Capítulo 13: It's A Curse!
"You want to know?"
Orion gently brushed aside strands of Angelica's smooth golden hair, revealing her pure face. He was acutely aware that this question would eventually confront him, demanding an answer.
It was a profound transformation. His former self, feeble in both body and mind, had been plagued by a sense of helplessness in the face of even the smallest challenges.
But this new incarnation embodied the epitome of masculinity, standing resolute against the adversities life hurled at him.
From his captivating speeches that mesmerised crowds to his otherworldly strength, Angelica couldn't help but harbour suspicions about him.
Angelica's gaze turned solemn as she observed the new boy, a peculiar yearning shimmering within his eyes.
Orion, slowly rising from the bed, took a deep breath, exhaling as if releasing a burden.
"Do you know the ailment that reduced me to a feeble existence, rendering me as useless as a man adrift in the world?"
A sudden jolt ran through Angelica's body, causing her to spring up from the bed, her trembling akin to that of a startled feline.
The candle flickered, its flame resembling the essence of a troubled soul.
However, as the room gradually regained its composure, the ambience settled back into its former tranquillity.
Orion shook his head, silently acknowledging that he did not possess the clear answers Angelica sought.
But he also gestured in his voice that it was related to his disease.
It was a white lie made by him because he knew that the disease which caused the former self to decay was not an ordinary one.
Using such words, he would not arouse suspicion of Angelica making it look like an accident.
A soft gurgle emanated from the glass as water flowed into it, marking Orion's return to the bed. Angelica remained standing, lost in a maze of haunting memories that had resurfaced.
Just as Orion was about to utter something, he noticed the gravity etched upon Angelica's face, and his words froze, halted by an invisible force.
The room succumbed to an eerie stillness as the candle's flame flickered once more, akin to a restless soul yearning to break free.
"No, something is amiss,"
Orion's senses screamed, his every fibre resonating with a foreboding sense of imminent danger—an experience he had never encountered before.
The candle burned with increasing fervour, casting its light across the room, yet no warmth emanated from its fiery glow.
Setting the glass, now brimming with water, back on the table after taking a sip, Orion fixed his gaze upon Angelica.
His previous life had taught him one crucial lesson—to remain unfazed in the face of anything.
In this strange existence, he was akin to a reincarnated monster, and he recognised his kindred spirit.
Another beast lurked within the room, but its presence eluded his understanding. All he could perceive was its insatiable hunger for his soul—an instinctual realisation that sent shivers down his spine.
Knock! Knock!
A thunderous bang reverberated through the door, disrupting the eerie atmosphere, and the candle reverted to its previous state.
Angelica's solemn countenance returned to normal as she retreated to the bed.
"Who is there?"
Orion's voice echoed, his teenage tone resounding with authority.
Bang! Bang!
The door had only one response—an unyielding barrage of forceful knocks.
Creak!
The door creaked open, revealing the aged figure of the man who had earlier hurled a stone at Orion's assailant.
"Why are you here?"
Orion's face remained impassive, devoid of any emotion, as Japhar quivered in his presence.
"Dinah is coming for you!"
Japhar's voice trembled, his mind consumed by the imagined wrath of the village chief. Japhar had witnessed Dinah's ruthless nature, yet he could not suppress the innermost desire that drove him to rebel against him.
With a resounding thud, the door closed, leaving the old man standing before the grand house, deep in contemplation about the terrifying teenager before him.
The First Night of Reincarnation
"What do you desire—your life or the life of your granddaughter?"
Orion stared coldly at Ser, who pleaded on the ground before him.
Boom!
Orion's boot struck Ser's face, blood gushing forth from the impact. Ser's granddaughter slumbered peacefully in the adjacent room, oblivious to the brutality unfolding in another corner of their abode.
"Lord, I apologise for any transgressions my granddaughter may have committed. I beg for your mercy. We are barely surviving in this village,"
Ser grovelled on the ground like a dog fearing its master's wrath.
"Then I suppose you wish for your granddaughter to become another plaything for my amusement, just like her mother became for those nobles in the city,"
Orion's voice dripped with disdain.
Besides Orion, Japhar trembled, his fear palpable.
"No! No!"
Ser's voice quivered with a mixture of anger and pain. Blood and tears intermingled as he succumbed to his fate.
After a while, wiping away his tears, Ser managed to speak through his trembling voice. "I will do as you instruct, my lord. But what guarantee do we have that you will honour our agreement?"
Orion's eyes narrowed as he peered down at Ser, a cold and unyielding expression etched upon his face.
"What can you possibly do about it?"
Ser could only weep for his cruel destiny, while Orion remained seated, his heart unaffected by the scene. His mind was consumed by the secret treasure guarded by the village chief—a trove brimming with invaluable medicinal herbs.
On the first night of his reincarnation, as a cultivation neophyte at the first purification step, Orion sought solace in Angelica's embrace.
Yet, unable to resist his curiosity, he set out to explore the village. It was during this endeavour that he crossed paths with Japhar, who was attempting to pilfer a horse from the stable.
Intimidated by Orion's threats, Japhar revealed himself to be the former village chief, reigning before Dinah's tyrannical rule.
With a swift motion, Japhar launched a surprise attack, wielding a small knife, only to find it deflected by Orion's impenetrable defences.
The realisation that he faced a man far from ordinary paralysed Japhar with fear.
"I am going to ask you some questions, and you will answer me truthfully. Failure to comply will result in the blade slitting your throat next time,"
Orion's innocent smile belied the seriousness of his words.
With trepidation, Japhar spilt every secret, providing Orion with a comprehensive understanding of the village's inner workings.
Greed consumed Orion when he learned of the village chief's hidden stash of precious medicines and herbs, prompting him to concoct a plan on the spot.
"You will be the lamb to lure the wolf,"
Orion declared, leaving the house with Japhar, leaving Ser to wallow in his pitiful state.
In the morning, he could not wake up early because of wandering in the village at night even though he had the habit of waking up early in the morning.
Back To The Current Night,
Japhar stopped pondering and left the place.
"You know something about my disease, right?"
Orion took a deep breath and stared into Angelica's eyes.
"It's a curse!"
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