Later, over at Owain's and Tsubasa's shrine hut, a soft knock echoed through the room, rousing Tsubasa from a nap. She stirred in her futon, her frizzy hair sprawling in all directions, groggily reaching out for the warm presence of her husband beside her—only to find the space empty.

  Assuming it was him knocking, she mumbled sleepily, "Owain, you can come in."

  But instead of Owain's voice, a familiar tone with a tinge of unease responded, "Uh, it's me, Granny Tsu. Dama."

  Her ears and tail immediately perked up. Recognizing the strain in Dama's voice, she bolted upright, snatching a brush from a nearby desk. As she ran it hastily through her hair to tame the chaos, she called out, “I’m coming!”

  Reaching the door, she opened it, revealing a spooked-looking Dama clutching a piece of paper in his hand. Beside him stood Nini, unusually on alert.

  Tsubasa ushered them inside without hesitation. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?” She asked, her tone laced with concern.

  Dama stepped inside, holding up the paper. “Giona drew this,” he began, his voice tight with fear, “and I just experienced something back at the cabin.” He described the suffocating presence, the claw-like grip around his neck, and how he sensed its anger and power.

  With every word, his unease became more palpable. “I don't what it was, so I risked it to come to you, hoping you might know what it is or what we should do.”

  Tsubasa listened intently, her expression growing grave. When Dama finished, she walked over to her desk, pulling open its lone drawer. From within, she retrieved two sheets of paper—drawings she had Giona make the day they first met.

  One depicted the Soul Divination Council insignia; the other showed disfigured, mangy rats, alongside a black entity eerily similar to the one Dama had described.

  Tsubasa returned to Dama, raising her drawing with the black blob beside the one he brought. “Look at this...” she said.

  Dama’s eyes widened as recognition dawned on him. “That’s the one Giona drew when you first met her.” He said, his voice low.

  Tsubasa nodded. “And it seems like the same entity. The details match almost perfectly—down to the hollow eyes and void of a mouth.”

  The room then fell silent as both of them stared at the drawings.

  After a few moments, Dama broke the silence, his unease audibly growing. “Do you have any idea what it is? Giona called it ‘Curse’, and you mentioned before that witches can develop Cursed Techniques. Could all of that be connected?”

  To Dama’s shock, Tsubasa shook her head. “For the first time, Dama,” she admitted softly, “I don’t know. I’m as much in the dark as you are.”

  The weight of her admission hit him like a boulder, but she wasn’t finished. “I should have said something earlier...” she began, clutching the drawing tightly. “The day I met Giona in your cabin—the same day she made this drawing—I remember laying eyes on the black blob for the first time. And I felt...something. Every hair on my body stood on end. It was like being stared at by something ancient and malevolent. But I didn’t say anything because we were talking about the Soul Divination Council.”

  Tsubasa hesitated, her voice dropping. “After I gave her the health checkup and left with the drawings, I looked at this one again. That’s when it happened—my instincts screamed at me. I felt eyes watching me from behind.”

  Dama’s breath caugh as he recalled that same moment. “That was when we were walking back to the village,” he murmured, “I noticed your face went pale, and I asked you what was wrong.”

  Tsubasa sighed heavily, guilt shadowing her expression. “I didn't tell you because I didn’t want to scare you. I also thought—hoped—it was just my imagination. But now? I’m certain it wasn’t. What I felt that day—it was this.” She pointed to the black blob on the paper.

  Dama looked up to Tsubasa. “That means it’s been around since at least the day after Giona woke up.” He said, his voice dropping even lower. “And I don’t even want to think about if it was there before then.”

  Tsubasa lowered her head, her brows furrowed in deep thought. The room fell into an uneasy silence as she tried to piece together what they were dealing with.

  But the silence was broken when Dama spoke again, his voice unnervingly calm. “Do you think Giona might have been cursed?”

  Tsubasa blinked, her eyes meeting his in surprise. “What?”

  “You know,” Dama continued, his tone steadier than he felt, “like in the old fairy tales. People cursed with black magic. Could that be what’s happening here?”

