The second female lead Dual Cultivates

Maria felt almost hesitant to even step ahead into the field. Her steps felt like they would break the magic of this place and render it back to how it had been.

"Are you lost? Don't worry and step right up. I'm sure my sister can help you out since she's the best at everything she does" Maria totally did not jump at the appearance of the sudden voice at her side and if anyone would ask her she would deny it as well.

But the child that sat on her two legs, crouching down in front of Maroa certainly appeared out of nowhere. The young girl looked to be around six, her cheeks still having the baby fat and her eyes still having their innocence of youth.

She was a cute girl, if not a little weird. And she had totally scared Maria by appearing out of nowhere. And she also seemed to have no sense of property as she took Maria's hand in her one and pulled her along.

The house door opened with a bang as the red-clad girl forced her way through with Maria on her toe after her. Maroa followed, wondering when the kid's family would barge in on them and stop her antics.

"Come here. There is my sister" the child pointed and Maria prepared herself for an awkward conversation with the kid's family. She also needed to ask for permission to stay in the home for a little while and gain her resources back to a decent enough level.

But all thoughts fled her mind as her eyes met with life-less dull ones of a doll. It was not even a realistic doll, but a mismatched heap of fabrics woven together to give a semblance of a human shape.

Maria chewed her lower lip to not let a screen out as her eyes met the abomination but a squeak did escape her lips. She must not cry out.

"What's wrong? Did my sister say something to you? Don't worry, I can make her keep quiet" Maria could not believe her eyes when she watched the doll flinch at those words. She looks at Maria with a pain-filled gaze but Maria did not know how to help her out.

And it did not look like the little one was even aware of what she was doing to the person in front of her. Because that was what a doll felt like to Maria - a human caught up in a curse and all because of a small child who seemed to not even be aware she had such power in her.

"No. Nothing is wrong. How long have you been staying here alone?" Maria asked as she broke eye contact with the doll in front of her. She could not keep looking at it and still maintain her cool. It was just too tragic to think of the outcome.

However, her voice came out stronger than she had anticipated and Maria felt thankful for it. She was not sure she would have been able to keep her cool for long.

"Silly. I'm not alone since I've got my sister. She is often quiet and withdrawn and doesn't even feel like my sister most of the time but I love her. She loves me as well" the kid sounded sure of herself.

Maira let her have this, not breaking her delusion about her sister. She could see the sacred and disappointed expression on the doll's face. The other had given up hope.

"I see. And how long had it been? It must be difficult to live here with just you two" Maria asked as she walked after the kid. She was being dragged away after the small body with a force she had not expected.

Maria wanted to take her hand back but her instincts told her that it was not a good idea. That was the only reason Maria followed after the kid. However, there was something weird about this house itself.

"Yura has been alone ever since her birth so Yura doesn't mind the quietness. Yura also had her sister with her till she went away so Yura made sure to get a new one. People don't come near Yura's home and Yura was warned not to venture too far away from her home" the kid explained.

Yura's expression reminded Maria of a kid trying to be impatient but not having enough mental capacity to be able to pull it off. The kid already looked like she wanted to run around and have fun.

"Who told you this-" Maria did not get to finish her words. The magic surrounding her surged in panic and lashed out. It was too weak to do anything but it did serve as a warning for her not to open her mouth.

Maria quickly shut up, not wanting to enrage the magic around her. It was healing her and keeping her alive after all. And as soon as Maria quieted down, so did the magic.

It was an abrupt change in pressure and Maria's lungs did not appreciate the change. She coughed to get enough air in and decided to head the warning for now.

"Are you alright? You got sick all of a sudden" Maria wanted to tell the kid that it was not 'all of a sudden' but her throat got stuck when she tried. The magic was interfering again and making Maria unable to say anything aloud.

Whatever this girl was, she had to be important. The magic in this place was behaving weirdly and even by Maria's standards. She could not help but feel as if she had landed herself in a place she was not supposed to.

"I'm alright. I'm just a bit tired" Maria replied back. She did not feel tired but she did want to take a rest and gather her thoughts.

Her magic reserves were also starting to come back to her but they were still dangerously low. Maria wanted to ensure she was in the right mindset and had enough resources before she left the clearing.

"Ohhh. Has it been that late already? The sun settled as well" Maria stared at the girl for a few seconds in disbelief. Setting sun? It had just been shining brightly in the sky.

But when Maria picked up her head, her gaze fell on the setting sun which had not been there a few seconds ago. She was not sure what happened but it seemed to not have been a natural phenomenon.

Maria felt her head turn toward Yura's direction involuntarily and her instincts told her that she was responsible for this weird phenomenon's occurrence. Whatever the girl had done, it had affected the world itself and everyone living in here.