It looks like my body doesn’t even need sleep, well not exactly. I can sleep for one hour and it will be enough for me. I can go back to sleep even if I’m not feeling tired. When I go to sleep I can enter a meditative state which really helps after a hard day. I discovered this state the night after the demon wolf ripped my hand. When I enter this state I’m transported to my inner world. When I’m meditating I feel my tension draining away and I calm down. It makes sense. When I was in danger, battle meditation allowed me to calm down.

The winter finally came but there is no snow. The cold weather was good for me since Kraft wanted me to increase my cold resistance. He told me that most of the ice spells are dangerous because they reduce the temperature around their target and disturb their concentration.

I like to be outside on a chilly night so I decided to interrupt my meditation and go outside. Even though I was dressed with thin clothes the cold didn’t bother me, it actually felt good. I found myself staring into distance. There was nothing but trees. I looked up and saw the moon through some clouds. Maybe I will see some snow this winter.

“What are you doing outside at this hour?”

That actually scared me. Ellen came outside and managed to sneak up behind me. I know she can be quiet when she wants but I didn’t even hear the door open. I looked at her with a rather surprised face. She was wearing a black, one-piece dress almost see-through. That was an amazing sight. The dress complemented her black hair and her blue eyes very well and the shining moon made her look stunning. I understand why Kraft wanted her so much but I still don’t understand why she married him. Kraft may actually be the one with a gift from God, the gift of luck.

“Is there something wrong or you just like what you see?” Ellen said that while coming closer to me.

I turned around hoping I don’t have to answer that. I don’t feel like getting lectured about a woman’s sex appeal at this time of the day.

“Are you embarrassed?” said Ellen while embracing me from behind.

“Not really. I just had a feeling you had something planned so I tried taking the easy way out.”

*Chuckles* “You are not wrong. You seemed out of it starring at the trees and I thought I would liven up the mood a bit.”

“If you want to talk then you can explain why Kraft had my arm with him when he took me out of the forest.”

“That is a tradition. When a comrade is hurt or killed in action his body has to be returned intact or as close to that as you can. Your father took your arm with him to respect that tradition.”

“That is a really strange thing to do. I wouldn’t even think of doing that.”

“Sincerely I don’t really care about things I am not interested in. I never asked him about that tradition or any other. I just let him continue as long as he doesn’t inconvenience me.”

“Wow, I never thought you can be selfish. I imagined you a little selfless person.”

“It’s been almost six years and you never addressed me as mother or Kraft as father. I know we killed your parents but you act like you hold a grudge against us even though you said you don’t.”

“I just don’t feel right calling you that. I know that parents aren’t only those who have given birth to you but also those who raised you.”

“I understand. In any case you’ve made up your mind so I will stop trying to change your mind.”

“Thanks for understanding and sorry.”

“By the way, you thought Kraft’s tradition is strange, how about looking there.” Said Ellen while pointing at the gap between two trees.

I looked between the trees and I saw a figure. It was humanoid but it didn’t look solid. It was like a fog of someone or something made of black smoke. I couldn’t analyse the figure.

It just stood there, watching me with no eyes. I was not afraid but my body kept telling me to stay away.

“This is not the first time I saw that figure. The first time I saw it was we saved you and the second time it followed Kraft all the way from the woods to the village when you got attacked by the demon wolf. This time is closer to you. Every time I see it, it gets closer to you. I think he appears when you are fatally wounded.”

“But I’m okay, there’s nothing wrong with me.”

“You forgot that you are still carrying the curse. You don’t feel it but your body is under heavy stain.”

“Let me check.” I told Ellen while analyzing my body and my magic.

The curse was stronger than I could endure. My body was being repaired with magic but I would be in danger if I run out of magic. I absorbed almost all my magic before going to sleep but I didn’t notice the curse.

“I have seen the marking before, it’s about the time the curse kills its target. You might as well remove it.” said Ellen with a calm face.

“This curse it’s becoming a burden, might as well get rid of it.”

Even if my body was supposed to reject the curse on its own the curse was still present. It used the magic absorbed to keep working, it explains why it activated on Ellen after such a long time. I used my remaining magic to remove the curse. That little bitch really overstayed its welcome.

It took me a few moments to catch my breath and the fact that Ellen’s arm were around my chest didn’t help. After a few breaths I regained my composure. I looked at where the figure was supposed to be. The figure disappeared. So something that appeared to be made of smoke disappeared in a big some cloud, that’s some pretty deep imagination.

“I was about to tell you that we will be going to the village tomorrow but I guess you already have something to think about. Good night Ali.” Said Ellen before patting me on the head.

Good night my ass, so I have a personal Reaper coming after me when I cheat death, a very nice way to keep a person awake for life. I might as well call this place Elm Street and go with the flow.

Somehow I was able to sleep. The next morning the three of us prepared to go the village center. Some important merchants were arriving today and Kraft had to be there. Since Kraft is working we get a discount so Ellen insisted on going.

“Kid we have to get you new clothes.”

“Those are a little short but I don’t need new ones yet.”

“It was just a thought. You are already as tall as most teenagers.”

“How tall am I anyway?”

“Don’t move” after Kraft said that he held his sword next to me.

“Your height is the same as this sword so I guess you are one and a half meters tall.”

“Dear, Ali, let’s go.”

We took the carriage and went to the village center. When we reached the village I was surprised by the number of people present. So these merchants really are famous after all.

