Chapter 16: The inferno within

Dominik thought he had reached his limit. It wasn't just the state of confusion and anger that plagued him—it was the constant onslaught of memories, ever more vivid and invasive. It had been three weeks since he was informed of his memory suppression and the true extent of his condition, and each day seemed harder than the last. The flashes of memory had only gotten worse, a relentless barrage that left him in a state of perpetual torment, he practically survived on pain medications.

The only moments of peace he found were when he trained with Rika, the training was the only time he got a temporary break from the chaos in his mind. In desperation, he had asked his grandfather to extend his training sessions with Rika.

Everyone looked at him with a mix of fear and pity now. He could see it in their eyes, the way they avoided his gaze or whispered behind his back. He didn't blame them. How could he? He barely recognized himself anymore. He couldn't even Bare to look at himself in the mirror.

He made his way to the training grounds, the familiar path offering little comfort. His body moved mechanically, each step a struggle against the exhaustion that weighed him down. When he arrived, Rika was already there, waiting with his usual stoic expression.

"Morning," Dominik muttered.

Rika nodded in acknowledgment. "Ready?"

Dominik nodded, gripping his sword tightly. The training began in silence, the only sounds the clash of metal and their labored breaths. Rika's movements were fluid, precise, a stark contrast to Dominik's erratic swings.

As the session progressed, Dominik felt the familiar pressure building inside him, a searing pain that radiated through his entire body. He tried to push it down, to focus on his training, but it was no use. His vision blurred, and he could barely hear Rika's voice over the roar in his ears.

"Dominik, stop!" Rika's voice cut through the haze, but Dominik couldn't respond. His body moved on its own, the sword swinging wildly, each strike more uncontrolled than the last.

"Stop!" Rika shouted again, desperation creeping into his voice. When Dominik didn't respond, Rika did the only thing he could—he punched Dominik in the face, hard.

The blow snapped Dominik out of his trance. He stumbled back, blood dripping from his nose and mouth. He threw his sword to the ground and collapsed against the wall of the training ground, his chest heaving. Rika sat down beside him, breathing heavily.

"What was that?" Rika asked, his voice a mix of concern and frustration.

"I don't know," Dominik responded, his voice barely a whisper. "I think I lost control for a moment there. I just couldn't control my body."

Rika's face hardened. "You need to get a grip, Dominik. This isn't just about you anymore."

Dominik struggled to breathe, each breath a labored effort. "It feels like there's something sealed inside me, moving around my body. It hurts every time I move, like someone is cutting me with a sword. I just want a release. I want it to go away. I feel like I'm burning from the inside and it never stops. It never stops!" he screamed, his voice breaking as he continued to breathe heavily.

Rika grabbed him by the shoulders, shaking him. "Listen to me, Dominik! You have to fight this. You can't let it control you. Do you understand?"

Dominik's eyes filled with tears, his body trembling with fear and exhaustion. "I can't... I don't know how. I'm scared, Rika. I'm so scared."

Rika's grip tightened, his voice softening slightly. "I know you're scared. But you're stronger than this. You've always been stronger than this. You just have to believe it."

Dominik shook his head, tears streaming down his face. "I don't feel strong. I feel like I'm falling apart. Like I'm losing myself. I don't have control, I'm in pain"

Rika pulled him into a tight embrace, Rika felt sorry for the boy. For the past week, his eyes had sunk and they were blood red with dark circles underneath not to mention his palms were red and his skin looked like it was aflame. Merely hugging him felt like being set on fire. He couldn't imagine what the boy was going through.

As Rika released him, Dominik wiped his tears and took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice hoarse.

Rika nodded, a faint smile on his lips. "Anytime. Now, let's get back to training. We've got a lot of work to do."

Dominik nodded, picking up his sword and taking his stance. The road ahead was long and uncertain, but with Rika by his side, he felt ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

After the grueling session with Rika, Dominik made his way to Master Saif for his elemental training. He had read all the recommended books, but so far, nothing had come of his efforts. He entered the training room, greeting Master Saif and Aqua. Aqua nodded and moved to the side to continue training her wind element.

Dominik sat cross-legged on the ground, facing Master Saif. The older man gave him directions on how to control the elements, guiding him through the process step by step. Dominik tried to follow, but it was like trying to grasp smoke with his bare hands. No matter how hard he tried, it wasn't working.

"Try again," Master Saif urged, his voice calm but insistent.

Dominik tried over and over, each attempt more frustrating than the last. The room grew hotter, his sweat soaking through his clothes. His vision blurred, and he felt light-headed. Desperation clawed at him, and he closed his eyes, trying to block out everything else.

"Focus, Dominik," Master Saif's voice cut through the fog. "Control your breathing. Feel the energy flow through you."

Dominik clenched his fists, his entire body trembling with effort. The heat inside him grew unbearable, his skin feeling like it was on fire. He took a deep breath, trying to center himself, but the pain only intensified.

In that moment, something inside him snapped. The pain reached a crescendo, and he could no longer contain it. He screamed, a primal sound that echoed through the training hall, and thrust his hands out in front of him.

Flames erupted from his palms, a torrent of fire that engulfed the training ground in an instant. The inferno roared to life, consuming everything in its path. The heat was overwhelming, a scorching wave that seared Dominik's skin and sent Master Saif and Aqua scrambling for cover.

Dominik stood in the center of the blaze, his eyes wide with a mix of terror and awe. For a brief moment, he felt a twisted sense of satisfaction, the flames providing a release from the constant torment. But as the fire spread, panic set in.

"Dominik, stop!" Master Saif's voice was barely audible over the roar of the flames. "You have to control it!"

But Dominik couldn't. The fire had a life of its own, fueled by his fear and anger. He could feel it slipping further from his grasp, the flames dancing wildly around him. The training hall was a blazing inferno, the air thick with smoke and heat.

Aqua screamed as a section of the ceiling collapsed, sending a shower of sparks and debris raining down. Master Saif rushed to her side, his face contorted with fear and determination.

"Dominik, please!" Master Saif shouted, his voice desperate. "You have to control it!"

Dominik tried to focus, to reign in the flames, but it was no use. The fire raged on, unstoppable and all-consuming. He could feel his strength waning, the initial euphoria replaced by a crushing exhaustion. His vision blurred, and he swayed on his feet, struggling to stay upright.

As the flames closed in around him, Dominik's legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground. The last thing he saw before darkness claimed him was the look of horror on Master Saif's face, the fire reflecting in his eyes.

The world faded to black, and Dominik was consumed by the void, the searing heat giving way to a cold, empty darkness.

---

Master Saif rushed to Dominik's side, his heart pounding with fear and concern. Aqua stood frozen in shock, the air around her still shimmering with the remnants of the fire.

"Dominik!" Master Saif shouted, shaking him gently. "Dominik, wake up!"

But Dominik didn't respond. He lay there, bloodied and bruised, a faint smile still on his lips as the darkness consumed him.

.