"Lastly, without you noticing it...you're already dead."
"Wha...What do you mean?", Ren said while showing his shock.
"You already know what happened to you and the stages of the curse, right?, asked the woman.
The sudden occurrence of events that happened around Ren started to make sense to him. First, the fight with the Death Reaper's soul. Just as Ren thought that he defeated the Death Reaper's soul when he slashed it, his sword passed through it instead. Then the sudden pain he felt followed by his nightmare. All three events fit the exact description of the stages of the curse. All that's left is...
"So you've realized it all already."
"But...How...What about my wounds? They were pretty much healed when I checked them."
"It seems that the Death Reaper won't let you off with an easy death."
"That's...that's just..."
Bombarded with harsh facts and truths, Ren sat in silence. Not a single sound, even the sound of breathing would leave his mouth. He was left speechless, thinking about the turn of events that happened to him.
'This...situation I'm in...it's just too unfair. Will I really die because of some curse? I didn't want this! I never asked to be summoned to this world only to be stabbed from behind. That's right...that bastard Takeshi. Just what did I do to earn this kind of curse. And that ugly skeleton floating around like some angel. Damn it! Damn it all!'
A crazed expression can be seen on Ren's face. An expression of someone falling into despair can be seen. Then extreme anger was written all over Ren's face. Emotions changing over time.
"But I can help you."
Suddenly, these words invaded Ren's mind. Just these words were enough to calm him down. But where did those words came from? Ren looked at the woman in front of him and said with a heavy voice...
"What do you mean?"
"You only have a few moments left in your life. What I'm saying is I can help you...By ridding you of that curse."
"Can you even do it? In the first place, just who are you?"
"Don't sweat the little details. Do you want my help or not?'
Ren has doubts about the woman's proposal. To him, she was just acting on her whim. Enjoying the treat that is Ren. But that's only on the outside. What Ren was really thinking is that he found hope, at least a bit of it. The previous events went too fast that Ren couldn't keep up. Much that all those events are in favor of Ren's current predicament. If anyone were to offer an easy way out, he would accept it.
But can the woman really save him from the Death Reaper's curse? Ren really has doubts about the woman's proposal. Moments of silence pass and Ren resumed talking.
"Can you really do it?", Ren said as he puts on a strong front.
"I told you before, your Onee-san can do things that other people can't do.'"
"Be serious!...Can you really do it? Can you really save me from this hell of a curse!?"
All this time, the woman was constantly evading questions. It's a matter of life and death here, and she was saying that she'll save Ren while smiling happily. Ren couldn't take it and he replied angrily.
With Ren's sudden outburst, the woman's expression and attitude changed into a serious form.
"Yes, boy...I can save you from the Death Reaper's curse. But this world isn't such a happy place that everything will go as you want it. Know that if you live through this, you'll not be able to live normally anymore."
"Like I care! Ever since I came to this world, my life couldn't be considered normal. Constant insults and belittling was all I received. All because of this different-"
"You said something interesting there, boy. I wondered why I can sense the magic of a Being of Origin in you. So that's how it is. You are a person from another world, I take it?"
"Yeah. So what?"
"Nothing. The magic I sense in you is just familiar, is all."
As the conversation goes on, the atmosphere slowly changes. Tension rises up as both individuals stare into each others complexion.
"How about we get started?"
The woman stood up and the well lit and decorated room changed into the dark room that it used to be. As such, Ren immediately stood up and looked at the surrounding of the room. The golden walls slowly tarnished by black, the lights fading one after the other, and the furniture that Ren was just sitting on recently was nowhere to be found.
"I did say that we would change places but I just reverted this dark, lonely room to what it was originally, many years ago. Oh I forgot. Boy, what is your name?"
"Is that really necessary-"
Ren was unsure about telling his name but it seems he can't evade this one. As the woman was smiling at him, waiting for an answer. Her smile was somehow different from how she smiled at the beginning. The woman's smile now was sincere. This much Ren can tell.
"Toka Ren...that is my name", Ren said in a shy voice.
"What a cute response. So Toka Ren...As your life slowly fades into the unknown, I have the means to save you from it. Will you accept my help along with it's conditions?"
Once again, the woman's demeanor changed. This time, it was formal and befitting of her form. Before Ren could reply, he thought hard about the woman's offer.
'Help...from a woman that I don't even know. That is something that doesn't go very well.'
As Ren pondered in his mind, memories start to show. All of them were memories of his horrible life since coming to this world. Ren was again reminded of the unreasonable and unfair treatment thrown to him by the people that summoned him.
'Again...these memories...I've had enough! If I'm going to die then I want to die now! No more...no more...I want to rest already, from the suffering that I experienced. But...what is this feeling inside me? Urging me to live, to forget the pain, and to run away. Just what...'
Different memories now fill Ren's mind. The thrill when he came to this world, the excitement of travelling around, the beauty of this world. Ren saw his past self, the Ren dreaming of going on an adventure in a fantasy world. The Ren that was still ignorant to the consequences of coming to the parallel world. Ren could only smile to his foolish and naive self. Wanting to die but doesn't want to die. What a big idiot, he thought to himself.
"Yes...I will accept your mercy. It is my final decision, so grant me your help.", Ren said in a formal tone as he bows to the woman.
"You sure are certain of that decision of yours. Very well then...
The woman distanced herself from Ren and started casting a spell. Ren closed his eyes, waiting for the help bestowed by the woman.
"With my authority, I vanquish thy curse that binds you to your impending death."
Magic circles started to appear below and above Ren. The magic circles slowly moved and circled around him. As seconds pass, the speed of the magic circles rotating around Ren increased until a shattering sound was heard. Ren opened his eyes to the sound. He took his time feeling his body when he suddenly fell on his knees.
"Give it time.", said the woman.
Ren slowly regained his composure to the point that he was able to stand properly again.
"The curse...is it really gone?", Ren asked as if seeking assurance.
"Hmm...Who knows...", said the woman in a feign and cheerful voice.
"You...You do know it's a matter of life and death here, right?", Ren said in an annoyed tone.
"But look...your not dying, right? So what's the point of asking? More importantly, what are you going to do now?"
Upon hearing those words, Ren fell into deep thought. His expression changing along with the mood. The woman seems to want to say something...
"Boy...do you seek revenge?"
Ren's attention quickly changed as he stares at the woman.
"Revenge..."
As Ren thinks, blood start to drop on the ground. Ren was clenching his fists so tight that his fingernails had already pierced his flesh. In the midst of the situation, the sound of blood dropping on the ground was only heard. Everything else was silence. Ren is still deep in thought. Minutes pass as Ren just stood, with anger written all over his face. But that anger slowly fades...
"Revenge...You're right...What I should be doing right now is getting revenge on the one that betrayed me. Naturally, that's what I would do but..."
"But...", asked the woman, growing curious as to what Ren would say next.
"If I do take revenge...then I'll just be humiliating myself. To me, revenge is just a fool's errand. Why should I place my attention on getting revenge? Being obsessed over revenge and an asshole like that guy, just the thought of it pisses me off!"
"So you'll just let it slide and pretend nothing happened-"
"Don't misunderstood me, woman! It's true that I won't take revenge but the anger of being stabbed from behind despite being shown kindness...This anger only is the one thing that won't fade."
"Hmm...That's how I would like it to be.", said the woman in a cheerful tone.
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing...Anyway, getting to the main point. What are you going to do now?"
"Before I answer your question..."