6

<Ash's POV>

It's been two days since we came here. Those two days passed very quickly. Dad had been busy with the frequent attacks by the demonic beasts. Mom had also been taking care of injured soldiers.

I had been bored out of my mind recently. I played with Anya when we were bored too much and toured the castle. The castle was really huge and I was surprised to see so many artifacts in the castle, they were all F-rank artifacts and were used as daily life necessities. The most common example of an F-rank artifact is the Light bulb we use in our house.

Of course, there were many varieties of F-rank artifacts like a vacuum cleaner, a bulb and even a communication device. I was surprised to see it for the first time in dukedom. This world may not be as advanced as earth, but still, I think their understanding of the world and its laws is very deep.

As I was strolling in the castle, Sarah suddenly greeted me.

"Young Master Ash Duke Avalon has requested you in his office."

"Okay."

I was just about to go in the direction of Duke's office but then I remembered that I didn't know about the office's location.

"Ahem! Sarah, I actually don't know the office's location. Can you please guide me there?"

Sarah looked at me and smiled. Was she playing tricks on me? I could just be overthinking.

"Of course, Young Master. Please follow me and please stick close to me."

She begins to giggle while hiding her face.

"You know I am standing here right? You could at least hide your laughter?"

"What's the point then young master?"

You, Ha! just leave it be. Anna and I have been playing with Sarah a lot recently. She loved Anna and found my behavior quite amusing, she told me that she found it cute and amusing when I act like an adult.

I couldn't tell her that I was literally an adult in a child's body, but she still teased me and made fun of me. She irritated me sometimes but I couldn't help but smile at her behavior. She did make fun of me but she also did her best to take care of me, she tried to ease my boredom by giving me children's books but I told her to show me the library and that I wanted to read some more interesting books but she quickly disappointed me by telling me that only persons that can access the library were those who have duke's permission.

Sarah likely teased me to erase my boredom. She had been persistently following me and Anna and she also told us many folklore and other stories. We couldn't help but look up at her as an older sister.

Following Sarah, I was led to the duke's office. I knocked on the door and it was quickly followed by a voice.

"You can enter.

As I entered in I saw a man in his thirties with a platinum beard and platinum hair and ocean-like blue eyes wearing a blue navy coat with black linings, he was probably Duke Avalon. There was also a man who looked like a younger version of the duke, he was probably duke's younger brother, and there was my father standing near the duke.

I quickly bowed and greeted the duke.

" I greet the Duke Avalon of the Clowon empire."

I suddenly felt an intense pressure pinning me down. The pressure was terrifying and chilling resembling frost. Huh! did I do something wrong?

I couldn't even lift my head and my vision was starting to get hazy. My knees began to buckle, I couldn't even stand straight but lucky for me I was bowing now so I had a support for now.

Roughly 5 secs later I thought I had gone at my wits end. Then suddenly my father came ahead.

"It's enough you two."

As he said that the invisible pressure was gone.

"Hahah I was just testing him a little don't be like that my friend, but I do have to say he really is a tough one."

Why was I being tested ?

I looked at my father for some explanation but he ignored me.

"Ash don't need to be so stiff in front of me. You know I am your uncle also."

Duke Avalon my uncle. I was surprised and couldn't help but ask

"Uncle?"

"You see Samantha is also my cousin, she is the daughter of my father's brother. After gaining the blessing of goddess of Flora, she was selected as a Saint candidate and left the dutchy to the Holy Land."

"Oh Okay"

I didn't know how to respond to that and I just said what came to my mind. Both my dad and duke's younger brother began to laugh.

"Don't mind them.So, Ash do you know the reason you are here."

"No"

"You see Ash you are cursed by a divine curse."

"What's a divine curse."

"Ash do you know of the 7 gods and devils ruling this world right."

"Yes I know of the 7 Gods and devils ruling humanity and demons respectively."

