"It's about time you wake up." goblin Fryr with uncanny smile said. "So how do you feel?"

"I don’t feel any specific change." Checking his own body, He turned his gaze at goblin Fryr and asked. "What change was supposed to happen?"

"You're really clueless about many things." The goblin said in disdain. "Close your eyes and try using utilize the magic I shared to you."

After a moment when he closed his eyes, he felt something in his soul; ten layer of curse placed upon it. The first of which was already almost breached, and the remaining seemed to be still fixed. "So does the magic Fryr gave me allowed me to feel these things?" Eros thought.

“So how is it?” Goblin Fryr’s voice resounded in his head which startled him and made him lose focus.

Opening his eyes, he said. “I can now feel the curse. It is composed of ten seals one of which is breached. Maybe that’s the reason of the sudden increase in my strength. However, for some reason, I can’t seem to access the seals, and could only touch the first layer.”

“Oh! So my own curse magic is powerful enough to access such high level curse placed on you.” Goblin Fryr said full of pride. “If you study my curse magic more, maybe you’ll be able to find clues about your curse and probably you can control it.”

“I hope so.” Eros replied in low spirit.

“Kid, have some faith in my magic. I may not be strong in magic combat, but my magic is definitely something extraordinary.” Fryr said while doing his evil chuckle.

“Yes, Back then I tried to kill him several times, but because of his weird magic, I always fail.” Hagu said seemingly highly convinced of the words of Fryr.

Eros could only gape in confusion on the relationship of the two.

“So could we go now? We wasted five days waiting for the boy to wake up.” Elas said flatly.

“Five days!?” Eros suddenly jolted and said in shock. “I was out for that long!?”

“Yes, and don’t be too shocked. It was actually surprisingly fast.” With a trace of reminiscence on his face, Elas said. “Some magic inheritance ritual takes more time, some months, and could even be as long as years.”

“Hehe. You waking up fast proved your talent to be a cut above the rest, which means that sharing my magic skill with you would not be a waste.”

“What if I woke up after a year!? What would have happened by then? You should’ve told that to me first.”

“Don’t worry, I was already preparing a pocket that could fit you right in, in case you didn’t wake up within the day.” Goblin Fryr said in jest. Eros could only shake his head in dismay, to the three who seem to not even care. This made him realize that he should collect himself and act the way he used to. Not like some wimp unsure of the things he do.

"Alright, you can study my magic along the way, while we march to the midnight cave."

"Midnight cave.. Sounds interesting. Why it called that way?" Elas asked.

"You'll know when were there."

...

"So why are we standing in front of this cliff face?" Eros asked with a frown.

"Yeah, we prowled for three days in search of the cave while avoiding many beasts and now we stood in the open with the moon illuminating us, in front of a gigantic cliff face as if asking all the beast to just eat us." Elas added.

"Your peevishness keeps on growing." goblin Fryr said with a smirk. "Just wait for a few minutes and it shall come."

Both Eros and Elas could only sigh, since they knew that no matter what, Goblin Fryr would never tell them what’s to come.

After a few minutes, the cliff face started to tremble, portions of it started to collapse, revealing a path which is extremely dark. It seems to be endless and full of dangers inside.

"Is that the midnight cave? Looks too normal for something special." Elas said who immediately walked towards the cave without caution.

"Not even shocked? You're no fun Elas." Goblin Fryr said with disappointment.

"Thou shall not enter the cave of midnight, if you have nothing to satiate our craving." An eerie voice wafted out from the cave, carrier by the cold wind of midnight.

When they heard the voice, Elas stopped his foot before he could take his first step into the cave. Eros only frowned, Hagu's expression remained unchanged, but, Fryr smiled and replied. "Oh exalted ones, we have something that each one of you covet, an Eterofir still alive and ebullient."

"Oh! Let them in." Another eerie voice drifted out the cave, but this one sounds a bit excited.

This time, the cave twisted and distorted. Its entrance became five times wider, and inside, five emaciated figures stood, making the slumbering Eterofir to bolt in fear. Unfortunate for him, Orc Hagu's grip is firmer than steel.