  Tsubasa closed her eyes, rubbing her chin as she let out a low groan. Finally, she opened them again and gave a reluctant nod. “She very well may have been.”

  As Tsubasa rubbed her chin, she mulled over Dama's example. In fairy tales, witches were often the ones doing the cursing, not the victims of it. "Why would Giona—a witch—be cursed?" She murmured to herself, her brow furrowing deeper as frustration bubbled within her.

  She combed through every piece of advice, knowledge, and legend passed down by her birth tribe, hoping for a clue. But to her dismay, nothing seemed relevant. The enigmatic black blob defied all the teachings and stories she could recall. Her frustration was now evident, and Dama could see it written plainly across her face.

  Just as she was about to give up, a fleeting memory surfaced, one she had buried long ago. Her mother's voice echoed in her mind, along with the image of a talisman her mother had once given her. It was a small wooden disc, engraved with intricate protective runes and symbols, and painted with red and gold highlights. Hanging from the disc was a faded crimson cord, worn from age. Her mother had explained that it was crafted to ward off malevolent spirits.

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  Her ears perked up. “Of course!” She exclaimed.

  Without a word of explanation, Tsubasa bolted to the corner of the room, where an old wooden wardrobe stood. She yanked it open, revealing an assortment of colorful kimonos and undergarments for her and Owain.

  Dama tilted his head in confusion as Tsubasa dived into the wardrobe, throwing garments over her shoulder with wild abandon. Silks and cottons of every hue flew through the air, some landing on Nini, who also tilted her head in confusion.

  From Dama's perspective, all he could see was Tsubasa's tail swishing back and forth as she rummaged through the mess. Finally, her tail straightened like a board, and she let out a triumphant cry, “Aha!”

  Spinning around, Tsubasa held the talisman aloft like a prized treasure. “Here it is!” She beamed, running back to Dama and extending the talisman to him

  Dama took the talisman in hand, examining it closely. Though it had aged, the engravings and symbols still pulsed with an aura of quiet strength. “This is a talisman, isn't it? Like the ones in stories that wards off spirits, right?” He asked while looking up from the talisman to Tsubasa.

  Tsubasa nodded. “That’s what it’s meant to do.”

  He tilted his head, squinting at her. “W-Wait, spirits actually...exist? Do you think ‘Curse’ is a spirit?"

  “Honestly," Tsubasa sighed, crossing her arms as her tail flicked behind her, "I don’t really know the answer to either of those questions. But if I had to wager, I’d say yes to both.”

  Dama frowned as he continued to examine the talisman. Its symbols seemed foreign and unlike anything he’d ever seen in Enohay. “Where did you get this? I’ve never seen anything like it here.”

  Tsubasa’s expression softened and she put her arms behind her back. “It was given to me by my mother when I was very young, back in my birth tribe.” Her gaze grew distant as she continued. “As you already know, my tribe had unique talents—not just things like Affinity Techniques, but also a wealth of knowledge about rituals, ancient practices, and spiritual ceremonies. This talisman was one of many created and used in such ceremonies.”

  Her ears drooped slightly as her face became solemn. “But…I never got to learn all of it. I was separated from my tribe too early.”

  Dama caught the faint sorrow in her voice, the weight of unspoken memories. He lowered his gaze back to the talisman, a pang of guilt hitting him for having stirred something painful.

  But before the mood could settle too heavily, Tsubasa shook her head, forcing a laugh as she waved her hand. “Anyway, it’s not like I’m 100% sure this talisman will work. I’ve never needed its protection, thanks to Helia’s blessings over Enohay.”

  Dama noticed the forced cheerfulness in her voice and, after a moment of silence, looked back up at her. “Are you sure it’s okay for me to take this? It’s one of the only things you have left from your tribe…from your mother.”

  Tsubasa’s eyes widened briefly before her entire body seemed to soften. A warm smile spread across her face as she placed a hand on Dama’s shoulder. “I don’t mind at all. In fact, I’m happy to give it to you.”

  She glanced at the talisman in his hand. “This was given to me by my mother, and she told me her mother gave it to her when she was little. It’s like passing down a family heirloom. I never had the chance to do that before—but now? Giving it to you...it just feels right.”

