I Woke Up In A Completely Different World! 22 Cursed Part Ii

(Madelyn's POV)

----

It's quite a lot to take in.

Having Young Mi's home taken from her after working on it for so long. Including that she's so old at 885 years old!

Young Mi: "We have been planning on heading back, of course. But I can only do so much by myself, it would take too long for my friends to rebuild."

Madelyn: "You weren't sad that you lost your home?"

Young Mi: "I was disappointed, but I'm used to losing things and starting over."

That really sucks.

We were interrupted by a large group of people rus.h.i.+ng in with a covered stretcher and laying them out in the living room. I'm trying to figure out what was happening when I'm approached by a few familiar faces.

Nikita: "Dai-tai get Zia out of here."

She calmly guides the young Demon girl out of the house as she asked what was happening.

Young Mi: "Dai-tai? Niroja?"

Niroja: "Mama! Please tell me you can help him!"

Young Mi: "Calm down and tell me what's going on."

Jiang: "My name is Jiang, ma'am, and we heard you're the only one who can help Steven."

So much is happening right now, I don't even know how to act.

Jiang pulls off the covers and reveals Steven in armor, unconscious. It shocked me and Lilith to see him like that. He was in excellent condition when I last saw him and he seemed really confident. What happened to him?

Lilith: "Oh no, it wasn't supposed to be like this.

She muttered.

Young Mi: "What's wrong with him?"

She sits on his left side, checking his pulse. A hooded man sits on his knees across from her.

Magus: "If I may, I'm the Magus from Zheng De Shouyi. He is cursed and I've no idea as to how I should begin to undo it."

Jiang: "Well, I'll be outside with Zhenya, Magus."

Nikita: "I too, would head outside."

After removing the armor on his chest, she starts to knead him as her hands glow in a very pale blue color.

Young Mi: "I… I'm sorry… I can't undo this without killing him."

Niroja: "No…"

Young Mi: "Lily, would you try and see if you can do this?"

Lilith: "Li—oh, of course I will."

She sits next to Young Mi and begins going through the same motions. Stopping immediately halfway when she makes a troubling discovery.

Lilith: "This… this was Huian's doing. She's the only one I know who'll do a curse this disgusting."

Magus: "Of the Royal Family?"

Lilith: "Yes, and… we can undo this by killing him. We could turn him into a Wight but I wouldn't wish that even on my worst enemy."

Madelyn: "Why not?"

Immortality does sound like a neat thing to have. Like Young Mi and her garden she spent 50 years cultivating, you could see the things you'd normally wouldn't be around to see.

Young Mi: "The first century is always the toughest; all your friends and family pa.s.sing away, your home being taken away because people discovering you to be a Wight. There's a lot more but it's what happened to me. It's also why most Wights lose themselves. The mental trauma is too much."

Magus: "How old are you?"

Young Mi: "I'm only 885."

The Magus looked at her flabbergasted.

Niroja: "Can you do it?"

Lilith: "Wait, guys."

Lilith cuts in and slightly lifts the heavy atmosphere. Her hands were glowing a deep purple color as they hovered over Steven's body.

Lilith: "I remember this curse; Huian showed it to me. It's almost 2,000 years old, was used for political dissidents and to make an example out of them."

Young Mi: "You can help him, Lily?"

Lilith: "I just need to focus."

Madelyn: "Then we should give her some room, guys."

Young Mi: "I agree, though one of us should stay behind. Just in case."

Lilith: "I'll be fine. I'll scream if he does anything."

The remaining 3 of us finally leave the house in single file giving Lilith the s.p.a.ce she needed to concentrate.

I know it wasn't a good idea to leave her alone with him. Not because of her, but what if he wakes up and sees her? We'll be in some trouble if either of them got hurt.

…

(Steven's POV)

----

I'm floating in darkness…

I'm looking outside my body, or, I'm inside, looking out. Not a sound is heard, just my mind trying to understand them.

