Chapter Text
"Keep going."
The man's voice echoes through the room, commanding as usual, and you feel your throat tightening under the strain.
One knee on the floor, the soft sunlight that floods the entire hall fails to warm you up. Your breathing is shallow, your vision hazy, and you feel your strength leaving you while your soul visibly pales in front of you.
It feels like you're dying .
A broken whimper escapes you when you hear the sound of footsteps ahead of you.The pungent smell of his magic and the stench of death clinging to his skin sickens you.
A final warning.
You know what will happen if you fail again.
Holding your hand to your chest, you peer through the tears in your eyes at the sole dagger in your right hand. Its dim mauve glow flickers and you desperately bend your will to keep it summoned.
"Rise up."
The scratches on your hands burn and you feel your joints crack at the slightest movement but you obey anyway. Your whole body screams under its own weight, and for a painful few seconds, it's as if time has been suspended in that cursed hall.
It is a pitiful sight.
"How fitting."
The adult stares at you disinterestedly. He is by no means a feeble man and you shiver at the thought of having exhausted his patience with you.Your lips quiver as you stammer a few words. But your voice is too soft and his expression so grave.
He raises his hand and new weapons materialize in the air.
One, two
Three
Four, five, six, seven, eight
You dodge them all, but the heavy noise they make as each of them crashes against the walls and the floor is deafening.
Every move you make draws on your last ounce of strength and you are a second too late to avoid the last one.
Crack
You see the magical blade lodge itself in your soul and a stabbing pain hits your right in the chest.
You stagger and blindly strike a fierce blow behind you.But you lose your balance and end up on the ground, your abdomen crushed under the weight of his boot. You feel your Hope dropping, the pain too intense on your side and in your soul.
You cry out a heart-rending wail. Begging for a healer to come. Pleading for the pain to stop.
You just want it to stop
But nobody came
"How many times do I have to tell you?"
The man's words are harsh, a hint of disgust in the way he looks down at the child under his heel.You feel your consciousness wavering, black spots slowly clouding over the silhouette of your father.
"A mage never begs for mercy. It's disgraceful ."
.
.
.
.
Ah, someone's putting up a fight.
I see.
How interesting.
Look at you,
All broken.
Have you reached your limit yet?
That would be a shame.
You never liked to play by the rules,
So you'll hold on a little longer, won't you ?
Little Mage.
I always wondered what it'd taste like...
The distress of a being that never dies.
I'm sure it must be,
Exquisite