Xue and Hana stared at the contents inside the pot, the two of them then glanced at one another, making a bitter face. Just like she did for K’xug, Cecil made another herbal mixture for Xue and Hana, since she was still as worried.

However, while making it halfway, she eventually drifted off to sleep due to fatigue. Xue hurried to take over the job, and K’xug was the one in charge of teaching him now, since he had made the herbal mixture himself.

“K’xug, did you...really drink this?” Xue questioned K’xug with the same bitter face.

K’xug nodded.

“He did!” Hana nodded, until she recalled the bitter face he made and she lost her energetic tone. “He did…”

K’xug signalled to them that the herbal mixture was now ready to be consumed, gesturing for them to drink it.

Xue and Hana looked at the mixture, their faces turning equally green like the mixture as the strong stench of herbs wafted past their noses. K’xug, just inhaling the smell recalled its bitter taste and he pinched his nose, still gesturing at them to eat it.

“Are you sure it’s even edible?” Xue grimaced at K’xug. “You are even...pinching your nose.”

K’xug removed his hand, clearing his throat but he took a step back.

Seeing K’xug’s reaction, Xue and Hana hesitated, looking at Cecil still sleeping away on Xue’s shoulder.

“But Xue,” Hana leaned in closer, a hint of guilt in her voice. “Cecil spent almost the entire time finding these herbs with that sprained wrist, just for all of us. She would have cooked it too, if K’xug didn’t insist on helping her.”

The two of them looked at one another, though they found it wasn’t necessary for them to drink this herbal mixture, Cecil still went through the trouble of gathering these herbs for them instead of resting.

“For...for the sake of Cecil!” Hana huffed, putting on a brave front.

Xue nodded.

The two of them gathered their own bowls, drinking the mixture down with one big gulp.

K’xug watched them, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

“...”

“...”

The two of them immediately cupped their mouths, their faces twisting.

“...disgusting.”

“Disgusting!”

The two of them said at the same time.

Xue continued cupping his mouth, wondering why he did not save the delicious porridge to help him get rid of the pungent herbal taste.

“Disgusting! Disgusting! Disgusting!” Hana exclaimed, hopping around as she spit out her tongue. “Disssssgusting!”

K’xug was relishing in their misery, the glint in his eyes said it all.

“Why didn’t you warn me beforehand?” Xue narrowed his eyes at K’xug. “I would have at least kept some porridge to wash off the damn taste.”

K'xug shrugged, like he did not know anything.

“You liar, K’xug! You knew this would happen!” Hana pointed out, pouting. “I-If only I knew Cecil would make it for me as well when I was asleep…”

Xue narrowed his eyes even further, his breath now smelled of nothing but herbs.

K’xug shrugged again.

“Don’t tell me, are you still holding a grudge for us redecorating your room that time?” Xue asked. “Along with the snakes?”

K’xug stiffened.

“So you are petty over those kinds of things?”

I’m not petty.

K'xug shook his head.

“It doesn’t feel that way.”

K'xug narrowed his eyes.

I’m not. Petty.

“Hmmm? Redecorating his room? With snakes?” Hana tilted her head. “What’s this about?”

“Oh that, it’s something that happened a long time ago,” Xue explained to Hana, and K’xug stiffened even more. “He hates bright colours, and is scared of s--

K’xug quickly shut Xue up by wrapping his arms around his neck.

Not another word to Hana!

Xue pried K’xug’s arm off easily.

“What’s this? Are you embarrassed? Do you not want Hana to remember that?” Xue questioned with a smirk. “I clearly remember her running to me after that, telling me that you ran out of the room with the most funniest look on your--”

K’xug slapped his hand over Xue’s mouth, giving him a warning look.

Shut up! If she remembers...

Hana blinked innocently. “When did I do that? What do I have to remember?”

Now, it was Xue’s turn to have a mischievous glint in his eyes and he pried K’xug’s hand off his mouth this time.

“Too bad, Hana, if only you had your memories...I am sure you will remember the expression he had when he ran out of his room--”

K'xug tried to shut his mouth again, but Xue just swatted his hand away.

Aren’t you the petty one here now? Just because I didn’t warn you about the medicine!

Xue only smirked wider at K'xug panicking, though he could not understand what K'xug was really speaking.

You are getting back at me throwing that pile of work onto you that day too, aren’t you?!

“Speaking of that, you almost killed me with work that one time.”

You let the work accumulate until that point since you were too lazy! You poop god!

Xue stiffened. Somehow, he had the strangest feeling K’xug was cursing him with his most hated nickname that he received from the demon realm.

“You just...cursed me with that damn nickname? Didn’t you?”

K'xug showed a little smirk.

“...you did, didn’t you? Just because you can’t talk, don’t think I can’t understand what you are thinking.”

K’xug shrugged.

Hana watched the two of them bickering with a smile on her face. This scene felt awfully familiar, as if it was an everyday occurrence, and seeing this scene made her feel...warm.

