《Your World and Mine》 The teacher and the Demon King (1) - You monster¡­ What have you done¡­ I stare blankly into the dead horizon as I listen to these last words. I don¡¯t even bother to look at her face, and the words are just that - they fade into nothingness, like empty promises thrown at the wind. It wasn¡¯t their fault, just my overthinking, that lead to all of this. Looking at the pitch black sky with no star to see and no sun to shine a brittle light, feeling no ground stable enough to stand on, sensing no air still pure to breathe and not puke with the putrid smell of flesh, fat and bones¡­ I can¡¯t help but think about my achievements. What did I want from the beginning? If it was this kind of world, then I¡¯m a monster indeed, the monster who shattered reality. - Have you¡­ No¡­ The woman finally dies, joining one of the many rows and mountains of corpses, maybe buried by a collapsed building, who knows. I actually wanted to know what else she had to say. Sometimes, I wish someone stronger than me would just appear out of nowhere and beat me to an unrecognizable chunk of flesh. But that never happened ¨C every battle I¡¯ve fought, I¡¯ve won. In fact, every single moment of my existence I was hoping for a hero to appear and defeat this¡­ What did they call me again? It is just so many names and so many titles, I can¡¯t keep track of them all. It was not my death I was hoping for, just for someone to stop what I was doing, to stop me from going further into madness. It could be love, war, or just a glimpse of wisdom, so long as it helped me get out of this prison that is myself. Why should I care? To organize a system one must disorganize another, that¡¯s how things are. But if it¡¯s this level of disorganization, how long will it take for another system to be built from scratch? I can¡¯t wait that much for things to be fixed, to attain some level of normality I was used to. I might destroy everything before it is even completed. ¡­ If that¡¯s how things are¡­ I might as well finish things in the old way. One word should be enough, so long as I have my own image in mind. Not like I have something else to disturb my thoughts. - Death. I¡¯ve seen this happen countless times to them, usually it begins with a desperate scream and blood being drawn from every orifice. I¡¯ve read somewhere that blood tastes like iron¡­ Mine tastes like shit. I should¡¯ve looked into the bibliography more carefully, have they ever studied the blood of the Demon King? I don¡¯t think so. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ¡­ What is this place. No matter where I look, it¡¯s an endless white¡­ The opposite of the world I¡¯ve made. Is this a place for people who died? Suddenly, a voice enters my mind, invading from all directions. - Carthe, you''ve learned a lot since the last time. - Who are you? - I am the world¡¯s consciousness, just a messenger of what is about to happen, something created from nothing, that also returns to nothing. My existence is short, a millionth fragment of a second, and has no impact on reality. - What is this place? Shouldn¡¯t death be the end? - Death is the end indeed. Of a test. This is the place your present self meets your former selfs, stablishes an objective and moves on to the next world. Huh? - The next world should have been your last before you achieved maximum clarity, but the universe needs you in the tests of many other talented individuals, with the knowledge you possess from this life, specifically. - I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying¡­ This is very confusing. - Without memories of the past, this is expected. I could explain what is happening to you right now, but all memories of this place will be erased once you pass on to the next world. Hearing this, you still wish me to explain? - Is that so¡­ Then I have only one question before I go, if all of this is the truth, of course.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. - Time is on our side. - You said my knowledge is needed where I lead. But if there¡¯s the opportunity, I will destroy everything all over again ¨C I grab my chest in wonder, thinking of the devastation I was responsible for. I don¡¯t know if I can control myself. - That is up to you. Change happens the moment you set your mind into it. That wasn¡¯t a direct answer¡­ Well, talking all day with a supernatural being above my comprehension, when I can¡¯t even keep it for further inspection, is just meaningless. - Any time, then. In a moment, my mind warps and I feel like being erased from history, yet the process seems so natural to me I just stare in awe at the disappearing white horizon, now as tiny as a room. Deeper and deeper, I fall into darkness as my consciousness dies down. