I Can Copy Curses

Chapter 354: 354. A Blank Paper

Orion became intrigued. Now that he thought about it, there had to be a significant reason for the Black Reaper guild to pull off something like this.

"Tell us, then," Orion said in a reassuring manner. "Let's hear what excuse they have for what they did to you."

Tracy nodded and began recounting how it all started.

"When I was looking for a guild to join, I participated in a test prepared by the five major guilds. But during the test, something strange happened. A piece of paper, I don't know if it was blank or not, suddenly flew toward me. Several men were chasing it, but the page went straight into me and attached itself to my arm."

She held her arm and pointed to her right palm, where a rectangular paper mark could be seen.

"When the paper entered my body, members of the Black Reaper guild were nearby and saw everything. They apprehended the men chasing the page and invited me to join their guild."

Tracy looked away, avoiding Orion's gaze.

"Because of our situation at home, I didn't think much and joined their guild. I don't know what they discovered about the page, but they asked me to fake my death. I refused, but they still did it without my consent."

She added, "I thought my life was over, but instead, they started treating me very well. However, I wasn't allowed to have a halowatch or leave the guild. They kept me inside to increase my rank. Eventually, they had to let me go to the Hunter Association to sign officially, but even then, many guild members followed me closely."

She looked at Orion. "When I entered the Hunter Association, they waited outside. And it was there that I met you, Big Brother."

Orion nodded, maintaining a straight face, though his mind was racing.

'She mentioned the page, and the dream where I was told to find blank pages... Could they be connected?'

He knew coincidences happened, but this felt too connected. Learning about the blank pages and finding the imprint on Tracy's palm on the same day was suspicious.

'If it's not a coincidence, then the page inside Tracy might be one of the blank pages the voice in my head wanted me to find.'

Orion examined the rectangular imprint on Tracy's palm.

"Can I touch it?" he asked gently.

"Of course, Big Brother. It doesn't hurt me," Tracy replied, thinking Orion was asking to avoid hurting her.

Orion nodded and reached out to touch the imprint, his fingers brushing lightly over its surface.

The moment his skin made contact, a sudden surge of energy coursed through the air. The imprint beneath his hand glowed with an intense, blinding white light, illuminating the entire chamber.

The brightness was so overwhelming that Orion, along with Tracy and Erza, instinctively shut their eyes, shielding themselves from the brilliance.

When the light finally dimmed and they cautiously opened their eyes, what greeted them was nothing short of extraordinary.

Hovering in the air before them was a single page, delicate yet mesmerizing. The parchment floated effortlessly, as if defying gravity. Its color was unlike anything they had ever seen— a blend of faded yellow and earthy brown, hinting at the passage of time.

The edges of the page were worn and curled, suggesting it had been lost or hidden for an incalculable number of years. Intricate designs and symbols ran along its borders, faintly glowing with a soft, ambient light.

It exuded an aura of ancient wisdom and mystery.

"Wow, Big Brother, how did you do that?" Tracy asked in amazement, staring at the floating page.

"I'm wondering that myself," Orion replied in shock. "I just touched the imprint, and the page came out."

He couldn't explain how the page emerged from Tracy's palm, but he suspected it had something to do with his dream.

"Is this page one of the cosmic wonders?" Erza asked, sensing the ancient aura.

"I don't know, but it's definitely a treasure. The Black Reaper guild must have known about it, which is why they faked Tracy's death," Orion said, piecing the situation together.

"Don't touch the page for now," he added cautiously. "I fear—"

Before he could finish, the page disappeared.

"It vanished!" Tracy and Erza exclaimed in shock.

"And I think I know where it went," Orion said, holding up his palm for them to see.

Erza and Tracy's eyes widened as they saw the imprint that was previously on Tracy's palm had now appeared on Orion's.

"Big Brother, how did it go inside you?" Tracy asked, worried.

"Beats me," Orion shrugged. "But if it reacted to my touch and transferred from you to me, it might have some connection to me."

Erza nodded. "That could be the case. Maybe the page recognizes you as its master."

Orion raised his eyebrows. "No, I don't think it's one of the primordial cosmic wonders. If it were, diamond-rank experts and above would have sensed it."

"I hadn't considered that," Erza said, shaking her head. "It's probably best if you don't tell anyone about the imprint or what just happened."

"Believe me, I'm good at keeping secrets," Orion smiled, then turned to Tracy. "Alright, get some rest. I'll need you at full strength tomorrow."

Tracy nodded, smiling.

Orion then turned to Erza. "Let's go."

She nodded.

After they left, Tracy locked the door and went straight to sleep.

***

Orion and Erza parted ways, each heading to their rooms.

Sitting on his bed, Orion examined the imprint on his palm.

He touched it lightly, and once again, the page appeared before him, glowing with white light.

'I can summon it at will?'

Orion was surprised.

'But what is its use?'

The page was blank, and the voice in his head had told him it was supposed to be blank. Did that mean it was entirely useless?

'Don't tell me it's just a piece of blank paper.'

Orion would curse the seven generations of whoever asked him to find the blank pages if they turned out to be nothing more than empty sheets.

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