Aiden, his father, and his grandparents joined one of the queues while Nico's family joined another since didn't have the same three starting digits.
The excitement was contagious and the Valcorin family couldn't stop smiling even for a moment. Aiden especially was thrilled beyond words and how he wished to skip the line as quickly as possible and fly inside Etiril. His dream was finally about to become a reality.
The line was moving quickly. So, it didn't take much time for Aiden to reach the desk.
The procedure was swift and once the man at the desk verified his details, he gestured for Aiden to enter Etiril.
"Best of luck!" the man chirped before moving to the next person in line.
"Thanks." Aiden smiled at him and joined his family.
"Dad, my friends are waiting for me. I'd like to join them if you don't mind." Aiden looked at his father and his grandparents sheepishly.
Although he had no qualms about staying with his father and grandparents, he preferred being with his friends. After all, he didn't know when the curse would be lifted. He couldn't tolerate his grandfather's enthusiasm until then.
The old man seemed to be brimming with energy, completely different from how Aiden was feeling at that moment.
"Go, go, go. Don't mind us." Aiden's grandfather waved his hand in understanding and Aiden grinned before he glanced at his father.
"Call me if anything," Richard said and Aiden understood the underlying meaning behind his words.
"Will do, Dad. Take care." A silent conversation ensued between the two and Aiden heartily went in search of Nico and his friends.
Some of Aiden's friends had already met up and were waiting for the others to join.
Aiden's excitement shot to the sky as soon as he joined his friends. He was super hyped just like them and couldn't wait for the curse to be lifted. He was dying to find out if he was one among the blessed.
"Is everyone here?" Aiden counted heads quickly.
"Nico and Julian are yet to join us." One of his friends, Rahil replied and Aiden texted Nico instantly.
Aiden: Where are you?
Nico: Will be my turn next. Will join you soon.
Aiden sent a thumbs-up emote and relayed the information to his friends.
A few minutes later, a panting and very vexed Nico joined them and Aiden had an inkling as to what had got him all riled up.
"Tessa?"
Nico nodded. "She's a menace. Why can't she leave me alone?"
Nico huffed, keeping his voice as low as possible. Although he was displeased with his sister, he didn't show it before his other friends. It was his family matter after all.
"Is she joining us?" Aiden was frightened even thinking about it. He wasn't scared of her, but of his lack of control in her presence. What if he whacked her face in anger! He couldn't afford it, okay.
"Thankfully no. She's joining her friend's group. Everyone's here?"
"Julian."
"He must be here soon. He was right after me."
Just as Nico finished speaking, Julian joined them and the gang started walking as they began exploring Etiril.
It wasn't the first time Aiden was visiting Etiril. He had visited the place thrice when his mother was alive. Yet, it still felt as if it was his first time. Everything seemed novel to him and his eyes kept darting around with zest.
Closed to an hour had passed since they started exploring Etiril and they had only explored less than one-third of the place. None in the gang had felt any change in them and none of the people around them too had shown signs of having spiritual energy.
The gang kept walking until they reached an old yet majestic building - the Etiril Library. Even though ten thousand years had passed, the building stood proud with all its glory as it looked down upon them. No doubt the people in charge of it had done a splendid job.
Aiden had been inside the building once. Although the library was magnificent, containing scriptures and books from centuries ago, he wasn't interested in them much and had only taken a look before leaving the building.
However, today, something was pulling him in, compelling him to enter the place.
"Guys, shall we explore the library?" Aiden didn't know why but he desperately wanted to explore the library.
"Library? Really?" Julian chuckled and the other joined in. "Let's check out the Main Sect Hall and the Cultivation Chambers first, shall we?"
"But..."
"Let's go."
Aiden's words fell on deaf ears. Nobody heeded him as they proceeded towards the Main Sect Hall, the largest building in Etiril.
Aiden, however, remained rooted in his spot and eventually strayed away from his group. He was fixed on the library and eventually, he ended up walking towards the building which looked awe-inspiring all of a sudden.
A lot of people were around the library. So, he didn't seem out of place.
Aiden felt a strange kind of feeling pass through him with each step he took towards the library. It was as if he would get whatever he was looking for once he entered the building.
Ignoring everyone around him, he approached the building and only stopped when he was near the threshold.
A scream broke him out of his trance and he turned around instantly.
"I can feel it. I can feel it. I can feel the spiritual energy in me." He heard the man shout and Aiden's heart skipped a beat in wonder.
Likewise, quite a few people yelled in delight and Aiden clenched his fists hard when the realization hit him.
The curse had been lifted.
"Kid, why are you blocking the place? Aren't you going in?" He heard someone speak and Aiden turned in the direction of the sound. But he found no one.
Surprised, Aiden entered the library, and the moment he did so, a chill ran down his spine and his hair stood on end. Goosebumps erupted on his skin. It wasn't the warmth he was expecting. Instead, it was bone-chillingly cold and he felt his lungs constrict.
Aiden felt a pair of eyes watching him and once he turned around, his eyes rounded in shock.
A man dressed in white robes was dangling by the library doors and he grinned widely when he met Aiden's eyes. "Hello, there."