Liora's breath caught as she neared the table. The woman's smile widened, revealing broken, jagged teeth smeared with blood. Open sores lined her cheeks, and from between her cracked lips, worms writhed against the movements of her tongue.
"Come closer, child," the woman intoned, her voice dripping with melancholic sarcasm. "Join me for dinner, won't you?"
Liora's mind raced, a torrent of thoughts crashing through her. 'This can't be real. Auntie was kind, not this monstrosity. I need to escape now!'
She took a step back, shaking her head. "No... no, I can't."
The woman's hollow eyes narrowed as she noticed Liora's retreat. With deliberate, eerie slowness, she lifted the fork and gave it a deep, languid lick. In an instant, she hurled it towards Liora. Reflexes kicked in, and she barely dodged the fork as it embedded itself in the wall behind her.
Before she could regain her footing, the woman was upon her, moving with unnatural speed. A fierce kick landed squarely in Liora's chest, sending her sprawling against the table. Plates, goblets, and candles clattered to the floor, the fragile light flickering as one of the candles rolled into a heap of tattered fabric.
Flames hungrily licked at the cloth, quickly growing into a blaze that spread across the wooden floor. The air filled with the acrid stench of burning fabric and wood, thick smoke curling upwards.
Liora struggled to her feet, her eyes darting between the advancing figure of her twisted aunt and the rapidly spreading fire.
'I have to escape,' she thought. 'I can't let this be the end.'
Liora's mind raced back to the countless lectures she'd attended. The lessons had drilled into her the importance of understanding and utilizing the system, of using it to uncover truths hidden from the naked eye.
Red shades twisted and pulsed before her, the room around her becoming a surreal landscape of shifting hues. She focused on the grotesque figure of her aunt, willing the system to reveal its secrets. Slowly, painfully, words emerged from the crimson mist: "Cursed, Mimic of the Loved One."
Her mind went blank with shock. 'Cursed?' she thought, her nails digging into the wooden floor as she struggled to process the revelation. 'Even with my awakening, I only saw a tainted creature. The others had common tiers, but this...'
Her breath was coming in rapid, shallow gasps. Her vision blurred with tears as fear gripped her heart. 'I'm not ready for this. I'm not strong enough.'
Her frantic thoughts were interrupted as the creature lunged, grabbing her by the feet. With a strength that belied its gaunt frame, it hurled her across the room. She crashed into the bed, splintering the wood and collapsing in a heap amidst the wreckage.
"You are not my niece!" the creature screamed, venom dripping from every word. "My niece would never refuse my food! You're a monster that has set my house aflame!"
Pain radiated through Liora's body, her vision swimming as she tried to push herself up. The fire continued to spread, casting an ominous glow and filling the air with choking smoke.
'I have to fight,' she thought. 'This isn't how it ends. I won't let it be.'
Liora felt her blood hush with purpose, tapping into the energy she'd trained so hard to control. She wasn't the best fighter in her group, nor did she possess any particular strong point.
But she took pride in her ability to channel the ars energy more effortlessly than most. Even if her power wasn't fully under control, the strength it provided was enough to propel her into action.
'Thank the heavens for this backpack,' she thought, feeling the secure weight against her shoulders.
She gripped her dagger tightly, planting her feet firmly on the floor, before sprinting towards the window.
The creature's head twisted unnaturally, tracking her movements with a grotesque grin. Its body rotated, preparing to sprint after her, its laugh echoing like creaking wood.
"Where do you think you're going, little one?" It cackled, the sound echoing in the burning cabin.
Liora's heart raced as she neared the window. At the last moment, instinct took over. She rolled left, narrowly avoiding a vicious kick aimed at her midsection.
She feigned a dash to her right, drawing the creature's attention, but then pivoted sharply and sprinted towards another window. The flames were consuming the cabin, and a beam from the ceiling crashed down, missing her head by inches.
Liora leaped towards the window. She twisted her body mid-air, her dagger slicing through the glass. She braced herself, using her momentum to tumble through the shattered frame. Her body hit the ground outside, rolling to absorb the impact.
