The Unending Curse

I stopped before reaching the door to the chamber and turned around to face Maya. I saw her hands clasped together in front of her chest, holding a breath. I calmly replied, "I wondered about that during the battle, but what do you know?"

Maya let out a deep breath and lowered her head, averting any further gaze from my eyes. "Sigh… This isn't the first time that I've experienced this. I mentioned that I've visited 12 other dungeons before this one, and all of the boss creatures in those had a similar boost in size and strength. Fortunately, the battles there were not as perilous as today was…"

"H-h-h-hold on…" I stopped Maya before she could continue. Helmut's Cave is the thirteenth dungeon she's visited, so she's had to go through this ordeal 13 times now? "This dungeon is meant for beginner-level heroes in training. If the minotaur has been your toughest challenge, then…"

Maya finished my thought as if we solved the same problem. "Yes, all 13 dungeons that I've fought through, they were just meant for beginners."

So… all those reports I've been hearing about her… none mentioned any specific details of her dungeon trips, but just praised her skills… what exactly has Maya been going through this whole time?! If all of the dungeons she's been in so far have been intended for amateurs, I have an eerie feeling I don't like what this means…

Believing I knew where this train of thought headed, I said, "Then that means… if you were to go into a dungeon meant for a higher skill level…"

Maya answered as if knowing exactly what I thought, "There is no guarantee that I would make it out of there alive with my current abilities, with or without a guide."

I shuddered at the thought of Maya meeting her end. "B-b-but… there's no guarantee that the next dungeons you entered would boost the default attributes of the monsters and bosses that dramatically, is there?"

Maya took another breath and answered, "I'm afraid that I cannot be as optimistic as you. You've read the reports about my abilities, so I'm sure you've also read about the increase in violence around the world?"

I nodded, so Maya continued, "The papers won't mention this, but I know that Rellik is behind it all. The monsters and beasts going out of control, more vandalism and rioting on the streets, the rise in danger of the dungeons that I visit… It all revolves around Rellik…"

"But… How do you know the one who killed your parents is responsible for all this?" I continued to interject, "Besides, there hasn't been a single problem in Kolm. If panic has been spreading around the world, how come Kolm hasn't been affected yet?"

"Sigh…How fortunate for you… I know that Rellik is the culprit, but I do not comprehend how he operates. I can only tell you for certain that all that is happening is part of his master plan."

"Okay… But why do you know that Rellik is the one responsible then?"

Maya hesitated and paused for a long moment. I was indeed curious about how Maya knew who the source of the rising unrest in the world was. No mention of a name even came up in any reports or town gossip, so Maya bringing it the culprit surprised me.

After I waited for Maya for a long moment, I decided to speak out again, "Maya…?"

She responded, "Because ever since the day that Rellik killed my mom and dad, I've heard his voice inside my head… It happened so rarely at first… I would listen to an evil cackle in my sleep and wake up to it every few months during my first years of training with my uncle… Then, about 4 years ago, I started hearing Rellik speak directly to me… words meant to discourage me from my mission… from my desire to avenge my mom and dad…

"Until six months ago, Rellik would speak to me once a month… reminding me of my weakness… spreading doubt in the deepest reaches of my soul… declaring my despair and the destruction of this world… prophesying about upcoming chaos in a specific region, which became real within the next few days… If it wasn't for my uncle, I would have been destroyed from all the inner turmoil… If it wasn't for him, I would have been wholly devastated by my inability to stop all the events I knew were inevitable…

"And in all the dungeons that I've been in… the bosses were boosted similarly to the minotaur… And every time I slay a mini-boss or boss creature, I would hear Rellik laugh maniacally in my head… I don't know how or when, but…"

Maya then cried, "I know he cursed me! I can't take any more of this agony of having Rellik inside my head! I can't stand knowing something terrible will happen, and I can't do anything about it! I'm not sure what I feel worse about: my inability to act, or the guilt of being so utterly helpless!

"I just want all this to end! I don't know how much more I can endure!" Then she broke down in tears.

I rushed to her and cradled her in my arms. I made sure to softly place her head and hands on my chest and let her stay there.

No words came to mind on how to console Maya. I had honestly never experienced anything remotely close to what she had endured for so long. Seeing her in the state she was in now, I felt like I really knew nothing and took the tranquility of my life so far for granted.

