A desolate and impoverished town known as Apex Grove lies not far from the combined palace of the Agilolfings and Barclays.
The residents of this town can be either cruel or benign, as Jay perceives them. Unfortunately for him, he finds himself at the mercy of demons—his own parents, who are both greedy and ruthless.
His parents exploit his unique ability, rendering him numb and devoid of emotion.
What is this ability, you may wonder?
He was born with hands that are anything but ordinary. Everything he touches transforms into gold. His parents were astonished by this gift, viewing him as their personal source of wealth. They kept this secret, driven by their avarice, desiring to monopolize his talent.
One fateful night, Jay reached his breaking point. Tired of his parents' deceitful ways, he quietly crept into their rooms while they slept. The space was cluttered with items he had turned to gold. He removed his golden gloves and touched his parents. In an instant, they were transformed into figures of gold, gleaming before him.
Jay then carried his parents and discarded them into a murky lake near their home, watching as they sank beneath the surface.
He believed he had finally liberated himself from their malevolent grasp. However, the town's leader witnessed the entire event, from the transformation of his parents into gold to their subsequent disposal in the water.
The leader commanded his men to seize him and confine him within a vacant, dusty chamber, equipped with small bars that allowed only a sliver of light to penetrate.
Jay once again relived the torment inflicted by his parents, but this time it was exponentially worse. Should he fail to comply with their demands, they would subject him to brutal punishment, wielding their whips against him or searing his flesh with a fiery rod.
Yet, it was futile; he had become emotionally numb.
He longed for the end of this affliction, yearning for a life of normalcy.
In a fleeting dream, Jay envisioned himself reclining on a patch of grass. Upon rising, he discovered he was atop a verdant hill.
The tranquility was palpable.
However, upon turning around, he noticed a woman seated on a bench beneath a grand tree.
Approaching her, he inquired about his whereabouts.
"Excuse me, miss? Can you tell me where I am?" Jay asked. The woman shifted her gaze toward him. "You are in Yung, dear. This place exists beyond the confines of the real world, accessible only to those who have endured a life akin to hell," she explained. She appeared elderly, with silvery hair and donned in a simple, flowing white gown.
The elderly woman motioned for Jay to sit beside her. "May I ask your name, miss?"
"I am Wi-gen, dear. I assist individuals in discovering solutions to escape their hellish lives or curses," she replied. "So, you can help me find a way to lift my curse?"
"What is your curse?" the old woman inquired. "Everything I touch turns to gold," Jay responded candidly. "Why do you consider it a curse when it could be seen as a blessing?" she asked again.
"In a world filled with greedy and merciless individuals, I fail to see how it could be regarded as a blessing."
Despite his youth, Jay's responses reflected a remarkable maturity.
"I once encountered a child facing a similar plight. Yes, I can guide you through this," she said.
With a snap of her fingers, an ancient, dusty brown book materialized in her hand. "I cannot reveal the method, but this book will provide the answers," she stated, handing the book to Jay.
In due course, Jay awoke to find the book that Wi-gen had given him lying beside him.
Each night, while everyone else slept, Jay would retrieve the ancient tome he had concealed behind a removable brick.
He discovered the means to escape from this curse and his tormenting existence.
To eradicate this curse, Jay must locate a specific individual—his true love. Upon finding this person, a red circle would manifest on the back of his hand. If he succeeded in identifying this individual, they would both need to engage in an intimate union to ultimately lift the curse.
Jay had finally uncovered the solution; his last challenge remained to break free from this confinement.
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