"They weren't always the 7. I don't know how many but there were many gods and devils before and the two primordial ones. It is said that these were the two beings created when the universe was created, thier will was the will of the world. But then the primordialwar began, the world was engulf in chao and madness and the divine blood was flowing like water from both sides in that war both primordials were killed and only the 7 remained."

"I know about the Peimodial war but does it mean that I was cursed by the seven."

"No the thing is the seven Gods and devils curses are known throughout the continent but your curse is something that we have never seen or heard about. Aaron wants me to look at the curse and find it's affect or origin. We also want to awaken your dormant energy as it can help us more with finding more about your curse."

I was a little shocked to listen find that I had a divine curse. Is it because I am from another world?

As I was in my own thoughts dad called out to me.

"Aaron you don't need to worry. Duke Agnus is a S-rank mage. Even if we couldn't find a cure for the curse. We will surely take measures to not activate it."

"Oh! okay."

Duke Agnus called out to me.

"Ash can you come here."

I approached Duke Agnus as he was sitting in his chair.

"Don't be afraid Ash."

He grabbed my arm and I suddenly felt an energy entering my body.

"Don't fight it and let it pass through your body and regulate your breathing."

As Duke suggested I let the energy pass through me.

Duke closed his eyes and I felt the energy circulating my whole body. I could feel it going toward my heart slowly but before it could even touch my heart, I suddenly felt an intense pain.

I quickly retrieved my hand from Duke Avalons hand. He also opened his eyes and asked with concern

"What happened."

"I just felt an intense pain when it touched my heart."

My breathing became ragged. Father quickly came and helped me sit down on the chair on the side.

Duke Avalon then turned toward me and father and said.

"The curse really is of the unknown origin but I think I have seen the pattern of that curse of somewhere before.Its the symbol of the abyss. Ashs curse symbol is a vertical eye with darkness whirling inside it."

"What the abyss. "

I was a little surprised at Dad's outburst and also became worried.

"What is Abyss."

Duke Avalon replied to my question.

"That's a thing I would like to know too. No everyone would like to know that?"

"Ash you know about the primordial war right? Do you know how the war stopped?"

"As both primordials died in the war the devils and Gods were stricken with grief because of their mistakes both primordials had been dead and so they made a pact of peace so that there would be no casualties from both sides. Also, there had been many gods and devils dead and the balance of the world was in severe danger so as a last resort they made a pact between the last seven Gods and Devils. But the details of the pact are still not known by anyone. "

"Hmm that's a good story and it isn't even half wrong but the real reason is far from that, the death of the two primordials had disrupted the balance of the world. The powers of the world were in chaos. The primordial powers were scattered all around the world but all were busy fighting among each other. The power of the primordials had fueled the wars and destruction for years until a group of mages discovered a way to seal the powers away. They created a seal that would contain the primordial powers in one place and prevent them from causing any more destruction. This seal was called the Abyss Seal and it was placed in a hidden location that only a few knew about. But over the years, rumors have spread that the powers within the Abyss Seal have been leaking and causing strange occurrences. Some even say that those who are cursed by the Abyss are doomed to a fate worse than death."

I was starting to feel uneasy hearing about this cursed seal and the unknown fate that awaited me. Duke Avalon must have sensed my unease, as he continued speaking in a reassuring tone.

"But don't worry, Ash. We will find a way to lift this curse and protect you from any harm. Your father and I will do everything in our power to find a solution."

With those words, I felt a sense of relief. I knew

was too great for any single god or devil to handle and so they made a deal with the abyss."

"The abyss?"

"Yes, the abyss. It's the place where all the primordial powers went and reside now. There, the powers are kept in check and balanced so that the world can be at peace. But the abyss is not a place that anyone can enter. It's guarded by the strongest demons and even the gods and devils fear it."

"I see. But what does this have to do with my curse?"

"Well, the symbol of the abyss is the vertical eye with darkness whirling inside it, just like your curse's symbol. We don't know for sure, but it's possible that your curse may be related to the abyss in some way. That's what we need to find out."

"I understand. So what do we do now?"

"We need to find a way to awaken your dormant energy. That