***
Around the same time whilst Jarien was being treated by Arkas and his entourage, a girl who seemed similar in age to Jarien was being bombarded by various magic spells from the water, wood and light element trying to cure her.
Flusstorm City World Association Branch which oversaw all the branches in the towns and villages in the city as this city was of agricultural importance to the entire Cuzlades continent due to its proximity to Fluss River which was safe for growing crops.
On the top floor of the building, a middle-aged man could be seen sitting in front of a table full of paperwork in a wretched state, "So, how is her state? We can't lose such a potential hunter" stated the man sternly clearly stressed by the current status quo.
"Sir, we are trying our best but it is only slowing the pace of the curse not removing it. We ask you to call S rank healers lest she dies and…" the man in front of him hesitated but seeing the look of annoyance continued in a low tone "We will face the dire consequences rather…"
There was no need to complete it as both of them understood that they will be used as scapegoats to make an example of carelessness regarding the new blood joining the association to maintain their image instead of punishing the real culprit.
*sigh* The man accepted his fate and said "We will do just that then. Any news regarding…"
Ring-Ring-Ring
The branch leader was forced to stop mid-sentence due to the call and contorted his face but upon noticing the caller, he immediately straightened his expression and answered it.
"Branch leaders, we have confirmed the presence of Arkas and his entourage leaving the Dawner family safely" said a woman with a black mask and clothing hiding everything about her and even her voice was modulated making it impossible to discern her true age.
"Tsk. That good-for-nothing survived, they spent so much for S-rank healers. It would be better if…," said a middle-aged man.
"Branch Leader Kang, looks like you haven't learned the lesson from the last time your mouth was loose" remarked a middle-aged woman who appeared younger than her voice made one assume.
"You guys continue, I have work to do" said the Flusstorm branch leader attracting the ire of others making them seem free, but he cut off the call before anyone could chide him.
"Tsk. That bastard Harvey dares to speak in front of us like this" said Kang supported by all of them as Harvey was a commoner while these guys came from reputed backgrounds who climbed their way up easily and always wanted Harvey to lose his position.
"Kang, let him be. After all, he is only in this position for some time" said the same middle-aged-woman who had just reprimanded branch leader Kang.
"Amy, what do you mean? Do you know something?" asked the others. To which she chuckled and recounted about the predicament of Harvey.
Unbeknownst to them, the girl with black mask was still on the call and she had recorded everything and sent it to Harvey as she was worried about him.
No one knew that this girl who acted as their informant was in love with Harvey one-sidedly and always helped him escape predicaments and from their ploys. But for the first time she felt helpless as she knew she could not help in any way.
Before she could reminisce her memories of Harvey, she received a message from him.
[Harvey: Please contact Arkas and his entourage and bring them here before the others start plotting. Thanks in advance and I will pay extra.]
She hurriedly rushed and came face to face with Arkas startling their entourage and bowed in respect to avoid any misunderstandings. She raised her hands in a show that she did not intend any harm.
"Greetings, Sir Arkas. I am here as we urgently need your group's help in saving a life" said the girl as politely as she could.
"Rude. If you really seek help, then why is your face covered? Do you think we are easy to fool?" said Arkas's disciple.
"She would have her circumstances, tell me who sent you and who is the one needing healing?" asked Arkas interrupting his disciple as he came straight to the point and his disciple realized that he was just sensitive because of what they had been through.
"Thank you for your understanding. I was tasked by Flusstorm branch leader, Sir Harvey, to bring you there. Sir, have you heard of a commoner girl who is assumed to have SS-rank potential?" asked the girl still in a polite tone.
"I have heard as such but I thought they were just rumours. To think they are true" said Arkas thoughtfully.
"Yes sir, the healers of the association have tried their best but they asked for S-rank healers and we got news about your group's return from the Dawner Family Estate, so the branch leader asked me to beseech your help as the situation is urgent" finished the girl while omitting and falsifying many truths ending up bowing in front of Arkas.
"Miss, you don't have to do that. We are healers, we will naturally help to save her life to the best of our capabilities" said Arkas who was taken aback by the approach of the girl in front of him.
While the other branch leaders were mocking and thinking about the frustration on Harvey's face, Arkas was led to the Flusstorm branch in the matter of just a few hours. They could not have expected the informant to work for Harvey as she ignored all their requests previously. So, they were still thinking of ways to poach Arkas before Harvey sent anyone to contact him.
When Arkas arrived, he was surprised to see Harvey waiting for him at the door but he understood that this matter might result in heavy consequences for Harvey. The informant girl had vanished without anyone noticing her going missing.
After politely greeting them, Harvey led them to the rest quarters in the building and said "Sir Arkas, you all surely must be tired from the journey, please take some rest"
"No, rather it would be better if we look at the patient" said Arkas as he could see the conflict on Harvey's face.
