章 12: Chapter 12: Cursed Energy
The morning at the main house unfolded in an unsettling calm. Rika, dressed in her usual attire, sat kneeling beside Makima in the dining room. Both waited in silence for their breakfast to be served. Shortly after, a woman entered with a tray laden with food: two plates of white rice, two bowls of miso soup, and two cups of green tea. As she served them, the woman avoided looking directly at Makima, a clear mix of fear and respect on her face. When she finished placing everything down, she quickly turned to leave, but Makima stopped her with her calm voice.
"By the way..." The woman froze in her tracks, fearing the worst. Had she made a mistake? Her body tensed up. "Tell my mother I'll see her later," Makima added, her tone remaining indifferent.
The woman exhaled a sigh of relief, turning to bow deeply. "Of course, Miss Makima," she replied before hurrying out, leaving the two of them alone.
"Wow, it seems like they really respect you here," Rika commented, a bit uneasy at the scene she had just witnessed.
"It's only natural," Makima replied without emotion, picking up her bowl of rice. "If they don't, they know what will happen." Her tone was so calm it left no room for doubt, prompting Rika to focus on her meal, trying to ignore the cold atmosphere in her friend's house.
After they finished eating, both of them stepped into the courtyard. The garden was peaceful, the air crisp. Makima stopped in the center, watching Rika with a gaze that seemed to analyze every part of her being.
"Alright, what do you know about cursed energy?" she asked suddenly, her direct tone making Rika feel uncomfortable.
"Nothing," Rika replied, starting to sweat under her friend's intense stare.
Makima nodded, as if she had expected that answer. "Do you have parents?" she asked next, but Rika simply lowered her head, shaking it in response.
"I see. You don't know your lineage, which is understandable." She paused, gazing at the sky for a moment before continuing. "Even so, you can feel the energy inside you, can't you?"
Rika nodded timidly. "Since the accident, I've felt it," she confessed, recalling the strange moments that had followed that fateful event.
"Good. That's cursed energy," Makima said, stepping a little closer to her. "And now, you're going to learn how to control it."
Makima gestured to the empty space in front of them in the garden. "Sit down. We'll start with the basics."
Still nervous, Rika obeyed. She wasn't sure what to expect. She had never heard of cursed energy before, but since the accident, that strange sensation inside her had been unsettling. Now, standing in front of Makima, she felt a mixture of curiosity and fear. What did all this mean?
"Close your eyes," Makima ordered softly, though her voice left no room for objection. "Focus on that feeling you've had since the accident. Cursed energy is like a current flowing inside you. You need to feel it clearly before you can control it."
Rika took a deep breath, closing her eyes. At first, she only felt her own breathing and the rapid beating of her heart. The sound of the wind rustling the garden's leaves seemed to grow louder, distracting her. But slowly, she began to sense that familiar presence within her, a sort of vibration running through her body. It wasn't strong, but it had always been there, like a constant murmur.
"Good," Makima said, noticing the slight change in Rika's expression. "Now, keep that focus. Cursed energy is an extension of your emotions. You can channel it if you learn to control how it flows."
Rika frowned, trying to maintain her concentration. "How do I do that?"
"Energy responds to desire. If you can't control your emotions, the energy will control you. That's why so many sorcerers fail. If you want it to obey you, you first need to learn to obey yourself."
Makima leaned closer, her intense eyes fixed on Rika. "Think about the accident. Remember what you felt in that moment."
Rika hesitated. The accident… it had been the most terrifying moment of her life. She clenched her fists, recalling the fear and helplessness that had consumed her when everything changed. Suddenly, the energy inside her began to vibrate more strongly, as if responding to the flood of emotions returning.
"That's it," Makima said, with a barely perceptible smile. "You can feel it, can't you? That's the energy. But it's not under your control yet. If you keep letting fear take over, it'll only destroy you."
Rika opened her eyes, surprised by what she had felt. "How do I control it then? I don't want it to consume me."
Makima stood up, looking down at her. "You'll learn with time. But the first thing you need to understand is that controlling something as chaotic as cursed energy requires discipline. It's not just about power—it's about will."
Rika nodded slowly, absorbing her words. She knew it wouldn't be easy, but she also felt a strange determination growing inside her. If she truly wanted to master this force, she would have to confront her fears, something she hadn't done since the accident.
"Stand up," Makima said, extending her hand. "This is just the beginning."
Rika took her hand, standing up, and felt that, though she didn't know it yet, she was about to embark on a path that would change her life forever.
Kaori woke up and glanced at the clock. It was 8 a.m. She remembered how her daughter, Makima, had been restless during the night, telling her she didn't want to be there, though she hadn't explained further. Kaori had tried to stop her, but Makima didn't listen and went to her room. Deciding not to insist, she gave her daughter some space. Now calmer, she prepared for the day. After getting dressed and ready, she headed towards the dining room.
Before she could reach it, one of the housemaids stopped her with a slight bow. "Excuse me, Lady Kaori. Miss Makima said she'll see you in a little while." Kaori raised an eyebrow. What did her daughter want at this hour? "Where is she?" she asked.
"She's in the backyard with a girl who came with her."
A girl? Kaori thought, surprised. She then remembered that the young heir of the Gojo clan had brought his daughter and another girl the night before. She hadn't paid much attention at the time, being more focused on Makima's emotional state, but now curiosity welled up inside her. Who was this girl? And why had Makima taken her to the garden?
With her mind full of questions, Kaori decided to find her daughter and headed to the backyard.
The backyard of the main house was a wide, serene space, designed in a traditional Japanese style. A small stone path wound through the garden, surrounded by plum and maple trees whose leaves slowly fell in the autumn breeze. In the center, a clear pond reflected the blue sky, while a few golden and orange koi fish swam calmly beneath the surface. A wooden pavilion stood at the end of the path, the perfect spot to enjoy tea on peaceful days like this.
Kaori surveyed the area before spotting her daughter. There, near the pavilion, was Makima. What caught her attention was not only the presence of the unfamiliar girl by her side, but also the kimono the girl was wearing. It was one of Makima's kimonos, and the girl seemed uncomfortable in the garment, but what worried Kaori the most was the closeness between them. Makima had a possessive posture, gripping the girl's hand in a way Kaori had never seen from her daughter.
Makima rarely showed affection for others, and this behavior deeply unsettled her. What was going on here?
With firm steps, Kaori approached them. "Daughter," she called, her tone soft but firm, trying not to alarm the girl. "Who is she?"
Makima looked up, her expression as unbothered as ever. "Mother," she said in a calm, almost indifferent tone. "This is Rika. She'll be staying here."
Kaori frowned. "And why is she wearing one of your kimonos?" she asked, eyeing Rika closely.
"She needed it," was all Makima replied, offering no further explanation, as if the matter wasn't worth discussing.
Kaori realized she wouldn't get much more from her daughter at that moment. Still, something about the way Makima was acting with the girl deeply disturbed her. She decided not to press further for now, but couldn't shake the feeling that there was more going on beneath the surface.
Glancing once more at Rika, who avoided meeting her gaze, Kaori quietly said, "We'll talk later, Makima."
Makima gave a slight nod, but didn't release Rika's hand, who seemed increasingly uncomfortable. With a growing sense that something was wrong, Kaori turned to leave the garden, but in her mind, she had already decided she would investigate more about this girl and the relationship her daughter seemed to be developing with her.
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