"Hehe, but now since you're in my house and my uncle fed you, doesn't that mean we're already friends?" She accompanied those words with a stupid grin

"Euggh. You can call it that" 

"Gehee~ C'mon sentrik don't be shy~ we're practically besties now!"

"We're 'friends' NOT besties" 

"Ooooh!! you said it!! Haha! we're friends!" She gave me a playful smirk and poked my shoulder a couple of times

"Shut up." 

It was midnight, I heard crickets singing and Reelthrine and Uncle Yu had been in their rooms already so I had to assume it was midnight since the sky is always bleak and dark

I couldn't get a wink of sleep, I kept thrashing on the bed, trying different positions but despite the warm and soft welcoming embrace of the bed, I just couldn't sleep

So I grabbed my satchel and took out the old book

'Damn I already missed my sketchpad'

The old book had a high grade leather cover with each of it's corners reinforced with silver steel, I could tell it old by looking at the worn leather spine and it's pages looking like papyrus scrolls

I opened the old book, the first page was empty. As I flipped another page I was greeted by a small paragraph

["I've worked on this book my whole life since I got here and throughout my research I've documented cures for curses down to the list of blessings and how to use them, I've dreamt of curing all the Accursed here in Secrund, for all to experience a slice of heaven in Aldibe. This Book is dedicated to that"]

I rubbed my eyes a couple times, but I didn't misread that 

'This book has the cure to curses? This is just…very convenient'

I had to keep this a secret for now, there'd be no way for Uncle Yu and Reelthrine to believe me if I say ‘I got a cure for your curses!’ out of nowhere while holding a book that has the dream demon's symbol who literally gives out curses

I flipped more pages and found more things that fascinated me and with that throughout the whole night, I binge read an old book, but because of how thick it was I didn't even reach half of it by the time I passed out reading

The smell of savory meat woke me up, I didn't know how long or short I slept; the sky was as usual bleak and dark

I rose up from my bed and took the book that was on my face a second ago into my satchel, I walked out of my room and the smell of garlic and melted butter filled the kitchen, I became very hungry despite I rarely eat at breakfast due to the lack of appetite

“Good Afternoon Sentrik, I’m making garlic butter steak for lunch, Reelthrine was able to hunt down a boar yesterday” Uncle Yu then happily cooks the steak in garlic butter, my mouth already watery from the sight. On the dinner table was Reelthrine sadly eating her mouse and roach dish

“It’s afternoon?” I asked as I looked at the window, seeing nothing but dark skies

“Yes, well that’s what I think it is, we can only rely on our internal clocks to tell what time it is even if time do not exist in Secrund, it helps with boost morale” Uncle finishes his cooking gave me a platter of bite-size steak pieces covered in its own juicy sauce, the smell of butter and garlic mixed made my stomach growl

“Don’t be shy now, I already ate” Uncle Yu said, so I carefully took the platter of delicious goodness and went towards the dinner table

“Afternoon Sentrik!” Reelthrine greeted me then she ate a spoonful of questionable rat meat with roaches

“How are you still eating that?” 

“How rude, I eat this as a way of getting energy and I’m hungry, It’s not that I like it. Lucky for you, you're eating Uncle Yu’s signature steak!”

“I was only asking out of curiosity, Don’t mind me” I slowly put a piece that was marinated in melted garlic butter, the meat was so tender and juicy, I couldn’t help but feel very satisfied

Reelthrine gives a cold stare as I ate even more

"What? Do you want some?" I asked

"No. I can't eat normal human food, remember?" she says as she eats more of her food

"How? Does it hurt if you do so?" Her curse piqued my interest. How can a person be able to do daily activities when their diet consists of only mice and roaches? I wanted to know

Reelthrine stabbed a piece of steak with a fork and as she was about to put it in her mouth, the food instantly vanish out of thin air

"What?? where did it go???" I loomed around my plate and it was still missing the piece Reelthrine ate

"Surprised? well you should be! everytime human food goes near to my mouth, it instantly vanish" She answered

"That's a waste of good food…" I regretted making her eat the steak Uncle Yu cooked for me

"Hehe~ How 'bout I eat all of your food huh? Sentrik?" She gave me an evil smile

"Hey no way! This is mine!"

"Oh c'mon Sentrik my best! best friend!" She leans in closer with her hand stretching out to grab my food, I took my plate away from her grubby hands as she tries to make them disappear, I obviously try to stop her by using my free hand as an obstacle

Uncle Yu comes in and sits on the chair in front of me, he happily smiles at me with his finger locked together under his chin, I didn’t notice him due to how stubborn Reelthrine was

“Ah Uncle Yu I didn’t notice you there” My ears turned red from embarrassment 

‘Has he always been there watching us?? I didn't do anything wrong did I?’

"It's fine, seeing Reelthrine and you get along, makes me happy" Uncle Yu said

"We’re not-"

"Hmph, well since my greedy best friend wouldn't let me eat his food, I'll just continue eating mine" Reelthrine pouts and sits down then she devours her food, I guess she is jealous that I'm having the best food Uncle Yu could make while she's eating well that rat meat

"Anyways Sentrik…" Uncle Yu was silent for a moment after a while he spoke again

"Are you sure you'll be out, finding your sister?" He said

Ah. Right. Due to their kind hospitality I'm receiving from them. I was a bit distracted… Apart from my pleasant dreams, They were the only two who gave me this much company

"You know you can stay here with us, stay as long as you want to until you make up your mind" Uncle Yu may look twenty-five but I'm sure throughout those one hundred year lifespan he had, he must have been lonely

I wouldn't mind spending a few more days here, with Reelthrine and eating Uncle Yu's delicious meals. It'd be better than living what I used to have

Nevertheless, I need to find my sister, the growing guilt I have would eat me alive if I continue living here

"I have to go. I need to find my sister, she's the only family I have that matters" I said with determination, I don't feel bad rejecting Uncle Yu's offer nonetheless I'm thankful

"I knew this was coming, so let me tell you what you might be up against when you travel" 

"Thank you"

To summarize what Uncle Yu told me, there are mostly Accursed who will murder me if I either get lured or get spotted. Accursed varies in many classes of danger but the most dangerous class of them all are [Morphose]. These were Accursed that are overtaken by their curse and have fully transformed into something non-human.

There are also Animal Accursed such as Greater wolves, Hound Beetles and etc. Overall I just need to be careful

I prepared myself and took some bandages, I fully loaded my satchel and once more I was setting off

"Ah before you go, here a map" Uncle Yu gave me a small map, it targeted locations that are safe and dangerous, this was the best help I've got so far, so I thanked Uncle Yu, said my goodbyes and went out

"Uncle Yu I… nevermind."

"Reelthrine…" Uncle Yu looked at her as he patted her head

"You don't have to worry about me, I'm more than capable of taking care of myself" He gave Reelthrine a warm smile before hugging her tightly in his arms

"I love you Uncle" are the words she left for him as she came running out the door; never looking back

"HEY SENTRIK!" I heard someone shouting my name from behind, I already knew who it came from so I ran as fast as I could hoping she'll leave me alone

"Slow down bestie!" 

"Go away!!"

"There's no way I'm leaving you alone out here, you're practically squishy!!" She ran faster than I could as expected of a tiger-cat girl

“I gotcha!”

"Please leave me alone" My stamina betrays me, I couldn't run anymore so I slowed down and started power walking

"Let's go on an adventure alright Sentrik?" She gave me a nudge on the arm with her elbow as she smiled like a buffoon

"Shut up" 

"I'll take that as a yes"