“What is a biwa?” Arad approached, looking at the strange device.

Isdis lifted the biwa, showing it to Arad, “This is a musical instrument, you pull the strings like this, and it makes a sound,”

DING! Isdis stroke the strings with her fingers, pulling on them with her nails. “I can use it to channel large spells like an arcane focus. Staves, wands, and orbs, you know them.”

“She’s a bard,” Aella said with a deep sigh, “I should have guessed,”

CLING! Isdis pulled her sword and laid the blade on the biwa strings, “Isdis Lior Ruris, The kingdom’s fifth princess and a spellsword bard.” She smiled.

ZIII! DING! “I cast Magic by playing the biwa. Not useful for sneaking around, but perfect for leaving an impression.”

Arad looked at her, “Magic through playing that thing?”

Magic delivered through sound and voice. It is the same as your roar’s frightful presence.

“Like this,” Isdis smiled, pulling on the strings. DING! “Dancing shadows upon the ice. Call the crows, cause death would be nice.”

CRACK! All the drinks in the shop froze solid, cracking some of the bottles behind the owner’s counter.

“This sell only affects liquids, but I can force you to freeze blood.” Isdis smiled, “But I specialize in buffing. I can play a song in the back and help you recover faster, hit harder, and feel less pain in the middle of a fight.”

Arad blinked twice, “You could have done it before, in the dragon fight.”

Isdis looked away, “Well, the spell is mental in its base form. But you had a ton of resistance that I won’t be able to affect you even if I wanted. Unless you allow me.”

“She needs the person’s consent to affect them with buff spells. Especially if they are stronger than her.” Aella looked at Arad, “But, be careful who you allow to touch your mind. Mind control spells are dangerous,”

Isdis looked at Arad, “Well, do you allow me to touch your mind? I will give some sweets buffs, and I promise not to look too deep inside.”

Let her do it. I would slap her if she went beyond giving you a buff.

“You can do it, but don’t look into my mind.” Arad stared at Isdis, “It’s for your own best interest.”

“Come on,” Isdis cried, “Seeing your mind would allow me to create better buffs tailored for you. Just a small peak will do,”

“I said no,” Arad stared at her, “Not even a bit,”

“Pretty please, let me have a tiny look at it.” Isdis stared at him.

“No,” Arad sighed, “Cast the buff, and I will let you look if I got to trust you more.”

Isdis smiled, lifting her biwa. DING!

With a single stroke, she felt her magic travel to Arad’s body. But she soon froze. It was too deep and dark.

^What is this?^ Isdis gasped. With normal humans, it’s usually as simple as popping a spell, and they get affected. But it’s different with Arad.

^It’s like pushing my hand into a dark hole without looking. I don’t know when I will touch the bottom.^

She started sweating. It was like standing on stairs in the dark. Not able to see anything. She lowers her foot, unable to touch the next step, so she ponders where it is. Will she touch a step, or fall into an endless abyss?

^I want to look so I can steer the magic, but he said not to.^ She grunted inside. “Arad, can I take a look at your mind? I can’t steer the magic inside you.”

“It’s still no. Do it without looking at my mind, or stop the spell.” Arad growled, and Isdis sighed. ．

Thud! After a few seconds of playing the biwa, Isdis finally touched something inside Arad and could feel her magic activating.

^Ah! What a relief. It worked.^ She opened her eyes, seeing a massive black drakaina glaring at her.

DING! A droplet of water fell on the ground, sending a small wave as the whole sky lit with stars.

Didn’t Arad tell you not to look? Mom growled.

Isdis stared at Mom, sweating.

^This existence, heavy and powerful…^ CLAP! She clenched her palms together. ^BLAST!^

Isdis sent a magic blast toward Mom and jumped back, noticing the two curses beneath her wings. ^Three parasites, a dragon, a vampire, and a werewolf. I need to banish them,^

Thud! Isdis gasped, seeing the vampire shadow standing beside her. ^He’s fast,^ She swung her arm, but the vampire dodged and kicked her to the ground.

CRACK! Isdis felt the heavy hit on her chest as she barely stood up. ^KEEP A DISTANCE!^ She shouted, forcing the vampire to stand away for a second.

Thud! The werewolf jumped forward, swinging his claw at Isdis’s shoulder, sending her flying toward Mom.

CRACK! Mom smacked Isdis down with her tail.

“GAH!” Isdis gasped outside, falling on her shaking knees, “I almost died. What is that?” She stared at Arad.

“What happened to you?” Arad looked at Isdis, confused. To him, she only took a second from casting to falling on her knees.

^He’s cursed, really badly.^ Isdis thought, ^Forget the vampire and werewolf. Those aren’t too bad. The problem is that the large dragon. It’s affecting his mind and soul.^

“Arad, can we speak?” Isdis looked at Arad, “That thing inside you, do you know what it is?”

Arad blinked, “AH! You looked inside me and met Mom. She said she would slap you if you looked inside,”

“Mom? You think that thing is your mother?” Isdis stared at Arad, confused, “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure. It’s our void nature.” Arad replied.

Isdis stood, scratching her. “I’m not trying to be rude, but she looked like a parasite, a curse eating away at your mind and slowly changing it.” She looked at Arad’s face, “It might be better for you not to listen to her. Try acting on your own will,”

“Mom has more experience as a void dragon than me. I will listen to her as most of the time, she’s right.” Arad growled.

“You do you. That is what she looked to me with my current knowledge. So I might be wrong.” Isdis sighed, sitting on a chair.