“Who’s Master Lom?” Salome asked.

  “He is the one who summoned you here” Sileil said. “Master Lom watches over us and this city, and he decides who may enter and who may not. You will meet him soon. By now, he should have received word of your awakening, so he will come as soon as possible."

  So that was the name of Kiran's mysterious master. Salome wondered exactly what he wanted from her.

  “So… what’s this Lom like?” she asked probingly.

  Sileil smiled faintly, her eyes wandering across the city. “This might sound strange, but I actually know very little about him. Though he has done so much for us. Without him, most of us would probably never have found our way to Adamer. He treats us like family, despite our… otherness.” Her gaze drifted toward the glowing pillar and lingered there for a moment.

  “There’s something I must ask of you,” she said after a while. “I don’t know why you’re here—though I suspect it has something to do with your homeland—but one thing is clear: you are not like us. Whatever your fate may be, it was not the curse that brought you here. This is not the end of your journey. That means you—and certainly your lively friend—will leave this place sooner or later. Therefore, I ask you to promise never to speak to anyone about this city, for all our sakes.” She regarded Salome seriously.

  Salome raised her eyebrows in surprise, quickly nodding when she realized how important this matter was to Sileil.

  “Thank you,” said the tall woman, smiling and dipping her head in a slight bow, causing the tips of her horns to briefly point in Salome’s direction. “Now I just need to figure out a way to silence your talkative friend…” The way she said this sent a chill down Salome’s spine.

  “Why is it so important that no one learns about this place?” she asked hesitantly.

  “What was your first thought when you saw us earlier?” asked Sileil. “What did you feel deep down when you noticed these horns, this unnaturally pale skin? What do you feel now, looking at me? We are different, our appearance frightens people. And humans… they become unpredictable when they're afraid. Many of us have learned this the hard way.”

  Salome remembered how her first instinct had been to run away when she had first seen the elders in the tavern.

  “And besides,” Sileil added softly, “it’s not necessarily we who are in danger outside this city. This curse doesn’t just affect our appearance. Oh no. It’s much more complicated. You see, things tend to… happen around us. It’s as though people near us suffer especially bad luck. They lose at games, trip over their own feet, injure themselves, or suffer terrible accidents. Sometimes we inadvertently destroy our surroundings, causing disasters simply by being there. Master Lom once compared this phenomenon to a rockslide; all the stones rest calmly on the slope, but once a tiny pebble starts rolling, it triggers the others until eventually, an avalanche crashes down the mountain. And we, bearers of this curse, are that first pebble.”

  Sileil paused, a shadow of sadness passing over her face.

  “Many of us have harmed people we loved, caused tragedies, and faced contempt from our communities. Fate condemned us to leave our homes and wander the world, ostracized and alone. But here, in this city,” she continued, “things are different. Here, nothing ever happens that could be blamed on our curse. It’s as if there simply aren't any stones here.”

  She thoughtfully ran her hand along one of the twisted columns. “That's why this place matters so much to us. Outside, we’d only cause pain and suffering—for ourselves and for everyone else. But not here. This is our home, our sanctuary. Now, do you understand why I must protect it at any cost?”

  Salome discreetly glanced at Sileil's horns. In Fundament, curses were blamed for sickness, accidents, and pestilence, though usually, people themselves were responsible and just sought scapegoats. But this was different. This curse was real. The unnatural appearance of these people was proof enough, and Salome saw no reason why Sileil would lie.

  “That must be a terrible fate,” Salome said sympathetically. “I always thought my life was hard, but this… this is…”

  “Thank you for your compassion,” Sileil replied gently. “We all carry deep pain in our hearts, but even for us, there's redemption. Eventually, we arrive here, and our suffering ends.” She stepped back from the balustrade and approached the door in the floor.

  “Come now, let's go back. I imagine Master Lom will arrive shortly.”

  Salome cast another look over the city. For a moment, she thought the pillar's light flickered. But upon closer inspection, its peaceful golden glow remained steady amidst the all-encompassing calm.

  Salome could already see the sign of the Wegesend Inn when a sudden voice from a narrow alley behind her startled her.

  “It seems you're tougher than you look, in the end.”

  “Kiran!” Salome called joyfully, seeing the tall young man approach.

  “How surprising to see you back on your feet so soon.”

  “Oh, come now,” Salome waved dismissively. “I merely stumbled. A bit dramatically, maybe. But nothing worth mentioning!”

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

  Kiran regarded her thoughtfully. He looked worn out, as though he hadn't slept properly for some time.

  “Dramatic, huh?” he said, turning to Sileil, who had remained silent until now. “Sileil. It's good to finally see you again. Forgive my late arrival, but I urgently needed to report to the Master and clarify a few… other things.”

  “You're forgiven,” Sileil replied warmly, a gentle smile crossing her lips. “Welcome back.”

  “I’m home,” said Kiran, and Sileil embraced him as tenderly as a mother would her son.

  Salome stared, astonished. Kiran was smiling! It was the first time she'd ever seen him smile.

  “Well then,” Kiran cleared his throat and awkwardly stepped away from Sileil. “It's about time I checked on the others to see how they’re doing. You were on your way back, weren't you?” Adjusting his hood slightly, he moved past them toward the inn. A spark of amusement flickered in Sileil's sharp gaze, though her expression remained otherwise neutral.

