suit. Do you want to embarrass your teacher? Don’t you have your own ideas?”

  Rusk’s shoulders slumped as he swallowed hard. “Y—you’re right…how could I be so foolish! Thank you, Kai. Your fashion wisdom shames mine!”

  Kai nodded. “You’ve got a good eye. Everyone’s moving away from armour - suits are the new hot thing, aren’t they?”

  Rusk nodded with vigour, his smile snapping back into place.

  Kai moved to face Alira in her oversized, unfashionable armour. A smug grin tugged at his lips as they moved a short distance away from Rusk and the bodies.

  Alira scoffed. “Only the most foolish nobles wear such impractical suits in the Darklands.”

  Kai maintained his grin. “Jealousy doesn’t become you, my lady.” He readied his blade, practised since childhood. His body had once limited him, but now he was on home turf.

  His body pulsed with ravenous power.

  And that wasn’t all - he controlled space. No enemy could match his positioning or escape his counterattacks.

  With his sword technique and spatial abilities, it wouldn’t be presumptuous to call him a Sword Saint.

  Alira’s lips pursed. Her eyes narrowed. “Enough talk.”

  Kai obliged her.

  His blade moved through the air like sound - too fast to dodge. The third strike he stole from Renzo.

  Alira parried with her icy blade.

  Kai’s steel flowed into the eighth cut he stole from Renzo. Alira avoided his blade.

  Fourth cut. Sixth slice. Seventh stab.

  Alira’s graceful movements allowed no strike to land.

  Kai stopped attacking - he needed a different approach. Alira didn’t miss the opportunity to strike.

  Her blade flowed like a river, though Kai didn’t take a hit. How could he? He stepped through space when her blade got too close.

  Kai had one talent.

  Emerging behind her, he gritted his teeth and unleashed his attack.

  His blade moved like liquid - the first cut he stole from Alira.

  She turned just in time to block his attack, her eyes widening. He pressed on.

  Second stab he stole from Alira. Third slash. First stab.

  Their movements blurred. No attack landed on the ice maiden.

  She dodged, parried, countered. No attack landed on Kai.

  He had to limit his teleportation to preserve his soul essence - his downfall. Soon, Alira’s chilling blade hovered at Kai’s neck.

  He grimaced.

  “Believe me now?” Alira said, her breathing heavy.

  “I believe you,” Kai admitted.

  “Now, apologise.”

  Kai glanced at Alira. Her chin had risen, her chest ballooned, her pride burned.

  He sighed, the icy blade still at his throat. “I’m sorry for my lack of decorum. You win.”

  Alira nodded with a smug smile, then removed her blade from his throat. “You’re forgiven…your style is impressive.”

  Rusk watched them with a playful smile. “Can I try?”

  A shiver crawled up Kai’s spine. He shook his head without hesitation.

  Alira did the same.

  Rusk let out a heavy sigh. “Not fair.”

  Kai shrugged and closed the distance to Rusk. “You’re too strong. Take it as a compliment.” He placed his hand on Rusk’s bare shoulder.

  At least he was wearing trousers - an upgrade from underwear.

  “You look good in clothes,” Kai said.

  Rusk’s smile brightened once more.

  Alira’s Curse was unbelievable: It was as though Kai was cursed to lose. He had used half his soul essence and had nothing to show for it.

  He gazed at the beautiful woman who couldn’t lose.

  “W—what are the limits of your Curse? Shouldn’t we let you handle every fight from now on?”

  Alira chuckled, though there was little mirth. “I can still get injured - but I’ll win in the end.”

  She shook her head. “The only way to beat me is to kill me outright. I can still die, of course.” She glanced at her sword. “I’m well suited to be the vanguard, but it’s best if we work together - especially against multiple enemies.”

  Kai was both appalled and amazed.

  “Death always wins in the end,” he said.

  At least she’s not immortal - betraying her is suicide…unless I kill her in one hit.

  Risky, but not impossible.

  I’m better off trusting her and hoping she doesn’t turn on me.

  If she does…at least I know I need to run away.

  Rusk’s energy returned to him, his disappointment forgotten. “Tough luck, Kai. At least your fashion sense puts hers to shame.”

  Kai glanced down at Alira’s oversized armour covering her petite frame. A smirk graced his lips.

  Rusk is right!

  As Kai lifted his gaze, he found Alira’s chilling glare directed at Rusk.

  But he should’ve told me in private!

  Kai had to prevent a gory outcome. He met Rusk’s eyes. “Alira’s beauty outshines any of her fashion mistakes.”

  He turned to face Alira; this time, the ice maiden’s icy glare locked on him.

  Ashes. What did I say?

  Kai had to use one of his foolproof stratagems. A diversion.

  He cleared his throat and turned away from her chilling gaze. “Anyway, enough about the noble Lady Alira’s beauty and skill.”

  He peeked in her direction. Her glare remained cold…but a subtle warmth coloured her cheeks. “I need to restore my soul essence. Let’s rest for a bit, then head back to the centre.”

  Avoiding Alira’s glare, Kai turned to Rusk.

  Rusk stared into the distance, lost in thought. Threads looped around his torso, twisting and contracting with no cohesion.

  “Rusk? You okay?” Kai asked.

  Rusk frowned, a tremor in his voice. “I sense a disaster…”

  Thank you for taking the time to read this chapter.

  Here's an interesting question:

  What kinda Curse would you HATE to have?

  A Curse is something you can't do or must do. But there are no hard rules for this question - as long as the Curse is reasonably annoying/dangerous.

  Comment your answer below.

  But be warned: I'm more than willing to steal the best comments and add their Curses to future characters. I'll make a note of your username and try to remember to give you credit in the author notes when the chapter releases.

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