Prologue

Luscious black hair swayed along to the tune of the night, iridescent gray orbs sharply darting around to search for any possible help. The female ran through the dark woods for her dear life, her breaths coming out in short huffs as her vision blurred because of the blood steadily dripping from her forehead. She could hear the loud rustling a distance away behind her even as she sped up, knowing it was a Curse chasing after her.

She's been seeing those creatures for as long as she can remember. It's always been a normal occurrence for her, considering that the people around her could also see the creatures clearly. She didn't have the slightest idea that it wasn't a common phenomenon. The people who raised her always seemed to have no problems eradicating the creatures they called Curses. Yet here she was, running away after said abomination literally crashed the car she was in and killed the driver.

She lived an oddly isolated life, moving every once a month and passed on to different families as she studied under them without having any idea it was out of the ordinary. Being ambushed by Curses was nothing out of the ordinary, she's always been escorted by the most skillful of people who claimed to be Sorcerers and they usually had no problems dealing with any Curse that may show up during the transport. She would've never imagined there would come the day where they fail and die instead, she was still far too naive.

To be fair it was in actuality a Special Grade Curse, not that she had any knowledge about the grading system and such since she was never taught about it. Which is also the reason why she was clueless on how much trouble she was in now.

Another rustle could be heard behind her, too close for her own liking. Turning her head just in time, she barely dodged a claw that grazed her cheek. The Curse chasing her resembled the mythology of Amakiri, a cross between a serpent, bird, and a lobster. Its claws were similar to that of a crab, donning the body of a snake while its head was one of a bird. And by no means she was in the mood to be crushed by a giant lobster claw.

There was a small cracking noise as the noirette kicked away the Curse with her inhuman strength. That only earned her a shrill cry from the enraged creature, the damage she caused to it quickly healing as it used a Reverse Cursed Technique which made her curse softly under her breath. The Curse's claw struck down once more, leaving a small crater on the ground right where she was a split second ago had she not moved away in time.

She already knew her attacks wouldn't work, that's why she didn't bother to try fighting it and opted to run instead. All her life she's been watching how the Sorcerers around her battling those monstrosities, asking them how they did it only to be told that she didn't have to worry since they'll protect her. She wasn't going to believe that again in the future, well that is if she lived past today.

The wind was knocked out of her lungs as the Curse swung at her, making the gray eyed female crash into a nearby tree. The tree dented from the sheer impact, the poor girl coughing up blood with a pained expression as she collapsed to the ground. She could've sworn she heard a few cracks. Oh how her lungs burned and the helplessness that she was feeling. But was she scared? Not in the least. Rather she was feeling pissed off, at herself who was powerless, at the people who didn't teach her and instead told her they'll protect her, at this Curse who dared to attack her.

It wasn't as if she had any grand reason or the strong will to live. She didn't have a loving family that she wanted to return to desperately, having moved to a different family every month for reasons unknown to her. Even then said families resembled mentors more than anything else. Was she curious as to why that is? Of course, but she wasn't particularly interested in finding out the reason either since it seemed to be too much effort.

She didn't have some sort of sob background or someone dear to live for, one month was barely enough time to make an attachment for her especially since none of the "families" kept in touch after she moved. She didn't yearn for love, nor live in order to fulfill someone else's will either. She was simply existing instead of living, for she had no purpose of her own nor the everlasting curiosity to be alive. She was a mere existence amongst the world's population. And existence was no more than the precarious attainment of relevance in an intensely mobile flux of past, present, and future.

For what reason did she have to fear death? Death does not concern her, because as long as she exists, death is not here. And when it does come, she no longer exists. As simple as that. All she had to do was keep existing. Hence she shall exist.

Death may not concern her, but she certainly abides by one rule she set upon herself. What was hers shall always be hers alone. Her life was but in her own hands and not decided by any other existence. She alone shall rule over herself. And she has decided she wasn't in the mood to keel over today, that was all.

The Amakiri Curse paused for a moment when it saw the girl trembling, grinning psychopathically as it thought she was shaking from fear. It couldn't have been more wrong. A wide grin screaming insanity was visible on her lips as she grabbed its claws that were about to crush her. Her hands were bleeding but she could care less about it now, holding the claws in place with all her strength. Her bangs shadowed her expression, the trembling of her body slowly becoming more prominent before she broke out into abrupt laughter that sounded like a madman's.

