Bottle of Stories (58)

Annie and Jayson were in the living room. Jayson is busy doing curl-ups. Annie was playing PSP, sitting on a small wooden stool to hold anchor Jayson's feet.

"Why do you need to exercise? It's late afternoon and you already did workout after the mass."

"Before I came into your world, I can do curl-ups without a thing holding my feet on the ground. My strength decreased because I have no one to spar with."

"Hmm... You should have asked Rey. He has a lot of acquaintances. For sure he will immediately find the right sparring partner for you."

She laid her gadget onto the sofa. Now that she remembered Rey, she can't think of anything besides the guilt for not telling the truth about the guardian of dreams.

"The curse was made by your friend's ancestor.

"But it resulted in a backlash on their bloodline. In every generation, their spirit gets weaker. Causing them to die from illness earlier than average humans.

"Your friend has the weakest spirit out of all his relatives. It triggered the protection made by the witch before doing the large-scale curse. The purpose of this is to preserve their bloodline."

"Is that protection related to his ability to manipulate aura?" asked Jayson. 

Annie raised her eyebrow because that was the first time she realized that Rey has this kind of talent. Using her pointing finger, she tapped her cheek consecutively. She was thinking if Rey said anything related to the revelation of the guardian

The guardian shook his head. "The true protection is the one he can't control. You knew it, Ms."

Annie was still busy digging her memories when a light bulb suddenly appeared above her head. "When he was living in a province, his neighbors always visit their house because miracles happen when they touch him. He said that he can cure unknown illnesses. Of course, I did not believe him because that sounds like a makeup story to me."

"That is why he is the only one who can open and close the bottle," explained the guardian.

"Every time the bottle was opened, the one inside the bottle was given an opportunity to use its abilities to bring us to other places. When it is closed his power gets cut off that's why we revert back to the place where we came from." Jayson theorized.

The guardian remained silent.

"If that's what happened why you can't go back to your world?" said Annie to Jayson.

"It's because of his promise." said the guardian.

"What promise are you talking about?" he asked like he is itching to know the truth.

"You'll realize it in the future. One promise to fulfill your two promises.

"Aren't you just using us for your personal gain? What if the living creature locked inside the bottle is dangerous. That's why he is cursed because he did something unacceptable to the witch."

"Be careful of what you say. You are talking about a guardian like me, who only did was to protect all the living creatures for years."

Jayson frowned. "You only said a while ago that you made a sin. And that concludes the fact that your friend has the possibility to made sin too. That's why he was cursed. A whole life sentence means that your people made a grave sin."

A wind suddenly rampages on their surrounding. The leaves started flying around following its direction.

Annie consciously closed her eyes so the dirt won't get inside it. She listened to their voices instead.

"Do you want to know the truth behind the curse?" said the guardian with a hint of authority.

Annie slightly raised her eyelid "Jayson, stop making him angry!"

Jayson was standing there. He was not fazed by the strong breeze. "Then show me please, Guardian of dreams. So my doubts will be gone."

"Hold my hand, and I'll show you how my friend was cursed."

~~~*List of Chapters*~~~