Azure Dreams

A Little More Than Friends

I do not own Azure dreams or any characters/objects relating to it. I own the storyline. The Black Curse and The Book Of Magic: An Insight Into Evil are my creations and nothing to do with the real game.

Please read and review. This chapter is about Koh finding out about the mysterious warning. He still doesn't know what will be in store for him.

Chapter 3

The Black Curse

Weedy walked into the monster hut and stared at her older brother. She waited as though she wished for an explanation.

'Weeds. Listen. I don't want to talk about it.'

'How did you know what I was going to say?' Weedy looked hurt.

'I just know' Koh replied simply.

'Please Koh. Tell me what happened' Weedy pleaded.

'Weedy. You're too young. You wouldn't understand.'

'I understand a lot more than what you expect from me' she argued. 'Please Koh. Just try me.' So Koh told his little sister what he had found out. Or more to the point, what he hadn't found out.

'Ooh. That's actually really scary' Weedy flinched.

'Please don't…'

'Tell Mum? Of course not' Weedy cut across.

'And don't…'

'Worry about it? No I won't.'

'Weedy. Stop…'

'Finishing my sentences.'

'Exactly because…'

'It's annoying me.'

'No because Mum's calling you.' Weedy scowled at Koh and walked towards her mother's disembodied voice. Koh went over to Kewne. His first familiar. The familiar that had once belonged to Beldo.

'Kewne' Koh woke his sleeping friend.

'Yes Master Koh.'

'Please. I need your help.' Koh informed Kewne of what had happened. He expected Kewne to come up with a logical explanation for this. But Kewne knew nothing. Except that it more than likely had something to do with the tower.

'I know' Koh said. 'But what? Has it ever happened before?'

'No. Not as far as I know. But Koh, I don't think that it happened on the anniversary of Beldo's death coincidently.'

'That's what I thought.'

Koh decided to pay a visit to the library. Maybe there would be a book there to help him. He and Kewne walked through Monsbaiya silently, both anxious to find the answer. However, when they reached the library, they spent two hours searching for something to do with the warning but found nothing.

'Hi Mr Koh.' Koh turned around to see the face of Mia, his bookworm friend.

'Hi Mia. I haven't seen you in ages.'

'I know. That's because I don't often come to library any more.'

'Oh why not?' Koh was puzzled; he knew that Mia loved books.

'Because I've read nearly all of the books now' she sighed. 'I can't wait until new books are released. It'll be great!'

'Yeah. Well I don't mean to be rude but I really need to find a book.'

'Which book Mr Koh?'

'I don't know but I know what about' said Koh searching for books on magic.

'What is it about?' Koh told Mia all that he knew about the warning. Thankfully Mia recognised what he was talking about.

'I've read about that' she cried out. 'Hmm…' Mia thought long and hard until the answer came to her. Then rapidly, she began looking for the right book. Not stopping for fifteen minutes until the book was found.

'There you are!'

'Thanks Mia.' Koh looked at the book. It was big and black. It had the title: 'The Book Of Magic: An Insight To Evil'. Koh smiled and thanked Mia.

'How did you remember which book?' he asked her.

'It is an adult's book. I'm not allowed to take it out so I had to read it at the library. I can remember coming in for ten days in a row to finish it.' Koh smiled at Mia.

She truly is the nuttiest girl I've ever met. That doesn't mean it doesn't come in handy though.

'Please be careful Mr Koh' Mia begged.

'Don't worry about me Mia.'

I know that he's brave and strong but sometimes I wish he'd think about things more. I don't want him to get into any danger. He's the only person apart from my family that's ever treated me with any respect.

Koh thanked Mia again and walked home.

'Is that it Master?' Kewne looked over Koh's shoulder to watch him flick through the pages.

'Apparently so. Don't know where though. I should've asked Mia.' Kewne and Koh arrived in the monster hut at about eight thirty. They both looked curiously at the book and wished that they knew where to find what they were looking for.

After half an hour, they were both ready to give up. But then they saw it. With a skull and crossbow next to it… 'The Black Curse'. Koh read faster than he ever had done before.

'Kewne look' he gasped. Kewne read on and felt scared for his master.

'Kewne go and get Weedy please.' Kewne obeyed. Koh didn't know if he should show this to his eight-year-old sister but she knew the basis already so it was only fair she knew the whole picture.

When Weedy came in she looked surprised.

'What is it Koh?' she asked.

'Weedy. I've found it.'

'The magic warning?'

'Yes. It's called 'The Black Curse'. It happens when an evil person wants to get revenge. It means that a year after they die, their rival will get a warning…'

'Like you did!'

'Yes. Beldo must have put the curse upon himself. I've received the warning, which means that soon I will be punished for killing Beldo.'

'Oh Koh' Weedy sobbed.

'Weedy please don't. It says in the book that the rival cannot die from the curse… but I will be punished harshly.' Weedy looked terrified and held her brother tightly. Koh calmed his sister down and said that his mother need not know.

'Koh. Why do you keep saying that?'

'Master. I believe that Wreath has the right to know.'

'Both of you. Just listen. Mum doesn't need more pain in her life ok? If something bad happens it will just be an accident ok?'

'But… Koh.' Tears leaked down Weedy's face and dropped to the floor.

'Weedy. I've trusted you here. I've told you what you wanted to know so can't you please just do this one thing for me.' Weedy agreed and gave Koh one last squeeze before going silently to bed.

'I'm going out. I can't just stay here and feel sorry for myself.'

Minutes later Koh arrived in the kitchen.

'Mum. I'm going to the casino. Do you want to come?'

'No thanks love. I'm too tired' replied Wreath.

'Ok. If you're sure.'

'Koh…'

'Yes?'

'Why didn't you go to the tower today?'

'I was… exhausted' Koh lied. 'I go nearly every day and it just gets so tiring.'

'Ok honey' Wreath smiled. 'Have a good time tonight.'

Koh was immediately hit by the bitter wind when he stepped out of the house. He climbed onto his motorbike and rode off towards the casino. He had taken 2,000G with him tonight. He expected that he wouldn't be there for too long as it was late. He could however, have a few turns. The casino had reopened last week from refurbishment and Koh hadn't yet been in.

When Koh got to the casino, he left his motorbike outside and walked through the door. The staff cheered when they saw him; he hadn't been there for ages. Koh smiled and walked towards the new roulette wheel. He bet 100G on black and won! He played a few more times and only lost once.

Koh looked around him: roulette wheel, blackjack tables, craps the lot. Koh had a few turns on everything new and ended up with 4,000G! Twice as much as what he left the house with.

Koh decided to have a go on the abandoned slot machines; not many people were seen on the old things when there were so many new things to play on. Koh put his money into the slot and pulled the handle down. As the reels turned, they seemed to be whispering at Koh.

'Curse, curse, curse' they repeated. Koh was never one to hallucinate and hear non-existent things but he concluded that he must be.

I'm just paranoid. There's nothing to worry about.

Koh put it down to tiredness and decided to go home.

In bed that night, Koh found it very hard to sleep. He drifted off after two hours of trying.