"The Helibian Curse"

A week had passed since Nao left behind the bloodstained floors of her home. The forest trails grew thinner, the sky clearer, and the silence heavier. Her heart hadn’t healed but her resolve had hardened. Every step was a vow: “I will uncover the truth.”

As the sun dipped beneath the tree line, she spotted rooftops just beyond a hill’s crest. Smoke rose gently from chimneys. A village at last.

She approached cautiously, knowing well that not all who smiled offered peace.

A sign at the entrance read: “Welcome to Telmere Village of the Sylphiir.”

“Sylphiir…” she whispered, eyes narrowing. “Master told me about them… A race of gentle spirits. Peace-loving, non-violent… They value harmony more than anything.”

But what she saw next shattered every expectation.

Villagers men, women, even children were in a frenzy. Fistfights broke out in the streets, homes were shattered, cries echoed through the air like a cursed chorus. A woman was pulling her own son’s hair. Two elderly men brawled over a torn loaf of bread. Madness.

Nao’s fists clenched.

“Just what the hell is going on? This isn’t peace… This is chaos.”

As she muttered to herself, a group of three Sylphiir men eyes bloodshot and grins disturbingly wide stepped in her path.

“Well, well… what do we have here?” one said, cracking his knuckles.

“Stranger, huh? Bet she tastes as good as she looks,” another laughed.

Her eyes went cold. “I’ll give you five seconds.”

They blinked. “For what?”

She didn’t answer. She moved.

One swift, fluid strike. The first dropped.

A spinning kick two down.

She drove her palm into the last one’s gut, then slammed him to the ground. Dust flew. Silence fell.

All three lay groaning, their faces buried in the dirt.

Nao stood in the center of the broken street, arms folded, calm as death.

“Peaceful race, huh?” she muttered, glancing around. “Why did I think this would be easy…”

Then, a soft voice behind her.

 “It’s a curse. The Helibian Curse.”

She turned fast, hand instinctively on her blade.

A tall young man stood just a few feet away. Messy silver hair, lazy green eyes, a teasing smile. He wore worn-out traveler’s clothes and carried a curved staff slung over his back.

“Who are you?” she asked coldly.

He raised both hands casually. “Hey, hey, calm down. Name’s Kael. You don’t need to be afraid of me.”

Her voice turned colder. “Afraid? I fear no man… nor girl.”

Kael gave a playful grin. “Aww… Don’t be so icy. I’m just trying to help.”

Nao blinked, thrown off by his tone. She turned away slightly, cheeks warming.

 “O-Oh… then explain already. What’s this Helibian Curse you mentioned?”

Kael tilted his head and chuckled. “Aww, now you’re sounding more like a cute girl.”

“W-What!?” Her face turned red. “Shut up and tell me already!”

He laughed. “Alright, alright. No teasing. The Helibian Curse… it’s a dark enchantment. Ancient magic. It infects the soul and twists it. Changes the very nature of its host.”

Nao’s eyes narrowed. “That’s why these people… are acting insane?”

Kael nodded grimly. “Exactly. The Sylphiir were once the gentlest of all races. Now look at them… It’s like their very spirits are unraveling.”

Nao looked around children throwing rocks, friends fighting friends.

“Then who… cursed them?”

Kael’s smile faded. “No one knows. But it started after a stranger passed through here weeks ago. Since then, it’s been spreading slow, silent, cruel.”

Nao’s grip on her sword tightened.

“Then I’ll find out who did this… and I’ll end them.”

Kael smiled again, this time with a hint of admiration. “Heh. I like you already.”

Nao narrowed her eyes at Kael, folding her arms.

"Wait..." she said slowly. "You said the Helibian Curse twists the nature of its host, right?"

Kael blinked. "Yeah? Why?"

She stepped closer, eyes sharp. "So it must’ve affected you too, huh?"

Kael smirked, 

"Oh come on don’t be ridiculous. I’m immune to poisons, curses, hypnosis, annoying stares..." He winked. "Basically anything that's not cute girls accusing me."

Nao scoffed, but the corners of her lips threatened a smirk. "Tch. You're lucky you're useful."

Kael grinned. “Aww… was that a compliment?”

"Don't push it."

Night fell over the twisted village. Nao and Kael had been investigating for hours questioning the few sane villagers, searching abandoned houses, and analyzing strange markings carved into stone.

But it wasn’t until they reached the outskirts of the forest that they heard soft sobs.

They turned a corner and found a small boy sitting beneath a withered tree, hugging his knees. His clothes were tattered, his face pale.

Nao knelt beside him. “Are you hurt?”

The boy shook his head. “No... but everyone else changed. It’s my fault.”

Kael raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean, kid?”

The boy looked up with guilty eyes. “I was playing in the woods. I saw a strange egg… I didn’t mean to break it, I just tripped then it cracked open. A big snake came out. It stared at me, but didn’t hurt me. Then the next day… everyone started fighting.”

Nao and Kael exchanged a look.

Nao’s voice turned cold. “A cursed creature... that’s the source.”

Kael nodded, serious now. “Ancient snake magic. Rare. Deadly. But not unbreakable.”

Nao stood, eyes burning. “Then let’s end it.” 

Deep in the Forest 

They tracked the creature’s aura into the heart of the forest, where corruption thickened the air. Roots twisted unnaturally, the wind howled in whispers, and shadows danced where they shouldn’t.

Suddenly, a massive serpent erupted from the ground black-scaled, glowing green eyes, and pulsing with cursed energy.

Kael stepped in front of Nao. “Let me handle this, sweet cheeks.”

Nao narrowed her eyes. “Step aside, flirty clown. This one’s mine.”

Kael smirked. “Aw, you’re finally getting cute when you’re serious.”

She didn’t answer just launched into battle.

The snake hissed, lashing out with its tail. Nao dodged and remembered Thorne’s teachings every move, every breath. She began glowing faintly, a silver energy forming around her fists.

Kael watched from a rock, clapping. “Hey, you’re glowing. That’s either power… or you’re falling for me.”

Nao gritted her teeth as she delivered a heavy blow to the serpent’s head, cracking a scale. “Shut up and watch me shine.”

But Kael wasn’t just watching. He blocked a sneak attack from behind. 

She is using her Sword

Something awakened inside her a flash of memory, Thorne’s teachings, a hidden technique meant only for moments of truth.

With a cry, she stabbed the snake through its mouth. It screeched and the cursed energy shattered like glass.

The forest went still.

The moment lingered in silence.

"Ohh wow you are pretty strong huh? " Keal said. 

"Strong enough to protect some loser like you" She replied. "Ohh now you starting to protect me?, mm i really appreciate it" Keal said. 

Nao left speechless " O-ok fine you won, now let's go check the village ".

Everything was back to normal. But people were really confused and hurt. Fortunately they recover from that chaos. 

Nao " Now flirty Clown, we should separate ways our time together ends here ". Keal " Huh?? Whatt!! You are already leaving me alone? "

Nao " Say whatever you want but the place I'm going to is very dangerous " Her words Cold. 

Keal serious " You are a human no? " Nao " Wait what, are you talking about"

Don't act dumb " I know everything and also known exactly where you should go"

Nao " What, tell me everything you know or else.... Die"