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I stare blankly into something I can only describe as a wooden chair, what was I doing? I can hear many whispers and this is certainly not the world I¡¯ve destroyed with my own hands, as light still shines. The feel of someone or something touching my shoulder breaks my frozen glance. - Teacher, are you okay? I turn to look at the human who spoke. He called me teacher¡­ What is happening here? It¡¯s like nothing I did ever came to be. - Yes, I¡¯m fine, thank you for the concern ¨C what did I just say? I should be torturing this human for information, maybe question all of them together¡­ I need to find out where I am. - It¡¯s just¡­ Your iris changed its color¡­ That¡¯s very strange ¨C says a female, far in the back seats. - My iris? I¡¯ll see that at the end of class. Well, where did I stop the lesson? ¨C just what am I thinking, playing along? That¡¯s not me. - Oh, you were talking about the history and use of the Word of Power. But honestly? I don¡¯t see why we still learn about them when no one else uses them nowadays. For more powerful and precise magic, we need to make use of calculus, topography, visualization¡­ - What you said is half right ¨C with this phrase, I¡¯ve caught everyone¡¯s attention. - And how so? - I guess¡­ That¡¯s something I should be able to explain. Please consider this example: if I want to make a fire for a camp, should I use a casting or a word of power? - Word of power ¨C answer everyone without a single divergent. - And why is it? - Because words of power require much less energy to make than a casting. To make a casting just for a fire would take way more experience in that particular field of magic. - That is correct. Now let us say we want a huge fire, the size of this school. Casting or word of power? - Casting! Now, the one to make silence is me. I¡¯m expecting them to answer this, but at the same time I wonder the best way to explain things. - Teacher, can I answer why? - Go ahead. - While words of power would definitely facilitate this big fire, we wouldn¡¯t be able to control it properly and it would need a continuous stream of energy for it to work. With a single casting, we can easily make a big fire with no problems involved. This amount of knowledge¡­ It is so outdated, I don¡¯t even know where to start. - The answers so far are good¡­ But they are lacking. In fact, I do think you should throw away all the knowledge of magic you possess and start anew. With the last sentence, an outburst of moans, complaints and rage-induced commentaries fly about, and the students abruptly empty the classroom, except for one girl. - How surprising. Want to proceed with the lesson? The girl fidgets and avoids staring directly at me, but opens her mouth to produce a discrete sound. - I-I think you gave a bad example. If you wanted to differentiate words of power from castings you should have started with the principles behind them¡­ We are all s-serious students here, we don¡¯t need to be t-treated like k-k-kids ¨C she speaks, breathing heavily on the effort of muttering some words. - That¡­ Seems logical. I wasn¡¯t concentrated at the moment, so I just spoke whatever came to my mind. In fact, you should try this sometime. - No way! ¨C she blurted out, only to cover herself in shame. - Why not? You made a good remark right now. I¡¯m sure you have more kept to yourself. - It¡¯s just something that I needed to get out of my mind¡­ Th-then excuse me¡­ She¡¯s not staying¡­ That¡¯s better for me. I needed some time alone. Does my abilities still work? - Book of Ages ¨C I utter to myself, materializing from dust a very old book sealed with nine incantations. Years ago, I¡¯ve removed the incantations one by one with great efforts. If I get it done once, it won¡¯t matter afterwards. All I need is a word. - Break ¨C now, I can use the book. The Book of Ages is one of the few magics whose principle I can¡¯t grasp. A tome that keeps every single event in the world preserved, that goes beyond me. But then again, many things I¡¯ve used go beyond me ¨C I only know of the process, not the results, such is the nature of the word of power. I stay in the room reading many passages, of this place throughout history, of the overall state of the world and of the most important events occurring in it, as well as my own past. One passage, specifically, made me squint my eyes: ¡°[¡­] professor Annabelle of the Royal Academy becomes possessed by the spirit of Demon King Carthe.