Mingma stood in the dim courtyard, his thoughts tangled in the web of power and curses his family had just introduced him to. The world they spoke of was far more complex than anything he had imagined. Power, bound by laws, sub-laws, and the path one must walk to gain control—he could feel the weight of it pressing on him. Yet, his mind couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that he was only just scratching the surface of something far darker.
As the cool night breeze brushed against his skin, his brother and sister stood before him, their faces shadowed by the veils of past struggles. They had shared their knowledge with him, but now, something darker, more dangerous, needed to be discussed.
The silence stretched on, until the woman—his sister—broke it with a voice that was both somber and warning.
"There's something you need to understand about this world, Mingma. The practice of mastering the laws isn't as rare as you might think. Most people here—those who seek power—are trained in understanding the Original Laws. But the true danger lies in deviation."
Mingma looked at her, his mind racing. "Deviating from the laws?"
His brother stepped forward, the weight of his words heavy in the air. "Yes. It's not uncommon for individuals to attempt to break free from the constraints of the Original Laws. In their desperation for power, some people try to create new sub-laws or manipulate the laws in ways they were never meant to be manipulated."
His sister nodded, her gaze intense. "When someone is lucky, or when they have an exceptional comprehension of the laws, they can sometimes derive a new sub-law. A deviation—an alteration that creates something entirely new. These individuals can wield extraordinary power, but the cost is immense. Most who attempt it fail—and they pay the ultimate price."
Mingma's heart clenched. He had been so focused on mastering the laws and controlling the curse that he had never considered the dangers of deviating from them. "And those who fail… what happens to them?"
"Death," his brother said bluntly. "Or worse. Some become twisted, corrupted by the laws they try to bend. Others are consumed by the very magic they tried to manipulate. Their bodies and minds unravel, and they cease to exist in any form that resembles humanity."
Mingma's thoughts raced. The power he sought could just as easily consume him as it could empower him. But the idea of deviation was terrifying. He had already felt the weight of his curse—the bond he shared with the sacrificial magic. Was he already deviating by being the exception?
"You were an exception, Mingma," his sister said, as if reading his thoughts. "Most would have perished under a curse like yours. But somehow, you survived. You carry a curse that connects you directly to the Law of Sacrifice, but the magic that binds you is a twisted reflection of that law. You didn't just survive it—you are living proof that deviations can exist."
His brother placed a hand on his shoulder. "Your survival is a rarity, and that rarity gives you the power to control the curse in ways that others can't. But you must tread carefully, because the line between control and madness is thin."
Mingma felt his stomach tighten. A twisted reflection of the Law of Sacrifice? He had already felt the darkness inside him, the way it pulled at his very soul. Now, it seemed that the world itself was warning him to stay on the path, to resist the urge to deviate.
"But... what about the curses on people?" Mingma asked. "How are they dealt with?"
His sister exchanged a glance with his brother, then turned back to Mingma. "Curses are a common occurrence in this world, especially for those who deviate from the laws. They're not just something you can wish away. Some curses can be lifted if one understands the law that created them. But others are too deep, too tied to the very fabric of reality itself. In those cases, only higher beings—beings who have mastered the laws and transcended them—can undo them."
Mingma's heart skipped a beat. "Higher beings? Like gods?"
His brother nodded solemnly. "Yes, gods, or those who have transcended the laws. But not every curse is undoable. Some are permanent, tied to the very essence of the person. In those cases, the curse becomes part of their fate."
Mingma's gaze hardened. If he wanted to survive, if he wanted to gain control over the curse and not let it consume him, he would have to understand not just the laws, but the curses themselves. He needed to know how to undo them, or how to prevent them from taking over completely.
His sister stepped forward, and for the first time, Mingma saw a flicker of hope in her eyes. "But there is a way to assess and understand curses," she said softly. "Curses come in many forms, and some can be broken if you comprehend the law that governs them. If you study and understand the curse, you may be able to find a way to reverse it. But in some cases, you may need help from someone more powerful—someone who has a higher comprehension of the laws."
Mingma nodded, a new resolve settling in his chest. He couldn't just ignore the curses around him. If he wanted to control his fate and harness the power of the sacrificial magic, he would have to understand the nature of the curses that could undo him—or worse, destroy everything he cared about.
"Please," Mingma said, his voice firm. "Tell me about the curses. How do they work? How can they be undone?"
His brother exhaled slowly. "Every curse is tied to a specific law—or a deviation from that law. Some curses are created by the laws of Life and Death, others by the laws of Creation and Destruction. Each curse has a specific power level, based on how deep the curse goes and how much comprehension of the law is required to undo it."
His sister nodded. "We've put together a chart to help you understand how curses can be undone. It's not foolproof, but it's the closest we can get to a guide for dealing with them."
Curse Power
Level 1: Minor Curses Simple, often temporary curses. Typically created by small deviations or misunderstandings of sub-laws. Basic comprehension of the law that created the curse. Can usually be undone by an individual at the Sage level or higher.
Level 2: Intermediate Curses Curses that affect the body or mind, created by moderate deviations. Can cause physical or mental pain. In-depth understanding of the sub-law and its nuances. Often requires a Master-level comprehension to undo, or assistance from a higher being.
Level 3: Major Curses Curses that severely affect the cursed person's existence, such as affecting their lifespan or memories. Deep comprehension of the Original Law itself. Can only be undone by a Master or a higher being with mastery over the law.
Level 4: Divine Curses Curses that alter the very essence of the person, tying them to fate, creation, or destruction in a way that cannot be undone by normal means. Mastery of multiple laws, particularly Life and Death, and their sub-laws. Only a being who has transcended the Original Laws—such as a God—can undo this type of curse.
Level 5: Eternal Curses Curses that bind a soul permanently, often tied to a past event or major deviation. Can be a curse of fate. Complete mastery of multiple laws, including Fate and Time. May require the intervention of a higher being or god to break. In some cases, the curse cannot be undone.
Mingma absorbed the chart, the gravity of each level settling on his shoulders. This was no simple path. The curses, like the laws themselves, were not just forces to be understood—they were forces that could shape and destroy lives.
"I'll need to be prepared," Mingma said, more to himself than to his family. "I have to learn everything. I can't let the curse control me."
His brother nodded, his expression grim. "We will help you, Mingma. But remember, the path you're walking is fraught with dangers. And the deeper you go, the harder it becomes to return."
Mingma clenched his fists. "Then I won't turn back."
And with that, he prepared to walk further into the unknown, armed with knowledge of the laws, curses, and the price of deviation.