“A long time ago every inch of the known world was unified in one vast empire, the “Immortal Empire”. Rulers of this kingdom were ten almighty beings, the Ten Creators. No one knows where they had come from, no one knows what they were. The only thing everybody knew was that they had an ABSOLUTE power: the power to create. They could erect mountains out of thin air, generate seas and oceans, create tornados of fire; they could even create LIFE itself. Their creations began to be called destiny, because everything they desired to be, took place in front of their eyes.”

I stopped talking, expecting tons of questions from my beloved son, but not a single word came out of his mouth. His eyes were shining even more than usual, like bright white diamonds bathed by sunlight. He must be having a hard time imagining what a power like that would be like, I thought, chuckling at my child’s lost expression.

After a few seconds he woke up from his trance, noticing I had stopped talking.

“Mum- he said, excitement and something else I couldn’t really address mixed in his voice- is tha- is that what you’re capable of doing? Is it what your power his?”

A nervous laugh escaped my mouth. He must be thinking about that time I “accelerated” the growing time of a tree.

“No, sweetheart, my power is nothing but an imitation of the one of the Creators. Now that I think of it, even calling it imitation would be wrong. Still, there’s a time and place for everything; I know you’re curious about what I can do, but you’ll have your time to shine sooner than you think.”

I wasn’t happy about it, but he needed to learn destiny manipulation  as soon as possible. It was the only thing I could teach him.

After having enjoyed the puzzled look on his face for a few seconds, I resumed telling the story.

“The Creators were thought to be unkillable, hence the name “Immortal Empire”. A pretty presumptuous choice if you ask me.  Anyways, they peacefully ruled over the World for hundreds of years, without rebellions or revolutions. The peace was in part granted by the benevolence of the Creators- they asked the populations of their Empire to bring them offerings, but nothing more- and in part by the Diamond Army, a special division of soldiers created to be indestructible.

 However, one day everything changed: a strange being appeared in the world, a being the Creators could not bend to their will.

 His name was Azady, and he possessed the power to destroy destiny. Everything the Ten could create, he could destroy. He was their natural enemy, the only being that stood a chance against them. Yet, He did not seek for a war. He enjoyed his freedom more than anything else and considered ruling over a kingdom just another type of chains.

One of the Ten Rulers, however, had become jealous of Azady. He couldn’t accept the existence of a being that wasn’t underneath him, it just wasn’t conceivable.

He was the most violent out of all the Creators.

His name was A… - his name wa…

The words died in my mouth.

I couldn’t, I just couldn’t pronounce that name. My body began trembling uncontrollably.

I’m not strong enough. I can’t do this. As these thoughts swarmed in my mind, I continued to ask myself the same question: why was I so weak?

Why?

Why?

Why?

 Ignis’s worried expression was the last thing I saw.

Right in front of me stood a hooded figure. He laughed and laughed and laughed, but his laugh was not human. Just listening to that sound made my ears bleed. My body was screaming in pain. I had ventured too deep into the forest; the nymphs couldn’t come to save me there. Everything was lost. I closed my eyes, trying to control the rhythm of my heartbeat. I just wanted that disgusting man to stop laughing.

 The sound suddenly stopped.

 I raised my face, hoping he had gone away, hoping I was finally safe, hoping He had come to rescue me.

 I found two golden eyes looking straight into my soul. I was done for.  

“… Mom, Mom, wake up!”

“Sorry, ladybug- I said, waking up from The Nightmare that tormented every single one of my nights- it seems I’m more tired than I thought. I think it would be better to keep the end of the story for another day…”

I hated myself. I could see fear and worry dance in my son’s eyes. I’m sorry Ignis, I couldn’t do it…