¡± As the memories of this body hits me like a wave, for the first time I feel what humans describe as pain. The veins near my head throbs profusely and I can feel my eyeballs being torn out of my sockets, my torso being hacked out and stitched continuously. Then, I feel nothing. I simply leave the body. - Argh¡­ My head¡­ Huh, classes are over already? It¡¯s still noon, strange¡­ My spiritual body drifts nearby as the woman tidies her dirty brown cloak. I pry out my hand at her shoulder before a thought crosses my mind. Should I claim this body for me, is there any use for the human to be left alive? But those thoughts are cast aside as I glimpse upon my past. All the death, all the destruction¡­ Pointless. A world devoid of any hope and dreams, so useless, so boring¡­ Yet that¡¯s all I¡¯ve ever known since I¡¯ve been born. ¡­ If she had my powers, what ending would the world experience? That is something I¡¯m very curious about. The teacher and the Demon King (2) I held back on talking with Annabelle, I¡¯ll wait for a better opportunity. Would be a waste of time if I got interrupted in the middle of our conversation, so currently I¡¯m just watching over her actions. Without possessing her, I can¡¯t access the Book of Ages, and I wouldn¡¯t do so anyway ¨C the toll would be too much on that frail body. She is a hardworking woman, giving her best to deliver useful information for other humans. Aware of her own capacities, she is not jealous of those with higher potential, neither disdainful of those below her. All she does is devour books in the library, going to a nearby town by the evening to buy groceries and talk to other people. Her classes are the only interesting piece of her life, in the sense that they bring conflict to it. - Teacher, you¡¯ve said yesterday that we should forget everything about magic that we¡¯ve learned so far. So come on, I¡¯m waiting for you to impress us! That voice came from a dignified young man, in his thirties I think. One useful thing I¡¯ve learned about spirits is that they can read thoughts, and what¡¯s passing through Annabelle¡¯s mind right now is likely despair. ¡®When did I say such thing? If I don¡¯t provide an answer, I might lose the job¡­ Worse, my credibility as a teacher and as a mage! Is he being mean to me because I am a lowborn?¡¯, so on and so forth. Since I¡¯ve started the issue, I¡¯ll end it. Cycles that are initiated must be finished. That, and I¡¯m getting bored. I reach my hands to her arms and slip inside the vessel. - Indeed I said so. It is because you don¡¯t understand the basics behind words of power and incantations. You humans advanced into an era where it is more ¡°convenient¡± to learn voiceless magic, as it requires a lot more knowledge of intuitive principles than of reality itself. While mathematics is still very interesting to learn for the purposes of magic and many other things, you lack what is fundamental. And before you all leave the classroom in blatant ignorance of what is thrown at you, I will tell you what you need to know. I pick the white chalk from the table and write down a long list of calculations. Most of the classroom is dead silent, and only a few murmurs can be heard, which is of little importance aside from the fact they are paying attention. I''ve never tried to explain anything, and wouldn''t like to explain twice. - This is all the knowledge and numbers you will need to make a wooden ball. This ball is made of what you call mana, but I will call it energy, being a more general and encompassing term. The energy is manipulated in such a way that so long as you know how to make it, you will be able to do so. However, this will drain your own energy, thus why it causes fatigue. I then use an incantation to summon the ball and start to feel very tired. Astonishing, the fact that Annabelle has so little spare energy. I then cleanse the black board and think of asking a simple question to incite them, but I quickly refute the idea.