9 Cursed Ones

" He's cursed?"

[ Yes] the system responded blandly.

" Who's cursed?" Theonymphi interjected he couldn't understand why he understood Izzy but not the little black box that was speaking. In what sounded like a garbled language.

Izzy looked over herself while she and Ruben were making their way out she had washed his blood off of her.

" System I touched his blood," Izzy said shakily.

[ Do not be alarmed, host. The system has taken the necessary steps to prevent your untimely death-]

" I'm going to die!" Izzy squeaked.

[ The host will not die because the host does not originate from this time]

Izzy never thought the cold voice of the system would be so comforting and she breathed out in relief.

[ But]

" But?" Izzy said fast to respond, she was still on edge and worried about her life.

[ This is just one of the situations the host has managed to avoid... Through luck. However, the system does not take luck into consideration. If the host does not reach the suitable power levels, the host will not survive in this world].

Izzy nodded in response " So I just need to become more powerful right? So how do I do that?"

[From the information gathered the system was now been able to compile knowledge on this world. In order to become powerful, the host must practice, according to what would be your elemental affinity].

" Okay, so I need to find my affinity?"

[ The crystal can be used as a measurement of power and elemental affinity. However, it will perish once it is done determining your talents]

Izzy who was still on the bed reached over and grabbed the crystal on the side of the bed.

She pursed her lips, Ruben had said that this thing cost a lot of money and Izzy knew the importance of money.

" Do I really need to use this to find my affinity?" Izzy asked hoping there was another way.

Flying around the ceiling Theonymphi pieced together the one-sided conversation between his master and the black box.

" Crystals are so archaic " he commented " trust humans to use such crude methods of determining power'. He rolled his eyes and Izzy felt like throwing a pillow at him.

" So then what do you suggest? If this method is so old-fashioned, oh great one" Izzy's sarcasm made Theonymphi scoff. He cast a quick spell and lifted the crystal in the air, the crystal flew out of Izzy's hands.

"Hey! Stop that!"

Theonymphi giggled and flew towards Izzy's face.

Izzy pulled her head back at how close he was. Theonymphi merely stretched out his thin hand and placed in on her forehead.

" This is how we Fae test power"...

Izzy felt a cool warmth, that was akin to the feeling of eating mint flood her body. Her eyes shone in black splendour.

" Calm your mind" Theonymphi whispered, his voice felt like he was lulling her sleep and Izzy moaned feeling almost tired.

[ Warning! Attempted mind searching! Warning!]

The system rang out on the bed but Izzy couldn't hear anything. The world around her seemed to spin and she felt calm and relaxed.

The system continued to beep and Theonymphi clicked his tongue.

" Quiet little box! You're breaking my concentration!". Theonymphi closed his eyes searching Izzy's mind. Ever since he had been bound to this girl, he was looking for a way to reverse the spell. He thought it would be difficult given the complexity of the spell and the power behind it, but he never expected that Izzy would be so unguarded and trusting.

Images in Izzy's mind filtered into his but it was overwhelming. The amount of information she held in her mind was astounding and there were so many lights that he began to feel dizzy.

He heard all kinds of sounds, voices and music. Once he heard the music Theonymphi broke away from Izzy. He stared back at the girl in shock.

" Where do you hail from?" he questioned but Izzy was still under the effects of his spell.

Once she snapped out of it Izzy had realised what was going on from the system's constant pestering.

" You!" she swiped at him attempting to grab him but Theonymphi was too fast.

" How could you search my memories!" she said accusingly, Izzy felt as if the most inner parts of her mind had been peeled away and exposed.

She shivered as a flood of images filled her mind. She shook her head and angrily shouted.

" System commence punishment!"

[ Punishment of servant Theonymphi will now commence. Due to the host's weakness, the servant will only be subjected to minimal punishment. Tuning frequencies now. ]

Much like how the system had let out a frequency that Theonymphi could hear as a fairy. It also calculated a frequency that would harm most creatures.

Once the system let out the sound Theonymphi clutched his head and screamed his body twisting back!

" Arrgh!"

" Stop!" he begged " I'm sorry master!" he shouted. Izzy, seeing the effect of the punishment on Theonymphi immediately felt guilty.

Even though Theonymphi had basically stripped her mind naked. Izzy was averse to hurting others.

" System stop!"

The punishment stopped immediately and Theonymphi looked shocked at Izzy. He was quiet and as they made eye contact he suddenly disappeared into thin air.

Izzy sighed and looked down at the fallen crystal. She felt raw inside but now she didn't care, with all that happened today all she wanted was to return home.

" System if I become more powerful, can I go home?"

[ Sufficient power levels will make inter-dimensional travel possible]

" That's all I need to hear. Now how do I use this thing?"

[ All the host has to do in concentrate. Think and picture what magic and power looks like to you and the crystal will respond]

Izzy stood clutching the crystal in her hands and closed her eyes. She calmed her breathing and tried to clear her already muddled mind.

" Picture power" she muttered, over and over like a mantra.

' Power. I need power to escape this world. Power, think power' she thought.

The crystal remained unglowing and Izzy concentrated waiting for a response from the crystal.

The almost translucent white crystal suddenly lit up with astonishing power. It was pure white, with streaks of purple on the outline.

' Power' Izzy thought.

[ Host power level detected:

Power grade: High purity

Element: high grade Clear, low-grade Lightening

Calculating successful merging with Armoured Tiger...

Success rate: 70.36%

The host's clear element allows for the manipulation of the four elements.

Congratulations host your purity levels will allow you to cultivate magic easily.]

Izzy opened her eyes.

Her iris were white with her pupils emitting a faint purple glow.

She blinked and her eyes returned to their original colour. The crystal then shattered in her hand and fell in a pile of dust onto the floor.