When they turned their gazes to the Etorofir at the back, they noticed that the supposed to be wide open space behind was now erected with a wall that appears to be similar as the wall in front. All of them stared above to check if the sky was the same as it was, but what they saw was a ceiling filled with stalactite which seemed to have existed from a distant past.

At one moment, they were out of the cave, but in a blink of an eye, they were inside of it. "Impressed now?" Goblin Fryr asked Elas, smug.

"A bit, I guess." Elas said while staring at the figures in front.

One of the five suddenly stretched out his withered hands and opened his rotting lips to give voice to the words. "Give us the cursed bird." But oddly, his voice seemed to come from every corner of the cave.

Every movement each of them makes seem to be taxing them in a great extent. But, the energy they emanate makes everything appear to tremble and shake.

"What do you wish to gain in exchange?"

"Nothing much... Just information on the location of the Door of Sin." Fryr said with a grin.

"Oh. You're Goblin Fryr whom came here in the past. That we can give you without a fight." One of the figures voiced out.

Goblin Fryr gave Hagu a slight nod, which in response, Hagu lifted the Eterofir to present to the five emaciated being.

"It is really an Eterofir! Oh how long has it been.”

"Hand it over quick!" Another voice said filled with yearning.

"Yes, give it to me!" Then another spoke.

"No hand it over to me!" Another one spoke again at a slightly mad tone.

"It is mine!" Then another one.

"Uh. Goblin Fryr, they all seem to be going insane at the sight of the Eterofir." Elas said while moving back slowly.

"Don't worry, they're just excited. Sometimes they're really hard to deal with" Goblin and said lightly. Then he said to the five. "Give us the information first.

"No! We want to touch the Eterofir first!" Furious, the figure responded which made the cave tremble violently.

"Alright, I'll hand it over to the one who give the information."

Everyone went silent for a moment, but it didn't last long, before the five began speaking in an attempt to outdo one another.

"The gate of sin is located at the.." One quickly uttered.

"Stop! It is in the top of.." Another interjected.

"No! It is on the hill of." Then another one.

"Brothers stop! He's luring us in. He should hand over the bird first before we give in."

"Tsk.. Alright." Goblin Fryr said rather pleased of what he witnessed, while Hagu threw the Eterofir towards the five.

"Oh! It is real; I can feel the curse of a God in it."

One quickly placed his hands on the bird which then entered its flesh. After which, an orb was pulled out with threads of energy attached in its body.

"Finally! We can savor a curse from a God! Such exquisite energy!

"So, can we know now the location of the door of sin?" said by goblin Fryr.

"Yes indeed, we would tell. It is at the top of the hill of despair. But don’t worry, the guardian is in slumber and would not care." The one holding the orb said.

Then the five started absorbing the small orb of energy which made them all seemed to be filled with intoxication as Eros and the group started to move away towards the exit of the cave. When they were close to the exit, a voice filled with craving suddenly echoed out in the whole cave. "I can feel another energy from the Gods!"

Suddenly, a mist appeared below Eros which formed instantly into one of the five figures earlier. "We already absorbed the curse of the God from the Eterofir, but strangely, I can somehow feel a very small amount of similar energy in your body."

Then another figure materialized beside Eros, touching his face with its hands that seemed to have been withered by time. "Very peculiar... Give us this boy and we can do a deal once more."

"Yes, we want him! This time we will give something beyond your wildest dream." Looking at Fryr the third figure said.

Hagu then said with serious expression. "They like you Eros. Aren't you flattered? Should we just leave you here?"

“Uh.. I think you got it all wrong, maybe it’s the magic passed on to me by goblin Fryr over there.”Eros said pointing at goblin Fryr in a hurry.

“Is it really?” The emaciated figures turned their gaze at the shocked goblin who immediately denied by saying. “No! That kid is weird, I tell you.”

“Idiots…” Elas murmured. While on his hand a ball of a symbol of the sun started to form. Then he suddenly raised his hand and shouted. “Eilikrines!” Blinding ray of light shone from his outstretched arm, which blinded everyone especially the five figures nearby.