  Dama blinked up at her, surprised by her heartfelt words.

  Chuckling at his reaction, she brushed his hair with her fingers. “You know, Owain and I have always thought of you as our grandchild—especially after the Hiyan Plague. You have no idea how much we talk fondly of you, Dama.”

  Dama stared blankly for a moment before his lips began trembling. Biting back the emotion though, he clutched the talisman tightly, nodding. “Thank you, Granny Tsu... I’ll take good care of it.”

  Tsubasa’s smile widened, and she ruffled his hair. “I know you will.”

  As Dama and Tsubasa exchanged their heartfelt moment, Nini padded up beside them, drawing their attention. Without warning, the stitched fox leapt up and coiled herself around Tsubasa, wrapping her entire body snugly around her in what could only be described as a hug, rubbing her soft head affectionately against Tsubasa’s cheek.

  Tsubasa blinked in surprise, her ears twitching but not struggling. “Nini? Is something wrong, dear?”

  Dama just burst into a fit of laughter.

  Tsubasa turned to him with an arched brow. “What’s so funny?”

  Dama grinned, his laughs subsiding. “She’s thanking you, Granny Tsu, that’s all.”

  Tsubasa tilted her head in mild disbelief. “Really?” She turned her gaze back to Nini, who pulled her head back just enough to look at Tsubasa. The stitched smile on Nini’s face seemed to widen, her eyes seemingly glinting with a playful sparkle.

  Understanding dawned on Tsubasa, and her own smile softened. “Ah, you’re thanking me because I take care of Dama, aren’t you?”

  Nini’s response was immediate and enthusiastic, nodding her head eagerly.

  Tsubasa chuckled warmly, her hands freeing themselves from Nini’s embrace to cup both sides of the fox’s head, nuzzling her nose against Nini’s plush one. “You’re very welcome, Nini. And I’m grateful, too—grateful Dama has you, Mumu, and even Giona up there in that lonesome cabin.”

  Nini let out a delighted little chirp, her stitched tail wagging in the air as her gratitude filled the room. Dama smiled at the scene, clutching the talisman a little tighter, reminded once again of the family he was lucky to have around him.

  Uncoiling herself from Tsubasa, Nini slithered back beside Dama. She brushed against his side as though reassuring him that everything would be okay, her stitched tail wagging.

  Dama turned to Tsubasa, holding the talisman close to his chest. “Again, thank you Granny Tsu, for everything.”

  Tsubasa smiled, though her eyes betrayed a hint of unease she quickly masked. “You don’t have to thank me, Dama. Just be careful, okay? Whatever this ‘Curse’ is, I’m certain it can’t hurt you. And with that talisman, it’s guaranteed!”

  Her words were cheerful, reassuring, and for a moment, Dama felt his nerves settle. He nodded, climbing onto Nini’s back as she waited. “We’ll be okay. I promise!”

  Tsubasa waved them off as Nini exited and descended the marble steps outside her home, carrying Dama down the path. She kept her smile intact, running outside and calling out, “Be safe, Dama! Don’t forget to come see me if you need anything!”

  When they were out of sight, however, Tsubasa’s cheerful demeanor faded. She stepped back inside and closed the door behind her, leaning against it for a moment. Her ears twitched as her tail stilled, her face adopting a serious expression.

  “While it might not have done anything yet…” she muttered to herself, her gaze lowering to the floor. “The fact that it even exists and is attached to Giona…” her fur bristled slightly as a chill ran down her spine.

  Tsubasa then pushed herself off the door and walked to her bookshelf, her sharp eyes scanning the spines until she found what she was looking for—a thick encyclopedia bound in faded leather, an item created by one of the forefathers of Enohay. Pulling it free, she carried it to her desk and opened it, flipping through the pages with purpose.

  Her fingers hesitated over a page containing ancient symbols and descriptions of different creatures as she muttered to herself, “The talisman should keep them safe… It has to! But, in the meantime, I’ll figure out what this thing is…and what it wants before it even dares to hurt those two.”

  Sitting down, she began to pour over the text, determined to find answers before it was too late.

  -

  Next: (Extra Chapter 22) The Day of the Festival