Chapter 10: Cuelebre

Kylie sighed, sulking down the stairs and still half-asleep. Morning came just a little too quickly for her. Last night had seen her up until half-past midnight, unable to sleep at all. Now, she found herself paying the price for letting her thoughts get away from her. Still shaking the sleep from her eyes, she fumbled downstairs and into the lobby. She immediately caught sight of Rebecca, Marie, Caleb, Alistair, and Eliza by the door. They all looked her way as she approached.

"Good morning, Kylie!" Marie chirped, grinning cheerily.

"Morning…" Kylie replied sleepily, rubbing her eyes again.

Rebecca gave her a look something between annoyance and concern. "You couldn't sleep?"

"I had a lot on my mind." Kylie gave Eliza a brief, meaningful look.

Eliza stared at the floor. "Maybe telling you that stuff last night was a mistake…"

"'That stuff', milady?" Alistair looked between Eliza and Kylie, his expression becoming more and more uncomfortable, "You… didn't tell her about that one thing did you?!"

"Brother… Marie and Rebecca are still here you know." Caleb added.

Marie looked at the trio curiously, then back at Eliza, as if looking for approval. Eliza waved a hand at her. "Sorry. You're better off not knowing."

This made her look to Kylie, her face resembling a puppy begging for scraps. Eliza looked at her and bit her lip. Kylie decided on a half-truth for now. It would be up to Eliza if she wanted to tell all of the story. "She's just a bit embarrassed about a birthmark, that's all."

Rebecca sighed. "I should've known it was something like that."

Eliza exchanged looks with Alistair and Caleb. "Ah… yes. That's all it is. Just an ugly birthmark."

Rebecca sighed again. "You shouldn't be so vain. That's not very graceful. Let's see that mark then."

Eliza fell quiet for several moments, shooting a glare to Kylie. Kylie averted her eyes. This was not working out how she planned at all. She had intended to deflect attention, but it backfired…

"Fine," she finally said, "but this is between us and us alone!" She glared pointedly at Kylie. Turning her back to them, she pulled her braid aside, revealing that odd, blue eye-mark again. Both Marie and Rebecca seemed surprised, particularly Rebecca.

"That's a very weird mark, Eliza." Marie's face was slowly turning to concern. "Strange 'birthmarks' can be a sign of a medical problem, you know."

Eliza looked over her back at her. "That's not it. It's-"

"A curse." All heads turned to Rebecca who was staring at Eliza with piercing eyes. "Cuelebre's curse."

"Cuelebre…" Eliza turned back around. "You know something. What is Cuelebre?"

"It is the name of the dragon who branded us." Rebecca shifted her bustier, revealing a mark on the right side of her chest. It was identical to Eliza's, except this one was white instead of blue. Rebecca said nothing more for several moments. She was simply staring at Eliza again, as if testing her. That was when Kylie noticed something strange. Rebecca's eyes were slitted, like a snake or a cat. She blinked slowly, as if waiting for a response.

Marie took a step back. "A dragon? Rebecca, what's going on? What happened to your eyes?"

She said nothing at first, just stared at the party. Kylie felt like a Treerat being stalked by a Great Lynx. "Rebecca? Are you listening to… us…?"

If she heard, she showed no sign of response. Instead, she continued to stare, almost as if in a trance. She shook her head and looked at them again. That snake-like look in Rebecca's eyes was gone, now replaced with her usual silver eyes. "Why are you staring?" she finally said.

Marie grabbed Rebecca by the arm, dragging her to a bench. "Are you okay? You looked really… strange… just now."

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Rebecca yanked her arm free, suddenly seeming upset.

Marie folded her arms. "You're not too good at lying, you know."

Alistair and Caleb, who until now had said nothing, both approached Rebecca. "She looked scary…" Caleb said meekly, "don't make her angry, brother. She might be a snake or something…"

"I'm not scary…" Rebecca suddenly turned away, "I'm not… a snake."

"I am not afraid of her, snake or not." Alistair put a hand on the huntress' shoulder, making her flinch and look his way. "Rebecca, I must ask you to be truthful for the princess' sake. I must know more about milady's condition. If it is indeed the same, that is."

"Do you want that, Eliza?" Rebecca looked at Eliza as a resigned look fell over her face.

Eliza shot a glare to Kylie. "I thought I could trust you. You stupid peasant."

Kylie shifted uncomfortably. "This is my fault isn't it?"

"Frankly, yes." Eliza said curtly, "I thought you knew how to keep a secret! I was wrong to trust you!"

"Lashing out at her won't help." Rebecca's comment caused Eliza to turn to her instead, "So answer the question. Do you want to know more about the curse?"

Eliza sat down beside her. "I want to know everything. Spare no detail."

"Should I leave you guys to talk?" Kylie gestured to the door, "I can go if you want."

"You're staying right here!" Eliza barked, "I asked you to help me, so you are going to do as I say!"

"Holy crap."

Ricardo's sudden voice from behind her made Kylie jump. Spinning around, she saw a baffled Ricardo and Kyo standing there. Mathias was there too, but his expression was hard to read.

"We just kicked a hornet's nest…" Kyo said, "I'll just walk away. I heard nothing…"

"Bad idea, trust me. Eliza doesn't forgive…" Mathias replied quietly.

"Oh, great. Who else wants to know I'm cursed, anyone!?" Eliza shot to her feet, casting a furious glare about the room.

"You told them?!" Mathias seemed shocked, "Wow. I didn't think you wanted anyone to know about the curse."

Eliza stamped a foot. "I didn't! I told Kylie so she could help me find some amber, and she blurted everything! I hate her!"

Kylie flinched at her harsh words. She was right in a way. But how was she to know Rebecca would not only recognize that mark but have the same curse too? She wanted to clear the air, but she got the feeling that saying anything right now would just infuriate the volatile noble.

