Point of no return (1)

Because it was about to rain, we left the training field to take shelter under the stable's roof. I sat on one of the hay bales lying in the cemented aisle after bringing the dummy to the back of the building.

"Where are you going?"

The little runt turned around in confusion as he was about to open the small door that connected the stable to the house.

"You said we were going back..."

"Not into the house. We haven't finished our discussion. You haven't told me everything."

He examined me with a hesitant look, like prey watching for a suspicious movement. I was seated with such determination in front of the wide-open sliding doors that he realized I wasn't going to relent. Resigned, he eventually came back and sat on a hay bale opposed to mine.

The rain began to fall softly, a fine drizzle with drops that made a sizzling sound as they hit the stable roof. This noise became constant as we continued to wait for something that would never come.

My hostage was fidgeting with his fingers and avoiding my gaze. I could smell his guilt from a mile away. I couldn't tell if he felt remorse for hurting me or if he regretted that I had survived. What I was certain of was that he no longer dared to start a conversation in any way.

Why do you always have to do the opposite of what I ask? You're usually so talkative and now you’re quiet!

"Don't get yourself into this state. If that weird magic could kill you, I think you'd be dead already. And besides, I wouldn't let you die so easily. So, get rid of those negative thoughts: being afraid of everything won't get you anywhere. Let's share our information instead."

Understanding is the key to overcoming fear.

Edwoyn ran a hand over his face. "What would we have to share? I don't remember what happened, and you obviously know nothing about this phenomenon."

"Your private life. I need to know more to understand where such an ability comes from. Is this kind of incident the first time it's happened to you?"

"Definitely, my former life was as ordinary as could be."

"What you consider 'ordinary' is far from it for everyone else…"

My mocking laugh suddenly reignited his passion.

"You know what I mean! Up and dressed by the servants at six, breakfast with Mother in the velvet salon, the first round of private lessons, Council of Ministers meetings, the second round of private lessons, and always more paperwork... Do you want me to go on?"

"No, that's enough... I believe you, but such magic doesn't come from nowhere. Something must have happened to you before today’s incident!"

"I agree with you. However, the fact is my life has always been deadly dull. There is one thing that was strange, well... Why should I tell you about it, anyway?"

Edwoyn pouted, crossing his arms. Knowing that his power exempted him from following my training gave him a sense of invulnerability.

"Haven't you learned your lesson? There's nothing good in resisting me. I asked out of respect for your privacy, but I've never needed your cooperation to get my answers. However, this spell causes irreversible brain damage..."

At these words, the prince's upright and unyielding posture completely collapsed. His grand airs of nobility were swept away in an instant. All his masks fell, leaving only a frail, defenseless young man behind.

A soul wounded to the core.

"Such magic doesn't exist. There's no need to lie like that. I understand, I'll talk..."

If only you knew, Edwoyn, I'm half-bluffing. You have no idea what magic is truly capable of...

To avoid revealing any of my own secrets, I remained impassive. He continued nonchalantly "It’s going to sound ridiculous... but I think my family is cursed."

"Uh, you mean like a 'hex'?"

"No! I choose my words carefully: cursed, as in under the influence of a curse."

"Come on, aren't you being a bit too superstitious? Curses don't really exist..."

"I’m serious. The Osmose Lake, Black wings Brécelia... All the greatest classics of literature describe the same fates that are befalling my family right now. Someone has cursed us for generations, there's no doubt about it!"

Did this idiot really take his readings for reality? It was true that chivalric tales often featured the archetype of the magical creature. Such a character was full of wisdom, capable of cursing or blessing the hero depending on their deeds. The part about blessings was true to reality, but when it came to curses, it was a completely fabricated concept.

"You know, magic doesn't work like it does in novels... There is no spell that can be inherited, much less any curses."

"Anyone bearing the name Gasencourt is doomed to a gruesome death. And as far as I know, that's what all curses do! If it really has nothing to do with that, as you say, then I’d like to understand!"

"Of course, but to make a diagnosis, I'll need more details. What do you mean by 'gruesome death'?"

"That they died under troubling circumstances. They are all different, unrelated... but I've come to believe that something malevolent is targeting us. The disappearances happen without warning, and it’s clear that my turn has come..."