And Maya was right on another point: Kolm had always been a peaceful and vibrant town, devoid of the misery and destruction she knew had spread around the world. I had forever been cherished and protected, even with my father gone, in my hometown. I also understood now the greater importance of having Akane, who was such a pillar of support, close with me.

As I kept my embrace of Maya, she tried to whisper against her tears. "I don't know what else to do… I just don't want anyone else to experience what I have been through for so long… I still miss my mom and dad so much… I wish they were here to help me…"

I assumed Maya had others to support her, but it seemed maybe she had no one to turn to after all. All her burdens and agonies... to go through all of that for all this time, and be the only one to suffer like this… I was glad to be there to hear Maya out, but I didn't dare try to take advantage of her in such a vulnerable state…

I continue to hold Maya for what seemed to be quite a long time, but she eventually regained some composure. I dropped my arms and stepped back, and she wiped the tears from her eyes.

Once I noticed Maya raise her head, I said in a soft voice, "I appreciate you telling me all this… How about we leave this place and get some fresh air?"

Maya sniffled and nodded. I turned around and led the way out of the chamber. I was worried Maya would not have the willpower to move, but I was glad to hear her footsteps behind me.

We slowly made our way back to the griffon's chamber, me in front and Maya a small distance away. Neither of us said a word as we trekked on. I wanted to give her as much time as she needed to recover her spirits. She had poured out her soul to me, a complete stranger, and I felt it prudent to let the weight of all she had gone through genuinely sink in.

As we stepped into the griffon's chamber, I turned around and saw that Maya seemed more composed, so I decided to ask, "Maya… I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but… I guess your ominous presence at times is you lashing out towards Rellik?"

Maya chuckled, but not in a disturbing tone. This time, she indeed portrayed the elegant and refined girl back at the shop. "Sigh… I apologize for my earlier behavior. I truly mean that… I've been hearing Rellik's voice for so long now, and I'm still unsure how best to handle it. I keep telling myself to try harder, but I know I still have a long way to go… I'm not sure if I will ever get there…"

"Don't say that," I replied. "Just keep trying. I'm sure you'll control yourself one day, and I'm certain you already have the strength needed to overcome all of this. I truly believe in you."

Maya nodded and cracked a small smile. Thank goodness; I said something right! Even though they weren't much, the words came at the right moment.

Maya seemed to lighten up a bit, so I asked, "Shall we keep going?"

Maya nodded, and we left the chamber, me leading the way again.

We finally reached the entrance to the dungeon, and I opened the door. It was still bright, so we hadn't spent too long in the battles. After Maya stepped out, I closed the door to seal off Helmut's Cave.

I walked past Maya and got a fair distance in front of her, when she said, "H-Haru… thank you. I've never told anyone outside of my uncle my entire story, and no one else was even willing to hear me out after witnessing my hysteria. Every single person before you plainly ignored me when I claimed I knew the one responsible for the chaos as if I spoke nonsense…

"I don't know how I could repay you, but I am so grateful to you from the bottom of my heart."

At that moment, I felt genuinely happy that I decided to give Maya a chance. Amidst her uncharacteristic behavior in the dungeon, I was glad I looked past that and believed in the Maya who exuded that poise and beauty I witnessed when she walked into the guide shop.

Knowing a little bit about Maya, I couldn't help but feel genuinely intrigued to learn even more. A particular thought also popped up: Was I starting to feel more than just intrigued, maybe even attracted, to this girl…?

Putting aside that question for the time being, I smiled at Maya and replied, "Don't mention it." I turned back around and started to walk again. I saw Maya catch up to me and walk by my side.

Although I felt happy that Maya was in better spirits and wanted to talk more with her, I didn't find the right words to come out. Man, what is wrong with me? I want to help out this girl so much, but I also don't want to just take advantage of her. She seems so beautiful and yet so vulnerable at the same time. And we only just met today, after all. There has to be something I can do for her, though…

We were about five minutes away from returning to the guide shop when I stopped in the middle of the road. I was still unsure if I knew how I could help Maya, but I decided to try anyway. As she kept walking, I asked, "Maya… why don't you form a party?"

She stopped as well but kept her back facing me. "Because… I can barely stand all this guilt weighing down on me as it is. One day, I'll need to go into more difficult dungeons to get stronger before I even dare to face Rellik. And I don't want the added guilt of seeing someone precious dying there because of me..."

Maya turned her head back and smiled at me. But I saw a sense of tragic sadness on her face before she quickly faced the other way.