It was as if something was shattering inside Lyric. This song. He hadn't heard it for hundreds of years. No, that wasn't right. The last time he heard it had been close to the death of his parents. Lyric's knees gave way as this ugly feeling spread inside him. By force, he pushed back the memories that threatened to come to the surface. He took a deep breath in and out. Counted until his heart calmed down again. Then he looked up to Nix.

Angry eyes stared at Nix. Lyric's beautiful face had taken on an expression of hatred and anger.

"What's your point?" Lyric asked in a cold voice.

Had Nix hit a sore spot? Interesting. "Calm down. This song is the clue as to how to obtain the second key." Lyric's eyes narrowed and he remained silent. Nix continued, "It's not complete, so it's useless. The only one who knows the lost verses is you."

The lost verses... "Forget it. I'm leaving," Lyric said, turning around.

"Lyric. Tell me the rest of the verses." There was no more cheerfulness in Nix' voice.

Lyric's shoulders cramped. He hated every second, but if that was the price of getting away from here, he would pay it. He opened his lips. The image of his mother singing this song with a smile appeared before his eyes.

"The singing sounds bright,
Pray here the chain there,
When he struggled for freedom,
He heard the clock so close.

Did he go on and on quickly,
Like a small sacrificial lamb,
He always stumbled so cheerfully,
Over a syllable comb,

Accept the pen of freedom,
Write your bold words,
Open your mouth and sing,
The wishes of your heart's hoard.

Fly up my little bird,
Fly up as far as possible,
But pay attention to my little bird,
Sink when the wind turns.

Find these seven things,
Put them around his grid there,
Soon he sounds his bright laugh
And the wings fly away."

A smile spread to Nix' face.

"Outstanding. So, I have everything I need."

Lyric's shoulder sagged. "Then I will leave," he said to the oracle. This again emitted a soft laugh and his gaze changed.

"I'm sorry, but that's not possible."

What? Why? "How are you going to stop me?" Lyric asked with a defensive attitude.

Nix got up and walked towards him without interrupting eye contact for even a second. As he stood about half a meter in front of him, he smiled again and replied, "Because you will accompany me in search of the seven objects in the children's song."

It was like a slap in the face. Lyric staggered back. What nonsense is he talking about? Has he fallen into madness?

Nix could see the disbelief on the demon's face. Not exactly the reaction he expected. "To answer your question more precisely, you have no choice. Firstly, this here is a cave in the middle of a mountain that you can only leave with my permission. So there is no escape route."

Lyric processed what was said. It made sense to hide such a powerful oracle in an impregnable place. But even if he didn't get away from here, it still wouldn't mean he wouldn't accompany Nix on a trip.

"Second," Nix continued, "you are the only one who can accompany me. Only together can we find the artifacts."

"You thought about it nicely, but I refuse to accompany you. So it doesn't do you any good to arrest me here," Lyric replied. Nix was the last person he wanted to be around. Not after what happened at their last meeting...

"Ilyric."

Lyric winced when he heard his full name. How does he know my name? Only my parents...

"You're right, I can't force you. But if you leave, you are responsible for Aleksander's and his child's death."

That worked, the worst scenario. He didn't know how to react. Aleksander and his child would die? That would mean. "Belial..."

"Yes, Belial will die, because he will follow them," Nix concluded.

Lyric had to sit down. He staggered to a seat at the edge of the room and sat down. If I don't help him, I will lose my best friend, sentence him to death. If I help him, maybe I will...

Nix saw the inner struggle raging in Lyric. He had to win Lyric for himself, there was no other way. Carefully he put a finger on Lyrics cheek and made a surprised expression himself. He shrugged back and looked at him, while an indistinguishable expression emerged on Nix' face – euphoria? "Lyric. What's holding you back?"

Lyric pondered feverishly whether or not to tell Nix the truth. Perhaps it was the only way out of this situation. "Nothing, I can't accompany you because I suffer from a curse."

Nix tilted his head and waited.

Crap, I can't get out of it. Lyric took a deep breath in and out. The last one he had told about, was Belial. He still remembered the night Belial had saved him again.

Lyric lay bleeding on the floor. A silver dagger was stuck deep in his chest and had pierced his lungs. His breath went roaring. The rain trickled down on him and washed away all the blood that was stuck on his body.

He heard footsteps, then a panicked voice. Dull words reached his ear "Lyric... Breathe... live." He recognized the voice of his best friend, his savior. A sharp pain shot through his chest as he removed the dagger. Then he felt a warm liquid running down his throat.

Magic flared up in him and distorted the delicious goodness. He felt that his body was struggling, but did he even want that? The demon had done something to him – something terrible. He had carved a magic circle into the skin of his stomach and spoken the forbidden words.