I could see Lilith with a face filled of compunction. Kneading my body, kind of like how Kanna would after a long day at school.

I wish that I could see her again, I miss her.

Suddenly, the darkness starts to lift in front of me. Like it's being dragged away into a vacuum. Then I found myself sitting up, looking at my left hand, as it tingled, then over to Lilith, who kept a small distance.

Lilith: "You should be careful, your body was already being pushed to its limits."

Steven: "Yo-yo-you? But… why?"

Lilith: "I didn't want any of this to happen; I'm sorry, Steven."

Steven: "Then what did you want?"

I just managed to hide my anger towards her.

Lilith: "To show my dad that I can travel to different worlds, it's extremely difficult and usually takes more than a decade to learn and do; I did everything in 4 years. I also wanted to study how you'd fit in with a different society. I'm sorry."

She bows.

She's actually apologizing.

I get up and remove the rest of my armor, seeing that I don't have a need for right now and the extra weight won't help me get my bearings back. Lilith has been keeping her distance and up against the wall the entire time, which is making me uneasy.

I can't say I'm afraid of her like before, but I hardly trust her. What if she's hiding something or plotting to attack me?

Steven: "What are you doing?"

Lilith: "You won't hurt me?"

Steven: "I… don't know."

If I did swing that sword down at her in the chapel, would I be here? I don't know what to do or say, I'm completely dumbfounded that the same girl who tried killing me just happened to innocently stand in front of me. It makes me wonder what she did to me while I was out. I don't even know where I am!

Steven: "Where am I? Why were you touching me? And why did I feel like I was floating inside my body?"

I incessantly questioned her.

Lilith: "Slow down, please, my sister Huian cursed you and I undid it."

After Bao, I already have to worry about another sister and Lilith, as if I don't have enough going on. They might have followed us and now know where the village is to top it off.

A knock on the door breaks the intense silence among us. Pointing toward the door, I wordlessly ask her to open it. I'd do it, but I'm not exactly keen on turning my back to her.

Young Mi pops in when the door opens, a slight rise in her eyebrows as she was surprised to see me standing.

Young Mi: "Oh, Steven! I'm impressed, Lilith."

Steven: "Young Mi? What going on?"

Young Mi: "You tell us. You were dragged in a few minutes ago."

Lilith: "Which is why I suggest that he rest."

Young Mi: "She's right. I'll show you your room."

Steven: "My room?"

Young Mi: "Yes, this is your home. I hope it'll fit your needs."

Anything beats a tent, but this is all moving too quickly for me to keep up.

Steven: "Home?"

Though, we didn't have to worry about furniture. There's just a small table and 4 chairs in what looks like a small dining room.

My room happened to at the end of the hallway. Completely devoid of any furniture, apart from a couple of rolled up futons. As Young Mi was saying, I could turn this room into what I want. Once I figure out how to craft furniture or find someone that will. It's not like I could buy them this far out from other towns.

Young Mi: "I apologize, but Madelyn has the only bed right now."

Steven: "It's fine."

I would've let her take the bed anyway.

Steven: "Where is she?"

Young Mi: "She's with the others, discussing the supplies you gained for the craftsmen."

I should really go out there and see them, let everyone know I'm alright. Especially for Niroja, she was distraught when I saw her.

Steven: "Maybe I should—"

Young Mi: "No, you need to rest. I'm fairly certain they'll be here in the morning, so you can talk to them then."

She cuts me off.

Steven: "If you say so."

Maybe later.

Young Mi grabs one of the futons for me and sets it out in the middle of the room. Patting the bed and pillows to make them firm and fluffy before asking me to lay down.

What the h.e.l.l is up with this motherly vibe?

Young Mi: "I just need you to rest."

Steven: "I don't feel tired though."

Young Mi: "Just for a little while. The curse really has pushed your body."

Steven: "Fine."

I conceded, letting out a long, weary sigh.

