The wind howled against the barren land, carrying with it the sting of sand as we walked. The scenery had shifted drastically from the lush forests and towering castles of Elthias. Here, the land was dry, cracked, and seemingly endless. The heat bore down on us, and for the first time in days, I wondered if we were still within the kingdom’s borders.

  I had been silent for most of the journey, focusing instead on something new—something strange. Ever since the universal curse had taken hold, I could feel it—a presence, or rather, multiple presences. I could sense every person who shared my blessing.

  It was unnerving. The feeling wasn’t just vague awareness; I knew exactly where they were. Their locations were burned into my mind like distant stars in the night sky, unwavering and inescapable. There were three of them, including me. And because I could sense the king and his son, that meant our earlier question had been answered—people with similar blessings did count as one.

  “…So that’s the answer,” I muttered under my breath, finally breaking the silence.

  The king, who walked a few steps ahead of me, didn’t turn around. His voice was calm, but there was a weight to it. “How convenient.”

  I frowned. “What do you mean?”

  He exhaled sharply, almost amused. “There was a vote. The four kings decided whether people with similar blessings should count as one.”

  That caught me off guard. “And?”

  “The majority ruled in favor.” His tone darkened. “I voted against it.”

  I stared at him. Something about the way he said it felt… off. “The other kings voted for this ?”

  He finally glanced back at me, his eyes sharp. “I don’t believe in coincidences. The other three kings aligning so easily on this? It wasn’t chance.” He let out a quiet chuckle, though there was no humor in it. “They think they’re clever, stacking the rules in their favor. But I see it for what it is.”

  His gaze turned forward again, and his pace never slowed. “But democracy is a cruel thing, isn’t it? Three wolves and a sheep voting on what’s for dinner—what a fair system.”

  We walked for what felt like hours, the terrain shifting from dry rock to sand dunes. It was hard to believe that just yesterday, we had been in the grand halls of Elthias. Now, it was nothing but an endless stretch of golden dust, shifting under our feet with every step.

  I finally asked the question that had been nagging me. “Are we still in Elthias?”

  “No,” the king answered. “This is Aurelia now.”

  Aurelia. The Sanctified Lands of the Eternal Creed. A land where faith dictated power, where rulers bowed to the word of the High Priests rather than the strength of their armies. Unlike the structured kingdoms, these lands were a patchwork of holy cities, each governed by a council of prophets, mystics, and zealots who claimed divine guidance.

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  Their laws were strict, their devotion absolute. Those who entered without purpose were turned away—or worse, converted by force.

  “We’re near the border,” the king continued, glancing at me. “We won’t go any deeper into Aurelia. As long as we stay near the borders, we’ll be safe. But beyond this point, the rules change.”

  I nodded, understanding. For now, at least, we were safe—but I wasn’t sure how much longer that would last.

  The king never gave me details about why we were coming here. He simply ordered me to follow him, as if I had no choice. And, in a way, I didn’t. But despite his authority, despite his overwhelming power, something about him unsettled me in a way I couldn’t shake.

  For all his wisdom and confidence, he was still a man who ruled through fear and manipulation. And yet, as I walked beside him, I couldn’t help but feel like he had no fear at all.

  We stopped near the base of a massive stone archway. Beyond it, the land dipped into a deep valley, shrouded in mist. The king turned to face me, his expression unreadable.

  “Tell me, Maki,” he said, “how much do you understand about your own blessing?”

  I hesitated. “Not much. I know I can copy blessings, but… I don’t know how.”

  The king smirked. “Try copying mine.”

  I blinked. What?

  I took a step back, immediately on guard. Was this a trick?

  “You said you can copy blessings,” he continued. “So, do it. Take mine.”

  I clenched my fists. He was mocking me—challenging me. But at the same time… wasn’t this an opportunity?

  I focused, trying to tap into the part of me that made it possible. I willed my body to absorb whatever essence made up his power—to take what he had. But no matter how hard I tried… nothing happened.

  I gritted my teeth in frustration. “It’s not working.”

  The king smirked, watching me with an unreadable expression. "Of course it isn't. You don't even understand your own ability."

  His words stung. Was he right? Was I just stumbling around blindly, relying on something I couldn’t even control?

  Before I could respond, the king stepped forward. His movement was lightning-fast. One moment, he was standing still, and the next, he was right in front of me, his hand reaching for my throat.

  I barely had time to react as he attacked, his speed and strength overwhelming. I stumbled back, barely dodging his strike. He’s trying to kill me!

  The ground beneath me shattered with a deafening crack. His foot slammed down, sending a shockwave through the earth that sent rocks flying toward me. I dodged desperately, my heart pounding in my chest. He’s too strong. Too many blessings at his disposal—fire, earth, wind—he wielded them all with ruthless precision.

  I barely had time to think before another strike came at me. The king’s attacks were relentless, and I couldn’t keep up. I was going to die.

  In that moment, panic set in. My thoughts raced. What was I supposed to do?

  Then, an image flashed in my mind—Ray. His presence, his power… his curse.

  For some reason, my thoughts settled on him, and something inside me clicked. It was the blessing. The Grim Reaper blessing.

  I focused harder, pulling the power that Ray had once wielded. It surged through me, sharp and clear. I felt the shift inside my body—lighter, faster.

  I gasped, feeling the change. And on top of that, I’m not bound by his curse.

  The king paused, his eyes narrowing as he sensed the change in me. "Interesting," he murmured. "You actually did it."

  I was no longer on the defensive. I felt a rush of confidence, a sense of control over the power coursing through me.

  The king’s smirk disappeared. “So, this is what you’ve been hiding.”

  I exhaled slowly, tightening my grip on the power. “No,” I said. “This is what I just learned.”

  And then, I struck.

  To be continued…