The warmth of the sun, the buzzing of insects in the air, the flow of water down the waterfall, the smell of beautiful flowers in the atmosphere and the rustling of trees in the cool breeze. It was a perfectly normal day in the West of Larm. Well at least, it used to be one to Tsuna.
Ever since the invasion, things had been… different. The calming warmth the sun provided was now like walking in actual fire all the time, the insects in the air were now nothing more than pests that kept feeding on her body, the sound of gushing water only reminded her of what she believed she saw when she… when she… She didn’t even know what!
She had heard rumours from the goblins about what happened. About how the wicked witch had possessed her body during the invasion and this led to major losses. Anytime she asked Gorm about it, he would brush off her question with something else that was happening. This gave her many questions. Too many questions to the point she would sometimes just daze about during the day or stay up during the night. It was to the point she had started hearing voices in her head.
To top it off, ever since Gorm decided to become Hinotori’s servant, she had seen a weird screen in front of her. At first, she didn’t understand its purpose, but after much trial and error, she came to a conclusion as to what this blessing was.
A screen that displayed one’s growth with numerical values. With it one could tell how much potential they possessed and how much they needed to do to grow even stronger. It even gave tips on how to grow stronger. A detailed list of some of her abilities and skills, with descriptions as to what they do specifically, also opening her mind to some uses which she had no information on. It also delivered information that she had been seeking since the invasion.
The title |Cursed Vessel| meant that she was merely a vessel for a Curse Magic User to put something in. The items varied from knowledge to the very magic user’s soul. After piecing one and two together, she realized that she was the Second coming of Zatana everyone dreaded. She was the one thing that little gobs were taught to fear most. Something Elders had deemed taboo to speak off at a point.
This got her into one of her worst states ever. She was what one could term, a moody teenager. And this was one that did not share even the slightest bit of her true emotions with anyone. This caused her to have an episode in which she destroyed the cave of Ooo, ridden the residents of their homes.
Fortunately, at that moment, Hinotori had come back with a mansion, providing the residents a new home and food, making it safer for them than ever. Gorm managed to cover up her episode saying Hinotori had ordered her to destroy the cave and she was so excited to do it she forgot the others were in it. Luckily the others were so stupid they accepted the excuse without any resistance.
“If this is about Zatana, just stop thinking about it. She’s never coming back. Lord Goliath ensured that. And if she does, we’ll just kick her back to where she came from like before. So, simply rest easy and go back to being your normal self.”
These were the words Gorm spoke to her that stuck with her. They motivated her to move past all her feelings of simply being the doom of her people were gone. It felt like her mind was clearer now and she could focus.
So, in her current days, she spent most of her time in the library, researching ways to break a |Cursed Vessel|’s connection to their maker. If she could do that, she wouldn’t need to fear Zatana’s return. If possible, she could find a way to control Zatana to do her bidding instead. Ever since then, the days had been quite normal for her. Still, she had an unsettling feeling inside her chest. As if this was simply the calm before the storm. Even if the entire world seemed to be at their side, she simply felt like something bad would turn their worlds upside down for good.
This gut feeling of hers was proven right one night during a mass dinner Hinotori had made the norm. The Tyrant of the South had called for Hinotori and her army. That wasn’t good news in the slightest. Still, Hinotori had decided to go with only a handful of people saying that we would simply need to get ready just in case.
Once Hinotori left, there was no rest in the West. The rat men had sped up their tunneling and information about a necromancer and tensions in the south had reached the west via the rat men. The timber wolves had gotten more agitated, itching for some combat once again. The goblins had transformed into a decent enough army, under their five goblin captains and general. The bugs and guppies were no where to be seen.
Gorm had decided to increase their forces since they wouldn’t be receiving half as much help as they had the last time. The wolves informed them off the silver back pumas that roamed West without a king at the moment. Since they weren’t organized, it would be easy for the wolves to round them up and force them to submit.
That was what she had spent her day doing. Helping Gorm and the others subjugate the pumas and absorb them into Hinotori’s army.
“Tsuna. How are you feeling?”
Gorm asked from behind her and she lowered her head.
“I feel like something bad is about to happen.”
“What could possibly happen that’s worse than taking on a tyrant? For the second time… “
His voice only lowered as he kept speaking. It were almost as if he finally realized the magnitude of the situation they were in once again.
Tsuna sighed and brushed her shoulder against his lightly.
“Maybe you’re right. With Goliath on our side, nothing bad will happen.”
It was at this moment, that she knew she messed up.
Something inside her told her that what she said was the furthest from the truth they would get.
Her instincts were on point. It was truly the calm before the storm. Even worse, this was one storm even the Mighty Goliath could not protect them from. This terrifying storm came in the form of the Black Knight.
It all happened to quickly. Something descended. She went on the attack immediately.
She could feel it. The cold vacuum. The sound of a river of souls wailing for her to join them. Hands and legs of the damned scratching at her, trying to drag her away with them. Even more terrifying were the claws around her. The claws that seemed to say that she was not even worthy of joining the damned in the river.
She was dead again.
<A/N: Wasn't sure how to name this chapter tbh. "The Storm inside the Calm" or "The Calm before the Storm". I went with the former since I felt like this was just describing Tsuna's inner conflict which she thinks she has resolved, but was only leading to a growing obsession. Ugh, um, uh. haaa... well anticipate the next chapter? And give me your votes!
Also, this chapter came earlier because you gave me 300 ps.
300 power stones = +1 extra chapter
500 power stones = +2 extra chapters
1000 power stones = +4 extra chapters.
You can join the discord server here: https://discord.gg/Ew44jhbVym or message me on discord to get invited here: Rados47#5271 >