Elas then tapped Hagu clearing his sight, then yelled. “Hagu grab that two and run for it!”

Without hesitation, Hagu quickly grabbed goblin Fryr and Eros who seem to be still pointing at each other also blinded by Elas’ spell.

In a mere seconds they were out of the cave, which the figures inside could only look at them and wail. For some unknown reason they could not get out of the cave. This made everyone breathe in relief, especially Eros and Fryr who has been about to give away each other.

“You caught them by surprise kid. Good thing you’re an elf. Elemental magic is nice at such a time, but how did you know they would be startled by the sun?”

“I didn’t. I just risked it, since you’re being stupid.” Elas said while walking away. “Lead us to that hill of despair, so that we could get out of this place.”

Goblin Fryr could only walk slightly ashamed of what happened, while Eros still puzzled. “What do they mean when they say that they can feel a curse of God on me? Clearly only a human cursed me.” He thought.

While Eros’ group were walking away, the figures inside suddenly said in unison. “Boy, our fates seem to be connected in some ways and someday we would surely meet again. When that time comes, you might even help us.” Slowly, their voice faded away along with the entrance of the cave where it came from.

Eros’ group only looked back and decided to ignore the words. They saw how weird those figures are, and things they say could end up being lies to lure Eros’ group to stay.

"What are those creatures?" Eros asked still stunned by Elas' skill.

Goblin Fryr then fixed his stance as he explained. "I'm also unsure of their origin. They have been here ever since the beginning. Many say they are the original inhabitant of the Stints covert, but some say they only hid here from an enemy they fear. For some unknown reason, they can't get out of their cave which only opens during midnight. Even though they’re stuck inside, they somehow know a lot of things outside, even the door of sin which only randomly appears. Nobody knows their strength, but no one dares to fight them inside their lair."

"That's some weird legend. I don't know why they seem to want me though."

"Maybe you were actually cursed by the Gods." Elas said.

"I'm hundred percent sure that a human cursed me." Eros said flatly.

"Yes. With my mastery in curse magic, even I can tell that it’s a human that cursed you, a very powerful human at that." Fryr said with a grin.

"Anyway, let's not talk about that and head to the hill of despair." Eros insisted.

"Oh its some distance away, but we have no choice but to get there." Fryr said in a nice way.

…

"At last we’re here, but that’s some seriously big hill over there. Is that really the hill of despair?" Eros said with wide eyes.

"Yes, that’s one of those things that consumes something and grows in time. In this case, the hill consumes despair which the Stints Covert seems to be abundant of." Goblin Fryr said who was also staring at the hill deeply. "It seems like it still keeps on growing. Soon it may become the biggest mountain here or even the whole plane of Eunos."

"I thought you can only find such things in the kingdom of elves, but I can’t believe there is also one located here.” Elas said. “Alright, enough with the sightseeing, and let’s start climbing.”

“So how do we get at the peak of that humongous hill.” Eros said with a sneer towards goblin Fryr.

“We walk and climb. I can fly, but there are a lot of creatures in the sky. It would be better to stealthy climb through the forest in the ground.” Fryr said while marching forward not waiting for Elas and Eros’ response.

After some time, Eros and the group already entered the feet of the Hill of Despair, there they saw many beasts waiting for a prey. In only a matter of hours, they already started running nonstop attacking beasts on the way.

Panting, Elas said. “Is there any other path than this?” Then he glanced at his back. “There are now tons of mosters on our tail, I told you we should’ve dealt with them earlier instead of running away.”

“Kid, there are a lot more of beasts in this mountain, if we kill each one that hinders our path, we might run out of stamina to fight the ones stronger at the top.” Fryr said while sitting satisfied in Hagu’s shoulder.

“This idiot is at it again.” Elas said furious pulling bow made of natural energy. “Kruos Oistos” He shouted. An arrow materialized which pierced to a beast chasing them from afar. Its large body filled with scales simply fell on the ground which started to freeze and crumble like fragile ice.

“Kid, I told you to stop wasting energy.” Fryr said calmly.

