Come with me

Part 1:4

"I have no idea what you are talking about."

"Haha, yes, you are cursed! I felt it the moment you stepped your foot in my house. It's such a powerful curse. No wonder you are trying to get rid of it."

I didn't argue back. What was I supposed to say? 'Oh no, I'm not cursed since birth!' Her knowing this wasn't the part of the plan.

"So what?"

"So you don't deny it. Did you know you only have time till the next full moon? That leaves you with 18 days, and if I'm not wrong, Soulless Mountain is still far away."

It wasn't up for debate. Hell, I didn't know about the full moon thing! Now, with 18 days in time, I have to make it to the mountain. But so I'm left with too little information in my hands.

"Tell me more about the full moon. What if I don't make it?"

"Next full moon is in 18 days. On the last day, you have to break the curse, or else it will consume you. Curses aren't something to mess with."

Oh, nice! So if I don't make it, I'll just die. Wonderful news!

"You! The key isn't only to open the gates to the Soulless Mountain. He's playing a crucial part in curing your curse."

What does that mean? Obviously, I have to use him to open gates that the part of where 'I get rid of the curse.' What else can this little one do?

"I'll give you a riddle, something to think about until you get to the mountain. Someone is looking for you deep within you find him. Proudly, you looked at him to find only disappointment. Friends become enemies when you turn your back, the mirror is double-sided, close your eyes, and your life disappears."

And with that, I was thrown out of the house, landing on the hard ground. I checked if Glowball was okay, but he was still deep asleep.

What was that ridiculous riddle? Am I supposed to make something out of it? Who was she talking about?

"Maria, are you okay? Why did she throw you out? Did you say something?"

With grunting, I got up to my feet. I looked around us and started to walk again.

"I didn't say anything. Anyways, we should go."

Cedric didn't ask any questions and was mostly quiet. While walking for a who knows how long, we stopped at a little stream to catch our breath and drink some water. I'm running low on food and water since I have three mouths to feed. I don't know how long we will be able to go with food that's left.

"Ahh, I was so thirsty! This water tastes like heaven!"

Cedric was blabbering my ears full again when I noticed a weird noise near us. I was looking around to see who it was. The noise felt like someone was spilling water.

"Helloooo, fellow travellers!"

What was that?

"Might I introduce myself? My name is Cicil."

Still with no one in sight, I got up from the stone I was sitting on. Glowball took my hand while looking around.

"Wait a moment!"

With some little noise and bushes rustling, the water spilling noise stopped. Soon from the bushes in front of us came out a creature. The same height as Glowball appeared a hedgehog. Walking on two feet, wearing pants, little boots, and a hood. What is this nonsense?

He looked at all three of us and bowed his head at us.

"My name is Cicil III, I'm a hedgehog, last of my kind. I mean, last talking hedgehog."