The Mayor of Dorncrest City, Mr. Hanwel start telling about the lady named Meleona. He says, "Almost two decades ago, Dorncrest was fulled with travelers for it's beauty. Some even stayed here. One day a lady traveler named Meleona came to this city. She was very kind to the people of this city. She helped anyone who was asking for help. My father was the mayor that time. She asked him, if she could live in this city. My father was very happy and gave her the permission. And a little land in the middle of the city. People of this city made a house for her.
Meleona was very popular for her kindness. There wasn't a single soul who hated her. But, after 5 years of her arrival bad things started to happen. Children started going missing one by one. People were started thinking there was a witch in the city. They started checking every outsider who resided in this city. Everyone trusted Meleona, so no one checked her house.
Eventually The missing children nightmare stopped. But our city never found those 11 children.
After a few months, suddenly a man named Roleier rushed to our house. He said that, he was passing by Meleona's house. One of windows was open. He wanted to tell Meleona to close the window. He looked inside through the window. He spotted Meleona doing something with a glass of pure white liquid. He became curious, so he stayed there silently. He saw, Meleona to perform some kind ritual with that liquid by chanting an unknown language. The liquid turned into a dark blue stone.
Seeing all that Roleier ran towards our mansion to tell my father that Meleona might be a witch.
Meleona always told everyone that she couldn't use magic and couldn't do any kind of chanting spell. And her house wasn't searched when the missing children problem was happening.
I lost my youngest brother in that missing children nightmare. So, my father became ragefull. He gathered all people of the city and started heading towards Meleona's house.
Meleona repeatedly said they were making a mistake. But no one listened. Two woman from village captured her and tried to bring her near the big tree. They wanted to burn her. Meleona somehow managed to run away. Some people chased her. Meleona ran towards the well in the middle of city. Meleona looked back at them and said, "This town will suffer till the end." Then she jumped in the well. She died in that well.
After that people of the city searched every bit of her house. But didn't find anything. For giving the false information, Roleier was imprisoned.
From that day, this city never witnessed rain. The God has forsaken this city for murdering a kind hearted innocent lady.
We placed a big amount of reward for whoever lifts the curse. Many Adventurer, Mage tried to lift the curse. But they couldn't."
I break my silence and say, "Mr. Henwel, I have a question."
- "What is it, Mr. Ryu?"
- "What happened to Meleona's body?"
- "It still is in the well."
- "Why ?"
- "We tried to pick up the body. But, who ever went down the well never returned. A mage did an experiment and said that the well became poisoned."
I think for a bit and say, "I will break the so called curse. But I want to do it in front of everyone. Otherwise, someone will point a finger on me."
- "Why would anyone do that?"
- "You will see. Gather everyone here in tomorrow morning. I'll meet you here. Then we will all go to lift the curse."
- "Sure. But you seems very confident about that."
- "I am. See you tomorrow. And one thing."
- "What is it?"
- "Bring Roleier with you tomorrow morning."
- "Why ? He is in the prison."
I smile and say, "He has a roll to play."
I leave the Mayor's Mansion and meet with Ella and Adriana. They are waiting for me at the gate. Ella says, "Is everything alright, my lord?" "No. But will be. Let's go to the inn. I will tell you everything on the way back."
Tomorrow morning, we are having breakfast at the inn. Someone knocks on the door. Ella opens the door. It is Henwel. Henwel says, "Everyone is here, Mr. Ryu."
We finish our breakfast and come outside. Everyone indeed. Henwel introduces Roleier, a old man with almost a skeleton body. Judging by others expression, everyone despise him. I ask Henwel to lead the way to Meleona's house. Henwel obeys.
We reach in front of an abandoned house. So, this is where everything had started.
I say, "Mr. Henwel, I need a person among the town people who understands a bit of magic." Mr. Henwel calls a man named Jazzen. Mr. Henwel, Jazzen and I enter into the house of Meleona.