We were almost there when I saw somebody calling out to Ellen. There were 2 people, a girl and a man. The scan told me that the man was a 40 years old merchant and the girl was his daughter. The man was really fat, looking like a pear, he had black eyes and brown hair. The girl’s age was 13, she had long, brawn hair and a developed body. Both of them wore expensive clothes. The clothes were made from materials I haven’t even heard of.

“Good morning miss Ellen.”

“Good morning baron Kyo.”

What’s with that name? The names here sounded either German or English.

“How are you doing Amy?”

The girl didn’t answer Ellen’s question, she just went “hmmph” at her. Looks like a disrespectful little bitch joined the fun. It’s not like she said anything rude, somebody should teach her some manners.

“I am sorry for my daughter’s behavior. She had to come with me and she is not in a good mood.” This guy is all right for now, at least he apologized.

“Ellen, who is this girl?” I asked her.

“She is the daughter of the merchant Kyo. I was her teacher eight years ago. I was assigned to teach her our language and some basic knowledge.” From her explanation I understood that this girl is stupid.

Ellen said that she was assigned to teach her but she didn’t say that she actually taught her very much.

“So she must know at least as much as me.” Let’s see if she takes the bait.

“How about you wipe that smile off your face kid. This woman is not capable of teaching anything whether if its language or magic. All those people who think they are so smart can go and get eaten by demons.” I could see the merchant sweating like crazy while looking at his daughter.

“This excuse of a teacher couldn’t teach anybody, I don’t know how my father knows her but I knew hiring her was a mistake.”

After she finished talking I felt Kraft’s hand on my shoulder. When I turned to face him he told me.

“Kid, don’t think about doing anything. If we have to stop you there will be nobody left to stop us.”

“Heard that kid, you better know your place.”

By nature I was a patient person but patience eventually runs out. I pushed Kraft’s hand aside and I went in front of that girl.

“How about you learn some manners you little bitch. Firstly Ellen is a better teacher than you deserve, you are just too stupid to learn anything. Secondly the money you are talking about came from your father, you couldn’t even work for one gold coin. Thirdly you suck at magic because your affinities are very low and on top of that you are cursed. The curse makes magic manipulation impossible, but you can continue blaming others for your failure, maybe that’s how you got cursed in the first place. Lastly the smile I had on my face was called a smirk. I said what I had to but I’m sure you weren’t able to comprehend half of what I said.”

The look on the girl’s face was priceless, that was the look of utter defeat. I wanted to see how much of a bitch she is but she was lucky Kraft stopped me else I would have killed her where she stood. I looked at Ellen. For some reason she looked worried.”

“Ali, is she really cursed?”

“Are you for real? She insulted you like that and you are worried about her fucking curse.”

“You took care of her for me. I was just thinking that I didn’t notice she was cursed.”

“She is cursed. The curse is not that strong but it cannot be removed if you don’t know it’s exact name. Now people are going to ask two questions. I can remove it? Yes. I want to? No. So girl, have fun practicing magic.”

“Boy, you said you can remove my daughter’s curse. If you do I will pay you.”

I was about to turn him down but then Ellen interrupted.

“I am sorry, Ali won’t remove her curse and even if he wanted I wouldn’t let him.”

Seeing Ellen say that with a smile on her face was both amusing and scary. I say scary because I know what that smile meant.

“I was happy we got to meet again but we have to go. Good day to you all.”

With that Ellen started walking towards the village center and I went after her.

There wasn’t much to see. The only new things were some ingredients for food and alchemy. The quality was the only thing that changed.

In the end Ellen bought some parts for the carriage, some meat, some cooking tools and two iron daggers. The daggers looked more like combat knives. I started sword training with Kraft so I may have to learn how to fight with daggers too.

When we got home I asked Ellen about that girl.

“When I was in the imperial capital I thought I could make some money by teaching people. I was hired by a small school and one day that merchant saw me and asked me to tutor his girl. I still regret the decision.”

“Why didn’t you left? I don’t think that girl was more polite then than now.”

“I thought of that as a challenge for me. I felt I needed to at least teach her how to speak to prove myself. If not for my stubbornness I would have left that job behind me from day one.”

“I don’t have anything to say. You made a bad decision. It’s not like you knew how she was.”

“I didn’t. If I knew I wouldn’t have accepted the offer.”

“That’s what I’m trying to say, you made a mistake.”

“I still have to thank you for what you did. You actually managed to shut her up, something I should have done a long time ago. I’m also glad that Kraft stopped you. After she insulted me you began to emit enough killing intent to scare animals.”

“I was angry but not like that, that sounds more like rage.”

“Believe what you want but remember the merchant wasn’t sweating because his daughter was misbehaving, he was afraid. Most likely he thought he angered one of us and sincerely that much killing intent was enough to surprise both me and Kraft, after all he did try to stop you.”

“I will think about this. Now do you have anything you want to talk about?”

“As you noticed I am pregnant so I will not train you as much as before. I will teach you how to fight using daggers and knives then Kraft will take my place and teach you how to kill demons with swords. Lastly I want to give me your watch.”

“Why?”

“There is something I want to try and it involves using that watch.”

“I will give it to you then. In exchange I want you and Kraft to train me in something I am lacking.”

“You are a coward so we have to come at you seriously. We already knew that and we are going to help you with that a little.”

“I’ll be counting on you then. I am going to sleep. Here.” I took the watch from my inner world and I gave it to Ellen.

I don’t know what she was going to do to my watch and frankly I don’t care, after all that watch was made to last and I trust Ellen.