She understood the saying of how experience is the best teacher of them all, on hand life or death experience even more so. There was something welling up in her, almost overflowing she dare say. It was a sensation she couldn't understand yet knew so naturally in an odd way. She had nothing to fear from the very start. The Curse shrieks at the exponential increase of Cursed Energy in the vicinity, the source being the very girl it was trying to kill. Her silvery gaze was full of bloodlust, befitting of how the forest took on an eerily crimson atmosphere and the moon was dyed in the red of blood.

Cursed Energy was accumulating behind her, steadily forming a shadow that had the air of dominance and power. The Curse knew it needed to escape now otherwise it would meet its doom, but the girl wouldn't let go as she smirked sadistically. What's forming behind her was a Curse, representing her mindset and lane of thoughts a few moments ago. The Imaginary Curse of existence, of power and dominance that defied all by the heavens. Her platinum orbs glinted like a sharp blade, accompanied by a crazed grin that would send chills and instinctively make people bow down to her as she cooed to the curse with a demandingly honeyed voice.

"Bow down and die on your knees for your queen, darling."

Shadows reached out from behind her, speeding towards the Amakiri Curse who was helpless to rebel against the newfound power of the girl. Let it be known that a new Special Grade Curse had been created at that very same moment, accompanied by the last cries of the Amakiri Special Grade Curse that was killed in an instant.

She breathed a shaky sigh of relief as the Amakiri Curse disintegrated, the adrenaline seeping out as her shoulders slumped down. She felt doozy if nothing else, her eyes burning and the pain of the Curse's attacks from earlier finally setting into her mind. As much as she wanted to rest, she was well aware this was no place or time to be doing so. The presence looming dangerously behind her didn't allow her to let her guard down. Or did it really?

Her silky midnight locks swayed by her shoulder as she turned around, greeted by the sight of the Special Grade Curse she had brought into creation. A beastly head with a long nose, long ears, and great fangs so strong they can chew metal blades to rags, and strength capable of flying for a thousand miles. The monstrous goddess of Japanese mythology with a foul contrarian temper who loves to go against the crowd and do exactly the opposite of what is expected

"Amanozako..." She whispered breathlessly in awe.

The logical part of her mind screamed at her that it was dangerous and she should retreat as far as possible. Yet the more instinctual part of her was completely calm, sensing no bloodlust or anything of the sort from the Curse. Despite how threatening Amanozako appeared, it seemed to be compliant to the noirette who manifested the Special Grade Curse. Which was surprising to her since she's heard of the goddess' unrelenting temper and pickiness.

She simply stared at the goddess, not knowing what to do nor how to unsummon it. She didn't even have the slightest idea of what she did. All that was in her mind right now was chaos and confusion, along with the thought of how she should proceed for the future. The Curse tilted its head at its puzzled creator, as if asking what was the problem. Call her crazy but she actually thought Amanozako actually looked like a lost puppy for a second.

The mythological goddess leaned down obediently as the girl eyed her curiously, reaching out to pat the newborn curse. Her silver orbs were practically sparkling as she felt the Curse's lustrous hair, pleasantly in awe by the hair quality. Although internally sweatdropping at the ravenette's childish actions, the Curse didn't bother to stop her since she seemed to be having the time of her life. It's definitely not because it would feel guilty if it stopped her with that excited sparkly aura of hers, most certainly not.

Far too absorbed in her little head patting activity, the girl failed to notice how Amanozako tensed up as two strong presences approached them. She hurriedly whipped her head around, hearing the loud snap of a tree branch. Gleaming silver spheres met with cerulean blue and obsidian black, all three pairs with curiosity and wariness. Though clearly the two newcomers were more perplexed and baffled by the situation.

The sudden spike of Cursed Energy earlier was no joke from the amount alone, and no doubt the girl before them was the cause of it. Hence why they expected something far more dangerous. Imagine the bewilderment when they were greeted by the sight of a girl, younger than them, casually patting a Special Grade Curse's head like it was some kind of friendly neighborhood dog. And she didn't even stop as they stared wordlessly at her, only blinking owlishly like a child.

Suguru just knows this was the start of another chaotic chapter in their life when Satoru snapped out of his confusion and laughed like there was no tomorrow.