Agatha The Legendary Guild Master

'You are asking us to trust our entire lives to you based on your words alone, is that correct?' Gabri asked immediately after my answer.

'I think the relation between us is built over trust, as you trust me and I trust you. If you don't trust me with your entire lives based on my identity as your leader, then what are you three doing here with me?

You either fully trust me and be my trusted aides, or you go out right now and don't ever let me see you ever again. I hate traitors and cowards more. You have one minute to decide, either you go by my plan I just said or Rody leaves, or you three leave."

This wasn't something to be ignored easily, or treated lightly, mutual confidence I mean. I learnt a lot from my father in my kingdom, leading people in many ways.

You either use the sword or love, force or loyalty, submission or choice. Either way one must be honest and stuck to his own choice forever.

Each had its own pros and cons, however I belonged to the loyalty school, as did my father too. My grandfather always described the two of us as weaklings and soft hearted.

However I decided a long time ago that my aides must be loyal to me, they had to choose to follow me. That was one of the reasons that made me uncomfortable while dealing with Diana.

Although she was granted to me as my butler, she was forced in doing so and she was one of my enemies. I still had some difficulty in dealing with her, however I had to accept that.

That choice was also forced upon me, not by force but by greed. Who could refuse having such a lethal weapon under his service? He must be insane to refuse such a diamond, even if it was somehow toxic.

They stayed silent as I didn't rush them to answer. Last thing I needed was someone forced to be with me due to his friends or for fear of embarrassment.

I turned my attention again towards that master who was saying:

"Unfortunately there is no other way to learn about the description of the artifact except via the curse itself."

"Then how come you know some of its characteristics?"

"This was done by the hard way, as we had to sacrifice a lot of our workers and followers just to get these small info."

I understood what they had done. So they sacrificed their men by making them bound to the artifacts and then they would learn about the stats of these artifacts.

For now I had learned the history about my artifact, and now I needed to know more about the conditions and its curse.

"What about this curse then? What do you know about it?"

The master seemed to be enjoying himself by telling this part, as he grinned from ear to ear while saying:

"The sacred land curse is very poisonous, as most of the witch's curses require one condition, but this one requires more than one. To trap your enemies you need to spend coins, HP points of your own, plus equipment.

If you want to turn them into your own forces then you have to pay by the same currencies I just mentioned. That meant you have to work like a slave just to barely satisfy this curse's needs."

His words and his face irritated me, so I replied instantly:

"Then I would lock it up and never use it."

I wasn't serious in my words, as I didn't believe I would be subjected to any curse or severe conditions like this sly man said.

Despite my reply that I thought it might irritate him, he laughed loudly like I just told him a nice joke.

"I knew you would say that, but for your misfortune if you did so then you will be truly cursed. The curse wouldn't only affect you, but anyone related to you, like those lively young players here."

His words were poison as he figured out the debate inside my group. Although I knew he was trying to pour oil on fire, I didn't open my mouth again speaking to my men.

If they trusted me then I would be honored to have them by my side, if they didn't then it would be a shame. They would miss a great opportunity and this would turn to their losing turning point in their entire life.

"You didn't say what is the nature of this curse? Or you love to spread hatred with your foul mouth everywhere without any evidence?"

I knew he had info regarding this curse, but I wanted to show to my friends before him that I wasn't fazed or afraid of his curse. He got my meaning, I hoped my friends would get it too.

"You aren't afraid of the curse, I must show my respect to you. However you should be, even courage pales in front of this curse," he said.

"You still didn't tell me what this curse is?"

"It's a curse to your stats, and it has two layers. If you didn't use the artifact at all, then your stats will lose more than half permanently until you reuse it.

If you used the artifact and imprisoned your enemies inside without releasing them or making them yours then you will lose one third of your stats permanently until you take action towards your prisoners.

If you decide to release your prisoners then your stats will lose one percent permanently without any way to restore them. the only way not to be cursed is to turn all the prisoners into your men.

However doing so would make you cursed in another way, as you will have to use the three currencies. Let it go foolish girl, you are cursed either way no matter what you did.

And you don't need to follow a loser person like her, go and find new leaders for a better future or else…"

He was about to push my friends when my spear moved. If I showed any weakness then my friends wouldn't stay here and would doubt me. all I wanted from them was to trust me, if they didn't do that then it was a shame, a shame for me in trusting them in the first place.

The tip of my spear just pressed slightly over that poisonous snake neck as it caused a small cut wound in it. a thin line of blood appeared and that made him stop his nonsense.

As usual, I didn't turn to speak with them again as I let them take their whole time rethinking this over. That was painful to me, as I thought they would choose to trust me from the beginning.

It seemed I needed to be more careful, as they weren't really that trusted after all.

"Just mind your own business, or else."

I didn't need to continue as I pressed my spear more and he felt more pain. My message reached him, and now I had to know the most essential part, the part that I designed this plan for.

"I want you to tell me about all the rest of artifacts or curses that the witch had left and where to find them."

My question seemed unrealistic and illogical, as that master looked to me with doubt and hesitation. I joked as I added:

"Don't be afraid, I won't buy one curse and give it back to you."

My tone was playful and tricky that made his face change color. He knew I couldn't pull this alone, but if I asked for my master's help then I might be able to do so. He swallowed his throat and then said with slightly hoarse voice:

"Don't think about it, as I have the protection of my association, even your masters couldn't move a finger in front of them."

I knew he was afraid of me, and so I kept looking at him silently without even blinking. He retreated couple of steps to the back as he said:

"I-I will answer you this question then I will leave, is that good?"

I didn't answer him again, as he was in no position to ask or order me around. He has to answer all my questions until I'm satisfied, or else I will continue to press him hard or even hurt him.

One way or another I had to know everything about that witch's artifacts. She had left a group of artifacts behind with curses to those who weren't of her own blood.

She left them to me, and I was sure they were like a special set that had to serve a certain role. I needed them as that which had foreseen that, or else why would she care about entrusting these artifacts to certain resourceful people?

Why would she leave a curse behind over them to be activated on those who weren't part of her lineage?

Everything seemed connected logically with Shin's words from before, and everything was miraculously linked to the same conclusion.

I was one of the offspring of that witch, and these artifacts were mine, my right by birth.

*** I have prepared a MASS RELEASE event for the novel, please check it out, thx.***