— What is the difference between a demon and a monster? Master?

A man was floating in a huge dark ocean, his eyes were dull and lifeless, he watched the air bubbles coming out of his mouth rise towards what seemed to be the surface.

He heard this question echoing through his head, because of how tired and exhausted he was, he could barely think of who he was talking about. The only thing he knew or was aware of was the fact that this question was being asked by him.

— Hm, let me think...

The voice of an adult echoed in his head.

This person was fighting the urge not to fall into that dark sea, trying to swim upwards, but for some reason, his body was not responding.

— You see, my little apprentice, demons can have a more spiritual or psychological connotation. Monsters are more often associated with physical threats or danger.

The older voice said this to the little one who was with him.

— Master, have you ever seen a monster?

At the little boy's question, the adult paused for a few moments, then replied as follows

— I did, a long time ago.

— Were you afraid of it, Master?

The little boy asked with curiosity, only for the adult to let out a small smile.

— Yes, I was afraid to face him.

The older man's voice sounded melancholy, as if he had remembered something sad, while the child could only hug his legs and say the following;

— I'm scared, Master.

The two were silent after the boy's words, his master trying to find the right words to answer the boy.

— Khan, whenever you are afraid to do something. Never run away from it, even if you are very afraid and in danger, you must resist it and you will know what you are capable of.

The little boy remained silent, except for a small nod to his master.

The voices stopped in his mind. When the man opened his eyes, he realized that he was still floating in that dark sea.

— Master... I let you down.

Those were his first words in that desolate and dark place, he was scared, he felt weak and he was tired.

He was tired of being the good guy, tired of keeping secrets, tired of pretending that everything was all right, when in fact everything was wrong.

This world he was supposed to protect was being invaded, a person was being corrupted by a parasite, and most of all....

"HE" had reached the limit of restraining his own emotions.

— Poor human puppy, your face is as miserable as ever.

A huge hand rose out of the dark sea, just to support the human alone. In front of his eyes stood a huge creature covered in shadows. The most striking thing about its appearance was the prominent dark red color in its eyes.

— You are the most pathetic thing I have ever seen, if we were not one in body and mind. I would have tortured and devoured you by now.

He raised his huge hand to bring the human right in front of his shadowed face.

— You are tired, aren't you?

Not a single word came out of the man between his huge hands, instead he just looked at him with a blank expression.

— If you let me out. We can win this battle.

An annoyed expression appeared on the human's face, and the shadow monster could only draw a macabre smile at this sight.

— I refuse.

He replied in a very bad way, to which the monster just laughed.

— Come on, you don't have much of a choice if you don't let me out. They will take the crystal and your friends will get hurt.

His provocation had an effect, the man in front of his eyes was angry for the first time in a very long time.

— I'M NOT LETTING YOU OUT.

A fierce smile appeared on the shadow monster's face, only looking at the human in front of him.

— The last time you went out, you set fire to everything. You didn't leave anyone or anything behind.

It's over... 

Mentioned the monster from within, watching strange black marks rise from the man's neck to his eyes.

— YOU are a MONSTER.

The human finally pointed, to which the monster only responded with sarcasm.

— Don't tell me.

He moved a little closer to the man, only to see him showing signs of falling asleep. His head was spinning, his vision was blurred, he couldn't see anything, he could only hear 'THEIR' voices.

SAY THE WORD

SAY THE WORD

SAY THE WORD

SAY THE WORD

SAY THE WORD

SAY THE WORD

SAY THE WORD

SAY THE WORD

SAY THE WORD

SAY THE WORD

SAY THE WORD

SAY THE WORD

It was repeated over and over in his head, even though he could see nothing except the shadow monster holding his body as it floated in the dark sea. All around him were many, many eyes and various shadows of different shapes.

"THEY" are longing for the same thing as the monster that held him.

— Say it.

The giant shadow spoke to him again as it looked at the man's lifeless eyes, while the black spots began to penetrate his body, turning it completely black.

— Say the word.

The creature asked him again with much more desperation, he had to say it now or he would not have another chance.

The monster wanted to use the emotions that this man had suppressed for years to be the emotional pillar of many people.

Say it

Say it

Say it

Say it

Say it

Say it

Say it

Say it

Say it

Say it

Say it

Say it

Say it

— Say the word now, Xenonian.

I finally order him to do so, only for the man's mouth to open a little, a few bubbles to come out and rise to the top.

Thump! thump!

ba bum! 

The sound of the man's heart began to accelerate, and his pupil became sharp, like that of a cat or a reptile.

Noticing the change in the man's pupils, the monster smiled, for he had now fully succumbed to temptation.

— I release you from these chains, captive sinner. And I grant you the freedom that my master gave me to condemn me to sin.

The man began to say, and without warning, several of the chains that bound the monster began to break.

One... Two... and three.

The sound of three chains breaking echoed throughout the place. 

— That's it! NOW FREE ME, KHAN CROWE! 

A deep red fire flooded the sea of dark color, bringing light to the entire place. The creature that was once shrouded in shadow now revealed itself as a monster covered in black scales with an intense reddish fire covering its entire body.

— EMBER.

With these last words, both of them were bathed in this reddish fire as the man came to reality.

He opened his eyes softly, only to reveal dark reddish eyes with a sharp reptilian pupil.