[Third Person Pov]
"The abnormal essence known as Curse is a warped, distorted excess of physical reality," Clark began calmly. "Grandma basically calls it 'creation's leftovers.' She's always had a strange but memorable way of explaining things—especially when she wanted Momo to understand—so she came up with an analogy that really stuck with me."
He shifted slightly as he spoke, recalling the memory fondly. "She said to imagine that the human body itself is creation, and that the food placed on a plate represents the physical reality needed for that creation to function. You eat until you're full, until your body has everything it needs. Once you're satisfied, you push the plate away. The food that remains is unnecessary, unwanted, and ignored."
Clark smiled faintly, a soft chuckle escaping him. "But that leftover food doesn't just disappear. It sits there. Over time it begins to rot—turning foul, moldy, blackened, and repulsive. According to Grandma, that rotting excess is what Curse is: the remnants of reality that creation no longer needs, left behind to decay."
"I see," Lala murmured softly. "I didn't know something like that even existed. Granny Seiko really does have a unique way of explaining things." She laughed quietly, her eyes shining with fascination as she looked up at Clark, clearly eager to hear more.
Encouraged, Clark continued without pause. "Curse is a substance that exists everywhere, much like air. Under normal circumstances, it's incredibly weak—so weak that most people go their entire lives without ever noticing it. But when Curse begins to gather, when its concentration and density increase enough, it can cause abnormal phenomena to manifest."
His tone grew more serious. "One of the most dangerous effects of high Curse density is its interaction with human will. Strong emotions—desire, obsession, desperation—can imprint themselves onto the Curse. When that happens, it can begin to influence reality in subtle but unnatural ways, bending circumstances so that a person's wishes or desires are granted… though rarely in a clean or harmless manner."
He paused briefly before clarifying. "At normal levels, Curse only has the faintest influence. Someone who constantly wishes for something might experience a barely noticeable increase in the odds of it happening—but the difference is so small that it's practically meaningless. It's nowhere near enough to truly grant a wish. That's why Curse is largely ignored by the general population. Most people don't even know it exists, because areas with low Curse density rarely experience abnormalities."
As Clark spoke, Lala leaned fully against his chest, her eyes drifting closed. She gently took his large hands and wrapped them around herself, relaxing into his warmth. With each word he spoke, she felt the steady rise and fall of his chest, the faint rumble of his voice vibrating through him.
"Like any natural phenomenon," Clark went on, "Curse fluctuates depending on environmental conditions. Its density changes constantly, almost like the weather. Some days and places have higher concentrations, others lower. Areas with fewer people tend to have weaker Curse levels, simply because there aren't enough shared thoughts or emotions to influence it."
He tilted his head slightly as he explained, settling into the rhythm of his lecture. "But when high Curse density combines with a person's powerful desire, it can result in the creation of an Amasogi—a wish-granting tool born from Curse itself. It exists for one purpose only: to fulfill the desire of its host, no matter the cost." Clark said before he started to explain the difference between a Tsugumomo and an Amasgi like he did for the Miku, Ichika, and Nino in the library.
He suddenly stuck out his tongue and groaned lightly when he was done for the moment. "Ugh… I don't think I've ever talked this much before."
Lala giggled softly, clearly comfortable where she was. "Don't stop," she said warmly. "Keep going. I'm listening."
Clark let out a slow breath, but he complied. "Between Curse and Amasogi is where aberrations are born. When objects—or even living beings—are exposed to an overwhelming concentration of Curse, they can become twisted into dangerous entities. These beings disrupt their surroundings and often bring chaos with them."
He explained further, "The most common aberrations fall into two categories. The first are Minor Monsters—animals or creatures that have been corrupted by Curse's negative influence. The second are Amasogi themselves, created when desires take shape through unnatural means."
Clark's voice lowered slightly. "What makes aberrations especially dangerous is that they interfere with the natural circulation of Curse. They draw it toward themselves, increasing the local Curse density and making it far more likely for additional aberrations to form. It becomes a vicious cycle."
Finally, he concluded, "That's where the Gods of the Land come in. They're responsible for purifying Curse within their domains, making sure it doesn't spiral out of control. When things get bad, they send out exorcists—people like Granny Seiko—to deal with aberrations and restore balance."
Clark finished with a tired sigh, clearly relieved to be done.
"Does Granny Seiko have one?" Lala asked after a moment, tilting her head slightly as she looked up at him. "A Tsugumomo, I mean. Is it that bat she always carries around with her?"
Clark blinked, then shook his head. "No, she doesn't. She doesn't really like them, actually—or rather, she's mostly indifferent toward them, but for very specific reasons." A faint grin tugged at his lips as he continued. "For starters, she calls them crutches."
Lala raised an eyebrow, listening intently.
"Most people who possess spiritual power," Clark explained, "have a hard time controlling it on their own. Because of that, they end up relying heavily on a Tsugumomo to stabilize or amplify their abilities. According to Grandma, it's the easiest way to become an exorcist… but also the fastest way to die."
He shrugged slightly. "She says people grow too dependent on them. They forget to properly refine their own skills, their own senses, their own power. When something goes wrong and the Tsugumomo can't help them anymore, they're completely unprepared."
Clark let out a quiet huff of amusement. "She also thinks it's inhumane—using yōkai to fight other yōkai. That old woman can be incredibly stubborn and old-fashioned when she wants to be." He paused briefly before adding, "There are a few other reasons, but those are the main ones why she keeps her distance from them."
Lala grew quiet, her expression turning thoughtful. She stared up at him, eyes unfocused, as if an idea was slowly taking shape in her mind.
Clark noticed almost immediately. "What?" he asked, glancing down at her.
"I want to see you take down one of those aberrations," Lala said carefully after a moment, her voice gentle but resolute.
Clark blinked. "What? Why?" he asked, genuinely surprised as he looked at her.
She pressed her fingers together nervously, speaking a little more softly. "Well… you said it's been a while since you last did something like that. And you said you kind of miss it." She hesitated, then smiled faintly. "So I thought it might be something fun we could do together before finishing our date…"
"That's certainly one way to end a date," Clark scoffed, shaking his head with clear amusement. "Is that really something you want to do?"
Lala nodded enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him.
"…Alright," Clark said after a beat. "Let's finish this date with a climax."
Lala immediately puffed out her cheeks, struggling to suppress her laughter.
"That is not what I meant, you pervert," Clark said flatly as he reached out and tugged at her cheeks.
Lala burst into soft giggles, holding her face protectively as Clark scooped her up with ease and stepped back onto the cloud beneath them.
"Hold on tight," he said calmly.
She didn't hesitate, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and nestling into the crook of his neck.
In the next instant, Clark shot forward in a sudden burst of speed. The cloud they had been sitting on tore apart from the force of his departure, scattering into wisps as the air warped and twisted around them. The night sky rushed past, wind roaring in their wake.
Clark's eyes glowed with a sharp blue light as he activated his special vision, his perception shifting to reveal a hidden spectrum of energy that most beings could never perceive.
What Clark hadn't told Lala was that Curse itself was normally invisible.
Only the Gods of the Land possessed the ability to see it clearly.
With the sole exception of Clark Ayase, of course.
A secret that Granny Seiko had made him swear never to reveal to anyone.
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