My mother's body lay in front of me.
The world around me no longer existed.
There was nothing left but her frozen face, her eyes wide open, as if still looking at me without really seeing me.
" No… no… NO! "
Something snapped inside my head.
I suddenly stood up.
My legs were trembling, but I still moved forward, toward the creature.
The Beast.
It turned its red eyes toward me.
Black vapor pulsed around its chitinous plates.
I heard voices screaming behind me:
" GET BACK, KID! "
But I wasn't listening anymore. I clenched my fists.
My fingers were already tracing letters in the invisible air:
" F I R E "
Glowing runes appeared, letter by letter.
I shouted:
" FIRE! "
A tiny flame burst from my palm… and vanished in a ridiculous puff.
The creature stared at me, almost amused.
Then it raised a massive arm.
I tried again, frantic, nearly in tears:
" FIRE… FIRE… FIRE…!! "
But every time, the same tiny spark fizzled out against the creature's black carapace.
The Beast swung its claw toward me.
" WHOOOOSH!! "
I felt the searing heat of an invisible blade slash through my side.
The pain stole my breath.
I collapsed to my knees, blood gushing between my fingers.
All around me, Scriptors shouted words I didn't recognize.
Explosions thundered, but the Beast remained standing, nearly unharmed
" I… can't… end here… "
I pushed myself back up, swaying, my body already soaked in blood.
My vision was blurry.
" I… have to… save her… Whatever the price, I must save her. "
I concentrated, trying to summon all the energy I could within myself.
And that's when I heard it.
A voice.
Like a whisper rising from an endless abyss, an ancient, powerful voice echoed inside my mind.
It rang in my head:
" NEXUS ."
A word I had never heard… yet somehow, it felt familiar.
A silver light burst all around me.
Unknown runes formed in the air, blazing, shining like stars, and my hands as if possessed rose up and began to draw
Then everything went black.
---
[ Two days later. ]
The stark white light of the hospital blinded me.
The smell of disinfectant stung my nose.
I was lying in a bed, my body wrapped in bandages.
Every breath made me wince in pain.
Flashes of memories came back to me:
the Beast's scream.
the blood on my hands.
that word… Nexus.
---
A nurse came in and gave me a sympathetic look.
" You should rest, Aegon. "
I didn't answer.
She sighed, adjusted my blanket, then left without pressing further.
A few hours later, a man entered.
He wore a long white coat adorned with golden runes along the sleeves.
His black hair was tied back, his face marked by deep dark circles.
He was a Rank S Scriptor.
---
He stood silently in front of me.
I lifted my head, full of hope.
" You… you can save her, can't you? You're Rank S…! You can write words no one else can use! "
He lowered his eyes.
His voice was deep, almost broken:
" ...No known word can awaken her,Aegon. "
A chasm opened beneath my feet.
" No… no… There has to be something!
You're Rank S… You can all do the impossible! "
The Scriptor placed a hand on my shoulder:
" Listen to me, kid.
There are wounds… curses… against which even we, the Rank S, can do nothing.
I'm sorry. "
I pushed him away:
" Don't tell me it's impossible.
I'll find a word… or create one if I have to! "
" I'm going to save her... do you understand? I'M GOING TO SAVE HER "
finished this words with tears in my eyes.
The Scriptor sighed, his eyes filled with exhaustion:
" If it were that simple, the world would be a very different place. "
He left the room, leaving behind an even heavier silence.
---
I turned my gaze toward my mother, lying in another bed on the other side of the room.
My throat tightened.
I whispered:
" I'll save you, Mom. Even if I have to rewrite the entire world to do it. "
That was the day I made my decision.
---