Chapter 3: Descent into Madness

Time passed and Rina finally gave birth, holding her child for the first time. But the birth was unnatural—the baby girl would not stop crying.

When she was handed to Rina and she looked at her, she was shocked: her child was covered in black and blue marks where the nurses had handled her.

Tears streamed down the baby’s face. Rina reached to wipe them away, but wherever her hand barely touched, her daughter’s skin turned black and blue, and the child screamed even louder.
Rina clutched her close, weeping with her, cursing the goddess who had done this to her baby girl, Rachel.

Rina whispered through trembling lips, “Why… why would a goddess do this to her? She’s innocent… she’s just a baby.”

And then, faintly, she thought she heard it: The goddess delights in her suffering. But you don’t have to watch her suffer forever. Accept my power, and you can save her.

Rina looked around for whoever had spoken, but no one was there. The whispers kept on, taunting her about the goddess, urging her to give in.

She clenched her teeth and forced herself to shut them out, pushing the voices to the back of her mind.

Rachel grew up unable to be held by her mother, who always looked at her with a sad expression. Yet she did not let the curse stop her—though it caused her pain, she would still hug her mother, enduring the suffering.

“Mommy, I’m strong, see?” Rachel would say, wrapping her tiny arms around Rina despite the bruises forming on her own skin. Rina bit back tears and forced a smile. “Yes… you’re strong, my Rachel.”

Over the years, however, things worsened. More and more curses afflicted her at random: sometimes she could not speak, sometimes she could not hear, and at times she bled from her eyes, ears, and mouth. As the years passed, the curses only grew more severe as more curses appeared.

During this time, Rina constantly heard whispers in her head—seductive voices dripping with venom, always speaking of the goddess, always pushing her toward anger.

She suffers because the goddess wills it, the whispers crooned. You are weak because you cling to hope. Let go… take power, and strike her down.

“No…” Rina muttered to herself in the quiet of night, clutching her ears. “I won’t listen. I’ll find another way to save her.”

But everything only grew worse. Healing magic had no effect on Rachel’s wounds; every time she was cut and the wound healed, it always left a scar.

At last, Rina sought help, she reached out to Lyssara, once a trusted companion of Logan’s party, to beg for aid. Lyssara responded, and through her efforts Elyndra was finally brought to see Rachel.

Elyndra examined Rachel’s body with magic, tears welling in her eyes as she whispered, “How could the goddess do something so heartless to a child?”

Rina was afraid to ask, but finally spoke. “So… how does she look? Can you help her?”
Elyndra looked at Rina and gestured for her to speak alone.

Lyssara stood up and said to Rachel, “Come, Rachel, let’s go play.”

Rachel looked at her and replied, “Okay, Auntie Lyssara.”

Rina waited until they left the room before speaking directly. “So… how bad is it?”

Elyndra looked down sadly and shook her head. “No. I cannot get rid of the goddess’s curse. This is no typical curse—it looks almost custom-made. It won’t kill her, but it will make her suffer. Most of the curses are dormant, slowly activating. The older she gets, the more awaken. It’s as if the goddess wants her suffering to continue until it becomes so painful and unbearable she will wish for death.”

From deep within, the whispers chuckled: See? The goddess toys with your child. She wants Rachel broken. She wants you broken. How much longer will you endure this before you finally accept the truth?

Tears streamed from Rina’s eyes. “Can you at least tell me the curses affecting her body? Maybe I can do something about it.”

Elyndra answered, “It’s a modified version of the Amplification Curse. Normally, this curse would not only harm the body but also break bones. This version only affects the skin. A light touch can feel like being punched—that’s why her bruises appear whenever she touches something. She must be a truly strong child to bear it all.”

Then the door creaked—they noticed Rachel listening before she bolted away.

Elyndra said softly, “I will try to find a way. Have you tried healing magic?”

Rina replied, “Yes, but it has no effect on her.”

Elyndra continued, “What about teaching her healing magic herself? It might be different if she can cast it on her own and bypass the curse blocking others’ magic.”

Rina sighed. “I suppose that could be the next step… but who will teach her? I’m no magician.”Elyndra placed a hand over her heart. “I will teach her. I cannot let this young girl suffer like this. It makes me question if the goddess is truly good.”

Rina clenched her fists. “No—she is nothing but a monster in human skin.”

Yes, the whispers spoke. A monster wearing A goddess's mask. And monsters must be slain. All you need is the will to do it.

A few weeks passed, and Elyndra continued teaching Rachel all kinds of magic. Because Rachel was not proficient with healing spells, it took much longer.

She tried again and again, and eventually learned—but in the end, it was only another curse. She could heal only herself, and whenever she did, she suffered unbearable pain.

“Mommy, it hurts… but I’ll keep trying,” Rachel said one evening, blood staining her lips after another failed attempt. Rina embraced her without touch, her voice breaking. “You’re braver than anyone I’ve ever known.”

And what will her bravery earn her? the whispers asked slyly. Only more scars. Only more pain. And all because you refuse the gift I offer. Accept me, and you can end this.

During this time, the whispers at the back of Rina’s mind grew louder and louder until one day she finally snapped.

“Mommy, Mommy, look what I found!” Rachel cried, running toward her. But then she stumbled, striking the side of her head against a rock, leaving a deep gash above her left eyebrow.

Rachel staggered to her feet, blood dripping down her face. She reached out with trembling hands and cried, “Mommy, where are you?” Rina rushed forward and held her gently in her arms, whispering, “I’m right here.”

“Mommy, I can’t see—I can’t see!” Rachel spoke, the light gone from her eyes.

Rina sobbed uncontrollably as tears rolled down her face. Rachel touched her mother’s cheek and spoke through the pain, “Don’t worry, Mommy. I won’t let these curses stop me. I’ll grow up big and strong, just like Daddy… so don’t cry.” In that moment, the child comforted her mother.

But then the whispers returned, more insistent than ever: The goddess laughs at you, Rina. She blinded your child just to see you break. How much longer will you let her do this?

This time, instead of ignoring them, Rina whispered back, “How? How do I kill the goddess? I’m just a weak elf.”

The whispers coiled around her mind, sweet and poisonous: Become the new Demon Lord. Grow an army. Take your revenge. Tear down her throne and make her choke on her cruelty.
Their tone dripped with honeyed malice, promising her power, promising an end to her child’s suffering—if only she surrendered herself to them.

All the accumulated madness from the first time the goddess appeared—the memories Rina had tried to suppress, the grief and sadness of watching her child’s life slowly destroyed by curses—came flooding back.

Tears would not stop flowing as her rage reached its breaking point. In that moment, Rina accepted the whispers’ promise of power. Suddenly, her skin darkened, her hair turned white, and her eyes deepened into a crimson shade as two horns erupted from her head.

The promise of power had been granted. She could feel it surging through her veins—no longer a helpless elf, but reborn as a Demon Lord.