Chapter 10 - The Future Your Life Is Now Bonded To
We just sat there, in silence, the hot tears still streaming down my face. Eventually, Yui gently lifted my head from her chest. She looked at me, dead in the eyes. As if the world had stopped, we just stared at each other, both of us refusing to look away. Neither of us knew what to say, the only sound was the whistling wind, gently gliding through the park. Cherry blossoms gently fell through the air, landing all around us. Yui was the first one to regain her voice.
"Amon. I've decided that I want to always be here to support you. Even if nobody else will. I just want you to know that you will always have me."
I cleared my throat, it was suddenly feeling quite dry.
"But, you barely even know me. Surely you have better things to do than listen to me cry about how bad my life is. I mean, my magic's just pathetic. And your's is…. Your's is amazing."
At the compliment, her face showed a large and happy grin. It was the type of smile that would make you want to join in with it. It was, quite frankly, contagious. And I couldn't help but let a small smile grace my lips as well, my mood already feeling better. However, just as quick as her grin came, it left. Instead replaced by a serious expression.
"Amon. Please, just let me do this. I promise you that I'm not doing this out of pity or anything. I just want you to be okay. I just can't see someone I know get hurt this badly. Even if I can heal them. I know that you're not used to this. I know you feel like the whole world is against you. But I promise you Amon. I'm not."
When I next spoke, it was with some of my earlier confidence.
"If that's what you really want to do, then I suppose that I can't stop you. But seriously, I'm sorry that you had to see me like this. I usually don't show my weak side to people. Especially people that I barely know. So, I'm sorry for ruining your day."
My hair gently blew around in the wind. Honestly, it might sound stupid, but I really am envious of the wind. It's so free. It can't be harmed, it just glides around, free of all constraints.
Yui looked like she was about to speak again, when my phone suddenly went off. Reaching into my pocket, I pulled it out, only to find that it was my Mom calling.
"Sorry Yui, but I need to take this. It's my Mom. Probably just wondering where I am or how my first day went."
I walked away, drying my tears on my sleeve and trying to compose my voice.
"Hey Mom."
"Hey Amon."
"So why'd you call me? I'm just on my way back now, if that's why."
"No Amon. You know why I'm calling."
I knew my Mom could hear a few of my tears through the phone. What she said next all but confirmed it.
"Amon. Are you Okay?"
"Yeah Mom, I'm fine. I was just… At the wrong place at the wrong time, that's all."
"Amon, please just come home. We can talk about it when you get back. Okay?"
After that, my Mom hung up. I just stood there for a while, silently cursing myself. Why did I have to be so weak. I'm just a burden to everyone. I hate it. I hate how I worry my Mom everytime that I leave the house. I turned around and sulked back to where Yui was sitting. She looked at me, with understanding in her eyes.
"It's okay Amon, you need to go. It's about time that I should be heading off now anyways."
After a silent thank you, I started to walk back home. My thoughts still muddled on the events of the day. I just caused another inconvenience for Yui. If I was stronger, I wouldn't have burdened her like that.
For the fourth time today, I heard that demonic voice enter my mind. "What's crying and complaining going to do. You know that girl won't save you. Neither will your mother. Or your teacher. Or anyone else in your life. No-one, apart from me. I can make you stronger Amon. Isn't that what you wanted. I can make you much stronger than anyone you have to face. You said that you didn't want to be a burden. That you wanted society to feel all the pain that you have. I can help you Amon. I can give you the power necessary to do that."
When I replied, my voice was dripping with malice and anger.
"Yes, I want them all to suffer. I can't bear being a burden any longer. I can't bear being weak any longer. I just want them all to feel pain. A pain much worse than death."
My hand slowly curled into a fist, my nails digging into my palms. I thought about what it would be like to be stronger. Stronger than everyone. And it felt fantastic.
"Good, Amon. Don't ever forget that feeling."
