The days seemed to blend with one another as my body recovered.

“AHHH”

The mornings came to me with abrupt chills from the nightmares that haunt my sleep.

“Urgh”

Then the dressings had to be changed for new ones so that my injuries wouldn’t worsen. Their magical nature making them volatile to unknown consequences should it get infected.

“Motherfuc—”

“Language!”

The ever-present ripple of pain that surged once the wound was exposed. According to my uncle a black light shone faintly whenever the scorching sensation took over. Whatever the hags had done, seemed to be permanent for now. My back now sported a twisted tattoo like marking. A black swirl that covered most of my back. Serrated jagged teeth that seemed to dance around it, while at the center of it all a small circle with a complicated magic circuit with varying symbols and runes carved in impossibly small sequence.

“Visary exists all around us and within us. Depending on how you manipulate it does its designation change to Qi or Mana. Qi is the inner manipulation of Visary, used to strengthen ones body, senses, reflexes and allowing for superhuman feats. There are various legends of people stirring their inner bodies potential and sprouting wings, seeing in the dark and many other untold abilities.”

However, the was one silver lining. Whenever uncle Yian had time in between going out to prepare, bringing me food or when he helped change my dressings, he would teach me about magic and the many dangers outside of the “safe zone” we lived in.

“Uncle is the Forest Lord better at using Qi or mana?”

“Most temyo are better at using Qi, however there are a few exceptions that are very proficient in mana. Though most of these haven’t been seen in a very long time. But the hag we encountered is a perfect example of creatures that haven’t been seen in thousands of years but are still around. The Forest lord though uses Qi, Qi so strong that it affects the surrounding mountain, making an unbreakable bond between himself and the forest. In a sense it mimics mana as he is able to affect the forest and use it as an extension of himself.”

“But, Uncle, how is that different from mana?”

“Well, mana is the usage of Visary to create wonderous effects from nothing. Well, in the end it only seems like nothing, as Visary acts as the fuel for whatever you are attempting to do. Be it creating fire, causing an explosion, bending water or controlling nature. Some are even able to create illusions, speak with beasts and many other extraordinary feats. Both uses of Visary require-”

I listened with fervor and committed every little piece of information to heart. Thousands upon thousands of questions surged and every time I asked one, ten more would take its place. However, my nightmares kept only one question at the forefront of my mind.

“How can you defend against mind magic then uncle? Would one train their Qi to keep the senses sharp or mana to be able to sense it being used?”

There was a lull in Uncle’s lecture. His enthusiastic demeanor softened and his shoulders dropped.

“The nightmares still disturb your sleep do they?”

I simply nodded my head.

“I see myself hanging in the room, the tree roots pulling at my limbs, almost as if to rip them off me. Then the hag with red eyes, always the red eyed one, carves her fingernails across my body. First my back, then around towards my chest and it continues to drag all the way to my eyes. Slowly the pain turns to flame and all I can hear is the laughter, that hideous cackling of theirs.”

My hands trembled as the images filled my head, and I squeeze them trying to hold them steady but nothing works. The images just keep getting fresher and clearer every time I dream.

“Then I hear the scraping of metal, and soon I’m left with nothing. My eyes are torn, my skin is melted and all I can do is scream. Yet even that is taken from me as those skeletal fingers choke my throat. My voice finally gone, the final method to try and relieve myself of the pain, gone… That’s when I wake up…afraid to go back to sleep and experience it all over once more.”

I feel Uncle’s hand rest on my shoulder, and he l wipes off the tears from my eyes.

‘When did I start to cry?’

“Will it ever end?”

I asked, afraid that my mind will never be my own again. My voice, cracking at the thought that somehow the hag will find me once more.

‘Is it really dead? Could a creature that can control MINDS really have died?”

My paranoia spiked and my breathing sped up. Nausea making the room spin faster and faster.

“Uncle are you sure its gone? Maybe it just let us go? Maybe she messed with your mind too! What if she just wants to give us hope? It did that to me too, it let me have a chance to let me know that there was nothing I could do. What if---”

“Shhhhh, Raiden. Stop. Take a deep breath. “

My body was sweating and quivering. The nightmare playing on a constant loop inside my mind. The pain and fear that made my skin crawled on replay until it was all too much.

“Blaaaaaargh”

The nauseousness became so overpowering that I just began to vomit. My breath getting caught in my throat because of it became a repugnant reminder of my traumatic moments with the hag.

“It’s going to be ok Raiden. Listen to my voice, shhhhh, just pay attention to the sound of my voice. Breathe in and out. Slowly. It’s gone, there nothing to fear now.”

