The Two Week Curse

by Michael Chatfield

  He looked at her pained expression, feeling relieved. “It’ll be over soon.” His words were soft and caring, breaking the image of the iron-fisted lord of Chonglu City.

  He looked up to Erik. He didn’t see the cold killer in there anymore, but a man who truly cared about saving lives instead of taking them. It left him a bit stunned, but it somehow made sense.

  Didn’t I fight ferociously alongside my raiding party but then we joked and laughed when away from the battle?

  Rugrat completed checking Feng. Chonglu looked over to his son. His features were relaxed and calm, his body showing a healthy color instead of the mottled skin that gave off a faint rotting smell.

  He watched Rugrat and Erik work. Their actions were like watching a crafter, going through different processes, moving section by section.

  It was early afternoon by the time Erik and Rugrat switched Felicity’s IV from Stamina and Mana to just Stamina.

  Erik and Rugrat started to clean up and put their gear away.

  Erik and Rugrat chewed on some forest fennel leaves, moving to the side for Chonglu to check on his children. He waved one of his friends forward and they checked over the two twins.

  “They’ve been nearly completely healed. The infection has been removed from most of their bodies, but it seems that they’re fighting back against it?” the man said after casting a few spells.

  “We removed most of the marrow that was infected. It was still in their blood so we healed different systems related to blood. Their bodies are now actively fighting the poison. In fact, they might take a few steps along the path of Body Cultivation,” Erik said, as if it were a simple thing.

  “Body Cultivation?” Chonglu asked. “That is a road that only people in the higher realms with pills and massive resources can walk down.”

  “Well, this was a nasty poison. Their bodies were weak. By overcoming it, their bodies will be tempered. Also, they won’t be infected with the same poison again.” Erik pulled off his frock and glasses.

  “I’ll take the IVs out of them, but just Stamina recovering powders, food, water—that should be fine, slowly, and with soft foods and water at first, then more substantial meals,” Rugrat said.

  Chonglu nodded, burning the information into his mind.

  Erik and Rugrat checked the children again before clearing away the last of their gear. The two children looked much healthier now.

  ***

  “Have a good day,” Erik said to Lord Chonglu as he and Rugrat left the room. No one stopped them and they were already out of the door when they heard a yell from behind them.

  Rugrat and Erik looked to see Lord Chonglu running after them.

  “Will you not stay for longer?” he asked desperately.

  “We have other things that we need to do,” Erik said.

  Chonglu nodded, a sour look on his face.

  Erik felt some goodwill toward this man, this father. “In my mind, it will take no more than a week, two at the most, for them to completely recover.” Erik smiled.

  Lord Chonglu let out a heavy sigh before he put his arm on Erik’s shoulder. “I know that they are not healed yet but I have come to trust you and you’ve yet to fail me.” Lord Chonglu pulled out a card from his ring and passed it to Erik.

  A screen appeared in Erik’s vision.

  ==========

  Quest Completed: Poison in the Marrow

  ==========

  Requirements:

  Heal Young Master Feng

  Heal Young Mistress Felicity

  ==========

  Rewards:

  1,000 gold

  Title of Noble

  3,450 EXP

  ==========

  “We do not need the title or the gold.” Erik was tempted but he shook his head, pushing the ring back toward Lord Chonglu.

  Lord Chonglu smiled awkwardly. The Noble title was a way to connect them together and the gold to create some goodwill.

  “I will see you out then,” Lord Chonglu said.

  He looked back to his children. Seeing them resting there and Lord Quinn and Ronhou, who had recovered from his wounds, standing there, he was reassured.

  He led them out of the palace. When they got to the gate, there was a young man standing with all of his knights. The man looked tired but stubborn as he looked up at the gate.

  Chonglu ignored them for the two men in front of him. “Is there nothing I can give you?” Chonglu asked, feeling that he was taking advantage.

  Erik held up four fingers.

  Four thousand gold? Mana cores? Swords, houses?

  “Four coppers,” Erik said simply.

  Behind him, Rugrat laughed. “Too cool.” Rugrat clapped Erik on the shoulder.

  “Four coppers?” Chonglu said, stunned. Then he remembered a piece of information, something he had thought irrelevant: Erik and Rugrat had accepted two coppers per person who visited their stall.

  With this, it was as if they were declaring that everyone was equal, from the lord’s children to the farmers.

  Knowing their strength and their ways, Chonglu wasn’t offended; instead, he was humbled by the experience. He took out four coppers and passed them over. He bowed deeply to them both. “Thank you for saving my children,” he said, no hint of nobility in his voice or actions.

  “Look after them well. We’ll be around in the future,” Rugrat said approvingly as he pulled Chonglu back up.

  Chonglu found the two men smiling. When he had seen them for the first time, he would never think that their entering and leaving of his home would be so different.

  “Man, I wish we had shades and suits,” Rugrat said.

  “What for?”

  “Be badass as fuck! Hey, doesn’t that kid look familiar?”

  “Do you think we’re the Blues Brothers? Yeah, he does. Why is he kneeling?”

  “Maybe he got hit by a horse in the head?” Rugrat muttered.

