Chapter 36: Cursed Oni

 Step by step, I slowly walked out the tower's stone stairs, thinking about what my blood really meant.

 So I guess it's more like instincts, right? But I have to focus, otherwise I don't notice it. Even then, why is everyone still opening up to me about stuff? And Ota... Maybe I can ask Arisa for help? She's dealt with that before... but I don't get it either...

 A familiar warmth of light and presence washed over me after reaching the top level. Enda sat in front of her fireplace, sifting through many different pieces of paper covered in scribbles.

 "Was- They're Shinobi's, right?"

 She simply nodded, her heart full of grief.

 Shinobi was a special case amongst special cases, she spent most of her time constantly in stealth, and because of that, hardly anyone got to know her. I'd only met her twice, but out of all the copies, she was the only one who felt entirely different from Enda herself.

 "How'd it happen?"

 "She tried to stop a ritual. She wasn't fast enough. Whoever they were, they had outside help. Who... was it?"

 Right, she forgets anyone who doesn't die by her own hands. But who would help him? Well, not that he would have to ask, simply command. Probably had a bunch of people under his control.

 "His name was Ritsu Kutsuki... we killed him"

 "I see. Did you feel anything when you killed him?"

 "He became an Overlord... I don't know, but it kinda felt like a responsibility?"

 "A side effect of your blood. But if he truly became a monster, it would explain a few things. Thank you"

 "For what?"

 "For giving her closure, even in death"

 I couldn't see her face as the flickering light and her sharp red hair hid it, but her raspy voice felt as if she was on the verge of a breakdown, as she continued to read through the notes left behind by the deceased.

 Looking around the room, I noticed a few things had changed while asleep. A large curtain had been drawn to cover up the blue glow on the colossal magical clock that once illuminated the room entirely on its own.

 Not to mention wooden furniture, completely out of place, with draws removed, lined up against it. 

 Huh, wonder if that's all for the forge, or maybe Merrah's home? Well, new home, if they rebuild it.

 It all looked newly constructed, with practicality over adornment, so it wouldn't surprise me if Rider had made it. Substance over style has always been her preferred method of carpentry, even if it caused a few unhappy customers.

 None of it had been lacquered yet, so I suspected each piece was open to more work later or by someone else.

 Turning back, I walked up to Enda while thinking about her own curse. Calling it such a trivial name didn't seem right, it's more so one side of a coin. At first, I thought that her power made her truly invincible, able to tackle any threat, but in reality, it only made her heart more vulnerable.

 He did not perish by her hands, and so, she lost all her memories of the man whom she once locked up in her holding cells three weeks ago.

 This was her own curse, one she had dealt with alone, all this time. I began to understand why Arisa had gone to such lengths, in any way she could, to bring a little more light to her life.

 "Have you seen Ota around?"

 "She- *ahem* She took care of you again, probably still passed out by your bed"

 She cleared her throat to let me know her whereabouts. It was then I noticed that in shifting her attention, reduced the sadness within her heart, ever so slightly. 

 "Do you know... about her, um, curse?"

 Going behind Ota's back made me more than uncomfortable, as it felt too personal to even bring up with her still, despite lacking the specifics myself.

 "I do, and what might you know about it, hmm?"

 "Just that she has one?"

 "I see, that's good. Tell me, honestly, do you like her?"

 Where is this coming from? You really don't expect me to answer that, come on!

 "She's my friend, I- of course I care about her, you know? It's what friends do?"

 Luckily, Enda didn't turn around, otherwise she might have caught my face betraying exactly how I truly felt in just asking such a question. 

 "Then you have slowly become accustomed to the curse while going through puberty. She could not ask for a better friend. By the way, do you know the exact day of your birth?"

 Accustomed to it? Wait... That means... all this time, and how others saw her, that's why she complained? The curse must push others away or something.

 "Birthday? No, the sisters said I was about two years old when they found me outside the Orphanage, anyway, is there a way to break it?"

 "Yes, however, it's not an easy nor simple task, many things must line up. So for now, it may be best just being a good 'friend', so to speak"

 So to speak? Great, I need to work on my 'poker face'. 'Just put yourself in awkward situations, you'll be fine' is easier said than done Arisa.

 "Alright, I'll go talk to her. Goodnight"

 "It's early morning"

 "Yep, right, ok, I'm just gonna go to my room"

 "You should know, your sister and her friend will be away for a few weeks, so try avoid any instant-death... situations"

 At least she's cheering up a little

 "Did... Something happen between you and Merrah?"

 "Not now Touji, maybe some other time"

 She tilted her head down in shame, it was clearly a sensitive subject that shouldn't have been brought up, at least not while she's dealing with another copies death. Instead of pressing on it, I simply walked down the hallway to my room.