"Then, this way please. Thank you" said Harvey as he was surprised due to his preconception of healers, as every healer he had met in the past without exception acted proud for no reason.
Harvey led them to the second-most top floor where a group of healers were seen observing the girl with conflicted expressions as they could not heal her even if they wanted as the best of them was just an early A rank healer.
Upon noticing Harvey's arrival, they were about to speak but seeing an unknown group enter with him with similar clothing made them a bit angry until they noticed Arkas who some of them knew as a he was a famous S-rank healer so they politely greeted them.
"It's been a while Sir Arkas" said the A rank healer.
"Yes, it has been Arel." Said Arkas as he was surprised to see his friend's student here.
"Mind telling me what you have discovered so far?" asked Arkas
Harvey, seeing that they were friendly and recognised each other relaxed as he did not know how to convince them but now it seemed there was no need, so he just stood aside waiting to see the girl getting healed with a hopeful expression.
"Haah. It's not easy, according to my predictions, I believe it is a S-rank curse as even light elemental healing does not show any effect other than slowing down the spread" said Arel in a defeated tone.
"So, it is just delaying the inevitable. Let me check, maybe it can be resolved" said Arkas as he made way towards the girl whose body was covered with clothes and he was about to remove them which made everyone look away in disgust except Arel as he had examined her himself, so he wanted to see what his senior would do.
Curses of any kind made one look hideous to the point people stop looking at them as the horrendous sight disgusts them and people with weak hearts may get trauma for a lifetime.
Arkas on observing her nonchalantly checked her pulse and used light magic to figure out anything related to the curse as without knowing it, it cannot be resolved.
'It is a S-rank soul type curse, one that eats away at the soul, but then why is she unconscious? Is this a higher-level curse?' pondered Arkas.
'No, it is S-rank but it appears special. Is it 'that' curse? Who was crazy enough to pay such a prize to curse someone this young?' concluded Arkas with a frustrated look realising the matter was much more significant than he expected.
He was no fool to reach his current standing in society, he immediately realised that it must be someone from those elite families who ordered this, envying her talent.
'Tsk. Just because they are inferior, they even use human sacrifices to cast this type of curse instead of working on improving themselves' thought Arkas angrily as he was a man of principle and morality.
He immediately took out the S-rank Special Grade potion and used his mana manipulation to make sure the girl's body absorbs it without wasting it as she could not drink it. This was what he received as compensation from the Dawner family as they had threatened and pressured his group.
The presence of such a potion made everyone look in awe and shock at how much Arkas cared for saving a life. But they soon realised that even this was not really helpful as the expression on Arkas's face portrayed disappointment.
"She has been cursed by a S-rank soul type curse. I could have resolved it normally but this curse was upgraded by using sacrifices making it a one-time use which means when resolved, this girl's soul will undergo a transformation and become impervious to any soul-type curses below S-rank" said Arkas in a heavy tone.
Everyone understood that such a curse was not easy to resolve but they felt seething rage as they were healers who saved lives, so sacrificial methods always made them lose their calm. Meanwhile, Harvey felt his hope for her survival crumble down.
"I used this potion to gain some time, so we can prepare to use a spell to cure her. Usually, it is not possible but if all of us use it together, there is a chance of success" said Arkas seeing the dejected Harvey and all the angered healers.
"Surely, you are not talking about the group healing spell? If even one of us chants wrongly, we all will suffer a backlash" said Arel, aware of the pros and cons.
"I am aware, but if we have a chance to cure her, we should do our best, should we not?" said Arkas seriously and everyone agreed.
Such a ritual was not easy to perform as they all needed perfect rest and to be in their peak condition to increase the chances of success. Harvey was tasked with finding the necessary materials and mana potions in case of any complication.
They were finally determined and ready on the third morning, the same morning Jarien woke up in his room. They created magic circles and started chanting hopefully.
…
…
…
Inside the girl named Aino Aalto, her soul was bound by chains that were eating away at her consciousness while at the same time tormenting her soul. She could notice the outside world till another soul entered this place after which she had no remembrance of whatever occurred there.
The new soul was the soul which had wanted to erase its existence but was forcefully sent here but since she had already destroyed most of it, only her emotions and some semblance of her past self remained.
Her soul acting on its instincts and emotions on finding familiarity with Aino's soul started merging with it without any resistance as it did not have any strength to take over her body nor consciousness to maintain any will.
The dilapidated soul easily attached with the tormented soul but incoherence remained, as one soul was awakened while another was not. If used as a nourishment, it might work, but this was a merging of souls which caused Aino's soul to undergo tumultuous torment from every sense of its existence.
This tug-of-war extended as the chains were being slowed down due to the potions and healers working hard by taking shifts to get the extra time needed. The balance was broken as the three energies sensed an immense amount of pure energy trying to attack the chains which made them hasty and target the other soul alongside Aino's.
