"Don't say it, keep it in, or else you'll jinx it. No matter how strong a person is, no matter how bright their future looked. A jinx could turn their world over with a word. Their spirit is not darker nor stronger than Upper Arcane. However, they gave equal damage towards their every prey. There's no weak or strong in front of them. No one wins against a jinx, no one lives knowing a name of a jinx. The number one rule when facing them: Thou shall not speak."
"But teacher, how do one knows if someone is a jinx?"
"You just know. They tell you their name first and everything will go wrong."
"..."
"Ehhh?" The children collectively echoed with confusion.
***
He opened his eyes lazily.
'Stupid humans' he thought as he stared back at the people who just woke him up.
"What's your name?" An old man in blue cape asked him while staring at him with scrutiny.
"Is he an undead?" The old woman beside the old man whispered.
"Name?" He asked, staring at them intently. Why are they even asking?
Humans just don't learn. They didn't just disturbed him sleeping peacefully, they're even asking his name?
"Yes, name. I'm Tina, this is my husband George, how about you? What's your name?" Tina explained warmly.
"..." He blinked two times, but didn't say a thing.
There was news that the past survivors have written a lot of guides on how to roam this sanctuary, guess that was not true?
"Where did you come from?" The old man asked, now kneeling down to equal his height.
"Huh.."
He blinked his eyes, tilting his head a little, staring at the back of the two old folks who woke him up his slumber.
A burning mountain was behind them, which was weird, because there's no such view inside and outside the place he's guarding.
"..."
"Maybe he can't understand us?"
What's happening?
Everything happened in a blink, he can't even remember it exactly. But somehow, he ended up outside the sanctuary.
Still, he might be a monster without an actual form but he's currently looking like a monster. So how come they're so calm?
And it has been years since their kind was discovered, there's no way there are still who don't know of a jinx. Aren't they afraid to be jinx?
Making something happen exactly opposite as they want it? Badluck? Cursed?
Or maybe, they're one of those..?
He heard stories about humans growth. Growing up struggling to live, and when old enough they all seek death for all sorts of reasons and excuses. Guess that was true.
He tilted his head on the other side, are humans usually this tall?
He had only met one, and that person isn't this tall. Guess humans aren't just identified as a man and a woman, they're all sort of things too, and they come in different shape and sizes.
That person was a little smaller than him, but he's build is huge compared to this weak looking old folks who's just tall. They look frail....and old. Hm.
He blinked and walk around them, staring at their form.
A pair of legs, a pair of arms, a pair of eyes, a pair of ears. Nothing special. Humans are said to be the based after all, he expected nothing and gained just as he expected.
Hm?
He stopped on his tracks. Froze on his spot. A sudden realization dawned on him.
Walk around them? Why's he walking?!
He looked down. A set of small pieces of human arm and legs. It's not that they're tall, but he's small?!
No. More importantly. Human?! A human child at that!?
He's tiny hand moved towards his chest.
Dug-dug, dug-dug. Something's beating. He opened his mouth wide and inhaled deeply.
There's no mistake. He's alive. He's breathing. He's human.
He exhaled loudly, "My name is Abaddon!" He exclaimed while looking at them with wide eyes.
3...2...1... Nothing's happening.
"Ooooohhhh!!!!" He excitedly exclaimed.
For whatever reason, he's human!
The old couple, Tina and George, stared at each other before laughing. The tiny child who looked lifeless earlier suddenly looked so alive. He's running around naked and barefoot. He looked thin and dirty, a typical child who's left behind as remnant of war, but thank goodness he's alive.
"Abaddon, do you remember who you were with?"