THE SLUMBERING CURSE IN THE BLOOD

er mind kept circling around the strange events that had happened recently. Suddenly, the doorbell rang, making Yura feel uneasy.

door was the blind old woma

r way here on her own? What was her purpose? Should Yura invite her in? Or offer

again," she said, with

ard. "You... you

nd lifeless, yet a dark, eerie shadow flickered wit

lm, but something about the old woman's ex

now it was me who opened the door?" Yura

r wrinkled face twitched unnat

ser choice would be to run." Her voice gre

took a step back, keeping her eyes locked on the old

ht before Yura's shocked eyes. It felt like the ground beneath her feet was shaking v

cts scream

RUN

Behind her, she heard the old woman's eerie laughter mix

ightful lit

objects falling to the floor. Yura sprinted with all her might, desperately

emed to echo from every corner. Yur

as there, but there was no time to retrieve it-escaping was her top priority. With no other o

hed to the floor. She lay there, strug

She braced herself for the worst-would the old woman abduct her to some distant, desolate place? O

nto her bedroom and s

f. But when she cautiously opened them, it

her m

de the neatly arranged clothes to make space. Then sh

om..

r task. She finally created a small spa

she whispere

here was a blind old

her mother cut her

voice them. Odelia gently stroked her hair and kissed her forehe

e. Don't come out

otest, her mother turned a

her go. She knew the old woman was dang

e and slammed the wardrobe door s

n erupted inside Yura's mind. She slumped against the

fierce battle. She covered her mouth, suppressing

s happe

r mother f

t old woman

n to the beastmen world th

nary woman, daring to confront

dizziness struck.

ra gaspe

just as it had been. The lights were still on. H

ing neatly inside, their order unchanged, just

eet. Her legs were unhar

her chest-it had o

never had a dream like that before. Maybe she

ock at the door

ther standing there, holdin

come

urse,

e milk on the desk next to her bo

rchief and wiped the swe

ng hot?" she a

ew her arms around her mo

... I just lo

miled. "I lo

forehead before

of milk-but suddenly, s

let was m

tically searched her desk, bu

rying to remem

pped it...

head, refusing to believe it. If it was ju

and went downstairs. Her mothe

something,

a bit bland today. I wa

here," her mother replied, s

sugar, Yura knelt down an

elet was

cked it up and shoved it into her pocke

racelet here? And where had the old wom

xpression complicated. But her moth

e of it. But why? And why was her memo

know what t

ircling back to what had happened. The math problems in front of her became blurry. She b

window. She jumped, turning her head to see

it was

rd immediately flew in, landing in the middle of the room. Then,

, remembering how Alyssa had vanished

mething like a spel

pell

c from entering this house." Alyssa stared at Yura as if

ought carefully. She was certain the old woman was connected to the shape-shifting Therian w

ooked around the room, pickin

Look at these symbols

ulled Yura out o

It's really complicated. I have

such odd names. Are

're very difficult. What do you study

urse w

ape-shifting Therian. Did those strange creatures sit i

ve scholars who research new magic. We study

u? No tests or grades? That sounds amazing!

s to get jobs. Therian don't seek stab

if you've learned a

ead of enjoying the journey, even though the journey is what matter

of tests, I know where I'm

ols are foolish. When I was two years old, I studied the Art of Flight, but the seagulls also learned the Art of Swimming. Of course, not al

ght? The art of swimming? Those were s

her toward the balcony. "Come on, I'

Yura asked,

usly-then suddenly shove

as about to crash painfully onto the gr

ed on something s

e back of a g

I'm not a real phoenix, I can only maintain

oared past Yura's ears. She clung tightly to the phoenix's neck and looked down-houses and g

endless bands of stars stretched infinitely. The moon was enormous

n you were born?" Yura asked, her voice

geon," Alys

phoen

ke this form for a limited time. This phoenix form is just an optic

? I won't fa

as long as you h

ugh a blinding beam of light so brig

ond, everything

t faded, Yura low

a breathtaking, t