Laying down on the futon, Young Mi sits at my side and Lilith excuses herself to make a remedy to help me rest. This futon is very soft and comfortable, just like my bed back home, in Everhand.

Young Mi: "Don't fall asleep yet, Steven."

Resting should be the least of my worries right now. Jiang and Zhenya might have some trouble with Nikita. Though, everyone else, Dai-tai and Niroja in particular, might be with them. So it's making me wonder how everything is going.

Steven: "What about the others?"

Young Mi: "They have everything under control."

Steven: "I sure hope so."

…

(Madelyn's POV)

----

I haven't heard from anyone in the house, I hope they're alright.

I asked Young Mi to check on them, but I haven't heard from her either. It's to the point where I have to go look myself.

The door to his room was wide open and when I entered his room, Young Mi sat by Steven and Lilith was fawning over his armor.

Lilith: "Madelyn, this armor is amazing!"

Madelyn: "I can see that."

Young Mi: "Steven still needs to rest, which he's not doing."

Steven: "I can't help it; maybe I need more of that potent magical honey water."

He quipped, offending Lilith.

Lilith: "It was chamomile tea."

If this is what's been going on, I must be worrying for no reason.

Madelyn: "Was the curse that bad to him?"

Young Mi: "It suppressed his immune system greatly."

Lilith: "He could die just from getting sick."

We looked over to Steven, expecting him to reply but had found himself fast asleep. He looks so innocent and vulnerable, like a lost puppy; It's so weird.

Young Mi: "He's finally asleep."

She sighs in relief.

Lilith: "It still isn't the end of it though."

Young Mi: "I know, he could easily catch something minor that could end fatally. Of course, we have enough medicine to prevent that."

Lilith: "Well, you should always prepare for the worst and hope for the best."

Young Mi: "I'll talk to him about it later and figure out who will care for him. For now, let's focus our minds on something positive."

…

(3 days later)

I'm in charge of taking care for Steven, which is just cooking and giving him medicine. Niroja had the first day then Dai-tai and now it's me. Everything seemed fine the first day until against everyone's hopes, he catches the flu.

Anxiety got the best of us and the only ones that remained calm were Young Mi and Steven himself. It seemed that Steven was unfazed about the idea of death.

Other than the scare with the flu, he's doing well and just resting in his futon.

Madelyn: "You good? You're thinking, aren't you?"

He slowly nods under his blanket that was covering his face up to his nose. He looked so peaceful for someone that nearly escaped death and is now sick.

Madelyn: "I know that look, I do it all the time. What about?"

Young Mi: "About how he's doing fine."

She interrupted.

Young Mi and Lilith finally arrived home from picking herbs. Lilith knows how to make teas that supposedly help with his suppressed immune system, his flu, and of course, are fortified with a little magic.

Though, he's always reluctant to drink them at first. It's another issue I've been working on. Steven just about manages to coexist in the same house with Lilith, not like he has a choice, but doesn't trust her one bit.

Madelyn: "Young Mi? You disappeared all of a sudden."

Young Mi: "I apologize, I went to collect herbs with Lilith."

Lilith: "It's for his health."

She raises a small bag, full of herbs, to me and Steven.

Young Mi: "That's right. Who knows what could happen if you didn't drink them. You're not afraid of death, but what about Dai-tai and Niroja?"

Steven: "I wouldn't say that, I'm…"

He hides under the blanket.

Steven: "I'm scared; I don't want to die."

Young Mi: "Well, you're not."

She rea.s.sures him.

Young Mi: "We'll give you some time to yourself if you want, Steven."

Steven: "Could you stay? I wanted to speak to you about that thing."

He nervously asks.

Young Mi: "Of course."

Lilith and I excuse ourselves and left into the kitchen to prepare a meal for ourselves.

We both knew he wanted to talk about the whole Wight process. I feel bad for him, to have the thought of death looming over him, even if it is imaginary. He acts like nothing is wrong but he's actually just scared on the inside.

I'm confident that he'll make it.

