Chapter 16

When Al saw the indigo water blob floating around Maru, the corner of his lip gave way to a suppressed arc. He needs to be on character, so he stops himself from smiling and continue to look down at the scared little bunny on his hands.

Al didn't realize that it was more terrifying when he had a suppressed smile on his face now. Maru scared shtless that he thought he will pass out.

Al did this to scare the tiny human. It was not his intention to kill the child but rather make his natural affiliation towards magic to act up. He's forcing him to awaken his magic and urging his growth. At the same time pushing that thing to come out.

It's been four days. Al has been healing Maru since he came inside his apartment, he's almost done but they were attacked. He didn't know who is that person but it might be someone associated with Maru and to that person who broke his barrier in the dumpster. Might as well as assume that they are part of the organization called Shadow, with the three bodies on the dumpster, he was sure that they were all acquainted with each other.

If possible he wants to continue healing him for another 3 more days so that there are less after effect when he took out the curse. He's avoiding Maru experiencing the withdrawal, that's the worst scenario. His body will suddenly different, of course, there are some effects. But the situation has now changed.

Maru didn't know that the golden particles he's been seeing whenever he enters Al's apartment was healing him. The whole apartment was lit by the healing spell and the warmth that was given to him is also part of that. The food he ate and drinks consist of healing particles and even the water he took a bath with. That's why Maru's cheeks look more plum and his skin is so soft now.

Al has been healing him continuously. Even when Maru sleeps, the healing is non-stop. The only time pauses his healing was when he's with Anica and Yda's place. All of this is to fortify Maru's body to the upcoming change so that his body won't collapse when his growth suddenly escalates.

Initially, this is a mistaken spell or a wrong spoken word/s in an incantation. When a mage made a mistake in their verbal incantation or spell, it'll be a curse. Like when you forgot a word from the original spell, that will turn someone invisible but it resulted in the subject becoming a frog, causing him inevitable consequences. In simpler terms, if a mage made a mistake speaking the words of the spell, it's a curse.

Al wasn't sure what's the original spell but the effect of the curse was, reversing the growth of one's body. It means that as Maru grows older, his body will turn back to a toddler, then to an infant until they come back to a cell and die. A very cruel curse. That's why Maru's body is on a toddler size despite him being an eight-year-old kid. He should be reaching his puberty age but instead, he's growing in reverse.

For five years little Maru's body regressing and degenerate everything back to the beginning. Three more years and this could be irreversible. The curse within him was deeply rooted so it took a lot of time and careful consideration. If he breaks the curse, his body will go back to what should be his body and will immediately grow. But in return, it will cause him great exertion that could harm his body or worst probably to his death.

It was easy to break the curse, but his concern was the after effect once it was removed. He won't admit to himself that he actually enjoys the company of the child. For the last four days, he could actually slowly reverse the curse and let Maru sleep to recuperate as he helps him cope up with the sudden change. But his pride won't let him relinquish, he had to do it the hard way because he's feeling alone.

Either way, he needs to be careful so he chooses the latter. Sometimes he likes the company of other people because he knew it won't last.

Plus Maru's memories are deteriorating. One time he caught Maru with a blank face. He will suddenly stop moving and then go back as if he didn't stop. When Al asks him about it, he just gave him a confused look as if he didn't pause half an hour before.

But Al thinks it's in a separate situation. He thinks that the memory relapse was related to the first spell. Someone cast the first one on him, causing his memories to deteriorate, then the second was a mistake to break the first spell.

Nevertheless, whoever that person who's trying to break the spell made it worst. Al throws those thoughts at the back of his head and focuses the task on his hands. Little Maru is losing consciousness, and he made his move.

Maru who's on the verge of fainting heard Al's voice.

"Lesson number two. Trust your master." This remark was confusing and incoherent to Maru. The first lesson was don't trust anyone, but now trust his master? He looks at his master only to see Al's expression getting colder and clenched his fragile neck without hesitation. Pinning him in place.

On a blurred sight, Maru saw his Master's other hand, palm open, move backward, and then slammed it to his abdomen. He was hit by a force that makes his inside vibrate. Burning pain came after from within him and a strong urge to puke was next.

He heaves and retches but nothing came out, making his tears flow. Everything around him grew distorted and blurred. All of the sweat rolling down his body, become a blob of black liquid. It floated out in the air. Then there was a strong taste of rust in his mouth, and when he coughed, dark blood spilled from his lips. It was so dark that it looks black.

On his hazy vision, he thought he saw a movement. He looked at the black liquid that floating around him and he saw it wriggled. He blinks to clear his sight and saw that all of those black blob before become this tiny worms squirming towards him. He instinctively moves back, disgusted by it.

Then he saw the blood that he vomits through his mouth squirm. Seeing the disgusting black slug worm move, he wanted to vomit again. That came inside of him!?

—Splat!—

Al's felt all his hair stand up at the disgusting sensation he felt when he uses his hands to kill the worm. It was soft and slimy. It was squirming towards him and his instinct was to hit it with his palm.

Now he regrets doing that.

"Wha-what is that?"

"Your curse."

Eew, why is it so slimy and slippery!?