A curse? These elders can't get close to a child? Is this why they don't have any children or grandchildren? Then why am I fine? Is the curse delayed or what?
Even if the sacred guardian is still in a cat form and doesn't transform yet, the ownership imprint is still there until the day the owner releases the imprint to return the beast to the prairie. It happens when the owner can't handle the beast anymore.
Roland looked at the Lord Commander of this castle that was standing kneeling down. It would be as easy as taking candy from a child to deliver the killing blow to this enemy but he was asking to spare his life. The duel between the faction leaders had started just like last time but the opponent capitulated without them even going through one exchange of blows.
But Ainsley called them as if they're kids. However, could they protest? No. What Ainsley did just further strengthened their impression of the Godfather spirit.
"Nwo! Elh ish nwot guiltwy! (No! El is not guilty!)" Ainsley immediately stood in front of Elliana and spread her arms wide. The child looked up at the adults with a glare.
Their focus was actually on which spirit Ainsley made a pact with. It's a common knowledge that the strength of a shaman relied on the dead spirit that they managed to contract.