Lilith: "I believe that a meal from his home would make him feel better."

Madelyn: "Alright, what do you have in mind?"

Lilith: "I'm not sure, he lived in Everhand, with the Elves. I've eaten there with my sister Mei, but it was at a bakery."

Madelyn: "I'll make something I know then."

Lilith: "I overheard Nikita talking about how last month was bad but since everyone worked hard there's a surplus of food."

Madelyn: "So no more rationing?"

Lilith: "No, I don't believe so."

That just means I can make actual food now. No more b.u.t.tered bread!

Maybe something from our home world would surprise and make him happy, like a dessert. The sweet bread I used to make and eat with my grandmother all the time was my favorite, he has to love it too.

I don't have everything here and I doubt I could find some of the ingredients, like vanilla extract and baking soda.

Madelyn: "Lilith."

Lilith: "Yes?"

Madelyn: "Is there any kind of baking powder and vanilla extract?"

Lilith: "Yeah, there's vanilla extract and baking powder and soda. Are you making bread?"

Madelyn: "Cookies actually; could you get me both powders, the extract, some cinnamon, a bottle of milk, 2 cups of b.u.t.ter, and 2 eggs?"

Lilith: "Of course I can."

With Lilith leaving I can get started on getting everything laid out. I always preferred to make my own vanilla extract, but I don't have 2 months to spare to make it.

I set aside the sugar, flour, salt and waited until Lilith came back with everything else and had her start up the oven, which needed magic. What about people like me? There's no matches or anything.

Now that Lilith has the oven heating up and now observing, I placed 2 cups of sugar and b.u.t.ter, the 2 eggs, a teaspoon of vanilla, and a cup of milk into a bowl before creaming it and setting it aside.

Using another bowl, I used 8 cups of flour, a teaspoon of salt and baking soda, 4 teaspoons of baking powder, and 2 teaspoons of cinnamon and stirred it until it looked to be evenly spread together.

Grabbing the wet bowl, I slowly added it into the flour, mixing and forming it into a really nice, firm dough. This really is starting to look good, I'm impressed with myself that I still remember how to make it after all these years.

Grabbing the dough and a pan, I rolled small b.a.l.l.s, rolling it in sugar before flattening it against the pan almost 2 inches apart from each other. With the size of the pan, I managed to fit a decent amount, 26 cookies, into the oven. Letting it bake for what felt like 10 minutes before removing them and letting them cool off for another 5 minutes.

Lilith was eager to try so I let her be the first to taste them.

Lilith: "This… this is tasty! Mm, it's so soft!"

Her face lights up in enjoyment.

Of course, I went a little overboard and ended up with almost 50 cookies. There should be enough for Steven and everyone else. There's 5 of us, Me, Dai-tai, Niroja, Steven, and Young Mi. Zai too, making it 6, if she visits again, but I don't want any of them to overindulge.

Lilith: "How many should we take to Steven?"

Madelyn: "5 for now; we'll give him more if he asks."

We headed back into his room as Young Mi was caught up in a deep conversation with Steven. I swear that Young Mi's motherly instincts kicked in when he came in with the curse.

Madelyn: "I made cookies, I was wondering if either of you would like some."

Young Mi: "I'd love to try some."

Steven: "Yes."

They both grab a couple of the cookies from the plate. Young Mi seemed pleased with the cookies with a soft smile and Steven fell back into the futon.

Young Mi: "These are very nice, Madelyn."

Madelyn: "Thank you, Young Mi."

Steven: "I love them, they remind me of the bakery sweets I'd buy with Kanna."

Kanna, the Nekomata girl he'd bring up here and there. I haven't asked about their relations.h.i.+p, but it's obvious he's in love with her by the way he mentions her.

Steven: "Thank you, Madelyn, they're amazing."

Madelyn: "You're welcome."

I smiled sheepishly.

I've never been complimented for something like this and it made me really happy and enjoyed knowing they're satisfied.