"It hurts when you make that disgusted face. It was just a joke—I'm not interested in kids." I buttoned my shirt and distanced myself from her.
"I'm also not interested in women around your age."
I sighed. Unbelievable. I really thought my first time was going to be with a granny. Sure, she looked young—her body didn't match her age at all—but that didn't change the fact that she was far older than me. And worse, she was family.
"Hey!" she huffed, pouting. "You don't have to be so sarcastic about my age! I was just teasing you, but now that I see your cute reaction, I kinda want to tease you more." A sly grin spread across her face. "And for the record, I'm not a pervert who's interested in kids' bodies!"
"Stop drooling, you pervert!" I shot back, watching as she wiped the saliva trailing down her chin.
Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "Sob I'm not a pervert! You can tell if I'm lying, can't you?"
I met her gaze, my silver-grey eyes glowing faintly in the darkness. I focused, letting my power settle over her, and in an instant, I knew the truth—she wasn't lying.
But—
"Then stop the fake tears," I muttered.
She grinned. "Hehe, looks like your control over your eye's power has improved."
She took a step closer. I instinctively took one back.
"Hey! Why are you running from me?" she whined. "I won't do anything, so just stop!"
I hesitated. My gut told me not to trust her, but my eyes—the power that can detect lies,—told me she wasn't lying.
So, I stopped.
She closed the distance between us, her fingers brushing through my hair. There was something oddly soothing about the gesture, but I couldn't shake the unease curling in my chest.
"What were you checking in my body earlier?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. "And now, all of a sudden, you're being nice? Did you see something in my past?"
She exhaled, her expression darkening. "...There's a curse—or rather, a calling seal would be appropriate—placed on you by someone powerful. It limits your potential. It's also the reason for your incomplete memory."
My breath hitched.
"So that's why I can't remember important things…" I clenched my fists. "But there's no seal on my body. So where is it?"
Her eyes softened. "It's in your soul."
My body stiffened.
"The seal was placed directly on your soul, which makes it undetectable to most. But nothing can be hidden from our eyes."
A seal… in my soul? But I couldn't even see it. Did I need more enlightenment? More strength?
"But… why me?" I whispered. "What was so important that needed to be blocked?"
She hesitated. "I don't know what was special about your memory, but…" She gave me a long, searching look. "I can sense something extraordinary within you."
"Then just tell me already!" I snapped. "Why do you always have to create suspense with every sentence?"
She chuckled. "Oh, it's a habit of mine."
Her fingers trailed from my hair down to my back. I didn't stop her. I wanted to know what was wrong with my body.
"You have a Blessing of God," she murmured.
I froze.
"And not just any blessing," she continued, her voice laced with intrigue. "A very special one. I don't know its exact function, but I do know this—it's not something just anyone can receive."
A Blessing?
Even a simple Blessing of God was rare. But a special one? That was beyond comprehension.
That's interesting. Who was the idiot who placed it on me?
---
Long ago, the gods, moved by the struggles of mortals, bestowed their favor upon a chosen few.
These gifts, known as the Blessings of God, were fragments of divine power—so rare that only one in a million would ever receive them.
Each blessing was unique, tied to the soul of its bearer, granting them abilities beyond human understanding.
Yet, as with all divine gifts, a price always followed…
---
"Blessings of God are only given to those with faith," she said, her tone firm. "Without belief, without devotion, the gods do not bestow their gifts."
I let out a hollow laugh.
"Faith?" I scoffed. "I have never prayed. Never once believed in divine mercy or fate. If faith was the price for a blessing… then why the hell did the gods choose me?"
She fell silent.
Her sharp eyes watched me closely. "...That is what unsettles me the most."
Her hand moved toward my eyes, fingertips lingering just below them.
"This world holds many secrets," she murmured, "some better left unknown. But if you uncover something you shouldn't… you will gain enlightenment—" Her voice dropped, growing cold. "And the chains of fate that bind you will tighten. Just like they did with me."
A chill ran down my spine.
I was already feeling the pain in my eyes just from using this power. But now… chains of fate?
I swallowed. "Can you remove the curse? I need to remember. There's something important that I forgot—I need to know."
She smiled. But this time, it was devoid of warmth.
"I can," she admitted. "But I won't."
Her silver-grey eyes—so much like mine—gleamed in the dim light. But something about them had changed. The playful warmth from earlier was gone, replaced with an unsettling emptiness.
For a brief moment, it felt like she was someone else entirely.
And in that moment, I realized—
Zoldyck is very selfish.