As if struck by lightning, Abigail's body went rigid in an instant. Every movement, breath, and sound was violently stripped from her by excruciating pain.
She did not even manage a scream before her body went limp.
It was as though a silent explosion had erupted in her heart. Countless steel needles pierced outward at once, puncturing blood vessels, tearing through her lungs, and stabbing through her stomach and throat.
She opened her mouth futilely, yet could not draw in even a trace of oxygen. Only a heavy stench of blood surged back up, clogging her throat.
Her vision warped and shattered in the agony, while scenes flashed before her eyes like a revolving lantern—
Rolando Stern had hesitated before slowly saying, "...When those children are sent to the training base, the Leader... I mean, Leader Thorne... has someone leave a curse over their hearts..."
"If they ever choose to betray the organization or reveal its secrets, the curse activates immediately and causes them to bleed to death internally. The process is extremely fast and takes place inside the body. Even wizards... can do nothing to stop it."
Abigail could even hear her own voice—
"So?" the woman had asked coldly. "Don't tell me I have one of those curses over my heart too?"
"How could that be?" Stern had seemed to smile. "Abigail, you joined the organization of your own will. Your conviction is firmer than anyone's. A warrior like you needs no unnecessary shackles."
The smile on that usually cautious, gentle face had carried a deeper meaning, but Abigail had not noticed.
Liar!
She had been deceived, from beginning to end!
There clearly was such a shackle over her heart!
Perhaps it had been there from the very beginning... or perhaps, later, whenever she had shown doubt,