Calmly, or as calmly as one could when their hand was turning black, Melody sifted through what she remembered of ancient runes. Nonw of the texts they studied at school ever went over this type of curse, but there had to have been something worth remembering. The longer she futilely thought about it the further the curse progressed. By the time the shop keeper summoned some random patron to help, the blackness covered up to her first knuckle.

"What do you mean what did I do? It's a puzzlebox. I solved the puzzle." Wasn't that obvious? The hidden compartment typically held some sort of secret or treasure, Melody hardly could've predicted to have a curse billow out at her. Nothing about the box warned of the hidden magic inside. Even if it had, it was unlikely Melody would've heeded the warning. She was far too intrigued by the puzzle for her own good.

Her mother was going to kill her if she was permanently maimed by a stupid box. Already, Melody could hear her distraught shouts about her diminishing prospects. "Do you even know what you're doing? Shouldn't we get someone from the ministry?" The box was starting to grow warm against her hand. Surely that couldn't be a good sign.

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