"Are you sure about this, child? You may come to regret this..." Warned the individual shrouded in a seemingly endless mysterious fog.


    "Maybe...But if someone like me have to save the world from <i><b>@#$%^&*(%&</b></i> then I need something as absurd as the Word Magic and <b><i>$@*$^%</i></b>. Don''t you think, <b><i>&^%#$ </i></b>?"


    It was unclear as to what the response from the other figure was due to the broken pieces of the memories.


    "Remember, child, those are something you <b><i>%^$*#^#@$</i></b>. So, <b><i>*%^$(#&%^#*$&%."</i></b>


    "I know. But <b><i>@%&*@(%^#&*. </i></b>I can hold on...I think..."


    The memories grew more chaotic by the end, only leaving puzzling incomplete words that left more questions than answers.


    "<b><i>&^*#$#^</i></b>, <b><i>*%*#&</i></b> Child."


    And that was the end of the recollection from the boy''s own memories.


    <i>Fuck, so it was me...</i>


    <i>I asked for this...?</i>


    From what he gathered, by some outrageous, almost comical notion, he was tasked to save the world by the mysterious figure.


    Maybe a deal was made between the two, the boy would assume, but what baffled him was the fact that he himself, seemingly was not bothered by how silly it sounded.


    He believed he had neither the capability to do something like that nor did he have the right heart for it. But for whatever reason, he, in his memory agreed to it, and seemed to believe it was doable too.


    But...in the off-chance that he really thought he could do it...There must be something to back that up...


    And that was...Word Magic and that something that followed after it.


    He said himself that it was absurd, and he needed that to save the world.


    And judging by what had transpired, he guessed that the thing that was happening now to him was due to the result of asking for those powers.


    He couldn''t be sure yet, but somehow he almost believed that was the case.


    Frustrated and angry at his own recklessness, the boy decided to think about something else.


    It was a decision he had made, and he too, had to own that choice. Thus, he had no one else to blame but himself.


    That''s why he needed to direct his mind elsewhere, or else he would spend most of his waking time cursing and screaming at his past self.


    <i>Word magic...</i> Muttered the boy inside, trying to cool down. The second power aside, word magic was something he was able to remember.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    Luckily he had an inkling as to how that power works, instead of trying to guess it blindly.


    <i>A magic based </i>on <i>words...So, I guess, I can use magic from words? Something like let there be light...? Oh, it works!</i>


    A speck of light, small, almost like a floating firefly appeared in front of the boy''s face.


    As the excitement surged from deep within his heart, the boy noticed the light shook left and right in an unstable manner as if it was experiencing a minor tremor.


    <i>Is it because it''s my first time? </i>


    It piqued his interest a little, but the boy soon dropped the question as he deemed there were more important things for him to think about.


    <i>So I can use magic based on my imagination...But in that case, do even need to speak it?</i>


    He began experimenting with it, trying to see what he could do, his mood elated.


    <i>Just picturing it in my mind won''t work. I need to say the word. And I guess, even though I couldn''t speak with my mouth, saying the words inside my mind counts too...</i>


    <i>And there''s something that''s been bothering me. My chest...? Is it my chest? It''s been buzzing</i> from a while ago.


    Seeing that he still couldn''t move an inch, it was impossible to check what was wrong with him, but the boy knew that the strange sensation came from within himself.


    <i>It came whenever I tried to use word magic and grew louder and louder the more I tried to use it. Hell, it felt quite ominous too...? </i>


    True to his words, the buzzing grew sharper and louder the more the boy used his power. Coupled with the sight of the balls of light he conjured was shaking like crazy, he felt like he should stop himself, but alas, his own curiosity got the better of him.


    He tried to assure himself that he was still fine. He noticed the familiar reaction whenever he was about to faint, but that was something he was used to, so despite the sound that rang from seemingly his soul, the boy believed he would be fine, and he would only faint at best, it was nothing new to him.


    If anything, somehow the thought of him having this power excited the boy to no end, like a child trying to play with their new toy.


    Thus, he ignored the warning and pushed himself once again...


    And that''s when it happened.


    <i>Let''s try something bigger this time. Increase the size of the light--</i>


    Just when he was about to finish that word, a screeching warning unlike the previous one rang so sharp and loud the boy couldn''t help but stop himself from finishing the sentence that almost formed inside his mind.


    At that point, he could no longer ignore it any longer. His instincts told him that was the line he should not cross.


    He didn''t know why and how, but the emotion he felt was clear. It was fear.


    Seemingly born out of nowhere, but he could tell he was afraid...


    And before he was given the chance to find a way to rationalize from where did that emotion came from, the boy felt his line of sight shift upward.


    It didn''t move much, but a slight chance was massive for the boy who couldn''t even move at that point. And as he felt his sight move downward yet again, he saw a blob of red liquid fly in the air and landed on him right in his face,


    <i>....</i>


    His sight was painted red and the boy felt his mind halted despite the loud ringing that persisted ever since a while ago.


    He knew what that red liquid was. He didn''t have to taste or smell it to tell what it was.


    <i>Blood...</i>


    The realization came almost at the same time when he felt his control of his own mind slipping.


    <i>Shit...Am I going to die for real this time!?</i>


    He was about to faint, and his earlier bravado was long gone now.


    <i>Fuck...</i>


    And he cursed his own recklessness as his mind slipped back once again into the comfort of the dark.