  As the inn’s entrance door swung closed behind them, Salome didn't find the tranquil silence she expected, but rather the captivated quiet of eager listeners. Van’s theatrical voice echoed clearly through the room:

  “…and where do you think I was when I opened my eyes again? That's right—in midair! Completely bewildered, I stared at an ocean of treetops racing toward me! Rather than contemplating how I'd ended up in that situation though, I threw out my arms and legs, desperately trying to slow my fall. By the pillars, I screamed and cursed like a sailor doing an involuntary anchor dive! Then, I crashed through the foliage, and my landing would surely have been far worse if not—” He stopped abruptly, noticing the small group that had entered.

  “Of course. The troublemaker seems perfectly fine,” Kiran remarked sarcastically.

  “Kiran!” Van jumped off the chair he'd been using as a stage, pointing at the boy in agitation. “You arrogant blockhead! Where have you been all this time? You owe me some answers!”

  “Arrogant…?” Kiran began indignantly but couldn't finish.

  “Kiran! Kiran is back!”

  Van’s audience consisted of several elderly horned ones and about a dozen children who all leaped joyfully from their seats, racing excitedly toward Kiran. “Kiran’s back!” they chanted repeatedly, dancing around him.

  Kiran sighed, crouching down with arms spread wide. “Yes, I’m back,” he said gently, almost lovingly. “Have you behaved yourselves while I was gone? Especially you, Jehen? And you two, Luen and Reine? Did you keep your promise and not trouble Serena?”

  The children nodded vigorously, earnestly assuring him they had been good.

  He glanced around. “Where’s Nuria?”

  “Upstairs with Nyor and Erin,” answered an elderly woman seated comfortably nearby, watching the scene with gentle amusement. “It seems she doesn’t quite approve of the two spending so much time alone together.”

  Kiran chuckled warmly, rising and beginning to remove his heavy cloak while surrounded by children.

  “It’s good to see you again, Sunja.”

  “Likewise,” the old woman replied with a wink.

  Van and Salome stood there, mouths agape, staring at Kiran as though seeing him for the first time.

  “What?” he asked, glancing back and forth between them. “Don’t you have anything better to do than stand there gawking?” He hung his cloak beside the door and began greeting each person individually, shaking hands and exchanging embraces as if Van and Salome weren't even present.

  “All right, now, off you go,” Sileil instructed the children, holding the door open. “Go play in the city—but be back in time for dinner!”

  The children rushed out, laughing, their footsteps echoing down the street outside. Salome noticed that many of them had small horn buds on their foreheads, like Nuria’s. Apparently, the curse made no exceptions for children.

  Once Kiran had greeted the elders, he pulled a stool to the counter and sat down, chatting quietly with Sileil about recent events. Occasionally he laughed or seemed surprised – like a completely different person. Salome and Van exchanged astonished glances as they listened in.

  After a while, he paused, addressing Sileil with a serious look. “Say… has anyone new arrived in my absence?”

  Sileil took a while before replying. “Yes. A young girl about your age. She must have traveled far—she was utterly exhausted and starving when she arrived. I found her behind the house recently; she stumbled toward me with the last of her strength and collapsed. She's been resting upstairs with the others ever since.”

  “Really?” Kiran responded thoughtfully.

  After a brief pause, Sileil continued, “However… as far as I can tell, she hasn't been touched by the curse.”

  Kiran looked startled. “Truly? Well, that's... unusual.” He cleared his throat. “I'll check on her right away.” He made to stand, but Sileil gently caught his arm.

  “Don't worry; Erin, Nyor, as well as Alin have been looking after her. You know how Alin is. Rest a bit first—you look hungry!”

  Kiran hesitated but eventually sat back down. “Alright, if you insist. I suppose I really should eat something first.”

  Sileil gestured for Van and Salome to join Kiran. At that moment, Salome suddenly realized how terribly hungry she was.

  Soon after, Sileil emerged from the kitchen, bearing steaming bowls filled with delicate meatballs in a creamy sauce and a loaf of fresh bread. The enticing aroma made Salome's mouth water instantly. She had to restrain herself from eagerly devouring the meal.

  In Fundament, proper manners were crucial if one ever hoped to be taken seriously.

  Salome had despised it.

  Not manners themselves, but the condescending, humiliating way she'd been corrected for every small mistake, every trivial lapse throughout her childhood. In the end she had mastered the rules of etiquette completely, yet to her, they had felt like nothing but shackles. Chains upon chains.

  She sat rigidly upright, her hands folded politely in her lap, waiting patiently until the others took up their spoons.

  Van couldn’t care less about etiquette. He dived into the food like a starving vulture.

  Kiran approached his meal with somewhat more dignity but didn't delay any longer than necessary.

  “This tastes fantastic!” Van exclaimed enthusiastically between bites. “Really fantastic. My compliments to the chef!”

  “Of course, it’s delicious,” Kiran responded, tearing off a piece of bread to dip into the sauce. “Also, the chef is standing right in front of you.”

  “Oh, really? By the pillars, I should've known!”

  Sileil accepted the compliment in silence, calmly crossing her arms as she leaned against the shelves behind her.

  Salome stared down at the bowl in front of her, yet despite her rumbling stomach, she found it difficult to pick up the spoon.

  It felt strange. She was seated in an unfamiliar room, surrounded by people she'd only recently met—as an outsider, a guest—and yet, somehow, she felt entirely at ease. The cursed ones with their horns were still unsettling her, but now she saw them differently: as sufferers, outcasts merely longing for peace and acceptance. She felt ashamed of herself for initially viewing them as monsters.

  “Is everything alright, Salome?” Sileil asked gently. “Don’t you like the food?”

  Salome realized she had been staring absent-mindedly at her meal. Quickly picking up her spoon, she replied, “Oh no, that's not it! It's just… never mind.” She blew carefully on her spoon and tasted the food.

  It was excellent.