Asuren opened his eyes and was surprised to see himself back at the cleansed cave. Juliann, Calix, and Henry were there but he could not see Thea, Ayhan, and Riz.
"They are fine," Juliann said before he could ask anything.
"They are searching for the boar seal," Calix added.
"The boar seal…" he glanced at his chest. His stab wound had closed and the poison had been fully countered. He felt fine. It was one of those days that instead of dying, he stayed alive and his injuries had been miraculously healed. But at that time, he had three incredible healers with him. "What happened? Why are you here?" he asked Calix. "Where is… Sel?"
"Outside. Gia is with her," Calix answered. "She is still angry but she will eventually understand everything after we deal with the boar seal. How about you? Are you alright? I heard your eyes changed into gold and someone else seemed to have possessed you. Do you have any idea who it might be?"
Asuren shook his head and then told them, "Let's help the others look for the boar seal. I already feel better."
"I was thinking about the seal bearers," Henry had given Asuren a freshly brewed medicine. "If they are all part of the Eternity Curse, then maybe I can help in finding a way to extract the seal without killing them. I just need to closely examine a seal bearer. I think a minute or two will do."
"That's too dangerous for you," Asuren strictly rejected the idea.
"I am learning to control my ability" Henry smiled with confidence. "I can easily get out of a dangerous situation. Aside from that, I have you as my backup. How can I die with all of you at my side?"
"We still cannot agree to that," Asuren frowned.
"Sel told me that more fairies are getting cursed and some of them had already turned into flesh eaters. Despite the remedy Gia shared to their healers, this curse is becoming more aggressive. We need to stop the boar seal as soon as we can," Henry explained and hoped that he would be heard.
"The curse is becoming more aggressive because the boar seal is getting more dangerous," Asuren straightened up. "We cannot let you risk your life to save the problems of our realm. The boar seal wants to kill me. He might come after me because of what I did to his disciple. Coming with us will be risky. You should use your ability to return home. Stay there and keep yourself safe."
"This place is also my home," Henry suddenly seemed angry. "I want to help. If you don't want me to come with you then I will find my own way to examine the boar seal."
A slit had opened behind him and swallowed him before Asuren could grab him.
"He can really learn fast," Calix was amazed. "A few weeks ago, he can't control that ability."
"We need to find him before he gets himself killed," Asuren soared out of the cave. Juliann and Calix followed him but they stopped halfway because Gia was flying towards their direction.
The anxiety in her face was unnerving.
"Why are you in a hurry? Where is Sel?" Calix questioned as Gia asked, "Where is Henry?"
"Henry is becoming more and more reckless," Juliann answered. "He wants to examine the boar seal."
"What?" Gia was horrified.
"Why are you in a hurry? Where is Sel?" Calix asked again.
"Thea asked for backup," Sel answered. "They are fighting a few disciples of the boar seal."
"Juliann, Calix, you go with Gia. Find Henry," Asuren was about to fly but Calix grabbed his arm.
"Why don't you go with Juliann and Gia? I will assist Thea."
"Why don't you leave Asuren alone? He and I need to talk," the tall blonde fairy had also entered the cave. He still looked pale and weak.
Calix covered his fists with flame and prepared for a fight. Juliann had covered Gia. Asuren decided to stand protectively in front of the tall blonde fairy.
"What are you doing?" Calix was annoyed. "Do you really want to get hurt?"
"I will hear him out first," Asuren explained. "You should get going. Our friends need you. I can take care of myself. And in his condition, I don't think he will start a fight."
"I will stay here with you," Calix lowered his fists and the flames covering them had vanished. "Juliann, Gia, you go ahead. Tell Thea that Asuren decided to have a chat with our enemy."
Gia nodded before flying out of the cave together with Juliann.
"Don't mind me here," Calix leaned on a wall. "Go ahead and talk."
"I heard the mortal. He wants to find a way to destroy the seal without killing its keeper."
Before Asuren could answer, a slit had opened behind him and Henry plummeted a few feet from the ground.
"I'm here again?" Henry sighed with disappointment and then his eyes sparked with excitement when he glanced at the tall blonde fairy. "Are you the disciple of the boar seal?"
"You said you can control your ability?" Calix glared before the tall blonde fairy could answer.
"A little," Henry grinned then glanced back at the tall blonde fairy. "Why are you here when you look so weak? You should be resting."
"Can you keep my master alive after destroying his seal?"
"I need to examine your master for a minute or two," Henry said. "After that, I will give you an answer."
"I need a certain answer," the tall blonde fairy seemed angry.
Asuren and Calix stood protectively in front of the unbothered mortal.
"Curses always have a counter curse," Henry calmly stated. "We only need to study the curse and we can always find a solution to lift it. Just like the puppet curse on Asuren. We failed once but that doesn't mean he will forever suffer under that curse. We can always find a solution no matter how long and difficult it might be. If we want to keep your master alive, we only need to learn more about the seal he was carrying. We can only do that if you will help us."
The tall blonde fairy fell silent. It took a while for him to answer but he said, "I will help you but I need an assurance."
"Why do you want the seal to be destroyed?" Calix curiously asked. "If it makes your master powerful, isn't it more convenient for both of you if he keeps it?"
"He is only a temporary keeper. It was part of a deal he made thousands of years ago. He needs to fulfill his end of that bargain," the tall blonde fairy had seriously answered. "If he backs out of that deal, he will get corrupted and then die. I can already sense it. He is changing. I don't want him to die miserably."
"What is this deal he made? And with whom?" Henry asked.
"I only know a little about it," the tall blonde fairy answered with a sigh. "My master is the only one who can tell you everything about the seal," he glanced at Asuren and then asked, "Will you make a deal with me? I will only help you after we make a pact."
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