Xiala

Our meeting with the woman dubbing herself Xiala was like a beacon sent by the heavens. We followed behind, venturing far away from the rocky cliff and traveling deeper inside her creation. Our group passed through grasslands and windy hills running amok with tiny creatures before arriving at a lone cabin sitting in a wide field of various colored flowers.

Upon arrival, the flowers parted like the sea, revealing a path for us to tread on. Stepping inside the house, its inner works appeared significantly larger than what it seemed to look like outside, with three areas splitting off into different directions. Immediately on the left were the kitchen and dining room, while the middle and right paths held many doors on either side of their long unlit corridors.

"Yis," Xiala called a name, a shadowy hooded figure emerging before us as it kneeled, bowing its head without sparing Thalia, Leifa, and I a glance.

"Room XV, maximum strength. ...That'll be all."

The shrouded being took Reis in one move retreating down the right hallway much to my shock and Leifa's disappointment. Xiala wasted no time heading to the kitchen, where she began putting water in a kettle, setting it on the stove once it got halfway full.

"Just what was...that thing you handed master Reis to?"

"My servant, just one of many roaming this house."

"And may I ask what you're planning on subjecting him to?"

"You may not. Your minimalistic role in this has proved disappointing thus far; one single instruction and you hardly handled that. Taking the time to argue amongst yourselves with the condition he's in already proves how incompetent you are as a friend."

"Now, sit."

Xiala snapped her fingers, and Leifa became pinned to a dining chair. The arms of it wrapping around her torso to keep her from moving.

Turning her stone gaze to the two of us, I quickly pulled Thalia along setting her in a seat beside Leifa while I planted myself in one of the two vacant chairs.

Even after that, the room remained quiet except for the stirring of the pot. On the other side of the table, Leifa sat downcast while Thalia waited patiently, swaying her head peacefully to the sequenced stirring on my left. It was evident that between them, neither would be making any conversation.

"...S-S-So you have nice flowers, Ms. Xiala. What type are they?"

"Roses and Lilies."

"T-That's all?"

"Yes. For an earth elf, it's embarrassing you can't tell—no doubt a sheltered kid."

"Y-Yea. I was."

Xiala's curt answers didn't leave any room for casual conversation. Walking over after minutes more at the stove, she set down the steaming pot and three cups filling them with tea, pouring herself what was left as she took the last chair, eyeing Leifa and me mysteriously.

"I'm not sure what you think you're here for, but it isn't casual fun. I have half a mind to kick the three of you from this world with zero worries about the effects it will have on your bodies and watch after the angel boy myself, but unfortunately, all four of you are impertinent to his future."

"You make it sound like what he has is seriously bad."

"More than it lets on. To put bluntly, your friend's body, mind, and soul are being devoured by a curse, one cast by the Devil King himself. At the rate the hex is destroying him, he'll fade away in less than thirty-six hours."

(F-Fade away...w-why, how...this doesn't...make sense.)

My hand was shaking, holding the tea. The contents splashed over until I dropped it altogether, feeling myself becoming a hollow husk, muttering incomprehensibly under my breath. At the same time, Thalia tried comforting Leifa, who had fallen to the floor on her knees.

Suddenly, Xiala grabs me by the collar of my shirt, hoisting me from my seat, using her second free hand to simultaneously pick up Thalia and Leifa in the other shaking us harshly in the air.

"Unbelievable. So this is your drive, one lick of bad news and all cave in like a bunch of wet towels. Kids these days, and here I thought you were friends."

Xiala flung us back into our chairs with great force sending us keeling into them, knocking them over as we slid against the wooden floor. Struggling to get up, Xiala propped back on a wall crossing her arms, clearly frustrated.

"Get out. I'll handle everything myself."

"......How disappointing your children turned out to be, Lis."

The last line was barely an audible whisper as Xiala turned on her heels retreating from the kitchen, Leifa and Thalia calling out to her the next second almost pleadingly, much to my confusion.

"Lis, you muttered their name just now. That was...Reis and my mother's name."

"How do you know the name of mistress's and master's mother?"

"...Answer us, please."

Xiala stopped briefly, still facing away as she turned off the stove, continuing her advance, speaking only as her body threatened to disappear around the corner.

"You're in no position to be asking for such a favor, nor is it the most significant cause for concern. ...If you wish to know how to save your friend, then follow me. His chamber should be ready by now."

"Know by doing so; there will be no more tears allowed from here on out. You will no longer be kids leading everyday lives but individuals daring to oppose the strongest power in our world. If you're fine with those conditions, I'll be in room fifteen on the right corridor."

The echoes of her heels clicking got further and further away as Leifa was the first to leave with Thalia not too far behind, carefully tuning her ears as she felt her way around while walking, leaving me alone in the trashed dining room.

I was at war with myself, my body urging me to move while my mind told me to stay. Mental warfare was tearing apart my brain, tugging me two ways, urging me to decide the type of person I was.

(Should I go or should I stay...Just what is the right choice?)

(It's true Reis was the only friend I had in school, and I was worried about him moments ago...but...but is his and Thalia's life worth mine? I've only ever talked to him once or twice at lunch, just like Jai...I don't know what an actual friend is.)

(If I go with them, death could be inevitable at any time, yet, could I return to Myscia, to my home where I grew up knowing those fifty people who died were killed because of my plan. Can I...go back to everyday life, forgetting that responsibility?)

(...Mom ...Dad...)

I sat curled in a ball, rocking back and forth in the dark room. Silent minutes ticked by as I pondered anxiously, battling to make my first decision in my entire lifetime.