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. - Now watch me make a wooden ball with just a single word ¨C with these last few words, the entire classroom faces me with doubt, some with awe, some with mockery. It doesn¡¯t matter, so long as they understand. - Materialize. At the same moment, that wooden ball turns into reality right in front of me, then it disappears. - Huh? What happened to the ball? - I¡¯m surprised there even was a ball to begin with¡­ - Wait, which ball? I¡¯ve seen nothing! - Quiet, students ¨C I mutter, and they hastily silence themselves. - Now let me make this ball yet again ¨C I proceed ¨C Materialize. Again comes the wooden ball, but this time, I draw energy towards it and keep it around. It¡¯s something anyone can do, but they look at me as if it was the most amazing thing they¡¯ve seen in their entire life. Foolish humans¡­ Now, still surprised, they bombard me with questions one after another, forgetting themselves in the presence of new knowledge. - You may feel a bit cold, and that is natural ¨C I collect the object and put it on top of a case, where everyone can see ¨C now, for the explanation. - When you use a word of power, you take into account possibilities. What is the possibility of this environment to generate a wooden ball of equal materials and proportions? - That¡¯s zero, right? - It would be¡­ Under normal circumstances. However, the fact is that I¡¯ve shown you how to make that ball with incantations, so either of those who took notes, have very good memory or have a talent for the field should be able to make it, as long as they have energy. By doing so, the odds of the environment generating a wooden ball in this room increases exponentially. In fact, just by knowing how to do it myself, the possibility will never be zero. - But then what¡¯s the point? Both processes require the same energy and also require someone to know how to make it, and also¡­ - The point is ¨C I interrupt ¨C the word of power takes into account the possibility of something happening and manipulates the surrounding energy so it happens. However, if you don¡¯t give that something enough energy, it will just be a ¡°fluctuation¡±, disappearing shortly after and returning the energy to where it was drawn from. This property doesn¡¯t seem very useful, but later you will find that it holds devastating effects over reality, so exert caution. On the other hand, if you draw enough energy towards it, the process will be complete, and it will hold the same effect as an incantation while taking no toll on the magician. That is the basic concept. - But then¡­ Does it mean words of power can use the energy of another living being as fuel? I squint my eyes. I didn''t think they would stumble upon this question so soon. If I don¡¯t answer it, they will search for it themselves. No¡­ They will do so regardless, exactly because they have doubts yet to be quenched. - Yes, they can. This sect of magic regards life and death. You should be very careful if you decide to research it¡­ And I¡¯m not talking about laws and ethics, as I¡¯m not here to judge anyone. The energy of a living being is very different from the mana you¡¯re acquainted with¡­ Mana is something like stamina, you can replenish it. Vital energy¡­ - I stare at the student with a dreadful look in my eyes, it should be enough to tell him what awaits those who sink too deep in that sea. - That is enough for today, you¡¯re dismissed. - But classes are just starting! ¨C they moan. - Then consider the next hours self-study. If you have any doubts, know that I¡¯m not available for the rest of the day; - Didn¡¯t you say to make questions after you explained? - I lied. I feel like the cycle I¡¯ve started is far from ended¡­ It doesn¡¯t matter, I guess. Once again I start to fade away¡­ She¡¯s coming back. - Argh¡­ What is¡­ - Hello, Annabelle. I¡¯m Carthe ¨C she glances around trying to find me, and in no time reaches her eyes over my horrid look. Her face turns from a pale grey to a dying blue tone. I¡¯ve seen many people scream at my sight, overtaken by an indescribable fear. But that is not what¡¯s happening, as her thoughts are currently none. She is shocked by the immediate knowledge of what I am. - We have business to discuss. The teacher and the Demon King (3) Frozen stiff, Annabelle finally opens her mouth to form a lone word. - Demon... - Yes, I know it must be hard on you. Or at least it seems like it from a human¡¯s point of view¡­ Anyway, go somewhere quiet, we need to sort this out, I can¡¯t just hover around you all day without uttering a single word or showing myself. You can lead the way. After breaking off of the ice, she