“I hate scaly creatures, that’s why I killed it.” Elas said while still running beside Eros who seems to be keeping up better than they expected.

“Kid, why don’t you start attacking those things? It’s a good way to test your strength.” Fryr said looking at Eros.

Eros looked back and attacked. Chanting “Ouranus Pyr”, Fire engulfed one of the monsters behind. Then he quickly followed through with another magic “Notos Kopis!”, Causing a blade of wind to slice the already burning monster.

“Is that the only attack magic you know?” Fryr asked with a hint of disappointment. “Also, you’re really weak if that weird symbol does not come out.”

“I have just been recently appointed as a Khalkos mage; of course I would be considerable weaker compared to you people.” Eros said with a sneer while continuously running. “What levels are you anyway?”

“Elas over there seem to be at the level of Arguross mage, but for some reason, he’s way stronger than normal Khrusos mage, putting him close to a wizard. Elves are supposed to be strong at elemental magic, but he seems to excel more than normal.” Fryr said looking at Elas. Then he tapped Hagu and continued. “Hagu over here is a warrior, we’ll that’s what he said, but, I’m not entirely sure about his level, since I have never seen him fight in full strength, but last time, he easily killed an Arguros Wizard, so that’s make him.. Maybe at the peak of wizard stage, or even equal to a Grand Wizard, I’m not sure.” Then pausing a bit and clearing his throat, Fryr said. “And as for me.. I am only as strong as a Arguros Wizard in combat, but, what makes me special is my curse magic which no one could easily beat.” Feeling proud he continued. “My curse magic is unbeatable; I once killed a Khrusos wizard with a single spell.”

“So you’re weak afterall.” Elas said with a sigh. “With your strength, I think it’s impossible for us to enter the House of Marx.”

“Insolent child. You know nothing about my strength. One’s level does not equal to one’s fighting potential. With my unrivaled command for curses, my strong acuity to details, coupled with my godly wits, and all my past espionage which gave me a sea of information that anyone would wish to obtain, makes me an existence beyond terrifying! There is no one other than me qualified enough to lead you to the house of Marx.” Goblin Fryr said while breathing heavily from the intense way he delivered his own self description.

“Alright.. We already made a contract so there’s no use regretting it now.” Elas said flatly.

Goblin Fryr glanced at Eros agitated and said. "Eros, you're a successor to my magic, tell this weakling that my magic is superior to everything in this world." However, contrary to his expectation, Eros did not look back, but instead did another attack to the beast at their back.

"You ungrateful boy! Me gifting you with my great magic makes me your master." Goblin Fryr said in Fury, but only after a moment, he regained composure and said. "Oh! Maybe it’s just that you still do not understand the greatness of my magic." While still comfortably sitting on Hagu's shoulder who was still running in a hurry, Fryr lifted his hand with open palm, and said. "Look here kid; use my magic like this so that you'll get a clue on the curse on you." Blood red magical symbol appeared on Fryr's palm which made Eros tremble into a halt. Then in his thoughts, he saw the layers of curse placed on him, which the first layer was churning.

"Do you get it now kid? With my magic you can possibly release yourself from the curse. However, you need to cultivate it yourself." Fryr's voice echoed to Eros' consciousness. After which, he regained his senses and he felt his strength grew like the time he slayed the Eterofir. However, before he could utilize it, his vision became hazy and he fell on his knees.

“Seems like you’re still too weak to dare to control that curse.” Fryr said while raising his hand to lift Eros in the ground by an invisible force, and placing him swiftly at Hagu’s shoulder who continued to run on Fryr’s order.

“See it’s useless. There’s no way your magic could be something that great.” Elas said while still attacking random beast on sight.

Fryr was still furious, but he decided to ignore the mockery and focus on what’s ahead. “Look boy, I can feel strong entities up ahead. I don’t think we can still run away from them, so prepare yourself.”

Elas looked ahead; the closer he get, the stronger the feeling of danger he felt. “So you’re useful sometimes.” Then he started chanting a spell while racing towards the unknown enemies in front. “Oh… Preparing early; seems like you’re somewhat smart afterall.”

