The Strongest Curse Master

"Ace, what's the rush? Can't it wait?" Lyra asked as her little brother dragged her into his room. But seeing how serious he looked, she decided to hear him out. The cheese-loaded sausage pizza could wait.

Ace sat Lyra down on his bed and fixed her with a dead-serious gaze. In a deep voice, he asked, "Lyra, what are you willing to give up for superpowers?"

"Seriously? I thought this was going to be important since you were acting all sus. I'll play make-believe with you later—right now, I need to save my pizzas from Danny. Besides, I thought you'd outgrown these games," Lyra said, appalled that her little brother would drag her away from her "cheesy babies" for something like this. Still, she forgave him, thinking maybe this was his weird way of saying he missed her. Men—why can't they just say what they feel?

She turned to leave, but to her horror, the door suddenly slammed shut and locked itself. She blinked in disbelief, wondering if she'd had too much beer that night. Still, she asked her brother to confirm, "Ace, tell me you saw the door close by itself."

It was Dame Wasp in stealth mode.

On the walk from the new Lander house to the old one, Ace had mulled over the worst possible outcomes of introducing his sister to the 'World of Curses.' But with a little help from his toy summons, he realized he had been worrying for nothing—bad things could happen either way. This way, at least, he could share his secret with his sister, and she'd be better prepared for whatever might come. Besides, he did make a blood pact with her.

So, he decided to introduce his sister to the 'World of Curses' that very night. But knowing her taste for drama, he had to go all out with the theatrics—otherwise, she'd complain about it for the rest of their lives. While she was still dumbfounded, he dragged her into the 'Wood Palace' hidden within the small cactus by his window.

"Where the hell is this? Am I hallucinating? Maddy's margaritas did taste funny… Did that bitch spike my drink? Ace—thank god you're here," Lyra cried, clutching her baby brother for dear life. She had no idea what was going on, but seeing him next to her kept her from spiraling and gave her courage.

Ace quietly waited, letting his sister process the situation at her own pace. He couldn't help but find it amusing how she managed to tie everything back to Mandy.

"Ace, what's going on?" Lyra asked, realizing that everything happening was real—and somehow, it was all connected to him.

Ace looked deep into Lyra's eyes and smirked. Then, he began explaining everything he thought she needed to know, officially introducing her to the 'World of Curses.'

…

"Holy shit, I can't believe I'm going to meet Betty Rose in real life—and she has superpowers way cooler than in the movies!" Lyra blurted out excitedly as she followed her brother to Janice's place under the moonlight. This only made the whole situation more mysterious and exciting for her.

"Be cool, sis. You're representing me and every other rookie comic artist out there," Ace corrected her, while mentally confirming that he could recall Dame Wasp, Emi, and Specwork from Wood Palace if he needed them, as he had left them behind to craft Dame Wasp's new body for her enhancement.

At first, Ace found his sister's excitement endearing, but now it was starting to annoy him. He was beginning to understand why he no longer enjoyed playing with her—she was too much of a nerd. She obsessed over details, even in make-believe. It's make-believe, for goodness' sake.

"I know, I know," Lyra nodded enthusiastically, then asked, "Do you think it would be okay if I asked for her autograph?"

"Forget an autograph. If you behave, you might actually become friends with her," Ace lied. He couldn't imagine a scenario where his comic-nerd sister would genuinely get along with curse-nerd Janice. They were like two entirely different species. The former had no survival instincts and would probably be preyed upon in the 'World of Curses,' while the latter would not only thrive but be worshipped.

"Okay, we're here. Be cool."

…

"It's even bigger and beautiful in person than it looked on the video call. I know you own this place, but are you sure we can just walk in like this?" Lyra asked as she stepped into Lansky Manor, now the new Lander house. She was mesmerized by the intricate interior design and craftsmanship. It was hard to believe that her family not only owned such a place but had also rented it out to a celebrity.

"You guys made it—now we can officially begin," Janice greeted the guests who just waltzed into her hall.

Ace led his sister to an empty couch opposite the one occupied by Matthews and her group, and adjacent to Janice's seat. The arrangement formed a U-shape, with Janice in the center. Given the nature of their relationships, there was no need for formalities. Ace left introductions until after the business was handled.

However, Lyra, new to this world, felt both out of place and as though they were intruding. She trusted her little brother, but she couldn't shake the feeling of being a child among adults. The quiet atmosphere and dim lighting only added to her nervousness and anxiety. Even though Ace had explained everything she needed to know, the weight of the moment still overwhelmed her.

Sensing his sister's inner turmoil, Ace reached over, took her hand, and gave her a reassuring nod. Lyra's eyes steadied, and she sat with renewed confidence, as if she truly belonged.

Meanwhile, Sonia eyed Lyra with the playful smirk of a predator toying with its prey. Ava, on the other hand, scrutinized Lyra's curvy figure and silently questioned whether Ace was one of those guys who preferred voluptuous, "profane" lumps of fat over petite, firm physiques. She even wondered if she should stop doing chest workouts.