I screamed loudly while looking at the woman hit by the arrow because of me.

"Nice shot," Caspian complimented and winked at me like an idiot. I rolled my eyes at that.

"Deal with that later; help us here first, Caspian," Aideniel said, struggling to hold the woman properly.

He patted my shoulder and went over to where Aideniel was.

Rhenouis and Aideniel were now holding the woman, while Engrid stood in front of her.

Caspian slowly walked towards his friends, delicately withdrawing his hand, which moments ago rested inside the pocket of his trousers. I observed as water, in the form of a perfect sphere, trickled from his hand, revealing fantastical sea creatures nestled within. Is this what he showed me when I first met them?

"Now, do you have any idea who is responsible for this curse?" he asked the lady, smiling from ear to ear. It was clear the woman was irritated by his words, and she moved suddenly, screaming and trying to escape the grip of the two holding her.

"I don't know, and even if I did, why would I tell you?" she replied to Caspian while sticking out her long tongue, laughing.

"Release her," Caspian ordered the two of them, and they listened. The woman was even more delighted when she escaped from the grip of Rhenouis and Aideniel.

"Are you challenging me to a fight, child?" she asked, pleased, scratching a few parts of her body.

"Yes, miss. You see my incredible power, don't you?" Caspian said, grinning, raising his hands with a water-like circular shape.

I was surprised when Engrid suddenly pulled me away a bit from where Caspian was, so I just looked at her as she pulled me.

"You don't want to get hurt, don't you?" she said softly to me and stopped.

"You're not going to help him?" I furrowed my brows while asking them.

"Yes," they all responded in unison, fixing their eyes on Caspian. I didn't bother asking further and redirected my attention to Caspian.

"After I kill you, I'll devour all of you!" the woman screamed, licking her lower lip as if in anticipation.

"Eat me? That sounds amazing," Caspian seductively replied, biting his own lips. I suddenly felt uneasy about what he said.

What the heck, Caspian?

"Ahhhh!" the woman screamed, enlarging her mouth without warning and leaping in front of Caspian.

"Well, this creature might actually love you." Caspian just stood there, and the woman approached him.

I don't understand this fool. I'm the one getting anxious about what he's doing right now. He said he would fight, so why is he just standing there?

"What the heck are you doing, idiot!" I scolded him, raising my drawn bow, but Aideniel clasped my hand. I shot him a disapproving look, and he mirrored the sentiment right back at me. They're all like this, not helping their friend. Truly abnormal. Tsk!

"Just watch," he muttered seriously. I rolled my eyes at him and lowered my hand.

"Here it comes!" Rhenouis eagerly exclaimed, so I looked in Caspian's direction.

Suddenly, an entity emerged from the spherical water hovering above his right hand, generating a powerful force that sent the woman hurtling in another direction. I gasped as the menacing creature manifested before my eyes.

"Octara, the Ottoia!" Caspian exclaimed with excitement, his grin unwavering as he looked at the fearsome being emerging from the spherical water.

"W-What's that?" the woman tremblingly asked. Her eyes widened as she looked at the creature Caspian unleashed.

The Ottoia, or Octara, or whatever Caspian called it, is terrifyingly hideous. Its scales shimmer ominously, razor-tipped tentacles writhe menacingly, and glowing eyes pierce darkness, revealing an insatiable hunger. A cavernous maw, lined with razor-sharp teeth, completes this terrifying aquatic horror.

In gruesome detail, I observed Caspian's command unfold, the creature hot on the heels of the escaping woman. A shiver ran down my spine as I witnessed its voracious consumption of her. I involuntarily stepped back as it advanced toward us, presenting the woman's severed head to its master. Suddenly, it illuminated, returning to the circular water form.

"He's undeniably... awesome," I heard Engrid compliment Caspian. "And a freakin' idiot," she added. I saw the two guys on my back nodding in agreement with Engrid's statement.

"Done!" Caspian happily walked towards us. He was promptly smacked on the back of the head by both Rhenouis and Aideniel, leaving him pouting.

"You're crazy! We didn't ask for that; why did you kill her?" Rhenouis complained, scratching his curly hair.

"Oh-ow. I forgot about that thing," Caspian laughed awkwardly, still smiling in awe.

"Crazy idiot," Aideniel retorted, rolling his eyes. "Let's just bring her head and present it to the majesty; with that, she will not punish us," he added.

"This is a low-tier creature; she will not be pleased by this," Engrid replied.

They walked towards the woman's head and kicked it. I cringed upon seeing her face. Her eyes and mouth were wide open, her neck gruesomely shredded from the brutal separation of her body parts, and most disturbingly, green-hued blood oozed from her mouth and neck. It was a repulsive sight, stirring both disgust and a profound sense of pity.

I heard them calling my name, but it felt like I couldn't move from where I stood, as if an adhesive had been applied to my soles to keep me from lifting them.

"Hey!" Caspian shook me awake. "Let's go. Do you want us to leave you here?" he added, so I just blinked.