Cracking sounds suddenly rumbled ahead of them, after which a huge boulder came flying towards them unhindered in its path, not only the boulder was large; it also radiated an energy that makes the boulder seem not easy to crush.

“Dodge!” In swivet, Fryr yelled.

Elas and Hagu went in an abrupt halt, standing on a steep path. Not even waiting a moment to pass, they both jumped to the side to avoid the gigantic boulder hurtling towards them, seemingly impossible to stop.

Rolling in stones and dust, Elas quickly stood back up, unleashing a magic he prepared beforehand. The trees in front swayed and thrummed, while its leaves swirled in the air carried by a strong gust of wind that could rip humans apart. Then the amassed leaved billowed and bulged, forming an attack which shot towards a figure that stood far away where the boulder came from.

A strong enraged roar echoed from afar causing birds to suddenly be agitated into flight, and an energy exploded to block Elas’ attack. After a wild collision of magical attack, another set of boulders flew towards Eros’ group ready to exterminate them with the terrifying strike.

However, this time, Hagu did not just sit back and dodge; he lifted his fist and punched the boulder with an earth shattering strike. Booms rang out as one of the boulder simply halted in front of Hagu’s fist, then numerous cracks quickly covered the boulder as it started to crumble in hundreds of parts.

“Who dares enter my territory and even attack me!?” A voice resounded where the boulder flew from.

Fryr cleared his throat as he said. “We are only passing by. Please let us through to the peak of the Hill of Despair.” Then ordered Hagu who was carrying the barely conscious Eros to walk forward towards the voice.

“No one passes through my territory without giving me enough compensation!” The voice exclaimed filled with pride.

Fryr’s eyes flashed with killing intent as he said. “Let’s kill him!”

Hagu then leaped into motion along with Elas who also sprinted into action. Quickly, various magic clashed which made the portion of the hill tremble. “So he’s not alone! There two Khalkos Wizard attacking us in hiding.” Said Fryr who was focusing on a spell he was casting. “Elas, you can’t handle them, hide behind Hagu’s back. Let the experts deal with this.”

While the fight was ongoing, which was basically Hagu destroying numerous spells inflicted on them, and Fryr was busy chanting something that seemed to be an extremely dangerous spell, Eros’ consciousness seemed be called by something deep within the hill.

“You feel familiar and somewhat unusual. Come to me child… I feel despair deep in your heart.” A voice enticed him as if dragging his soul out of him.

“Who are you?” Eros asked.

“I am not sure who I am…” Then the voice stopped, until Eros asked again. “Why are you asking me to go there?”

After some time, the voice responded. It wasn’t clear and was spoken in a different language yet, for some reason Eros could understand it. “Come.. and you shall know.” It was so enticing that his body trembled and his soul seemed to drift away from his flesh, but his mental state wasn’t weak, so he used his resolve to pull back his soul and release himself from the unexplainable guile of the voice.

He then opened his eyes and found himself on Hagu’s shoulder, in front; a blinding red dome of light covered a large radius in sight. “What is that?” Eros asked in shock.

“Impressed?” Goblin Fryr said filed with conceit.

“What’s to be impressed about?” Elas shook his head as he emphasized. “It took you so long to release that massive magic that who knows what it does.”

“In a short while you will see the greatness of a spell made by me!” Goblin Fryr said followed by a laugh that made Elas more dissatisfied.

“What’s happening here?” Eros asked in confusion.

“Oh. It’s just that we had a small fight with some unknown being hidden in the forest ahead, so after some time of exchanging attacks, Fryr here unleashed a seemingly useless grand spell that has been there for some time now. The only thing it did good was stop the fight and mute that voice that kept on asking who we are. But still we are stuck here and could not move forward.”

“Did you hear a voice calling me to go at the top of the hill?” Eros asked.

Both Elas and Fryr only glanced at him, then Hagu said. “Uh. Are you going crazy again? It seems like I should’ve really slightly hit your head back then.” Eros could only sigh to the three who seem to not even care.