blew out a heavy breath as her pumping heart sent blood through all of her face¡¯s vessels. Anna signals to follow her, breathing air in and out and taking a few gulps of water from her canteen. - We¡¯re¡­ We¡¯re nearly there. Everything is gonna be fine¡­ Everything is gonna be¡­ - she kept muttering. The more we walk, less people I see. However, darker is the path and it¡¯s closed off by the walls, leading to multiple hallways ¨C a maze, perhaps. The feeble lights leading the way are those of the blood and shade butterflies, beings that live in 3 parallel dimensions, 2 of them being the physical and the spiritual. They are remarkably beautiful even to someone as numb to art as I, their mystical glow is mesmerizing. Creatures such as these are allowed to exist only in event zones, dangerous places¡­ Gates to a realm where everything can happen, and most likely do so. A school right above an event zone¡­ Makes sense she feared me to such extent, as demons used them extensively even in this era. - It might not be late to tell you that it¡¯s useless trying to bind me in three dimensions. - T-that¡¯s not my intention¡­ If I am to speak to a demon, I really need to be careful not to attract any attention. The Academy¡¯s walls are all connected to the Archmage¡¯s rooms by runes, this is the only place there are none¡­ At least, the only one I¡¯ve been granted access¡­ ¡®How did he know¡­ No, it doesn¡¯t matter how, he can¡¯t stop it from happening¡¯. - Human, you¡¯re wasting my time. I cannot be bound by any kind of magic, even in this pitiable form I present you. - I¡¯ve told you that¡¯s not it! ¡®I have to get there quickly, who knows when he¡¯ll possess me, when he¡¯ll¡­ I don¡¯t even dare think about it!¡¯ What worthless thoughts. - As you wish. I can bid my time. For you, however, the sands tend for the bottom of the hourglass... And it¡¯s wasted. Half an hour passes by as we reach the end of the labyrinth, an open stone sphere with many engines working inside it. Divided in twelve arcs of thirty degrees are many overlapping incantations, and I can hear the sound of water running in between the gears and incantations, a link. Reading her thoughts, I sense the incoming spell before it is even processed in her mind. I recognize all of the codes on her head and think of the appropriate spell, one that would completely counter her plans. I want to show her the power I possess. Immediately after she finishes processing the information, my body is cast towards the sphere in a spiraling motion, and I can hear the words being formed in Annabelle¡¯s mind. Her worries are all gone, washed out by relief. - Coexist ¨C with this word, everything comes to a halt. ¡®Huh, why isn¡¯t it working?¡¯ she starts worrying all over again. Relief is taken away by fear, which rapidly evolves into confusion of what should have been, and terror of what is to come. - You did a good job. It¡¯s amazing someone with so little inner energy to incantations is able to cast a spell that high of a level. As I thought, you tried to bind me with Dimensional Prison.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. - H-how did you¡­ - I told you it was useless. It wouldn¡¯t have worked either way since I can just find my way out of the three dimensions, there are just so many ways to do so¡­ But I chose specifically to cancel out your spell with another. A dimensional binding only works if even one of the rules that govern a realm conflicts with another. Coexistence is a word of power that allows me to live under different rules at the same time, as paradoxical as it sounds, much like the blood and shade butterflies. - Then¡­ What are you going to do with me¡­? - tears well down from her eyes and descend through her cheeks. She¡¯s at her limit. Casting such a powerful spell takes a very large toll on the body. Not to say it was an utter failure¡­ - What am I going to do¡­ Hmm¡­ That¡¯s the point. - Huh? - I¡¯ve got nothing to do. That¡¯s why I¡¯ll give you power to do¡­ Things, that you desire to. ¡®What is he saying? Can I even trust him to his words?