 ...

 Why is it open?

 Pushing the hardwood door aside, I noticed two things instantly.

 Ota, asleep, with her back against the queen sized bed in a strange black nightgown, and an assortment of objects, including my relic, tied together on top of a few different letters.

 Funny, she looks like that flower... 'Heart's Flame' I think? Kinda fits her.

 Bright white moonlight peered through a newly installed window above my bed, lighting up my room with its dim presence. 

 I sat down next to her on the floor, luckily, it had been lined with the rugs that once made up the walls of my temporary room. My best guess would be this room was used for storage beforehand, and now had a large window cut out above the bed.

 I should see if I can get a balcony for this room, I like how the city looks at night. Well, I guess I could just walk up to the roof- Huh?

 Ota silently sobbed in her sleep, her body shaking as her breathing became erratic.

 "Ota? You alright?"

 I tried to wake her up from her nightmare by shaking her shoulder slightly. Ever so slowly, she opened her glistening purple eyes, confused.

 "Touji? What time is it?"

 "Just past four"

 "*Yawn* Guess I owe her a drink"

 Does Arisa just take random bets for kicks? 

 "You drink?"

 "Yeah, sake, you know that *Yawn* So what's wrong?"

 "I kinda wanted to ask you about something. But I, uh, don't know if I should... ask it"

 I should probably wait a bit, let her wake up. If Rider really wants me to ask her directly, so it has to be personal, right?

 "Hmmm, I won't bite you know? Maybe nibble a bit though... heh"

 Despite just waking up, she was ready to tease straight off the bat. I could only respond with remorse, lowering my head in shame in thinking what I was about to ask could hurt her.

 "When we first met, I kinda had trouble understanding you. Like, even in that duel... and... even after I woke up, what you said back then... I thought you were right"

 "Huh, what did I say?"

 "That nobody can see you... as, well, you know?"

 Her eyes darted around the ground, looking for any sort of way out after remembering where and when she said it.

 "Well, I uh, yeah, I was right so, uh-"

 "It's a curse, isn't it?"

 "I- who told you"

 As fast as I could speak, the glistening sparkle in her eyes turned deathly silent, as if her soul left her body. My heart sank, I knew it'd hurt her, but I wanted to try fix it, and let her know-

 "The Captain said it, sort of, out of the blue I guess? And... well, I only know one Oni"

 "There's a bunch of us, but I guess you haven't really looked, have you?"

 "..."

 What am I supposed to say? I'm worried? I care? I'm not affected anymore? I...

 Enda knocked on the door as she passed through carrying two cups of tea. Its sweet aroma quickly filled the room. I couldn't help but wonder if she knew what we happened to be talking about, however, her intentions seemed unrelated as she spoke.

 "Here, this will give both of you a bit of energy today. Touji, your match starts at nine sharp, read the letters when you get the chance. Ota, you start in the following match, please don't push yourself. I'll start cooking breakfast in a bit"

 In her usual fashion, Enda came and went, while leaving me with more questions.

 "She doesn't want you to push yourself?"

 "Don't worry about it. You met Rose right? What did she tell you"

 "About your friends and that guy. Also about the brothel, how it works"

 "Let me guess, she told you it functions more like a hotel, right?"

 "Yeah she did, I mean, she told the truth, so-"

 "She lied"

 "What do you mean, I, like I can tell"

 "Her truth is the delusion she chose to believe, it's not real. Why do you think, out of everyone here, I've taken care of you when you've been out cold?"

 "I... I never really thought about it..."

 She's no doctor, but she knew exactly what to do to the point that it even impressed Arisa, someone who has more medical knowledge than probably the whole world, when it comes to treatment without magic. Then again... Faith, well, Divine chanting basically killed off any research when it comes to that.

 "Accidents happen, some clients are rough and take things too far. Being knocked out for mana exhaustion is just child's play once you've delivered a few kids. Hell, I've even kickstarted someone's breathing by pushing their chest, also sticked up some cuts and cauterized... Look, if someone believes what they're saying, that doesn't make it real, you should know that"

 "Sorry"

 "Don't apologize. But yeah, I'm cursed. Found that night you first woke up from, well, when this exact same thing happened"

 "Wait really? How?"

 "Ari told me. She can sense that stuff apparently, or maybe she just guesses. But she was right. That woman, Mother Zoe, confirmed it, and Stathon also knew about it all along, that asshole"

 Wait, was THAT what he meant when he mentioned why he felt like he couldn't step in? Because he was partially responsible, or just wouldn't tell her?

 "Well, is there a way we can get rid of it?"