Before he could continue to another question, a strong wind kicked up, the red dome of light flickered and transformed into numerous symbol that still covered the ground. Shrill screams filled the area while shouting, “Stop the spell you damned goblin!”

“Is that how you beg?” Fryr said in a raspy cold tone.

“Oh. So it’s not entirely useless.” Elas said.

Fryr did not respond as he waited for the begging to begin. Elas’ words were annoying, but he was not in the mood to be arguing. What he wished to hear were the voices begging in despair, which would also prove his point to Elas without bickering and wasting a breath.

“Please stop this now!” The voice in hiding said. “How could you use such sinister magic on us.”

Fryr’s face remained emotionless and did not reply a single word.

After a few breaths, the voice again said. “Please stop. We admit defeat. We could not hold out any longer, our flesh is already being eaten by this demonic souls that you summoned.”

This time, it was obvious that Fryr’s face began to show signs of satisfaction while he asked. “So, can we pass now?”

The voice quickly answered. “Yes!” Then followed by a groaning sound.

“Alright then, but one of you must die for offending me! Who should it be?” Fryr said.

“Kill me! Release my brother.” The voice replied instantly.

Fryr rubbed his chin as if thinking deeply, then he nodded his head and said. “Alright. Your brother shall die.” After those words, he waved his hand which caused a shriek and roar to echo out at the same time. The deafening shriek lasted for several breaths until it finally stopped, quickly followed by a roar filled with rage. “Why did you kill my younger brother!? I already said you should take my life instead!”

“Life doesn’t work that way.” Fryr said pleased by every word. “Also, you will die after a day.” Then the red magical symbols slowly became smaller as if it was embedding itself onto something. “Those symbols will make you suffer until you die. I endow you with the pleasure of dying from my curse which not everyone could enjoy.”

The wizard hidden in the forest suddenly roared and mustered up all of his energy to rise to his feet and attempt to fly towards Fryr and attack him in a final struggle before he perish.

In an instant, his body which was groveling in the ground suddenly became filled with every last bit of energy as he flew at an unprecedented speed towards Fryr who was standing above Hagu’s shoulder filled with a complacent smile.

Both Eros and Elas were shocked; they did not expect that the wizard could still attack. What they saw wasn’t human, but instead a creature whose body is covered in earth and sand.

“So you’ve decided to attack in plain sight. But, too bad it’s too late.” Fryr said.

Before the man could touch Fryr, his body shook, and the red magical symbols in his body entangled him completely. His flight stopped and fell on the ground, where he looked helpless in front of the group he wished to slay with all his might. “Kill me!” He said.

Fryr simply smiled, but Elas said. “I’ll kill him.” Then he stepped forward and pulled his bow of natural energy backward.

“You sure you want to kill him?” Fryr asked. “The hill seemed to be enjoying him.”

Below the man, the grass started to sprout filled with life, and the land grew slightly in just a quick moment of the man’s despair filled plight.

Elas’ eyes went wide. He was an elf who is favored by the nature; in turn he loved the nature. So he was stunned by the sight of the nature feeding on despair. “Why is this land devouring his despair?” Elas asked in deep shock.

“That’s why it’s called Hill of Despair.” Fryr quickly answered as if he expected the question Elas would ask.

“I remember.. Come to me boy and let me tell you… The story of my youth..” A voice whispered into Eros’ ears.

He jolted in Hagu’s shoulder as he said. “Did you hear that?”

“Hear what?” Fryr said a bit pissed. “Is Hagu really right about you being crazy? Maybe I should have not stopped him smacking some sense into you.”

“No. I am sure I can hear something.” Eros said while glancing around feeling jumpy.

The three ignored him and started to watch the man who seemed to be slowly dying in pain filled with rage and despair, his eyes etched at Fryr’s face who was constantly smiling with a trace of happiness.

Elas looked at the man deeply and decided to walk away, followed by Hagu who doesn’t even care, while Eros and Fryr riding on his shoulder.

“Come..” Again the voice resounded, but Eros stayed silent. He did not ask anyone and decided to keep it to himself and looked forward and thought. “I guess I’ll have to look for it myself.”