"So, tell me, why should I tell you anything, considering you thought I was a lunatic and refused to talk to me before?" Yarrow said, narrowing his eyes at her.
Serena swallowed hard, his words hitting her like a slap. She pressed her lips together, saying nothing.
"And that phrase I shouted just now? Consider it a spell. Don't think you can use that one phrase to make me responsible for anything," Yarrow added, his tone casual.
"Huh? Who—who wants you to take responsibility?! I know that much without you saying it!" Serena's face burned red as she turned away, her voice tinged with resentment.
"Consider that piece of the World-Forsaken Spell your reward. Besides, I shielded you from the curse just now, so we're even from now on!"
She sulked for a moment, but then, as the realization sank in, an unconscious smile bloomed on her face.
Finally… finally, she was human again. She could see her mother and father again.
She reached up to touch her head, but something felt off. Her fingers brushed against something soft and unfamiliar.
With a growing sense of dread, she tugged at the two furry appendages now perched atop her head.
"Wait… what—what are these?!"
"Ears, aren't they? Doesn't everyone have them?" Yarrow said matter-of-factly.
"Not those! Why do I still have bear ears?!" Serena's voice rose in panic.
As if struck by a terrible thought, she reached behind her and grabbed at the base of her spine.
Sure enough, a small, furry tail twitched under her touch.
"Did I… become a beastkin?" she muttered in disbelief, her expression frozen in shock.
"Be content, child. At least you look somewhat human. Your teacher said there was originally no way to undo this curse at all," Yarrow said, attempting to console her.
Serena slumped, her shoulders drooping. "How am I supposed to go back and face my parents like this…?"
"Actually, you look pretty cute like this. Do you know what 'moe' is? Beast ears are kinda—"
Serena shot him a withering glare. Yarrow wisely shut his mouth.
"So, what do you want to do about your teacher?" he asked after a pause.
"I don't know yet. I never thought I could actually beat her…" Serena murmured. Then, something clicked in her mind, and her gaze snapped to the pile of clothes on the ground.
"Where's Teacher?"
Yarrow followed her gaze—and froze. The calico dog was gone.
"Probably went somewhere to pee," he muttered.
A sharp sound of glass shattering rang through the cave. Both of them turned their heads in alarm.
Alisa, in her canine form, was clambering onto Serena's alchemy cabinet, her small jaws clamped around a potion bottle.
"What is she doing?" Yarrow asked, a sinking feeling creeping over him.
Serena's face went pale. "That bottle… it's a magic-enhancing potion! Teacher hasn't lost her memory!"
Yarrow's stomach dropped. "Even though she's a dog, how could she still…?"
Then, dread settled in as he recalled a key detail from Fake Cultivation: If the magic level between the copied objects is too different, the effect of the copied spell will be weakened.
His curse hadn't fully taken hold. Alisa still retained her human consciousness—and her magic.
"Damn it! I should've finished her off when I had the chance!" Yarrow clenched his fists, but it was too late.
The calico dog swallowed the potion in one gulp.
A surge of dark red energy exploded from her small body, sending a shockwave through the cave. Bookshelves shattered, potions smashed, and debris flew in every direction. Yarrow and Serena were thrown off their feet, tumbling across the cold stone floor.
Groaning, Yarrow pushed himself up, wincing as he clutched his aching head. He looked up—and his breath caught in his throat.
The creature floating mid-air was no longer a dog. Twisted energy crackled around her as her body grew grotesquely, her bloodshot eyes gleaming with rage. Her fur bristled, her form distorting beyond recognition.
Then, she spoke.
"Serena."
A guttural voice, dripping with hatred.
"Look at me now. Look at what you've done!"
Alisa roared, unleashing a beam of magic straight at Serena.
In an instant, Yarrow lunged forward, grabbing Serena and shoving her aside. They tumbled against the rock wall, just as the ground where she had stood erupted in an explosion of fire and light.
"Damn it! Wasn't she supposed to love animals? Why is she mad about being one now?!" Yarrow gritted his teeth, rubbing his head.
"You—don't worry. You'll die soon," Alisa snarled, her voice a twisted growl. "I'll make sure you beg me to let you die! I'll make you suffer so much you'll regret ever being born!"
Black beams of magic erupted from her, converging upon them like death itself.
Serena sprang into action, raising a shimmering barrier just in time. The dark magic collided with the protective shield, sending cracks rippling across its surface.
"What about your teleportation spell?!" Yarrow shouted.
"I can't use it! She's gathered all the surrounding magic sources—I don't have enough power to teleport!" Serena gritted her teeth, sweat beading on her forehead as she struggled to maintain the barrier.
Yarrow clenched his jaw. "Then run!"
Without another word, he scooped Serena up and bolted for the cave's exit.
Serena, still holding up her barrier with one hand, freed the other to launch a desperate counterattack, sending a shock spell crackling through the air.
Behind them, Alisa roared, the cave trembling with her fury.
But the target was not Alisa—it was the stalactites above her.
The shockwave struck them, sending a cascade of jagged stalactites crashing down. However, another burst of raw magic exploded from Alisa's body, shattering the falling debris before it could reach her. The sheer force of her magic sent tremors through the cave.
"It's collapsing!"
Chunks of rock rained down. Gritting his teeth, Yarrow held Serena tightly and sprinted toward the cave entrance, pushing his body to the limit.
As they neared the exit, the first rays of light came into view. Just as they were about to break free, Serena's magic barrier shattered under a blast of energy. The force of the explosion hurled them outward, sending them tumbling into the open air.
Yarrow hit the ground hard, rolling several times before slamming into a tree. Gasping, he pushed himself up, clutching his aching ribs. His hand instinctively went to his chest—
The World-Forsaken Spell was gone.
Ignoring the pain, he scanned the area and spotted the spell lying near the cave's entrance. Relief surged through him, but before he could take a step toward it—
Boom!
The cave entrance exploded outward, jagged rock flying in all directions. A thick wave of dark red energy poured out like a living force of rage. From within the swirling magic, the monstrous figure of the calico dog emerged, eyes burning with hatred.
"Ugh..."
A soft groan came from his left. Yarrow turned to see Serena struggling to stand, her body still weak from the transformation. She barely managed to push herself up before collapsing again.
Yarrow's gaze flicked between the World-Forsaken Spell, Alisa's advancing figure, and Serena's crumpled form.
He had to choose—
(Damn it!) You're really messing with me here!"
Yarrow roared in frustration but made his decision in an instant. He dashed toward Serena, scooping her up in one swift motion.
"You..." Serena looked up at him, wide-eyed, stunned that he had chosen her over the spell.
[Serena's favorability increased by 20.]
"Damn it! I just threw away my chance at a peaceful life for you, and you only give me this little?!" Yarrow shouted as he carried her, breaking into a full sprint toward the legendary anchor point at the foot of the mountain.
Behind them, Alisa, shrouded in dark energy, let out a piercing snarl and surged forward with lethal intent.
Just as Yarrow was about to give up all hope, a flash of silver streaked across the sky. In a breathtakingly elegant motion, a thick, scaly tail swung through the air and struck Alisa with immense force, sending her flying.
Yarrow skidded to a halt, staring in disbelief at their unexpected savior.
Long, silvery-white hair, small wings, a powerful tail shimmering with scales, and a face of ethereal beauty.
"Zen?"
Standing before them was none other than the Silver Moon Dragon King—Zen—now in the form of a young girl.
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