I felt a soft warm sensation traveling across my body. Whenever my Uncle spoke, my fears lessened, even if ever so slightly.

“This is another application of Mana. Currently the curse that is bound to you makes your fears heightened, however I can only help you fight it with a small bit of my own. Breathe Raiden, remember where you are. You’re home, safe. The hag is dead, her had cut clean off of her own body. Even the strongest of mythical creatures don’t survive that. You don’t need to fear it anymore.”

‘I don’t need to be afraid. I don’t need to be afraid. I don’t need to be afraid. I don’t need to be afraid.’

I repeated the thought over and over to try and burn the calm sensation that Yian provided into my brain. However, the fear never disappeared, and my Uncle could see that.

“Raiden… our world is not a kind one. You will have to face many dangerous foes and obstacles. The only way to beat your fear is to conquer it. Had I the power to shield you from it all then I would gladly spare you the pain. But neither I nor anyone can be truly without fear.”

“Is there nothing I can do Uncle? You said it was the curse on my back, if we get rid of it then I won’t feel like this again right?”

My uncles pained expression betrayed his thoughts faster than his words ever could.

“Child, I cannot promise you that you will never feel this kind of fear again, by either magical or natural means. Nothing is ever guaranteed in life, but I can prepare you to face it.”

----

“Although we’re a bit early, I noticed that you have been unconsciously absorbing and using Visary ever since you entered the hag’s territory, something that would take decades for even the most talented warriors and mages. The hex on your back was supposed to activate when the hags signature Mana was poured in, all the while increasing your negative emotions. However, during my fight with the hag, since you were taking in the ambient energy, the signature energy that would have been used to activate it was rewritten to your own tainted Visary that is now mixed with the hags.”

I stopped my explanation to see if Raiden was able to follow the reason for his suffering. He was clearly not only confused but also anxious. The trauma of his encounter with the hags would dawn on him for quite a while, maybe his entire life if he didn’t learn how to face his fears.

‘Won’t happen. I’ll make sure he learns to defend himself so that he can use that confidence to overcome his trauma.’

“So you’re saying that I’m the one activating the tattoo on my back?”

“Yes, although I don’t know how you’re absorbing Visary without focusing. Our bodies naturally absorb small bits of natural energy after you awaken your senses around the age of 9. However that alone would not be enough to activate the tattoo. Your body however is somehow able to actively draw in natural Visary while it attempts to heal itself. The downside though is that your own energy mixed itself with the hags, thus when it flows through your back it continuously heals and hurts itself.”

‘His growth would be unprecedented had it not been for this damned curse…’

“But Uncle, how am I supposed to stop it then?”

I shook my head at my nephews question.

“Sadly Raiden, the best I can do is help you maintain a balance with your inner Qi and mana. I can show you how to preserve your emotions in check, but even I haven’t learned how to absorb Visary without meditating. Maybe if I can help you actively sense it, you can stop it yourself, but aside from that, your guess is as good as mine.”

I began to wrap the new bandages around his small body, the dark ominous light that was emitted by the tattoo slowly being covered and soon stopped.

“Thankfully, whatever you are doing is still incredibly sensitive. Once the hex is covered it stops abruptly, probably due to you not being able to control this.”

Soon Raidens breathing slowly began to slow down. The pain surely subsiding slowly.

“Fortunately, the wound has cauterized just in time for tomorrow.”

As I began to put everything away, I noticed the confusion in my nephew’s face.

“Don’t tell me you forgot what tomorrow is?”

His eyes darted around as his mind rummaged in an attempt to remember what tomorrow was. I could’t help but smile.

‘Silly child. How could you forget…Although with all that has happened, maybe this surprise will help him take his mind off of the stress in his mind.’

“You turn eight tomorrow Raiden.”

“It’s my birthday already?!”

“I did tell you that you had been unconscious for a couple weeks remember? Anyways, you’re all healed up so get ready. Tomorrow your martial training begins. Hopefully that will help you understand your body more and we can figure out how to stop the pain together.”

----

Yian hurridly stood up from the bed, leaving behind the stunned and excited Raiden behind. He had been right, the thought of his birthday and the start to his official training had allowed the child a small respite from the constant worry he had carried throughout the past week.

But as the tall figure began to slowly descend the stairs of the small cabin, the taste of iron filled his mouth. He had held as long as he could after using his Mana to calm Raiden’s emotions.

‘Even this tiny amount of effort worsens it huh…’

Yian stood there for a long time, the dim light of the sun shining through the windows of the cabin reflected on his face. Worry and determination filled his mind, and soon he found himself sitting down at his table, and began to write on an empty journal.