¡¯ - The fact I didn¡¯t kill you should be proof enough that you can trust me. In fact, you did a very dangerous call by bringing me here, as you should be full aware I can summon an entire horde of the foulest demons out of your wildest nightmares to ravage the world¡­ It would have been safer if you accepted your death. - How am I supposed to react?! I¡¯ve never seen a demon in my entire life! What am I supposed to do? I have no affinity for magic, that¡¯s why I teach, so that my knowledge becomes of use for those with talent! I hover down and put myself right in front of her, my serene eyes staring deeply into her soul. - It doesn¡¯t concern me what you are, your titles, your joys and fears. For me, you are just another human, and Annabelle is an empty word. I am a Demon King, I¡¯ve destroyed everything once and could do so again, because death is all I¡¯ve ever known. That¡¯s the reason for my existence, such is the weight of my name. Strangely enough, I sense a tingling in that spiritual body, and a warm feeling encompasses the human¡¯s face at hearing my words. - However, if I am stripped of my name, power is left. No more death, no more destruction. All that¡¯s left is pure energy, unbound. Only with this energy will Annabelle hold true meaning as a word. - The word of power¡­ - You seem to be aware of what I¡¯m talking about¡­ Everything is energy, and energy is volatile enough to be manipulated, it can¡¯t be created and it can¡¯t be destroyed. It¡¯s present in all beings, living and non living, abstract or palpable. Animals, elements, vibrations, thoughts, it¡¯s all energy. Words, however, seem to carry more than the energy. - A word promotes movement and change, be it meaningful or not. Some words carry enough meaning to not only promote movement, but accelerate it¡­ If there¡¯s enough knowledge of the process and it¡¯s possible for it to happen, you can pack it in a word, and move it towards a goal¡­ That is the theorem of the word of power¡­ Yet no one¡¯s been able to use it that way. - Yet, you¡¯ve seen me do it. It is the truth, though much more complicated than that. A unique name promotes movement just by existing, and the more people aware of it, the greater is the movement generated towards a goal. My name is gone, those who once knew it are no longer. As of now I¡¯m just energy¡­ Her face, now clarified of my true purpose, accepts it without any fear. Humans don¡¯t wish for happiness, rather they wish to do something meaningful, but only a few can truly shake the world¡­ I know you¡¯ve been longing for this since you¡¯ve been born, girl, and I don¡¯t particularly mind giving you a chance. I have no use for this anymore. - It seems very outdated to say that with great powers come great responsibilities. I¡¯d rather say, with great powers come great consequences¡­ Though I¡¯d like to force you into it, it¡¯s something you must decide, otherwise it¡¯s pointless. Do you wish for power? Annabelle. Her lungs fill with air, it is not confidence nor the feeling of greatness welling up. It is just curiosity, the chance to leap out of the cycle and start anew. - I don¡¯t know¡­ ¡®Words of a demon, are you playing with me? But¡­ An opportunity like this won¡¯t appear ever again in my life, or even in my next ones¡­ With power, what can I do? Is it even worth it, risking my life for it? If I change, I hope it¡¯s for the best¡­ I honestly don¡¯t know, but I¡¯ll go for it¡¯¡­ - I don¡¯t know if I truly wish for it. But for now, I accept. No, not for now, I will carry this decision for the rest of my life, or death if it shall be. I grin, something I¡¯ve never done before. Then, before I mutter the final words and seal the pact with the human, a flash of light passes through my eyes as the butterflies¡¯ crowd us in a whirlwind of red and black, all noises rendered by the scathing wind. - Mend soul. As if being shattered to a million pieces, my spirit breaks apart and rains down on Annabelle¡¯s soul. I can see it cowering inside the vessel, a little girl afraid of being hurt, yet curious to what causes it. My spirit is stitched into her soul, I can feel all of her memories, all of her emotions being shone upon me like a prism, just as my power devours that of hers and completely overwrites her capabilities. - Arghhhhh! ¨C She screams loudly as a hurricane of energy emerges from her body, breaking the butterflies into many glowing shards, I, too, feel her pain, her anguish. All of the doubts piling up one after another, yet the feeling of power keeping her from losing her consciousness. Finally it ends, tranquility and silence. - Huff¡­ Did it¡­Huff¡­ Work? Taking control of the body momentarily, I summon a glass mirror for her to see our eyes. The left one, yellow, Annabelle¡¯s. The right one, red, mine. - Now, we are one. You as Annabelle, the human, and I, the power behind the name.