Liora didn't look back, her legs propelling her forward with frantic urgency. The forest loomed ahead, a haven of shadows and twisted branches. Behind her, the creature's voice echoed.
"Liora... sweet Liora... little Liora... I love you, come back to me..."
The words were sickeningly affectionate, dripping with malice. Liora's breath came in ragged gasps as she plunged into the forest, the dense foliage closing around her like a protective cocoon.
Passing through the first row of trees, an inexplicable shiver crept up Liora's spine. Despite her better judgment, she turned back. The cabin was a roaring inferno, flames consuming the structure with fierce intensity. The glow was blinding, making her eyes strain and water.
She scanned the area, her eyes darting through the fiery chaos. The creature was nowhere to be seen. Panic tightened her chest as she looked in every direction, but the monstrous figure had vanished.
'I have to keep moving,' she thought, her mind racing. 'But where? Where do I go?'
'What if I can't outrun it? What if there's no safe place?' She had no clear destination, only the overwhelming urge to escape. Her legs trembled, exhaustion setting in, but she forced herself to keep moving.
'I can't stay here,' she reminded herself. 'I have to find help. Someone must know how to deal with this...'
Liora was born in Baurous. Raised solely by her aunt, she grew up in a modest home filled with the scent of home-cooked meals and the warmth of unconditional love.
Liora preferred the cozy corners of their house over the chaotic streets, finding solace in the simple pleasures her aunt provided.
Her world expanded when she discovered the training sessions at the local church. It was there that she met her first and closest friend, a girl her age who shared her love for good food. She often dragged Liora through the market streets, eager to sample any new flavor that appeared.
When it came time to choose a weapon, Liora's decision was practical. The dagger was not only a means of protection but also a tool for slicing and cutting vegetables, a task her aunt often entrusted to her.
Liora decided to enroll in the academy after receiving encouragement from both her aunt and the local priest. The transition was jarring; the cold, impersonal environment made her long for the warmth of her home.
But the memory of her aunt's radiant smile and the pride in her eyes kept her going. It was the academy's food that finally brought her a measure of contentment, a small taste of the comfort she missed so dearly.
Though she made no close friends, her quiet demeanor earned her a place in Natalia Noctis's group. At first, she was hesitant, but Natalia's charm and leadership convinced her to stay.
Although Liora seldom formed deep bonds, she found satisfaction in being part of something larger than herself. She had enrolled in the first batch a month before her awakening, carrying with her the hopes and dreams of her aunt.
As Liora sprinted through the forest, her thoughts drifted back to reality. A sharp noise pierced the night, bringing her to an abrupt halt. Her breathing was chaotic, her heart pounding in her chest as she strained to listen.
'What was that?' she wondered, scanning her surroundings with wide eyes. The forest was eerily silent, the only sound being her own ragged breaths. She knew she couldn't remain still for long.
'I have to keep moving,' she reminded herself, pushing the fear aside. 'I can't let it find me.'
As Liora's eyes adjusted to the gloom, she spotted a figure on the path ahead. Cloaked in shadow, it swayed slowly from side to side, as if dancing to a sinister melody only it could hear.
The figure moved with an eerie grace, and as it drew closer, recognition struck her heart like a dagger. It was the creature, its grotesque form twisting and turning, singing her name in a haunting refrain.
"Liora... sweet Liora... little Liora..."
Without a moment's hesitation, Liora bolted to the left, darting into a labyrinth of twisted branches and rock formations. Her feet stumbled over stones and roots, but she pushed forward, her breath coming in frantic gasps and her heart pounding like a drum in her chest. The singing grew louder and closer, the voice almost brushing against her back.
Desperation spurred her on. She leapt over a broken tree in her path, her body propelled by a surge of adrenaline. Suddenly, the ground gave way beneath her feet.
She tumbled down a landslide, rocks and earth shifting and sliding around her. Dirt and leaves filled her mouth as she fell, the sensation of freefalling disorienting her.
Yet, through the chaos, the ars energy coursing through her veins dulled the pain, allowing her to stay alert. She came to a stop in a hollow between piles of rocks.