  Still, Chonglu’s ears twitched as the glowing image of the duo faded. A smile appeared on his face as he remembered his own raid party and old friendships.

  Good luck and hope you make it through the realms safely.

  Chapter: Change of Fate

  Wren had been standing out front of Lord Chonglu’s palace all night and morning. He was faint, hungry, and tired from standing for so long. Still, he remained there, not moving from his spot.

  Finally, it was reaching mid-afternoon when two men, escorted by Lord Chonglu personally, were led out of the palace.

  Others might not know the truth but Wren did: Lord Chonglu never left the side of his children since they had fallen ill. Seeing him out in the sunlight, sending these people away, Wren’s mind could only shake.

  They must’ve healed them. If they were able to heal the twins whose issue couldn’t be resolved through the healing houses or medicines, they could help Qin’er.

  This thought was at the front of his mind. But there was also a smaller voice that chided him for his previous actions.

  Because you were lacking, you turned arrogant, falling into your role heavily and attacking others without care. What would Mother have thought? What was Father trying to tell you when you hid your emotions and wanted to lash out at them?

  Wren’s stomach turned. His own actions turned over in his mind again and again to the point that he had imagined himself in their shoes. It didn’t feel good.

  He was angry for not doing what he set out to do, for not becoming strong enough. He shouldn’t have put this on others.

  The guards and servants all moved around awkwardly as the Lord Chonglu bowed to these two men. One of them lifted him back up with a smile.

  Then the two men were chatting to each other as they walked down the hill, looking over Wren and his entourage.

  Wren dropped to his knees and kowtowed in the dirt. “Great masters, this lowly one is Wren Silaz. I slandered you and talked out of spite when we first met. If you wish to punish me, I
will accept it all. I only ask for you to help someone who is innocent!”

  “Silaz?” one man asked.

  “Trading shop, monster core,” the other replied.

  “Ah, okay, yeah, that makes sense,” the first said.

  ***

  Erik and Rugrat looked at the young man in the dirt. His guards all took a knee behind him and kowtowed, too, with grimaces on their faces.

  Erik and Rugrat had been angered by the boy’s actions but they took them as actions of an arrogant youth who needed to learn some lessons.

  Since then, they had been through a lot.

  Erik squat down and looked at the boy. Rugrat was behind him; he looked relaxed but he was watching Erik’s back even now. His finger traced one of his storage rings, ready to pull out a weapon if he needed it.

  “Raise your head,” Erik said. Kowtowing in the ground was good and all, but he wanted to see whether the boy had changed, whether he was different.

  The boy did so, not meeting Erik’s eyes.

  “Give me your hand,” Erik said.

  The boy held it out freely, gritting his teeth as if he expected to lose it the next second.

  Erik held the boy’s wrist and used Simple Organic Scan. With it, he could pick up the speed of the boy’s heart and figure out whether he was lying or not.

  “Your name is Wren, correct?” Erik asked, working to establish a baseline.

  “Correct,” Wren said.

  “Your last name is Silaz?” Erik asked.

  “Correct,” Wren said, confused by the questions.

  “Do you believe your actions were wrong that day? Yes or no.”

  “Yes,” Wren hissed. His face turned red.

  “In the future, will you treat others as you wish to be treated, no matter their position? Yes or no?”

  “Yes,” Wren said, recovering some strength as he looked up at Erik slightly.

  “Who do you want to help?” Erik asked.

  “My sister.”

  “Is she hurt?” Erik asked.

  The boy flinched as if he had been stabbed. “Yes.”

  Erik could hear the helplessness and feel the truth in his words. Erik released his hand and stood. “Well, let’s go and check up on her then. And don’t be such an arrogant prick in the future, or we’ll come and kick your ass.” Erik’s voice dipped slightly into a growl as his aura leaked out a bit, focused on Wren, who shivered under it.

  “Y-yes,” Wren said, goose bumps covering his body.

  As soon as it arrived, it left.

  Erik pulled Wren up from the ground with ease. “Lead on, Wren.”

  ***

  Elan Silaz smiled as he looked out over the garden. It was one of Qin’s good days. She sat across from him, looking at the pieces on the board. Her brows were pulled together in serious concentration, giving off a childish charm.

  She moved one of her pieces on the board as her father looked at her move. She held her finger on the piece, checking her move and analyzing it.

  Looks like she saw through my sneak attack.

  Elan pushed his lips together as she let go of her piece.

  “Your turn, Dad!” she said, excited to see what he would do.

  A woman at the side of the room cleared her throat.

  Silaz looked over, his hand in the air.

  Qin also looked over. Elan couldn’t help but frown as their private time was interrupted.

  “Young Master Wren seeks an audience with Head Silaz and Young Mistress. He left last night to stand in front of Lord Chonglu’s residence all night and morning, kowtowing before two men who departed. They are the ones who acted upon the Moon Healing House and the ones young lord Domonos talked of,” the woman said in a rush.

  Elan felt a mix of emotions: hope, fear of that hope, pride at his son having learned from his losses.

  “Wren apologized?” Qin couldn’t help but ask.

  “That is correct.” The servant looked awkward before nodding.

  Elan lowered his hand and seemed to be deep in thought.

