Chapter 10 - Chapter 10

Black smoke began to seep from the sword, and while I felt confused, I wasn't terrified. Suddenly, I heard a deep, resonant voice laughing.

"What's so funny?" I asked, irritation creeping into my tone.

The black smoke coalesced into a human-like silhouette, moving closer to me. In a deep, shaky voice, it asked, "You... human... do you think you're worthy to wield this sword?"

I blinked twice, slightly taken aback. "I bought this sword, so why not?"

The black figure erupted into laughter, the sound echoing through the room. "Oh, what a foolish human!"

Annoyed, I tried to punch the figure, but it only laughed harder.

"Physical attacks are futile against me, you stupid human!" it declared, its laughter growing louder.

"Oh? Then what if I destroy this sword?" I countered. The figure fell silent for a moment.

"You really are a foolish human," it finally replied.

"What do you mean by that?" I wanted to shout, but I kept my voice steady to avoid causing a scene in the estate.

"That sword you're holding is cursed, and even I can't use my powers because I'm part of the sword. I am its soul," the figure explained.

"Soul?" I echoed, processing the information in silence. The black figure continued, "It has been cursed for five hundred years. Many have owned this sword, but none were worthy or strong enough."

"Why is that?" I asked, intrigued.

"To activate its true abilities and break the curse, you need powerful magic," it replied. "Once you succeed, you will become one with the sword, and only you will be able to wield it."

I listened intently as I sat on the bed.

"I once had a strong and worthy master, but he passed away due to the curse. I had long since given up hope of being freed," the black figure said, its tone shifting to one of resignation.

"You said the curse would be broken by someone with strong magic, right? What kind of magic are we talking about?"

The figure let out a small laugh. "Ordinary magic can barely touch the curse. There's only a 1% chance that strong magic could break it."

"What about Ancient magic?" I asked, curiosity piqued.

The figure paused for a moment, its form flickering slightly. "Ancient magic has a higher chance of breaking the curse, but there's only a one in a billion chance that someone possesses that ability."

"I see…" I tightened my grip on the sword and summoned a flicker of black flames along its length. "Hey, what are you—do you have Ancient magic?"

I had never really tried using this magic since I had transmigrated, but I concentrated, imagining a drop of water falling from a bucket. The sword began to glow, lifting gently in front of me. Its light intensified, illuminating the room.

After a dramatic moment of brightness, the sword settled back into my hand. I noticed that it had transformed, its design sharper and more elegant, the hilt fitting my grip perfectly.

As I admired the sword, a white mark resembling a tattoo appeared on my hand before vanishing again. Engrossed in my thoughts, I caught sight of a woman standing in the corner of my eye.

I turned to her. She had pearl-white skin, long hair as dark as charcoal, and striking blue eyes. Dressed in an elegant black yukata with white patterns, she was tall, though slightly shorter than me, and curiously, her figure was far more pronounced than mine.

She touched her face and body, disbelief written all over her features. Tears began to well up in her eyes, and she started to cry. I let her weep for a while, unsure of what to say or do, until she finally calmed down and bowed before me.

"I thank you, Master, for breaking the curse. If it's alright, may I know your name?"

"No need to call me master. My name is Hayden, Hayden Reggian. What about you?" I replied as I sheathed the sword.

"It would be an honor if you, Master Hayden, would grant me a name," she said with a hopeful smile.

Naming things was never my strong suit, and I didn't want to choose something ridiculous. I thought for a moment before suggesting, "How about Eli? Do you like it?"

Eli's face lit up with joy. "Yes! I love it! Thank you, Master Hayden!" She bowed again, her smile radiant.

"It's still night outside, so I think I'll go back to sleep," I said, settling back down on the bed.

Eli nodded but then tugged on my clothes. I turned to her, noticing a hint of blush on her cheeks. "Is it okay if I lay down next to you, Master Hayden?"

I considered her request. The bed was spacious enough for two, and since we were both girls, it felt perfectly innocent. Plus, after being cursed for five hundred years, she must be lonely. I nodded, and Eli beamed, laying down beside me.

As I drifted off to sleep, I felt a sense of peace knowing I had helped Eli find her freedom.