Chapter 17

Al looked at his right hand in disgust. Wanting to wipe it on the floor but saw how it was still alive and twitching he decided to burn them all

All the black worm was ignited and turn to ashes.

They were left with the smell of burnt flesh.

"Is it really my curse?"

"Mmm..." Al still wipes his hands and it doesn't satisfy him and wash it with warm water and soap. The tingling feeling is still there. Dmn, he still remembers how squishy that thing. He wants to chop his hands to stops that feeling.

"Ma-master, did you break my curse?"

"Mmhm."

"Then I'm alright now?"

"Yes yes." He said as his back on Maru. He was washing his hand for the nth time. "But you need to sleep."

"Why—ack!" Maru didn't finish his words as blood seeped from his nose and cold sweat dripped down his forehead. He felt a dull pain all over his body, that even breathing was hard. His vision went blurry as tears filled his eyes again. Biting pain was as agonizing cramps seemed to crush his insides from within.

An overwhelming feeling of dread took over and for a moment he thought the pain would only get worse and worse. This is much more painful than what he felt before. It seems like the pain would be there forever and he will just get used to it, but at the same time, the fact it might stick a little while longer was terrifying.

He tried to tolerate the pain but his body can't take it anymore and collapsed on the floor as he curled his body into a ball. He was so much pain that he could only close his eyes and focus on breathing.

"Slow down and regulate your breathing." Maru heard the calm voice of his Master. He started to slow down his breathing. At first he struggled to take in long and even breaths. He closed his and concentrated on slowing his racing heart beat that pounding on his chest.

Inhale... Exhale... a few more breaths and the pain was lessen. This breathing technique was taught by Al to him the first day when they come home from buying some clothes.

Since the beginning, Al knew that he will be in pain once the curse was removed. Does it also mean that he was readying him since then?

"That," Al poke Maru's arm and he gasps in pain. "You are dying right now. So you need to sleep." He grabs Maru and put him on the bed and continues his lecture. "When you're in pain, sleep is the most effective way. No equivalent effects or exchange as what magic does.

"Remember that magic always has a price, everything has a price. Mages use elementals' forces through magic. So that we can utilize different elements to form our magic. So you need to find elementals to form a bond with. I forcefully open your water element magic, but it can only help you in basic necessities when you're in coma. It should last for a week.

"When you wake up, use magic crystals to replenish the energy that was lost. Ask your father for that, I knew you were rich that you have extra magic crystals."

When Al put him under the blanket, he didn't bother to clean Maru. It's for dramatic effect. He's full of blood and pale as if on the verge of dying.

"Ah, your father is still here. He will come and rescue you for a few more minutes. But be sure that no one else to touch you for three days. You will just sleep. You won't feel anything."

Then he leans forward to his ears and whisper his incantation.

Once there was and one day there won't be...

He gently tap Maru's forehead and Maru felt his eyes heavy, and an impulse to sleep suddenly poured over him. He doesn't want to sleep yet. His body is in full alarm because he is in pain. He's in so much pain that his body can't even move and protest but he was awake. He knew that it was a good pain, a healing pain. But now, he's feeling lethargic.

He tried to fight it and blink his sleepiness.

Maru had the feeling that it was not just a sleeping spell. There was a reason why the mage in the Slums remained rumor, it was because the mage himself doesn't want them to know that he exists.

This person wants him to forget him. He wants himself to be gone. He tried to say no but his lips won't move. He shook his head to the side to say no but Al only smiled at him.

"You sleep now little Maru." He blew on his face making the child closed his eyes. Less than two seconds later the child's breathing becomes slow and gentler indicating that he's sleeping.

After he make sure that he is sleeping, he proceeds on taking off the navy blue coat. He looks at it as if in the pain of losing a good coat, such a waste. So the owner of the coat is him huh? He thought, the reason why he was followed by the man who attacked him, it was his smell. The coat owner followed his own scent to find them.

The same as the coat owner, Al will also use this as bait for them to find Maru.

He waved his hands and the coat was fixed and clean again. He folded it and put it to the side of Maru. He then grabs the bag he used to got to work. And said his silent goodbye. He looks back at the sleeping tiny human, he was a bit curious about that book. A book that contains all secrets of everything.

He's been looking for that for a long time, this book answer all questions. He needs to find that person. Of course he knew about the missing young master of the Bizedras. He knew it as soon as Anica told him that someone came to visit at the bar. That's why it has been closed, because someone is looking for the young master, Marion Raven Bizedras of the house Bizedras.

Do I need to steal it?

He knew about the Bizedras' book of secrets. It was gifted by his master to a merchant before. Master was drunk that day, he was so drunk that when he saw a young's innocent eyes that were full of idealism and vigor he had the urge to reward them, and then he gave them a magical item. When you put the name of something, it will give you all the details regarding that name.

He remembers that boy's name.. Sergio Alfonso Bizedras... Guessed little Maru was that boy's great great great great grandchild huh?

Mmm... Maybe later. Nevermind, it was not a good day to die. He throws that matter to the side and gets himself ready.

He again begins to set up a healing spell to assist Maru and the barrier around his apartment. It's still not time to let them get in. He still needs to vanish. He tthen waves his arm and the golden particles that scattered the brightly lit room disappeared. Together with the warm and cozy ambiance of the apartment.

It become the old and empty room that originally was.

He grabs his keys and locked the door, with a clicking sound, the time begun to tick. When the time ends all spell would disappear together. Making Maru be visible to everyone and be taken by the people lurking around the whole area.

He lift his foot and when he stumped it on the ground, he disappeared.

When Maru woke up, his memories with Al would be erased. No one will know that he ever existed.

Or so what he planned it to be. He didn't know that after three days of freedom he would be captured.

Fck.