This is Me

I woke up to the scorching pain in my chest. What I had wanted to be a fever dream, appeared to have had happened in reality. If that was the truth, was what the healer said the truth? Was magic, in this world, a fact, not some type of fairy tale? It was not something Mother and Father used, to entertain me and Katarina.

I wanted to say it could not be the truth, but I had seen it. I wish I could claim what the healer has introduced me to, was nothing but some grand illusion. No, I had seen and felt the ramifications of her magic. And I was, apparently, one of those, an Unleashed.

If, what she showed to me, was the truth. Then everything else, that she had discussed with me, was the truth. If so, I was a danger to my family. I could hurt, Mother, Father, and Katarina. I would do anything in my power to avoid that. I do not want to leave my life with my family, but I refuse any chance of me hurting them. Let me kill myself before I let that become a reality.

* * *

I was lost in my own mind, and lost in the pain in my chest. My eyes were closed when the healer walked back into the room that I was confined to. I am not even sure how long she loomed over me, before I recognized her existence.

"I'm sorry that I had to do that to you. I truly am. I wanted to avoid showing you the power that the both of us are entangled in. I hoped that there was any other kind of way." (Healer)

I know I should try to speak to her. My words were lost in my head. Should I say, 'It's not your fault, I understand' or should I say something like, 'Screw you.'? I could say either, and it would be correct. But, that would mean, vocally, that what she said was true. The coward that I am blocked me from said action.

Instead of responding to her, I turned my head from looking at her. Like before, when she attacked me with her power, her face blanked. There was not a single emotion being expressed.

It was something that I should have recognized that was being to me, but I never paid attention to the wound on my chest slowly starting to heal. There was a thin layer of brown mist enveloping my chest, but, something I should have noticed. Nevertheless, I was still to lost in my head to see what was happening.

It was a gradual healing, slowly relieving the pain. Incremental decreasing the amounts of bubbles and redness that garnished my body. I never pair attention to the situation until she fell on top of me, which jolted me out of by reverie.

"G...gi...ve me a moment. Healing is tiring. Unfortunately, more so than harming." (Healer)

"You healed me?" (Rehor)

She did not answer for over five minutes. Her breathing was shallow the whole time. Slow and steady as if she was asleep. Is this the future for me?

* * *

She, never truly, shrugged off her lack of energy, but she ultimately decided to discuss the truth of the matter. The calm and caring demeanor that I had seen her carrying, while there, had faded to the background, behind the sadness she addressed me with. This, more than anything else, brought me to the realization that I needed to listen to her.

"As I said, you are one of the Unleashed. An Unleashed that has yet to be Collared. You have no control over the Putere. We have no knowledge of how much Putere that you can control. Do you follow, so far?" (Healer)

"A little." (Rehor)

"We, Unleashed, are able to control some natural elements. Do you remember when I wounded you earlier?" (Healer)

That was not something that I wanted to think about again. And yet, the image of the orange mist attacking me was still to fresh in my mind. Just a small reminder brought back the whole episode to me. And with reluctance, I answered that I did.

"Orange is the color of heat. Brown is the color of healing. It's a simple description of the Putere that you've seen. It is much more involved with that, but I'm not going to hash over it. You will have to learn more in the future, but for now, that's all I'll tell you about Putere." (Healer)

"You mentioned a collar. What do you mean?" (Rehor)

"You see this leather collar on my neck. Like what you will start off as, I am a Leather Collared Unleashed. It's something we will never be free of. It shows that I can barely control my power. The more control you have, the better quality of collar you will wear. Is that clear?"

"And all Unleashed must wear a collar?" (Rehor)

"That is the truth of the matter. If an Unleashed is seen wielding Putere, they will be generally be put to death. They are a danger to everyone around them. Unable to safely control their power." (Healer)

"Is that why I can't see Mommy and Daddy? Because I'm scary?" (Rehor)

"Yes." (Healer)

I see. I can finally understand why I am strapped to the bed. I am here so I do not hurt anyone else.

"I wish I could train you here, so you can communicate with your family, but I am basically a novice myself. I will help you where I can, but I can't do much." (Healer)

"Who is going to help me then?" (Rehor)

"There is a hall where I shall take you to. There are multiple teachers there that are better able to handling new Unleashed." (Healer)

I know, in my brain, that she is trying to be honest with me, about my future. However, I wanted to deny it. To leave the family that I cared so much about upset me, to my core. Feelings were the only thing I was caring about right now.

"Can I say bye?" (Rehor)

"In person, No. Right now, you don't have the control of your power. If you would see your family right now, you would almost certainly hurt them." (Healer)

"Can I write to them?" (Rehor)

"Yes you may. Do you need any help?" (Healer)

"I can write, by myself. But, can you help me tell them about what I am about to become?" (Rehor)

"Of course, I will help you. This is me, Muceni. It's the least that I can do for you." (Healer)