POV Damian
I jump up, drawing an orange circle in the air. The magic is shaky, unstable, much weaker than Dr. Hamilton's.
— ST-Stay away or I'll attack! — my voice comes out shaky, full of nervousness.
The man stops and, instead of backing away, lets out a low, amused laugh.
— Please… We both know that this is nothing more than an empty threat, considering your peculiar condition.
My body stiffens. Fear paralyzes me.
— W-What do you want? I'm just an orphan with no magic... I have nothing that could interest you!
He shakes his head slowly, an almost amused smile appearing beneath his hood.
— That's where you're wrong, you crybaby. You're worth much more than you think.
Every step he takes makes my heart race. The only way out is to escape through the window, flying with Jade.
But then something hits me like a punch in the gut.
Jade is strangely quiet.
I turn my head to the right and the blood runs cold in my veins. She stands there… motionless. Her eyes glazed over, her wings spread in an instant frozen in time.
And it's not just her.
Outside, the demons that once roamed the streets now stand frozen like statues, trapped in unfinished steps, interrupted conversations, flights suspended in midair.
My chest tightens.
— W-what's going on…?
The man looks away for a moment to the window before continuing.
—Oh, that? Just an effective way to make sure no one interrupts our little chat.
He stops before me and, with a simple wave of his hand, dissolves my magic as if it were nothing.
— H-How is this possible? — I murmur, in disbelief.
He chuckles softly.
— Ah, Damian… You have no idea what's possible.
With a slow gesture, he removes the hood.
My body stiffens.
His face…
He looks like my father. But older, much more so. Yet his eyes—those blue eyes—are identical to my mother's. Identical to mine.
My breath catches in my throat.
— Have you managed to put the pieces together yet, little me?
I freeze. It's as if time has caught up with me, too, trapping me in that impossible moment. When I finally manage to speak, my voice is shaky.
— T-That's absurd…! It doesn't make any sense!
The other "me" let out a hearty laugh.
—Ah, little me… When you have as much experience as I have, you will realize that there are much more absurd things under this vast sky.
I keep my head down for a few moments and then I speak again.
— And how do I know you're telling the truth? — I retort, trying to hold on to any shred of logic.
He places his hand on his chin thoughtfully before giving her a teasing smile.
— Well… We both wet the bed until we were five. And every single time, our father would get up in the middle of the night to change the sheets, just so we could keep sleeping.
Heat rises to my face in an instant.
—O-Okay, okay, I believe it! — I say, looking away, feeling my embarrassment growing.
But then a thought struck me like a bolt of lightning.
— Wait… If you're me and you managed to go back in time… That means you can save Mom!
The smile disappears from his face.
The expression he makes… is heartbreaking.
— That's not how it works… — his voice is heavy, filled with pain. — The magic mother used was too powerful. She basically brought us back to life.
He sits on the edge of the bed, shoulders tense, guilt brimming in his gaze.
—Not even I can replicate it. If I went back in time and tried to stop it…
He stares at me, his eyes filled with a weight that is impossible to describe.
—Neither of us would be here.
It took a moment to process his words. My head hung low, my fists clenched. There had to be a way. I had to find a solution.
Shit, think! This might be my only chance to bring Mom back!
I put my hand to my head, tapping it lightly, trying to force my brain to work. But then, a hoarse sound cuts through my thoughts.
A violent cough.
I look up in time to see black blood dripping from my future self's mouth. He covers his lips with his hand, his shoulders shaking.
— Cough… cough… Shit… I thought I had more time… — He mumbles, frustration evident in his eyes.
My chest tightens.
— W-what's happening to you?! — my voice comes out full of panic.
He sighs, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe his mouth before answering.
—This… is the result of forcing a change in the timeline… while you're already in an old, worn-out body.
His every word weighs like lead.
— Now listen to me carefully. I don't have much time.
— But what about mom?! — I try to insist, desperate.
— WE DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS, DAMMIT! — He explodes, his expression serious as never before.
I swallow hard and remain silent.
He takes a deep breath before continuing, his voice quieter but full of urgency.
— Because of our inability to control magic properly, we studied alchemy to compensate for this deficiency… and also to find a way to gain more power.
He pauses, pressing his chest as if the pain is getting worse.
— That's how we found a cursed person… someone without magic, but still strong.
Another violent cough overcomes him, his body shaking. Instinctively, I reach out to help him, but he slowly pulls it away.
This time, he doesn't even bother to wipe the black blood that runs from his lips. He just sits back down, his gaze distant.
— We spent years studying curses… looking for a way to use them to our advantage.
With trembling movements, he removes a pouch hidden under his cloak and takes out a small vial. The liquid inside is a deep red, mixed with black veins that move like living shadows.
— The essence of all curses… from the weakest to the most powerful. I called it Nox .
My breath catches for a second. The vial seems to pulse in her hands, mesmerizing, as if it contains a forbidden secret.
— Anyone who drinks this… will have the power to create and manipulate curses.
He puts the bottle back in his bag and pushes it closer to me.
—In there is everything I've discovered about curses… how to create them, manipulate them, strengthen them.
His gaze has softened, but there is a dark weight to his expression.
— I didn't have time to do any further research... so I'm leaving it to you. I know your potential. I know you'll make good use of it.
Before I can respond, he lets out a low groan and clutches his chest. His body gives out and he collapses to the ground, coughing violently.
Panic takes hold of me. I grip his shoulders, my mind spinning.
— C-calm down! I'll get help!
I turn to run to the door, but before I can take a step, his hand grabs mine.
His grip is weak…but firm enough to stop me.
— We both know… that I won't survive… — He whispers, his breath coming in short gasps.
My words die in my throat. I feel a lump forming in my chest.
— Look at my hand…
His voice is weak, almost a whisper.
I swallow hard and obey. My gaze drops to his hand… and that's when I realize.
An alliance.
My mouth opens to ask, but he interrupts me before I can speak.
— You think you are alone… but in time you will find good people… people you can trust…
His eyes begin to lose their shine, but a small smile appears on his lips.
— …People you will love so much… that you would gladly give your life to protect them.
Tears slid silently down my face. My chest hurt like it was being crushed.
— …Remember… you are loved…
His body begins to glow faintly.
Then, slowly, it becomes translucent… until it disappears completely.
Only your empty clothes remain on the floor.