The Search for Freedom

Her words sounded interesting. It wasn't totally boring being with a powerful friend like Alicia, although there was something messing up my mind. It was the reason that I didn't know why she told me to kill the constable, though we both knew there were other ways to solve the problem. Especially since she was powerful and killing someone was an immoral way to fasten someone's lips. Maybe there was a heavy reason why Alicia told me to do that, so I didn't waste an opportunity to ask.

"Well, I know you're merciful, and that's your weakness, so we need to remove that from you. If you're asking the reason, it's a part of how you can get rid of the curse." Alicia tried to explain it, though it was incomprehensible and made me slowly scratch my head.

"Still, I don't understand the way to be free. I have been asking you about it many times, but you're just making me wonder," I complained.

"Oh, sorry, I had forgotten to tell you about it," Alicia replied. "But are you sure you're willing to do it, whatever it takes? Think about the word 'whatever it takes,' because it needs your consideration."

I thought for a while and said, "Just give me a second."

I walked towards the balcony. Alicia was a little bit lazy that she could also teleport herself from one place to another, and she used it to emerge beside me. I was more baffled as to what really was the only way to get rid of the curse. Maybe it would risk my life and waste my opportunity to live. She had been telling me to be strong and brave for that, without even telling me what it was. But what could not kill me made me stronger, so I decided to risk everything in order to be free. "Yeah, I'm ready to die, and I will do whatever it takes to get rid of this curse," I remarked in a brave manner.

"Oh! That's what I like about you, because you are so brave, and that's undoubtedly your courage. That was also the reason why I chose to put that curse on you, because you can help me."

"Shhh-don't mention that again. Now tell me: how to be free?"

"The only way to get rid of that curse isn't by risking your own life but the lives of other people. You will need to risk the lives of a hundred people in order to get rid of that curse. Now tell me if you're really sure you can risk a hundred lives just to get the thing you solely hope for."

The words "a hundred lives of people" echoed many times in my ears. I was thinking if it was the only way to get rid of the curse, but I heard that Alicia clearly said it was. I knew that it would be a big challenge for me. How could I be so inconsiderate to do that?

"I know your weakness is attacking you again, but that's the only way. And if you won't do it, the curse won't set you free as long as you're breathing. Moreover, if you can't kill a hundred people by yourself, the curse will be the one to kill people, and it might kill more than just a hundred, but thousands or more. As long as you are alive, it will always wake you up from your slumber. You don't have any refuge. It will stay forever in every vein of your body. Can you see squeamish things every day?"

I was eventually enlightened about what it really meant. I needed to kill a hundred people in order to be free. Though it was difficult for me, I didn't have other choices. I thought it would be better to kill a hundred people with my own hands than to let the curse kill thousands by itself.

However, I didn't want to stain my hands with the blood of innocent people. I knew there was another easy way to make it. Maybe I could choose the people whom I was going to kill if I used my own hands. The curse was even merciless; it killed anyone it wanted. I had an idea that would not make me feel more guilty about having committed a crime. Though life had no different price, it was better to kill wicked people who could do nothing in the world than kill those innocent

ones.

"So what's your take?" Alicia asked. "Are you willing to kill a hundred people to get rid of the curse? Or will you tolerate the curse which lives inside your body forever? That curse is like a toxin, slowly infiltrating your body until everything you own is affected, destroyed, and-" She had not finished her words when I interrupted.

"I'm willing to kill a hundred people with my own hands rather than thousands by this curse." I said those words bravely, though the tears from my eyes were rolling down my cheeks.

"Would you like to tell me why you chose it?" Alicia asked.

"I'm not a child to let the curse decide everything. It will be better to kill a hundred people to get rid of it, and also to give justice to my parents' death and to kick all of the bad people in this world."

"Good choice, you are totally a clever girl! Well, you can choose who to kill if you are the one who's controlling yourself, unlike when the curse is controlling your body."

"Yeah, unlike you, you are a little bit foolish. If you did not offer me a fake power, I'm not in a dilemma this time."

"Kaila, please, we should let bygones be bygones and have a good partnership. You already know why I needed to do that. Don't you have any sympathy for me? I have been strolling around for over 4,000 years; I'm exhausted. Though I'm already a spirit, I also need to rest in peace."

"Why won't you use your power to get rid of that curse?"