The Fine Print✔️

Chapter 14

When Zhan had demanded a more comprehensive version of the lie that Weredra and myself were feeding him, we had no choice but to continue lying with bits of truth thrown in.

I know that must sound like a jerk right now, but please keep in mind that I couldn't tell the truth without the consequences Weredra had warned me about, so, when Zhan had asked us to come clean, Weredra had concocted another story. She had told Zhan that she had remembered that she came from a long like of magic users. This revelation had both scared and worried Zhan. "You can do magic?" He had asked, his eyes widening and brows rising.

"Little things." She had replied and explained how because she was a child, her powers were limited to parlor tricks.

"Then how did your parents get caught?" He had asked, recalling what Weredra had told him when we had found her in the cave.

See, this is why one mustn't lie. Once you lie, you have to keep lying to hide that one lie, yes, that first one.

Anyway, it was too late now to fix it now. Luckily, Weredra was a master liar, "Senior gege, what have you been hearing about magic users?" She had asked, directing her cute deadly pout at Zhan, "My parents were not dangerous. Also, using magic draws from the soul, tiring it and can't be done very often. My parents specialized in the use of herbs. They made pills for minor illnesses, boosting energy and sometimes for jest. They used magic to increase their vitality and strength." She had elaborated.

"But what does that have to do with the whole curse business?" He had pushed, looking between us. It was my turn to speak, and with a little help from Weredra, I had explained, "Zhan ge, last night, after you had fallen asleep, and Weredra had remembered her past, she had woken me up and showed me some pills that her parents had left with her."

I had pulled out some multicolored pills from my pockets and shown them to him while Weredra was telling me which one was which in my mind. After I had gone over each one and explained its significance, Zhan had continued to look dejected. "Why did she not wake me up..." Zhan ge had asked, but before we could answer, he had continued, "What does that have to do with what happened earlier?"

"She gave me these pills for safekeeping. When the guards were questioning us, I just popped a puke-inducing one into my mouth unnoticed."

"And I made up a story. I know lots of stories about curses." Weredra had interjected.

"Then what about..." He had started again. Zhan, it seemed, had a lot of questions, and Weredra was a little short on patience, so the little devil had done what she did best: Magic. She had made Zhan forget his next question, and he had fallen asleep a minute later.

"I can read his mind too. Trust me. It is better this way." Weredra had shrugged when I had looked at her disapprovingly and continued, "Anyway, didn't you ask for your gifts because you wanted to do something for your kingdom?"

Weredra was right, I realized. For, by making Zhan go to sleep, she had made it easier for me to do what I had planned to do all along. "Yes," I reply and put on my mask. When I strap my sword to my hip, Weredra tugs on my pants, "YiJun, there is something I need to tell you." She hesitates, and when I nod, she goes on, "It feels like I am losing my memories."

"What do you mean?" I can't keep worry out of my voice. What can I say? Except that I had grown attached to her.

"I can't recall how I ended up in the cave where I granted your wishes." She replies with downturned lips.

My heart sinks, "But I presumed that you are invincible. You have magic to grant wishes and change forms." I state, and she nods, "Yes, I am strong, but I am not invincible. And I can only switch between this and my true form" She pauses, her eyes lower, "And I can turn invisible." She adds dejectedly.