A deal(1)

After Lena left, Ethan was alone again in the room. He stood up from the bed, almost falling, but he managed to grab the back of the chair, and slowly, step after step, he got to the bathroom.

The bathroom wasn't big in comparison with the room, but nonetheless, it was big. There was a bathtub filled with water, a sink, and other things that needed to be in the bathroom. Above the sink was a mirror. And Ethan slowly came closer to the sink to look at himself in the mirror.

The mirror reflected the image of the young boy. His body was skinny, and his skin was white. He had dark, ear-length, silk-like hair and big, clear blue eyes, which were looking at Ethan.

Ethan walked away from the mirror. He undressed and, with great effort, climbed into the bathroom. The water was warm, and Ethan just sat there, tired, looking up at the ceiling. His mind was blank.

After some time.

"Hey, mister, are you there?"

[Yes, I am here. What do you want?]

"Nothing! I was just curious. Are you still there?"

[Don't ask stupid questions. Where do you think I can go from this place?]

The voice was annoyed.

"I'm sorry. I didn't want to annoy you."

[It's nothing. I guess I need to become accustomed to your questions.]

Ethan felt as if the voice sighed softly.

"Um, mister, do you have parents?"

[I had. They dead now.]

"I'm sorry."

[No need. It was a long time ago anyway.]

The silence continued for some time.

[Hey, Ethan, my parents are dead, but not yours. I want to make a deal with you.]

"What's a deal?"

[It's like a promise. You know what a promise is, do you?]

"Yes, I know."

[And a deal is a promise exchanged by two or more parties. Do you understand?]

"Yes, I understand."

[Good, then let's make a deal. I promise to help you become stronger, and in exchange, will you help me get out of this place? What do you think sounds good?]

"Um, I don't know."

[What? Don't you want to become stronger? But it all happened because you were weak. Your home was attacked because you were weak, and your parents abandoned you because you were weak! You can't even defend your mother from a mere shadow.]

"It can't be..."

Ethan's face became white, and his eyes were wide open. It can't be like that. His parents shouldn't abandon him because he was weak. They must be left because of other problems. It can't be because of his weakness. And he isn't weak.

Ethan was desperate to prove that the voice owner's words weren't right. But he can't. There isn't any solid argument for it. No, there is. It's magic. Ethan can use magic. His face brightened after finally finding a good argument to refute that voice.

"I'm not weak! Look!"

With these words, Ethan closed his eyes and raised his hand. He imagined a ball of flames in his mind and moved mana inside his body like his mother taught. And after a half-minute, a ball of red flames appeared above Ethan's hand. He opened his eyes.

The flame was flickering and weak. But Ethan's face was happy. He finally did it. He managed to create a ball of flames. It was his first time.

[Wow, is it magic? After struggling for half a minute, you managed to create only that little flame. It can't even light the campfire.]

Ethan wanted to impress the voice owner. He wanted that person to take back the words about Ethan being weak. But the voice owner wasn't impressed.

Maybe Ethan really was weak. It was really his fault that his mom and dad left him. The realization dawned on him bitterly. Hot tears started to run down his face. And magic flames were extinguished.

***

Did I overdo it? No, it can't be. I just pointed out that he was weak. It was the truth. And, if you think logically, his parents abandoning him because he was weak was also true. They can't bring this kid with them because it is dangerous. It will only work if we assume that they are still alive and really love this kid. But what about this intense reaction? I should calm him down somehow.

***

[Hey kid, stop crying. It wouldn't help you to bring your parents back.]

But Ethan didn't listen to that voice. He was too preoccupied with thoughts about his parents abandoning him for his weakness.

[I'm sorry. I shouldn't say that you were weak, so stop crying.]

Ethan could not stop himself from crying. He really was a weak person. That person was right. It was his fault that his mom and dad left him behind.

[Stop crying! You are annoying! How can you be such a crybaby? Are you six years old?]

But Ethan didn't respond.

[You are weak, and that is a fact, and your parents leaving you because of that is a fact too. But it's already happened, and you can't change it. Instead of thinking about your weaknesses and pitying yourself, think about the future. If you continue to be weak, you will be abandoned again! No, I am not sure about that. If you continue to be weak, no one will be left to abandon you!]

Ethan's tears stopped.

[Good, you should become aware that being weak is sin. You can't protect your family if you're weak. So you need to become stronger. And I can help you with it. So I ask you again. Would you agree to this deal? You help me get out of this place, and in exchange, I help you become stronger.]

But for Ethan, it wasn't enough. With a determined voice, he said

"I help you to get out of that cage, and in exchange, help me to become strong enough to protect my family and help me find my mom and dad."

[Ain't you greedy little boy? But it's fine. I can help you with it. I, too, want to meet your parents. So six-year-old little girl, it's a deal then?]

"Yes, it's a deal. And I'm not a little girl! I am a boy, and I am eight years old!"

[But you were crying like a little girl.]

Ethan can't refute these words.