Meanwhile, Cecil was enjoying the firm pillow she was laying her head on, relishing in her peaceful sleep that she hadn’t felt in a long time. That was until she felt the pillow being thrown left and right, up and down, and a frown creased her forehead.

She started to hear the low bickering beside her, and the pillow was still being moved around. Her frown deepened, and she was suddenly startled awake when she heard someone barking loudly beside her. She inhaled sharply, lifting her head up and her eyes opened, revealing her blood-shot eyes.

“Oh, Cecil! You are...awake…” Hana started to say happily, when she noticed a gloomy aura surrounding Cecil, along with her blood-shot eyes.

Since Cecil was fatigued both mentally and physically, being startled awake from her peaceful sleep was like waking up a sleeping lion.

The two men had grasped one another by the collar of their shirts, and suddenly felt a dangerous presence beside them. The two of them turned to look at Cecil, and she seemed very unhappy, especially with her blood-shot eyes.

“All of you...shut up and let me sleep,” Cecil threatened lowly, her voice still laced with sleepiness. “If not, I’ll make sure every meal from now on is all herbal food. Every single one of it.”

Hana felt queasy just thinking about her food just tasting like herbs.

K’xug quickly released Xue, hastily taking a few steps back. He definitely didn’t want his food to taste like herbs either.

Cecil rubbed at her eyes sleepily, pouting slightly.

Xue only stared at Cecil, blinking his eyes rapidly as he released K’xug as well.

Zasiok: “You should hurry up and do something about Cecil, before she actually does it.”

Zasiok was also shuddering, not wanting to taste any kind of herbal food that Xue would consume, or anything like the herbal mixture from earlier.

Zasiok: “...”

Zasiok: “...Xue?”

Xue: “She’s...so cute.”

Zasiok: “...”

Zasiok smacked his face with his own palm.

Zasiok: “Are...are you really the Xue I know? What happened to you when you were asleep?”

Xue recalled back to the time in the academy, when she was equally grumpy from the lack of sleep due to the harsh training sessions between him and Cecil.

Xue smiled softly to himself.

Xue: “She is just as cute as that time…”

Zasiok: “...”

Zasiok: “Hopeless.”

Zasiok sighed, shaking his head, though he was secretly agreeing with Xue that this grumpy version of Cecil was certainly cute.

Cecil eyed the dirty pot and bowls in front of her and she grumbled to herself, keeping them into her storage ring.

“I’ll really do it, I’ll really make all the food taste like herbs,” Cecil threatened in the same sleepy voice. “I will definitely do it.”

Hana wanted to gag.

K’xug’s face turned green.

“Xue, hurry! Hurry and make Cecil go back to sleep!” Hana panicked. “Before it’s too late!”

K’xug nodded eagerly.

I don’t want to eat herbal food all day long!

Xue snapped awake from his daze, finally realising the perilous situation. He reached out, lulling Cecil into sleep by guiding her head to his shoulder. The moment her head touched his shoulder, Cecil went back into a deep slumber.

The three of them sighed in relief.

Cecil snuggled closer to her “pillow”, a small smile on her face.

That action of hers made both Xue and Zasiok melt on the inside.

“I never knew Cecil could be this grumpy,” Hana giggled. “I guess everyone will become grumpy when they are tired!”

K’xug was still thinking of the horrors of eating herbal food everyday, and he grimaced, shaking his head.

“Cecil is actually...kinda cute when she is grumpy!” Hana remarked, reaching forward and patting Cecil on the head, nodding to herself. “Cute!”

Those words snapped Xue from his daze, and he gasped. He realised that now, other than him, two other people had seen this different side of her, unlike her haughty and indifferent self.

In an instant, Xue carried Cecil into his arms and stood up, surprising both Hana and K’xug.

“Let’s go.” Xue demanded, walking out of the cave while carrying Cecil in his arms.

“...”

“...o-okay!”

***

The three of them stared up at the fog above them, covering the entire area.

“How are we...supposed to get out of here?” Hana tilted her head, looking at K’xug and Xue. “Veau brought me down by flying down...so, we should fly out of here?”

The two men then looked at one another, nodding in agreement,

“Fly.”

K'xug pointed up, sharing the same opinion.

Fly.

K’xug nodded once again, and he felt two pairs of eyes on him a second later. Their expectant eyes made him take a step back.

“K’xug, I can’t fly!”

“I lost my powers.”

K’xug then realised, he was the only one that could fly them out of here. He then gave Xue and Hana a reluctant look.

The only other choice they have was to climb up this cliff, but who in their right mind would want to climb up this cliff with their bare hands?

Thus, Hana and Xue were definitely not letting him escape.

“Let’s go, K’xug!”

“You agreed to flying out of here.”

K'xug made a face, pointing to his back where his wings would sprout from.

...it hurts.

“Fly, K’xug, fly!”

“You said it yourself, to fly out of here.”

K'xug shook his head, still pointing at his back.

It hurts to bring my wings out.

“K’xug, you can do it!”

Xue only looked at Cecil in his arms, disregarding K’xug.

K'xug narrowed his eyes.

I said, it hurts to bring my wings out!

