Niella (1)

"Oh my God!"

My heart hammered against my chest, each beat threatening to break free. My throat burned with every gasping breath, and sweat pooled around me, soaking the floor beneath. What was that?

It wasn’t just a nightmare—it was something far worse. It felt as if I had died and been dragged back to life.

But… hadn’t this happened before? So why did it feel so different this time?

I forced myself to breathe deeply, struggling to calm my racing thoughts. Slowly, I raised my head, meeting Tara’s gaze. She stood there with a satisfied smile, her voice steady and confident.

"You did it, Valvaro... You’ve successfully bound the soul."

---

"So... what exactly just happened?"

Tara took a measured sip from her cup, crossed her legs, and leaned back into the couch. She answered with a calmness that only deepened my unease.

"That’s why curse healing is considered one of the most twisted practices," she began. "A curse's purpose is simple: to harm the recipient. To perform the rituals, I bind your soul to it. But healing? That’s a whole different ordeal."

She paused to take another sip, savoring the moment before continuing.

"For healing, the recipient must also bind their soul to the curse. And that’s where it gets complicated. What you just experienced, Valvaro, was a spiritual connection with an ancient spirit. Thanks to a special tool—like the devourer’s bone oil—you’ve linked the curse to yourself. It’s like signing a contract... a very dangerous one."

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She let her words sink in, then added, "In other words, you, I, and the curse are now interconnected. And just so you know, this is a serious inconvenience for curse mages."

Her explanation answered little of what I wanted to know, but I chose not to press further, unwilling to reveal my ignorance.

From the moment the ritual began, I had endured and learned more than I thought possible. Questions about Solomon’s language and the origins of this world resurfaced in my mind. I was about to voice them when Tara interrupted my thoughts.

"Anyway, Valvaro, the ‘Niella’s Doppelgänger’ curse has a dreadful reputation in our community. Do you know why?"

She didn’t wait for my response.

"This spirit doesn’t just settle for the host. Sometimes, it demands more—it can even return to the curse mage and consume them!"

My eyes widened. "So… are you at risk now?"

Tara shook her head with a faint smile. "Not quite. As I said, this is a third-rank curse, and I’m far too strong to be consumed by it. But if anything unusual happens during the healing process, you must come here immediately. And stay away from your daughter during that time."

She paused, then added with a teasing grin, "Oh, and avoid meat or anything spiritually rich. Heavy foods will agitate the curse. I know the conditions are a hassle, but that’s how it works."

I sighed. Spending time with Jila or enjoying Martha’s cooking was out of the question. "How long will the healing take?"

She shrugged, taking another sip. "I can’t say. It could end now or take weeks. Who knows?"

"This is infuriating!" I muttered, scowling.

The conversation dragged on as I tried to glean more about curses and magic, but Tara’s answers were vague at best. When I asked about purging the townsfolk of their curses, she called me foolish before explaining.

As expected, only a few people, including Tara and me, could endure the strain of a curse. But unlike the others, I could bear both a curse and contaminated energy—a fact Tara seemed oddly pleased with.

Then, an unexpected sound interrupted us.

Blup. Blup.

I froze. "What was that?"

Tara’s expression darkened. "Oh, don’t tell me..."

Blup.

The sound grew louder, coming from just above my shoulder. My unease deepened, and I whispered, "What is—?"

"Don’t move," Tara interrupted sharply, her calm whisper a stark contrast to the tension in the room.

A bubble formed, a silver sphere floating ominously above my shoulder.

"The fuck!" I breathed, unable to hide my alarm.

The orb shifted, morphing into a predatory shape with closed eyes, as if it were sleeping. Tara’s voice was tinged with disbelief.

"I can’t believe it... The spirit’s manifestation! But how?"

"Can you explain, Lady Tara?" I asked, frowning.

She stared at the silver form, her astonishment palpable. "The spirit’s manifestation is a rare phenomenon. For most curses, it’s not unusual to see the spirit in some form. But the Niella’s Doppelgänger?" She shook her head, incredulous.

"The Niella’s Doppelgänger... I don’t think this ancient spirit’s manifestation has ever been recorded before! Let alone for a third-rank curse... This is truly an anomalous case!"

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" I whispered, nervous, my eyes flicking to the still, floating orb.

"It really depends on you, Valvaro, this time..." Tara said with a sigh. "The spirit may never wake up, and even if it does, it may not speak to you. But if it does, you’ll have to go along with it—and take care of it."

"Another nuisance!" I groaned, clutching my head in disbelief.