Olivia stumbled into her home, her limbs aching from the brutal fight in the Lava Creatures’ Cave. She shut the door and leaned against the wooden frame, her breath steadying as the golden glow of the lanterns flickered softly. Walking to her storage chest, she placed the Obsidian inside—one step closer to the Magic Table. But there was no time to rest.

  Her eyes fell on an old, faded parchment buried under a cloak on her desk. She had almost forgotten about it. Unrolling the map, her eyes traced the name that sent a chill down her spine. Wisteria Forest.

  She remembered where she had found it—inside an abandoned house in a ruined village. The place had been eerily silent, dust coating every surface, and shattered glass crunching beneath her boots. In a small study, she had discovered a skeleton, its bony fingers still clutching a dagger. Beside it had been a note, the handwriting jagged and trembling:

  "If you seek the Wisteria Syrup, beware. The forest is cursed. Demons lurk in the fog, and only the sharpest blade will set you free."

  Back then, she hadn’t believed it. But after facing the horrors beneath the earth, Olivia knew better. The map marked the exact location of the Wisteria Syrup, a key ingredient needed for her Magic Table. She had no choice but to go.

  Grabbing her shears, a glass bottle, and her golden sword, she took a deep breath and stepped into the night.

  The Wisteria Forest loomed ahead, a sea of purple vines swaying gently in the breeze. A thick mist curled around the trees, making it impossible to see too far ahead. The air was heavy with a sickly-sweet scent that clung to her senses. Her footsteps were silent against the soft earth, but she could feel them—watching. Pale faces with gleaming yellow eyes emerged from the darkness. Demons. They clung to the trees like monstrous insects, their twisted grins biding their time.

  A whisper echoed through the mist.

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  "You shouldn’t have come here..."

  Olivia’s breath caught in her throat.

  Then—a blur of movement. A demon lunged from the shadows, claws aimed at her throat. Her sword met it mid-air, slicing through its neck. The demon crumbled into ash, but the others hissed, their glowing eyes narrowing as they closed in.

  They attacked. Olivia’s sword danced, striking down one after another, but they kept coming. She had to move. She darted through the trees, the demons’ snarls echoing behind her. Her lungs burned, her muscles screamed—but then she saw it.

  At the heart of the forest, bathed in eerie moonlight, stood the Main Wisteria Vine. Its blossoms shimmered like stars, their petals glowing faintly. Hanging from one flower was a single drop of thick, golden syrup. The Wisteria Syrup.

  But Olivia wasn’t alone.

  A towering figure emerged from the shadows. This demon was different—taller, its skin dark as ink, eyes burning red, and a jagged sword resting in its clawed hand. The Guardian of the Forest.

  "You are brave… but you will not leave here alive."

  Olivia didn’t hesitate. She charged.

  The Guardian’s blade clashed against hers, sending shockwaves through the ground. It was fast—too fast. Olivia dodged and rolled, her movements just barely keeping her alive. She couldn’t win. Not like this.

  Her eyes darted to the vine. She had to get the syrup. Dodging another swing, she grabbed her shears, leaped toward the vine, and with a swift snip, caught the syrup in her glass bottle.

  But before she could escape, a cold, clawed hand gripped her ankle. A demon dragged her down, its teeth bared. Olivia twisted, struggling to free herself, but the grip was too strong.

  In desperation, she took a deep breath. Her heart pounded like a drum, heat surging through her veins. A sudden warmth filled her chest, spreading to her arms. Then—her sword glowed.

  Golden light erupted from the blade, and when it touched the demon’s arm, the creature screamed. Its flesh burned, crumbling to ash. Olivia stared at her sword, the glow fading but the warmth lingering.

  But as the last demon fell, its dying words chilled her to the core:

  "The Wisteria Forest’s first curse… will haunt you… forever."

  The Guardian, watching silently, tilted its head.

  "Interesting… you are not ordinary after all."

  But Olivia didn’t stay to learn more. She ran, her heart pounding as she left the cursed forest behind.

  Yet even as the mist faded and the Wisteria trees disappeared from view, the Guardian’s chilling whisper echoed in the wind:

  "The curse has only just begun, Olivia..."