K'xug looked at his two friends clearly not caring for his misery, and he groaned, smacking himself in the forehead.

***

Pt. 1

《 start 》

It isn’t only me.

It isn’t only me that saw how cute Cecil can be when she is grumpy.

K’xug saw it.

Hana saw it.

Even Zasiok saw it too.

...damn it!

I..I wanted to be the only one who sees her like this.

...we should get out of here.

So none of them can see how much more cuter Cecil can be.

《 stop 》

***

Pt. 2

《 start 》

So, wise one, what advice can you offer for our Hana? Surely, you have noticed something...peculiar about her? That can explain why she is always getting into trouble, even when she doesn’t do anything?

The wise one had a wrinkled face that appeared contemplative as he stared at the young angel in front of him. An aura of benevolence and shrewdness surrounded the wise, old angel, and he hummed to himself, nodding.

A young Hana sat opposite him, her round, blue eyes blinking curiously at the wise, old angel and her parents.

I had once been heavily involved in the affairs between the angels and the demons, but no longer. Now, I live up in these heavenly mountains, and swore to never go back to that life. I have seen many angels, many demons, of many different kinds. But this is my first time...I have seen one such as your daughter.

Would you care to explain further, wise one?

Your daughter has a powerful presence within her, and that presence attracts every different kind of person, and all kinds of attention.

Powerful presence?

The old angel nodded, noting the confusion on the faces of Hana’s parents.

A simple example would be the story books you have read, where it focuses on the journey of the protagonists. Hana gives off the same aura that a “protagonist” has.

Ah?

Alas, most of that attention would be detrimental to your daughter. Many would flock to her, and many would intend to cause her harm too.

Ho-how is such a thing possible under the heavens?

Nothing is impossible, and nothing is ridiculous.

What can we do? To ensure the safety of our daughter? To ensure she can lead a happy and simple life?

The old angel shook his head.

For someone with a powerful presence like your daughter, a simple life is out of the question. A happy life...on the other hand, is feasible.

Please do tell!

If you plan to live amongst the angels in the heavens, your daughter has to learn to be cautious, to be alert. Keeping her head low, not involving herself in any matters, refraining from unnecessary interactions with others, that is the best approach for her.

That is...impossible! She will have to live a life going on tip toes around every corner, won’t she? How is that living a life?! She cannot even make friends at this rate, can she?

The old angel shook his head once again.

Friends, she will have many, but loyal friends...that is another question. Friends can be detrimental to her as well.

Isn’t this as good as...telling Hana to go into hiding?

The old angel nodded his head, appearing solemn.

If you plan to live like me, in the mountains or in a secluded area, your daughter would be able to lead a much simpler life, compared to living in the heavens. The less people she meets, the better it is for her.

Are you saying...it is better for Hana to lead a lonely life? For her own safety, and for others as well?

Indeed. One would say, it is a curse. The curse of having a powerful presence.

Hana’s parents wore an anguished look on their faces, gazing down at the young Hana who was still blinking curiously at them, before she broke into a wide, happy smile.

Mother! Father! This place is so pretty! This old man is also very nice, I like him!

Oh, Hana, my precious daughter.

Hana’s parents hugged Hana tightly, and she only smiled wider, hugging them back as her eyes closed.

Also, it’s okay if I have a curse, as long as mother and father are here with me, I am very happy!

Hana’s mother shook her head vehemently, starting to sob as she separated from the hug. She quickly knelt down to plead the wise, old angel.

Mother?

No, no, please. Wise one, there has to be another way, curses are there to be broken, aren’t they? Please, tell us, what can we do to break our daughter’s curse?

Even Hana’s father knelt down along with Hana’s mother, both of them equally saddened by the revelation.

Father? What are the two of you doing?

The wise, old angel smiled benignly at the parents. They clearly loved their daughter to bits, wanting nothing more than a simple and happy life for her.

Indeed, there is a way, but...it will prove to be a more difficult one.

Do tell us!

One way would be to partner Hana up with someone with a more powerful presence than her. The other, would be to transfer her powerful presence onto someone else.

How...how can we do something like that?

The wise, old angel shook his head at them, looking at Hana.

You cannot do it, only your daughter can.

Wh-what? Wouldn’t that be risking her safety?

If one wants to achieve something, sacrifices have to be made.

Sheltering your daughter for life, away from the world but letting her live a lonely life, or allowing her to explore the world but experience hardships and happiness that may end up costing her life. That is the decision you have to make as parents.

The wise, old angel then turned again to Hana.

….and for Hana, she has to make her own decisions. Her life will be full of regrets and hardships, but it might just break her out of the curse.

He reached forward, patting Hana once on the head.

Hana Katae, only you are the key to breaking out of your own curse.

The young Hana beamed and nodded, though, she had no idea what the wise, old angel meant.

Okay, thank you!

It was only until she grew up, and looked back on the conversation...did she start to understand what this “curse” really meant and what loyal friends really meant.

...and what having a life full of regrets and hardships...really meant.

In the end, she truly wondered if she had broken out of her curse.

--Path to the Supreme God

《 stop 》