Lyric had felt it at that moment – the moment when he had been soiled forever. The moment when the curse had taken possession of his body. His words echoed in his head.

"Forever, let your disgraceful body do what it lured me with. Every demon should consume itself after your touch, but no one should have you. One kiss and you will belong to him forever. Never able to leave him. But his feelings are not sincere, because it is all just a fleeting spell to which he had succumbed."

A jealous demon he had rejected had lost his mind. He had kidnapped him and burned a curse into his body with forbidden magic. At first, he didn't know what had happened to him. But as soon as a demon – whether male or female – had touched his skin, it fell into a kind of state of intoxication and tried to take him.

Only when Lyric moved far enough away did this condition vanish into thin air. He understood that if someone touched him, this condition was triggered. Only with bound demons this wasn't the case, these were immune. If Belial hadn't swept away the completely intoxicated demons from Lyric, worse would have happened.

Over the years, Lyric had developed a spell that prevented anyone from touching his skin directly, thus weakening the effect. Unfortunately, however, it didn't seem so easy. If a demon stayed near him for too long, the mechanism began to creep in, which is why he could not stay near a demon for more than two weeks. He then had to distance himself for a while.

Now he asked himself the question, how could he then live in a house full of demonic servants? In the human world, the deadline was about half a year, then he had to leave the house for a week.

Then nothing stood in the way of a happy life in the human world. And here came the sticking point. This only applied if the demons didn't touch him directly. The more contact, the less it becomes. In addition, his lips were the greatest danger. These could never lie on those of another, otherwise the curse would unfold its full effect and Lyric would be bound to this person forever.

Unfortunately, this bond was one-sided and the counterpart could just leave. In summary: He couldn't be too close to a demon for too long and physical affection was almost impossible. So traveling through hell with a demon for several weeks was simply impossible for him. End of story.

After Nix had listened to Lyric's explanation, a thoughtful expression appeared on his face.

"As I said, Nix, it won't work."

"If I have understood correctly, you attract all the demons that are inclose proximity to you. So, in principle, not all in the area. You also protect your skin from direct contact."

What did that have to do with what he had just said? Lyric just didn't understand him. In addition, he didn't understand the disappointed look in the last part.

"Well, then nothing stands in the way of our journey."

Lyric looked at the oracle in disbelief. Did he listen to me at all?

"Lyric, I'm Nix. I think you forgot an important detail about me. I can't commit myself, so your physical attraction is ineffective for me." Nix concealed the fact that he intended to change this.

"You can't know that," Lyric replied. He simply couldn't comprehend what was going on with the oracle.

"I'm an oracle, so yes, I can. We will search together, partners. And if we are successful, I will pull out all the stops to break your curse."

Lyric didn't know what to answer. He is serious. I can't get out of this. Anger rose in Lyric and he clenched his fists. "I've been looking for a solution for centuries and you want to 'pull out a few tricks'?" he replied with a sarcastic undertone.

Undeterred, the oracle replied, "Of course, after all, I am an omniscient oracle and you are not. Listen. I'll make you an offer. If you feel like your curse has an effect on me, you can leave."

Lyric remained silent for a few minutes and let the words go through his head. Maybe there was a possibility that Nix was immune. If we are successful, I will not only save Aleks' life, but may also be able to break my curse. If it becomes too dangerous, I will just disappear. So it all sounded logical, but somehow he had the feeling that there was a hidden hook in the whole thing. If so, Nix would certainly not tell him about it.

He had made his decision and prayed that he wouldn't regret it. "I will accompany you, but at the slightest sign of the effect of the curse, I will disappear."

Nix clapped happily and replied, "Very good, partner. I'll give you three days to sort everything out."

With these words, the conversation was over. Nix pushed him backwards and he fell. A portal that had formed behind him swallowed him and he landed on his back. When he looked up, he recognized his balcony. He was back home.

Dayan stood next to Nix and looked at him reproachfully. He had stood outside the door during their conversation and had overheard the conversation with his reinforcement spells. Everything for Nix' safety. If he had heard a suspicious movement, he would have intervened immediately. "Why didn't you tell him the truth?"

Nix made a vulgar sound. "He will find out soon enough. Also, don't interfere. I already know what I'm doing," he replied, insulted. He may have left out one or two details, but he would tell him that at some point.

Dayan shook his head at his best friend's irrationality. This will not go well.

_____________________

It is decided, the two will search together for the second key.

What do you think about Lyric and his curse? Did you expect that?

What could Nix have concealed from him?

Your Mouse Goddess