 "Y-yeah, there is, but I don't... I can't tell you"

 She looked away again, trying to think of a way to change the subject. At least I could tell it was a very personal problem, with an embarrassing solution she didn't feel comfortable solving.

 Well, if it's a curse related to how people perceive her, and she's being saying she couldn't even repay her debt and earn money at the brothel, I wouldn't put it past Rose being behind it. A curse like that lines up too well with how Succubus magic is described in old fairy tales.

 Wait, would Ota make that connection? I mean, Rose is kind of the adoptive mum for her. Ever since she lost her real parents... Maybe it wasn't done maliciously? 

 I don't know enough about dark magic... Maybe I should start looking into it? Better double check-

 "Well, a curse doesn't come from nowhere, any idea who would have done it?"

 "I, uh, I've pissed off a lot of people before. Just happens in a place like that you know? It's fine... I'll get rid of it eventually... I think"

 She raised her cup to her lips and blew gently before taking a sip, and a sparkle returned to her eyes as she quietly hummed in delight of the tasty drink. I followed her example, and sipped the delicious brew.

 "Woah... Didn't expect her to make tea this good"

 "Yeah, would of thought Arisa would be a better cook if she taught her"

 "Well isn't she trying to make food from her world, but with completely different stuff?"

 "I guess so, but she can't even use the stove right, keeps using too much wood as well..."

 "Hey, can I ask you about that thing?"

 "As in, what that strange girl said?"

 "Are you really part dragon?"

 "Guess so. I don't really get it, but I can't tell someone's intent when I focus on them, and resist a few things, but apart from that, I'd say your stronger, and better with one handed weapons too"

 "Can... can you really resist curses?" 

 "I think so, or at least... I'm uh, not really sure how to describe it. So like, if someone uses a blessing but wants to be bad with it... Yeah, I'm not great at explaining it. Basically, with, I guess-"

 "Yeah, you suck at this"

 "Well, Rider said it's like getting sick, but I haven't gotten sick before... at least not that I can remember"

 "She probably means that with some things, your body will reject, like bad food, or develop a resistance like taking small bits of poison?"

 "That's a good way of putting it, I think?"

 "That unsure, huh?"

 "Well I don't know! Wait, Fae's grandpa tried to charm me with music magic, but it didn't work... so like"

 "And it works with curses?"

 Well, no hiding it now.

 I planned to tell her anyway, but I thought she would have guessed by now. Every time we used the hot spring, I had to start doing what Arisa did, using a towel as a blindfold, and even then Ota would try to pull something.

 "Yeah, it does. But I don't really get how your curse works anyway, but I see you as any normal girl... Just a bit closer than most I guess"

 "A bit closer is an understatement if you ask me. I feel like your damn personal nurse at this point"

 "I- Sorry for making you worry. I kind of went overboard when I saw him, and that army..."

 "You can say sorry all you want, but it won't take away what you did. You almost died, you idiot! Just-"

 When I casted Calegriss and Vortex, my only goal was to rid the entire area of undead. Not once did I stop to think about how much mana I was using to switch such powerful fire into ice, only that it had to be done, and I went too far.

 Elemental magic is one thing, it's another when a normal dragon is spewing it. Their fire is hot enough to melt most armor, hence why they make excellent monsters to tame in armies. But due to their elemental alignment to match the environment they hatch in, it can cause incontinent problems.

 In an old history record Enda got me to read, when the old Roman Empire was overthrown and renamed into the Immortal Empire, they did so by staging an attack during winter, as the Empires biggest strength was their Dragon Chariots ridden by very strong mages, A rank or higher by the standards today.

 It was dubbed 'The One Winter War' and reshaped the entire Empire by the end of things. An event like that would normally cause a nation to eventually fall, but three hundred years later, they're still strong enough to take on the Holy Kingdom that split from the Empire eighty or so years ago.

 What I did was no laughing matter, and I could see in her eyes, she was truly worried I would die. 

 I don't think she could live with herself if she saw another friend die... I... I need to make it up to her, but how do I even do that?

 "I won't do it again, I'll figure out some other way next time"

 "Moron, we could have fought them off in the first place! You would have died for nothing!"

 "How- no. Is there any way I can make it up to you? I mean, not just for what I did, but, you know, looking after me"

 Talking about the intricacies of looking after someone completely out of it made me uncomfortable because all it entailed. From eating to bathing, and other issues that would come up I didn't want to think of, all whilst I was unaware.

 I was grateful, but felt uncomfortable either way.

 "How about... After the tournament and festival, we go do something?"

 "As in..."

 "A date you idiot. I'm asking you out"

 This was the first time I'd seen her both embarrassed and angry, which only made me hesitate in response.

 "Oh ah- um, yeah, sure, why not?"

 Way to fumble the bag, idiot.