Whispers of the Cursed Heir

Chapter 1: The Prodigy's Quest

"All I ever wanted was to live a life of peace-free from the so-called merits."

The world around me is shrouded in darkness, a silence so profound it feels as though the very earth has been holding its breath for centuries. I can barely see, but I can feel the cold, damp air clinging to my skin, the stillness of the night wrapping around me like a shroud. Slowly, a faint light begins to pierce the gloom—a golden glow that shimmers like the first rays of dawn breaking through the deepest night. My heart beats steadily as I step forward, the soft rustling of leaves beneath my feet the only sound in this ancient, forgotten place.

The light reveals a dense, ancient forest, its towering trees twisted and gnarled with age. Their bark is cracked and covered in thick layers of moss, each tree standing like a silent guardian, watching over secrets long hidden from the world. The air is thick with mist, swirling lazily through the undergrowth, carrying with it the scent of damp earth and the distant echo of something primal, something long forgotten.

In the heart of this forest, where the trees grow so close together that their branches intertwine like fingers clasped in prayer, I find what I have been searching for—a massive stone formation, a forgotten altar from a time when gods and demons walked the earth. The stone is weathered and worn, covered in creeping vines, and etched with runes that glow faintly with a mysterious, otherworldly light. The atmosphere here is heavy, charged with an energy that feels both ancient and alive as if the forest itself is holding its breath, waiting for something—or perhaps for someone like me.

I kneel before the altar, my breath steady, my hands trembling slightly as I press them together in prayer. The silence around me deepens, the mist curling around my form like a living thing. My eyes trace the runes on the stone, their meaning lost to time, yet their power is undeniable. I can feel it—a presence, ancient and vast, watching me from the shadows. This is no ordinary place; this is where the veil between worlds is thin, where the past and the present meet.

I kneel before the ancient altar, my hands clasped in prayer, seeking solace in the silence that envelops me. The weight of my responsibilities presses down on my shoulders like an invisible burden, yet here, in this forgotten corner of the world, I dare to dream of peace—of a world where I understand my role, where the expectations of my family and the duties of my lineage are clear and unquestionable. But as I close my eyes and try to picture that serene world, where my path is laid out before me without doubt or fear, a gnawing uncertainty seeps into my thoughts.

What is the point of all this?

The question arises unbidden, a thorn amid my meditation. I have been trained to fight, to exorcise, to cleanse the world of the malevolent forces that plague it. Yet, as I sit here, surrounded by the ancient energy of this place, I cannot help but wonder if the true source of curse energy isn't external, but within us—within me. Humans are flawed, driven by desires and fears that give birth to the very curses I am tasked to destroy. How can I reconcile my duties when the energy I seek to purge is so intertwined with the essence of human existence itself?

My thoughts spiral further, to a time long past, when curse energy ran rampant, unchecked by the rituals and exorcisms that have become my life's work. Did those who came before me ever truly understand their purpose, or were they, too, lost in the darkness, searching for a light that never came? The questions hang in the air, unanswered, as the weight of my uncertainty presses harder against my heart.

Suddenly, the forest's silence is shattered. A sharp crack, the sound of movement—too close. My eyes snap open just in time to see a shadow darting toward me, its intent clear in the malevolent energy that radiates from its form. Instinct takes over. I twist to the side, barely evading the attack, and in one fluid motion, I raise my hand, channeling the energy within me to immobilize the intruder.