I active my dragon eyes. Yes, they are in the southern wall. I smirk. I ask Jazzen, "Have you heard any magic named Spell breaker ?" "Yes. That's a high class magic. A magic that can destroy any casted spell." Jazzen replies. I go to the Southern wall and swing my right hand's index finger saying, "Spell Breaker". The illusion tears apart. Henwel and Jazzen surprise to see that there is a shelf with full of magic potion, Magic books, some herbs, some dry animal body parts. Mr. Henwel says with shuttering voice, "That means, Meleona was a witch?" I smile and say, "Let's go to the well."
The well is covered with a heavy wood. Mr. Henwel says, "We had to cover the well, because of the smell." "Open it." I say. 4 man push the wood off of the well. I say, "Bring a huge cloth and the longest rope." Mr. Henwel sends 5 people for that. They bring what I ask soon enough. Adriana asks, "My Lord, what are you going to do?" "I am gonna jump into the well." I reply. "It's filthy, my lord. Let me do it." Adriana says. I say with a smile, "Thank you Adriana. But, the well maybe poisonous. So, it's risky for you. And you know who am I. Poison is useless to me. So, let me do it." "As your wish, my lord." Adriana says with a upset voice.
I tell Henwel to hold one edge of the rope. And toss rest of the rope inside the well. Then I take the cloth and jump inside of the well. Dragon eyes let me see in darkness. There are 4 skeletons. I collect them on the cloth and tied them with the rope. Then, I jump up on the ground. Mr. Henwel asks with fear, "How....You...." I say, "It's not important now. Pull the rope." Two people help Mr. Henwel.
After putting the cloth on the ground, They untie the rope. Everyone is shocked to see those skeletons. One of the skeleton has a dark blue stone on it's right hand. Looks like it was holding the stone tightly. Mr. Roleier shouts, "That's the stone, I saw that night. I told you, I wasn't drunk. I didn't lie. I...." He breaks into tears.
I tell Adriana to summon Vulthara. Adriana immediately summons him. Vulthara asks, "Greetings Young Lord, Ryu. So, What is the order for me, Hero?" Adriana says, "My Lord requires your strength." Vulthara asks, "At your service young lord. Name your desire." I say, "Take that dark blue stone and use one of your high offensive magic to erase it's existence" Vulthara says, "Right away Young Lord. That well seems to be abandoned. Can I use it?" I look at Mr. Henwel. Mr. Henwel quickly says, "Su...Sure."
Vulthara takes the stone and releases it into the well. Then he throws a massive amount of fire into the well saying, "Pyrocalypse". We witness a minor earthquake.
Vulthara says, "It's done young lord. Anything else you desire?" I say, "I don't sense it's presence now. Nothing else for now Vulthara. You may leave." Vulthara vanishes.
I say to the crowd, "Listen everyone, Meleona was a worshipper of The Demon King. She was doing forbidden black magic. She put a mask in front of you. So that she could collect the necessary ingredients for doing a certain ritual named 'Invocation of Grace Breaker'. I've read about this ritual. It is a heretical ritual meant to sever the divine connection between a land and God. It doesn't just curse the city, it excommunicates the city from the very concept of blessings. That's why, No ordinary Mage can detect it's presence with magic detection."
A woman says with fear in her voice, "What are the ingredients?" I sigh and say, "Eyes of 11 children, each children representing an aspect of divine presence: Joy, Trust, Hope, Mercy, Kindness, Innocence, Curiosity, Future, Warmth, Faith….and Weather."
There is a dead silence in the crowd. Some women kneel down on the ground and start crying. Maybe they lost their children. Roleier says with a trembling voice, "That means, the white liquid which I saw that night was made of children eyes!"
I stay silent. I said enough. When I set foot in this city, I couldn't feel Goddess Elaranya's presence at all. From that time I had my suspicion and hearing everything from Mr. Henwel, I confirmed my suspicion.
I look at the peoples of the city. Their children had sacrificed by someone they trusted with closed eyes. Look at them. They are in utterly despair. All because of the so called Innocent lady named Meleona.
Suddenly a drop of water falls on my head. I look up. Black clouds in the sky. I smile.
It starts raining. Goddess Elaranya is showering them with the blessing they had longed for.