She listened intently, her senses on high alert. The forest was eerily silent, save for the occasional chirp of insects. The creature's haunting song was gone, leaving only the whispering wind and the rustle of leaves. Taking advantage of the quiet, she studied her surroundings, searching for any sign of her pursuer.
'I need to find a way out of here,' she thought, her mind racing. 'But where? And how long before it finds me again?'
Liora thought she saw a light up ahead, a glimmer of hope piercing the oppressive darkness. She reached into her backpack and pulled out her water flask, sipping a small amount to steady her nerves. Adjusting her stance, she began to walk slowly toward the light, her mind a whirlwind of doubts and hopes.
'Could it be help?' she wondered. 'Or is it another trap? I can't afford to make a mistake, but I can't stay here either.'
The light grew brighter as she approached, revealing a clearing ahead. She emerged into an open pathway in the forest and saw a caravan in the distance.
Three wagons stood in a line, torches held by figures casting flickering light. She saw the outlines of horses tethered nearby, their gentle snorts breaking the forest's silence.
Relief washed over her, almost bringing tears to her eyes. 'Thank the heavens,' she thought, her heart lightening. 'I might be saved. Actual people, not monsters. This could be my chance.'
Just as she was about to sprint forward and call out for help, a hand clamped over her mouth, yanking her backward into a bush hidden by two trees. Panic surged through her until a voice whispered urgently in her ear.
"Don't scream. I'm a student too." It was a masculine voice, low and insistent. "Look."
She forced herself to focus, peering out from their hidden vantage point. The moonlight and torch flames illuminated the scene more clearly now. She saw chains around the people's necks, glinting in the light. Her eyes widened as she caught a glimpse of one man's face, hollow and lifeless, like a puppet without strings.
The voice spoke again, gentle but insistent. "Are you being followed?"
She couldn't reply with words, only nodding, his hand still covering her mouth.
"Look, I'm going to release my hand. Please, don't scream."
She nodded again, feeling a wave of relief as the hand was removed. Turning to face him, she took in the sight of his academy uniform, her eyes widening with a surge of hope. His reassuring nod and steady gaze calmed her frayed nerves, even if just slightly.
"I swear, Ah, I saw a cursed creature," she whispered urgently. The student paused, a frown creasing his brow, before he shook his head.
"Look over there with the system," he instructed, pointing towards the caravan.
Liora focused, activating the system in her eyes. The words slowly formed: "Cursed, Caravan of the Lost."
Her eyes teared up as she voiced her fears in a hushed, trembling whisper. "They're cursed! How in the gods' name are we s'posed to fight it? Dammit, how do we win this?"
The student sighed, placing a steadying hand on her shoulder. "Keep quiet," he urged softly. "I saw a place we can hide."
They waited in tense silence, watching the caravan's lights slowly fade into the distance. Once the flickering glow was no longer visible, the student nodded and stood up. Liora followed his lead, her curiosity about him simmering but held in check by the urgency of their situation.
They moved quietly through the trees; the forest around them was dark and oppressive. Suddenly, the sound of chopping wood reached Liora's ears. She froze, her body shaking with fear.
"It's the creature," she murmured, her voice breaking.
The student listened intently for a moment before shaking his head. "I didn't hear anything. We need to keep moving."
They continued their cautious trek through the forest, Liora's nerves frayed and her senses on high alert. As they neared a clearing, a small cabin nestled in the trees came into view.
Just as Liora was about to ask him about it, the eerie singing of her name reached her ears again, sending a cold shiver down her spine.
"Liora... sweet Liora... little Liora..."
"Run," she urged him, her voice trembling.
They sprinted towards the cabin, the creature's haunting melody growing louder behind them. Liora's heart pounded in her chest, her breaths coming in ragged gasps as they raced through the forest.
The student reached the door first, flinging it open and yanking Liora inside. They slammed the door shut and bolted it securely. For a moment, they stood in the dimly lit interior, gasping for breath and listening intently for any signs of pursuit.
"We should be safe here for a while," he said, his voice low and steady.
"Who are you?" Liora asked, failing to recognize his face.
The student adjusted his glasses, grinning as he spoke. "I'm Finn."