Book Writing

Between Hope & Despair, I Choose...

I curled up inside the treehouse as I heard screams of terror and fear echo throughout the town as nunchucks fought bullets and won (Konju had once mentioned how he had learnt to send bullets away without getting hurt over the years of being a Borrowed Actor...). 

Familiar voices screamed for help. Despair was heavily evident in the air. People were getting injured. 

And I couldn't do anything against them. 

No. 

I had brought this upon the town the moment I ran away from a brainwashed Konju and the Dark Balancers. 

Huh, how funny it is. I had promised to keep it safe, and yet I brought it into danger. 

I had promised to fight the Dark Balancers, but I had let them win. 

Huh, I guess I really am a coward. 

I really am weak, horrible, and all those words everyone kept on telling me for so long. 

It's no wonder no one wanted to be my friend. 

I am nothing compared to Konju. 

I am nothing compared to everyone in this town. 

I... 

I truly am useless....

I truly am.... nothing... 

Tears of despair fell down my cheeks. My fists tightened to the point of bleeding (quite literally), and I curled up even more. 

See? It was useless to fight me from the beginning. You should have listened to me in the first place. You shouldn't have gotten involved in this. It's actually expected that an arrogant coward like you would be the one to bring your community into chaos. You don't deserve it! You shouldn't have been given the Fluctuation Artefact-

"Aruke-kun? Can you hear me, Aruke-kun?" a soft voice suddenly sounded out from inside my head, effectively cutting my dark side and making it retreat. 

"H-Huh?" I blinked as I looked up to see a void of some sorts in front of me. I blinked. 

"W-Who are you?" I meekly asked it. 

"I am Chaos, and I am the one who granted you your status as a Fate Changer," It introduced itself telepathically. "I was also the one who chose Konju Rudi as the Borrowed Actor." 

"I-I see..." I fell silent, remembering Konju, with his constant smiles and energy, which I would never see again because of my mistake. My stupid, cowardly, idiotic, and completely promise-breaking mistake which had cost a lot. 

".... Hey, Chaos-san?" 

"Yes?" 

"Why did you choose me as the Fate Changer? I mean, I don't have anything amazing to offer. I'm just a horrible person who caused the apocalypse because I was too scared to fight my own friend-" 

"Don't say that about yourself, Aruke-kun," Chaos suddenly shook its head (?). "You're much more amazing than you think." 

"H-Huh? W-What are you talking about? I-I let Konju get brainwashed. I-I couldn't keep the Fluctuation Artefact safe. I-I couldn't even save my dad! A-And now... Now... The entire multiverse is going to suffer because of me!" 

"It hasn't ended, Aruke-kun," Chaos admitted. "While it may seem bleak, there is still hope." 

"W-What makes you say that?..." 

"Simple," Chaos smiled (?). "The Fluctuation Artefact will only work with its rightful owner, which is you." 

My eyes widened hearing that. 

"Aruke-kun... I have been observing you for a long time. While you may seem apathetic on the outside, you are actually warm and sensitive to your surroundings. You would risk your life for your loved ones, and you are always taking your burden alone. You don't want others to get hurt because of you, and that shows how caring you can be." 

"However, no man is an island, Aruke-kun. You're constantly hounded by your thoughts of the past, which is unhealthy and must be stopped. Only when you share the burdens with your loved ones can you finally move on and grow. That's why... Aruke-kun, you NEED to let go of all your pain and suffering once and for all, and let others in. No matter how many times your peers bring you down, don't you EVER forget that as long as you keep on remembering your loved ones and forgiving your peers, you can live a happier life with your loved ones. Because forgiveness doesn't only benefit them, it also benefits you and your loved ones." 

At that exact time, I finally understood. 

I finally understood friendship. 

It's a bond that is unbreakable as long as that bond still exists. 

It's sharing each others' burdens and helping each other get over it. 

I finally understood how to move on. 

Cutting and severing my ties with the past, while still keeping it in mind as a reminder not to mess up in the future. 

Getting through painful deaths together with your family and friends. 

I finally understood. 

And, with that, all those shackles and chains I had put on my shoulders for years finally came down with their baggage gone. 

The next thing I knew, I was crying in gratitude, "T-Thank you so much, Chaos-san..." 

"It is nothing, Aruke-kun. However, you must now rush to the town centre to end this once and for all." 

"Got it. But I obviously can't fight against a brainwashed person plus 9 adults who can (possibly) hypnotise me." 

"And that, Aruke-kun, is where these come in handy," Chaos conjured up a pair of daggers and sunglasses. "These sunglasses can reflect the hypnosis power back to them, while the daggers control the Nature magic and its more powerful form, the Blazing magic. I want you to use these in the fight." 

Wasting no time, I grabbed them and wore the sunglasses, "Thank you Chaos-san. How do I use the daggers though?" 

"To use the daggers, press the emerald side of the daggers to activate the Nature magic, and the ruby side to activate the Blazing magic." 

"Got it. Thank you so much for your help, Chaos-san," I smiled at it. 

"It is nothing. Now hurry! Time is running out!" Chaos disappeared after saying that, as if it hadn't been there before. 

With my head now clear and ready for action, I sprinted down the ladder and rushed to the town center. 

Hang on tight, everyone! I'm coming!