  What if they can’t help her? Will this just be another wasted visit and test? Raising her hopes only to break them—it would be too cruel.

  Just as he was about to speak, another voice interrupted him.

  “Dad, we should see them at least,” Qin said.

  Elan looked over at her. He could only sigh. She had seen through him easily.

  “Very well.” Elan smiled at Qin and then turned to the servant. “Bring them here.”

  It wasn’t long until Wren entered the room with two men right behind him.

  The men wore blackened clothing. At a glance, Silaz could tell that they were fighters, but they didn’t seem to be interested in fighting, instead looking around the gardens and his home in interest.

  “Father.” Wren stopped and bowed to his dad.

  The two men didn’t bow and instead looked at Qin.

  Elan felt his anger building, but he didn’t see any lust in their eyes. Instead, they seemed to be appraising her, checking her condition as he had seen many of his people look over monster cores. They looked at her the same way.

  “These two healing grandmasters have agreed to visit and lend their aid to Qin,” Wren said.

  The stress and respect in Wren’s tone made Elan look over the two men again.

  “What would you need to do?” Elan asked.

  “Just need to use a spell to see what the issue is. From there, we can figure out what might make it better,” one man said.

  Elan looked to Wren and then the man and finally Qin.

  As if understanding what he was going to say, Qin smiled softly. “Please do your spells.” She offered her hand.

  The man nodded and stepped forward. He didn’t take her hand but instead held her wrist and closed his eyes. “I never thought this was possible!”

  “What is it?” the other man asked.

  The first man used a sound transmission to the other so they couldn’t hear him.

  “No way! If I had that!”

  Another sound transmission followed.

  After a flurry of them, the first man released her wrist and they started to talk freely through their sound transmission devices.

  Their expressions were animated and then they slowly darkened before they frowned. Then they seemed to reach an accord.

  “We have a plan that might work, but it relates to some skills that we don’t want others to learn, so we would have to ask that Qin would have to swear an oath that she wouldn’t tell others what happened and that no one else would record or try to gain any information while this is going on.” The man’s eyes landed on Elan.

  “You can help Qin?” he demanded.

  The men looked at each other.

  “We believe so.”

  “I will need an oath that you will do nothing to harm Qin and only look out for her best interests,” Elan said.

  “These oaths are getting tiring,” the taller one complained.

  “We swear on the Ten Realms that we will do nothing to harm Qin and only look out for her best interests unless otherwise provoked,” the other man said.

  With the oath established, Elan nodded. “I swear that I will make sure that there is no one who tries to learn of your techniques while you are assisting Qin Silaz,” he said, establishing overlapping oaths.

  ***

  Erik, Rugrat, and Qin were guided to a secure room that was used for conversations that the Silaz family didn’t want getting out.

  Once inside, Erik started stretching. “Dude, I swear the right shoulder is all kinked to fuck.”

  “Come on, I just made it like last week.” Rugrat inspected the shoulder.

  “It’s pinching me in the back!” Erik said as Rugrat checked on the shoulder.

  ‘“You’ve just got fucked-up shoulders.”

  “You made fucked-up shoulders,” Erik complained.

  Qin wrung her hands as
she looked at the two “grandmasters” arguing about armor.

  “Look, you check it out.” Erik pulled off the straps and gave it to Rugrat.

  Rugrat sighed and looked the shoulders over and put his head inside. “Fuck, you need deodorant,” Rugrat complained.

  “Yeah, you need a shower and all,” Erik shot back as he stopped in front of Qin.

  She looked up at him timidly. He had a handsome albeit rugged face, and the black shirt under his armor showed his muscles. She looked up into his crystal-blue eyes and she somehow felt a bit safer.

  “You’ve got crystals in your Mana channels, kid.” The man grabbed a chair and sat down. He didn’t have any of the air of a grandmaster as he lounged there, looking more like a mercenary.

  Qin jumped as there was a banging noise behind him.

  “Will you shut it!” Erik yelled to Rugrat.

  “You want a fixed shoulder or not?” Rugrat shot back as he continued to work on the shoulders, putting them back into place.

  “You admitting they’re fucked up?”

  “No!” Rugrat said, but even to Erik’s ear, it sounded like a kid not getting their own way.

  Erik revealed a grin to Qin and winked.

  She moved her hands faster. She hadn’t really seen that many people outside of the family in her life; seeing these two lively fellows seemed to be a lot for her.

  “Umm, these crystals, w-what does that mean?”

  Erik let out a sigh and leaned forward slightly, trying to relax her a bit. “It looks like there was a mutation in your body. You see, you have Mana channels that run through your body. They pull Mana in from the outside world, store it in your belly, or your dantian; you can draw this out and through spells, create phenomena in the world,” Erik said.

  Qin nodded her head, her hands slowing their speed as she looked at him, interested.

  “Now, these channels, usually they’re clear, but yours got filled up with crystals. In fact, it made a gem in your dantian. First, I want to test something out.” Erik held out his hand and indicated for her to come forward.

  She did so. Erik held her wrist again and then allowed a thin strand of Mana out of his Mana gate and allowed it to touch the Mana gate in her wrist.