The other soul almost tore apart but the energy healed it as it was trying to merge with Aino's soul and tormented by the chains, so it appeared an integral part of Aino. This gave this soul the required energy to not only merge but also cause a reawakening as the fading chains released enough energy to metamorphose the soul.
The resources the healers had put near the body of the girl were natural treasures of ranks B, C, D and one A rank. These treasures were crushed by Harvey as he sensed the energy being sucked in by the girl, showcasing that the soul needed energy for its metamorphosis.
A set of unique coincidences lead to a new soul being formed after the merger and all the energy being used to re-awaken similar to what occurred with Jarien except, he had a system which paid the price and here, the entire association and many healers bore the cost.
All the energy was abruptly sucked in and absorbed by the girl causing everyone in the room to collapse and all they saw was a white light around the girl's body which removed the hideousness and showcased her original face which looked to be carved by mother nature itself.
A pale glossy face adorned with a dainty nose, slender eyebrows with midnight-black hair flowing over her shoulders with cherry-red heart shaped lips. Her long moon-black eyelashes covered her eyes which finally opened to show constellation-blue iris with white-azure diamonds blossoming her pupil.
She looked around cautiously but relaxed upon seeing Harvey as he had been taking care of her like his daughter, so every time she talked with him, she was reminded of her father.
Harvey, seeing her eyes open darting around curiously, was so happy that he smiled like a proud father who had seen his child take their first step. He carefully reached to her and grabbed her thin wrist to check her pulse to which she looked at him and just stared at her wrist.
"Aino, are you fine? Are you feeling any discomfort?" asked Harvey worriedly after leaving her hand as he had checked and found her pulse stable.
"Yes…but who are…?" she asked in a sweet angelic voice which sounded pleasant enough to soothe the listener.
"Aino, they are the healers who cured you of your previous state" said Harvey in a strange tone.
"Uhh…I am sorry, I was disrespectful to my benefactors. Thank you very much for saving my life" she said apologetically and bowed her head but she was confused as she did not remember what exactly transpired since she fainted nearly four days ago.
"It is okay. You must be in shock and confusion seeing your expression but allow me to check to see if any underlying implications were left due to the curse" said Arkas and went to check on her for the final time.
She was baffled upon hearing 'curse' as she knew how difficult it was to cure curses. She looked at Harvey, who just nodded, so she allowed Arkas to check on her.
"Hmm, looks like everything is fine. Congratulations girl, you have not only been saved from the curse but also you have reached E- rank" said Arkas whose words shocked everyone as this had never happened before.
Harvey nodded at Arkas and they all went to rest as the talks could happen after the girl was stabilized as they could sense her confusion and they also required the much-needed rest.
Only after they left did Harvey tell Aino everything since the day she fainted and observed her sad expression knowing she doesn't like to be indebted to anyone and the reason she joined this branch was because Harvey reminded her of her father.
"I am sorry. I must have been a burden on everyone" said Aino in a depressing tone.
"You are but a kid, so stop blaming yourself and know that it is okay to rely on others" said Harvey but did not say more as he knew she needed time to accept the events so he left her alone for some time.
Aino, left alone, wanted to check her body first before dealing with her emotions. She was shocked that she could remember everything with crystal clear memory to the point she muttered "Is this the Eidetic memory? But how did I get it? Why did my rank increase?"
Before she could accept this, she got another shock; Her eyes had changed from their azure blue colour and her perception suddenly changed. She could see all the mana emanating from every object and even the atmospheric mana and she recognized it to be her bloodline ability as her mother had told her that she would awaken it one day.
Suddenly, incomprehensible information regarding her surroundings started attacking her brain, giving her a feeling that her brain would burst if she did not stop the ability. She recalled the warning of never trying this ability without slowly learning to control it bit by bit.
Then, incomprehensible strange words formed in her mind which she did know the meaning of yet could understand.
[Eyes of ??? Activated]
[Trait 'Eidetic Memory' found]
[Merging with Eyes of ???]
[Bloodline Ability Phase 1 Ability 'Observer's Eye' unlocked]
[Observer's Eye: Can be used to identify any object observed by ???]
[Your perception, strength, reaction time, mana control has increased]
[…]
[…]
Many such messages flashed through with unknown meaning as her family was secluded from the world, she could not ask anyone about this as this ability was not known by anyone but her village. For some reason, she could not remember the way to go back home even now using Eidetic Memory.
While Aino lay in the bed questioning everything, she did not know that she survived because of that soul of unknown origin. The Special grade potion obtained from Dawner family as Jarien fainted then the presence of treasures, Arkas, Harvey, the curse and many other series of coincidences led to her current state where she had grown manyfold strong and even awakened the bloodline ability along with Eidetic Memory.
Jarien did not know that his existence and fainting is the reason his lover's soul was not fading from existence as he was busy cursing the system for making him faint and delaying his plans. And so, another anomaly named Aino Aalto came to be in this strange world.
***