"No. I'm sorry," I replied. I shrugged off his hands on my shoulders and started walking.

"Good. I really thought you'd get left behind," he said to me before following along.

Engrid took something from her pocket, and with it fell a piece of paper, which I quickly grabbed.

"Engrid, the pa—" I couldn't finish my sentence when the paper I picked glowed. Caspian's eyes widened when he saw it, and so did I.

I immediately unfolded the paper. This is the map that brought me here. I squinted when I saw the glowing part of the map. There seemed to be a magical shimmer here, outlining a new place.

"What the h*ll?" Aideniel exclaimed in disbelief as they reached our direction. Engrid took the map from my hand, but when she took it, the glowing stopped, so she handed it back to me.

“Why do you alone have the ability to manipulate this? You don't possess any powers,” Rhenouis questioned me with a furrowed brow. I didn't know, so I couldn't answer his question.

"Maybe you have hidden powers, Fia?" Caspian retorted, causing me to raise an eyebrow.

"I'm a mortal, I don't have any hidden powers," I replied to him.

"It's just a 'what if.' You're really grumpy," he responded. I ignored his accusation and focused on the map, just like everyone else.

A radiant gold magic drew the contours of a new location on the map, its purpose veiled in anticipation. The unfolding spectacle held a mesmerizing allure. After a few fleeting seconds, it completed its enchanting choreography, culminating with the revelation of the name bestowed upon this mystical new realm.

"Haunted Moorsland," I suddenly read the new place that had been drawn on the map, and in an instant, an unusual light gathered all over the map, creating a holographic projection of the place.

I was about to release the map when Caspian held onto me tightly, his gaze fixed on the holographic projection, prompting me to look at it as well.

I inhaled sharply, my breath catching in my throat as I laid eyes on this dread-laden landscape. Veiled in an otherworldly mist, ethereal entities manifested, their forms twisting and contorting in unnatural ways. Giant, obsidian shadows, mimicking human shapes, loomed ominously. The environment, though outwardly enchanting, concealed an underlying horror that sent shivers down my spine.

"This place is the Haunted Moorsland," Aideniel suddenly declared, not averting his eyes from the map. The others were the same. They were all interested in that place, as if a hideous monster trying to devour them couldn't break their concentration.

"This place is just a myth," Rhenouis suddenly spoke, fixing his gaze on the holographic projection.

"Haunted Moorsland, where the boundary between the living and the spectral is blurred, presents a haunting spectacle. Fog floats through spooky trees, guiding lost souls with tiny glows. The air's creepy, always cold, with spirits hanging around," Engrid added. "This is how my mother described this place when I was little," she continued.

"This place is said to be unreal, a mere scare tactic for young immortals. But why is it here on the map now?" Caspian asked in astonishment, coinciding with the disappearance of the holographic projection on the map.

I slowly stepped back as the four of them looked at me. Oops. Did I catch their attention?

"Fiamiolle… My instincts were right! It's you who holds the key to breaking the curse that looms over our realm!" Caspian happily exclaimed, holding onto both my shoulders.

"What are you doing, Caspian?" I couldn't quite figure it out, but I sensed concern in the voice of his friend Rhenouis as he held Caspian's hand, which was gripping me.

I looked around in confusion. Engrid and Aideniel seemed indifferent to the jerk's actions, while Rhenouis looked concerned. As for Caspian, his eyes sparkled, and his wide grin focused on me, still not releasing his firm grip on both my arms, rendering me immobile.

"Now, Fiamiolle, you will become one of my pieces tomorrow after this!" I furrowed my brows at his words, and what he did next shocked me.

His hands cradled my face, and he pressed his lips against mine. Softly, he closed his eyes, savoring his created moment. I felt paralyzed, unable to push him away. I detested what he was doing, yearning to slap him hard and put an end to his madness, but I was helpless to resist.

His lips retreated gently, leaving me wide-eyed and bewildered. A sly grin lingered on his face as I tried to catch my breath. My heart pounded unexpectedly fast. I stood there, utterly taken aback, unable to believe what had just happened, as if the kiss had blindsided me in the most unexpected way.

"Too bad, Fiamiolle, you're now already mine," he muttered, biting his lowered lips. He stroked my hair as an arcane circle emerged beneath us.

A brilliant light enveloped the interior of the arcane circle, accompanied by shimmering threads of golden radiance. They intertwined, binding both of our hands with a radiant chain. Caspian, still grinning, participated in this magical dance. The arcane circle continued to spiral until it came to a halt, leaving us shrouded in an intense, luminous glow once again.

"Now, wherever you go, you won't escape me, Fiamiolle," Caspian grinned, and with that, the arcane circle disappeared, and the radiant chain in our hands vanished.

I stood there in a daze.

I couldn't comprehend what he did, but all I knew was that I couldn't escape their control until I fulfilled their pursuit of me.

Why is my luck so cursed?! What the heck am I going to do now?!