Slowly, I was losing speed, effectively slowing down until I stopped completely. I just wanted to wake up from this hellish dream and slap myself in the mirror. I filled my lungs with air and tightened my fists with all the courage I could accumulate, and I turned around. For the first time, I faced my demons.
—More than fear itself, I want to deal with that anger, with the frustration I feel right now.
From somewhere, at an unimaginable speed, the silhouette I was so familiar with at this point made its way through the mist. Its celestial figure brought a mixture of sensations, but ultimately left a bad taste in my mouth. Unconsciously, I grabbed my left leg.
Could that be called an angel? I thought.
The creature hovered several meters above me. The condescending bastard must be happy, I guessed. It raised its arm under the Alba, under the cloth like skin, the repugnant silhouette of tentacles moving made itself apparent. A celestial aura, the same color as the sky, formed and immediately shot an energy bolt; thelema Maika had called it prior.
The attack was shot in my direction, towards my left leg particularly. It was as if the sky were split in two, burning and pushing the mist in its path. My senses were at their peak, the moment it shot the bolt I threw my body forward, passing by tenths underneath. I rolled on the ground once, and I didn't waste time getting up, I had to be ready for the next thing that came my way.
And so, I confronted the angel, again.
I noticed my body was shaking aggressively. I grabbed my wrist with the other hand and putting all my effort into it, I managed to calm down, well, at least the internal earthquakes had stopped. Once I calmed down a bit, an idea came to mind and as if all repression had collapsed for the moment, it took over my actions. I extended my right hand and raised my middle finger high so that the monster sees it in all its splendor.
If the ridicule worked or not, I had no way of knowing, but the angel created another one of those thelema spheres; six of them, in fact, orbiting it.
— Haha. This time I'm finished, I guess.
As if something were listening to my words, indeed the end began. The world shook aggressively. As if a child were shaking the fish tank that made up this world. The world didn't give the angel time to react, either. The mist turned dark and enveloped the creature. As tiny lobsters like creatures devoured absolutely everything: the spheres of energy, the beautiful wings, the body, the mask, and whatever was hidden underneath, everything.
Just as they appeared, the dark substance, once satisfied after devouring the angel, disappeared. Apparently, the only one dissatisfied was me. Nothing had changed. An external force had ended up saving me from yet another certain death. I wasn't the one who defeated it, so what's the purpose of all this? I couldn't help but think.
The world continued to shake and buildings in the distance were collapsing, but for some reason, it didn't seem to affect me as much. It was confusing and certainly nauseating, but I could walk through the mist without a problem. Maybe what I was looking for was over there, in one of those buildings, I supposed. I set out to turn and go in that direction, and that's what I did, but I couldn't advance more than two or three steps. A giant shadow, really gigantic, to the point where the buildings in the distance looked tiny, like the silhouette of a mountain range rose. Then, in front of me, a strong gust of wind came running, passed by me. I felt a sudden sting on my neck.
What had just happened was beyond me. A sharp sensation spread along my neck and nape. First hot for just an instant, then cold, would be my most fitting description. What was certain was that my perspective had changed. My head hit the ground and rolled a couple of times, my body remained stiff for an instant and then succumbed to gravity. At that moment, I thought I heard a voice in the distance, but all sound was muffled, so I did not understand what it was saying. With the last drop of life I had left, the image, the simple silhouette, of a person, was engraved in my pupils, but it was so far away that I couldn't distinguish any features. My eyelids became heavy, so much so that I was unable to keep them open for even one more second. Perhaps they were open, but all light entering them seemed fated to nihil.
—We have a deal, and I'll use it in due time, but the power is yours —but just then, a deep voice reached me—. You have a role to play in this destiny that we all share, but the decision will be yours. You can be the turning point or poison to this world. Even the very flames of war upon your enemies. Aiden, the decision is yours. Seal the skies, destroy a misguided illusion, or rewrite your story. The power has always been yours.
The white world collapsed, and I opened my eyes abruptly. It was an unfamiliar ceiling, however, the sensation of the comfortable bed on my back was so real; even more so than the pain running through my body. I couldn't help but close my eyes to absorb the sensations and swim in the flowing consciousness returning to my body.
—Welcome to the world of the living —another voice at my side said, which sounded slightly familiar, but I didn't know where I recognized it from.
"Ah, finally, Aiden opened his eyes." Said some voice from somewhere.
…
Definitely, this was reality. He wouldn't dream of that bastard, nor would a nightmare dare to harbor him. Aiden felt heavy and drawn. After a quick inspection, he identified a series of wires and tubes connected to different areas of his body.
Then, directed his attention to the person who had spoken a few moments ago. It belonged to an older man, in his thirties, lanky, unkempt, but not to the point of indecency. He had an exhausted expression. The heavy bags hanging under his eyes were a sign of it. He wore coffee-colored pants with dress shoes of a similar color, a plain white shirt, leaning more towards gray, and a lab coat. The person who had previously introduced himself as a wizard and as Maika's master.
—Agh. You're the last person I wanted to see first upon waking up —said Aiden, and tried to get comfortable in the hospital bed. He couldn't with the first attempt and felt disdain to try again.
—Brat, you've grown balls? If so, grip them tightly. Is this how you thank the person who brought you back from the brink of death? Your power is becoming more and more problematic, especially when you're not conscious. It rejected all my attempts. You're becoming more and more difficult to deal with magically. This time you owe everything to science, even being able to talk right now. But definitely it's me who you owe thanks to.
—Wow. More than power, it's a hassle, an obstacle even. This capricious "ability" of mine.
As he pronounced those words, he couldn't help but remember the words at the end of the dream, "Seal the skies, destroy a mistaken illusion or rewrite your story. The power has always been yours." It thunderously echoed within him.
«Jum. The way you say it, it seems like you don't care if I want to be cursed, Hokage or the King of Pirates, huh?» Aiden tightened his fist. «Well, so be it. This time, I want it to be a story of redemption and… Why not? Of empowerment».