I heard someone, or something snap their fingers. And my world, once again, went dark. All except one, majestic, blue flame. It's brilliant light fought back against the darkness. I felt drawn to it. It was powerful. Very powerful. And yet, I could tell that this wasn't it's full potential. And just the thought that something like this, one of the strongest things that I had ever felt, could get stronger. It pushed me over the edge. I wanted that power. No. I needed that power. And I needed it now. I started running towards the flame, letting the light guide me. My only thoughts were how strong I could be if I had this magic. 'Was this, the voice. Could he really give me this power?' At this thought, my body shook with excitement. I wanted out of this pain and anger filled life. I wanted a life full of power and prosperity. I wanted a life which my mother could be proud of.
My thoughts quickly died out however, as the fire began to fade. It's power getting weaker and weaker. 'No. NO. NO!' This was my one chance to get stronger, and now, it was gone.
At least, that was what I thought, until a crack, barely noticeable in the darkness, formed. The gap was radiating power, much more than the flame was.
The voice spoke once more, this time much louder, as if encouraging me, or cheering me on. "Walk through this crack, and a new destiny shall be formed. Your old one shall be shattered like glass, and shall be resculptured into a destiny of your choosing. One full of power and prosperity."
My heart began to pound against my chest. This was it, my ticket out of this life, and into one full of power. 'No time like the present,' I thought.
I took a few steps forward, braced myself, and walked through the crack in my destiny. The room that I now found myself in was like an old castle dungeon. The cold iron bars were locked behind me. It was almost as if this dungeon was a jail, and this power, a prisoner.
I looked forward again, only to find myself looking at my reflection in the mirror. My jet black hair almost covering my eyes. My eyes were horrible, lifeless orange, reflecting my magic quite well. A lifeless orange flame. I looked down, to find an ancient book lying on the ground. The book looked to be at least one thousand years old. Honestly, it looked like it would fall to dust at the slightest touch. Finally, there were some candles illuminating the room. The fire on them dancing almost lazily. I felt that those candles represented me. Strength right in front of then, just not knowing how to achieve it.
I reached out to touch the book. I had only managed to place my index finger upon it, when colour flashed before my eyes.
I was suddenly stood in an arena. The crowd excitedly calling my name. Exclaiming how I couldn't be beaten by anyone. I looked around, noticing around eight or nine people laying at my feet. All unconscious. How the hell did this happen. How could I beat this many people, without so much as a scratch upon me.
I looked down at my right hand. A brilliant blue flame resided in my palm. And I was controlling it. I was controlling this overwhelming power. Was this actually my magic? Or am I just dreaming? Will I wake up in a few moments? A few moments had passed, and I was still here, in this arena. This meant that it actually was my magic. Was this how strong I can actually become? I felt something fall into my left hand. The book. It was just ancient as before, but now it was practically humming with power.
And once again, I heard his voice.
"This is the power you now hold. This is the future your life is now bonded to. This is the future without your previous restraints. A life where you are at the top. Nobody else."
A wave of colour assaulted my eyes, leaving me dazed for a few moments before I found myself back into the same castle dungeon as before. The book still in my hand. The powerful flames still dancing in my palms and around my body. I tried willing for the flames to disappear. If they really were my magic, it would do exactly as I commanded. Slowly, the blue fires faded out of existence, leaving only myself and the book. I stood there, completely in shock. I didn't care that my hands were trembling, nor that tears were falling down my face. I had finally done it. I had finally gotten stronger. I could finally be free.
I then remembered that I was supposed to head back home. My eyes darted around the room, hoping to find an exit, only to stop and focus on the reflection in the mirror, and the flames on the candles. Instead of a dull, orange flame, lazily dancing upon the candle, there was now an amazing blue flame. The flame, unlike the orange one, was melting the wax and illuminating the entire room.
The mirror had cracked, which made it very hard to see anything. I had to really focus to see my own face in the reflection. But what I did see, made my eyes go wide. Instead of the lifeless, orange eyes that I had before. They were now a bright blue. They looked like a raging storm, practically radiating power and supremacy. I was just focused on the colour.
That blue…
It really was beautiful.