"What… what are you, Rebecca?" Marie asked in an almost whispering tone, "You aren't really a snake, are you?"

"I'm a human, just like you." Rebecca slowly looked between the members of Nidhogg, her serious expression darkening as she scanned the party. "Just an unlucky, otherwise normal human who can turn into a dragon if she gets angry." She glared at the floor.

"A… dragon?" Ricardo raised an eyebrow. "What the hell are you talking about? Is this your idea of a joke?"

Kyo, who had been unusually quiet, finally spoke up. "I don't think she's joking. I've read about this curse before in my studies. It is supposedly caused by a terrible, vengeful she-dragon named Cuelebre. I've read that she supposedly curses those who try to fight her, laying a curse that lasts generations." He looked between Eliza and Rebecca. "That's it, isn't it? Cuelebre's curse…"

Rebecca froze for several moments. "How… how did you know? Just where did you learn about Cuelebre?"

"My father was a hexer and an explorer. I learned a lot about curses and the magic arts from him. I liked the alchemy parts more than I did the curses and stuff like that. Too dark and restrictive for my tastes."

"I need to know more about Cuelebre, so tell me everything!" Eliza blared as she glanced between Kyo and Rebecca. "Both of you! Talk!"

"I don't know much more than that…" Kyo gestured to Rebecca. "Talk to her. She shares your curse after all."

As Eliza turned to Rebecca again, Kylie heard Ricardo whisper to her, "Did you know about this? Are they really… cursed? They're not, right? That kind of stuff is just superstitious Kuyutha shit."

Kylie shook her head "no" and elbowed him, earning a somewhat miffed stare. "Don't say that. Eliza came to me last night and wanted my help to stop this. It took a lot of guts to say things as personal as that to a near-stranger like me. I think that deserves a chance, and I'm willing to believe Eliza on this." She looked back at the Dark Hunter, who was giving her a flat look again. "And you too, Rebecca."

Rebecca slowly smiled, "Huh. She believes us…?"

"Of course I do. Isn't it the right thing to do, to trust each other?"

Rebecca's smile broadened. "I think we've wasted enough time. For now, you know enough." Rebecca slowly stood up. "We were supposed to report to the Radha first thing in the morning. Let's go and make our report. We'll talk later."

As Kylie followed her guildmates out the door, she was stopped by a hand on her shoulder. She turned over her back to find Alistair smiling gently at her. "Leader, you have no idea what your words meant to us just now. I have been helping milady find the origin of her malady for many a long year. Until now, it has been nearly fruitless. I had thought that maybe we might never find out the truth. You and your guild are the closest we've come to an answer so far." He bowed his head. "Thank you."

She nodded once. "I meant everything I said. I will help any of you, just like I said. We are a team. We better get going before we get left behind." Alistair nodded in return, then left the inn, with Kylie close behind.

Even though she still didn't know much about this curse, Kylie decided to try not to focus on that. Rebecca and Eliza were both trusting her with a dangerous truth. There was a part of her that wondered if perhaps she was in over her head. Kylie had never been very experienced with curses. In fact, she knew nothing about curses. A part of her imagination went wild at the thought of Rebecca, and maybe Eliza too, turning into a dragon if they got pissed, and that scared her a bit. Another part of her knew if she wanted to help, then she couldn't let doubt cloud her judgment.

But she would be lying to herself if she tried to deny she was a little bit afraid of what would happen now that she did know about this "curse".

The remainder of the walk to the Radha Hall was quiet, a little too quiet for Kylie's liking. Most of the guild was busy exchanging whispers and stares between one another, but Kylie was lost in thought. A lot had happened, a lot of which she was still trying to wrap her brain around. She followed her guildmates into the Radha hall, still unsure what to do or say.

"It's good to see you've returned, Nidhogg," Quinn said, bowing slightly as he greeted them from the entry hallway, "And with new faces among you, I see."

Kylie nodded. "Yes. We found Rebecca in the forest, alone after the rest of her guild was killed by monsters."

"Is that so? How tragic…" Quinn frowned, drawing out a scroll and writing on it, "I heard an undermanned guild snuck into the Labyrinth while the guards were busy with a FOE. Is she…?"

"Yes." Rebecca stepped forward. "I am Rebecca Tresinne, former leader of guild Hraesvelgr. I-"

"You were very irresponsible is what you were! Did you think that lawlessness was worth your friends' lives?!" Quinn retorted, glaring at Rebecca, who flinched at his sudden words.

"No." Rebecca finally said, lowering her eyes. "And that's why I thought it would be better if I simply never came back. But then these Nidhogg kids found me and forced me to return." She gave a dry smile to the guild.

Quinn looked up again from the scroll he was writing on. "So, that's what happened. Then what of the noble, the archer, and the entertainer with you? Are they new recruits as well?"

"Eliza is a friend of Mathias'. Alistair and Caleb are her retainers, and they're with us now as well."

"I see. Ensure that their paperwork is completed before you leave for Yggdrasil." Quinn commented as he continued writing on the scroll. "You'll also need to ensure that your excursion party is no greater than five from here out, Nidhogg. FOEs like to target large squads, so it is paramount that you obey this restriction."

Kylie nodded once more. "So, we're here to-"

"Report on your initiation?" Quinn finished, "Don't worry. I have it all settled here. All I needed was to see that you made it out alive." Quinn tucked the scroll away. "That brings us to the urgent matter of that jewel you found earlier. We have finished analyzing the stone and I'm afraid I have grave news for you."

"That jewel?" Eliza gave Kylie a look. "What's this about?"

Kylie sighed and bit her lip. This was going to require a lot of explaining…