Lucifer's POV

Leo and Canary's voices called out to me in the distance, their concern palpable even from afar. They've always been my pillars of support, my unwavering allies in a world filled with uncertainty. But today, I couldn't bring myself to face them, to let them see the cracks in my armour. What would you have done if you were me?

I...I ran.

I ran..as far as possible, as fast as possible. I ran away from them just like a...coward.

With each step, their voice faded into the background, replaced by the rustle of leaves and the occasional call of a distant bird. Breathless and with my heart pounding, I stumbled upon a clearing nestled among ancient trees. Sinking to the ground, I buried my face in my hands, the tears I had been holding back finally flowing freely. The guilt of deceiving everyone, the fear of not living up to their expectations, and the overwhelming sense of envy all crashed down on me like a tidal wave.

"Why can't I be like them?" I whispered into the stillness of the forest, my voice barely audible above the gentle rustle of leaves.

Lost in my thoughts, a strange sensation washed over me. It started as a tingling at the back of my neck, a prickling sensation that made the hairs stand on end. I glanced around, half-expecting to see someone or something watching me. But there was nothing there, just the whispering of the wind through the leaves and the distant murmur of a nearby stream. I shook my head, criticizing myself for letting my imagination run wild.

The evening sky was painted in shades of orange and pink fades into deep indigo, signalling the approaching night. I stood to leave, but as I ventured, the path I thought I knew began to twist and turn, the familiar trees and landmarks fading into an indistinct blur.

I was lost.

I stumbled through the dense undergrowth, each step felt like an unknown, the rustling of leaves and distant hoots of creatures amplifying my sense of isolation. My heart pounded with a mixture of fear and frustration. How could I have let myself get so turned around? I should have stayed put and waited for Leo and Canary to find me. But the relentless urge to escape, to find solace away from prying eyes, had driven me deeper into the forest's embrace.

The conversation with Leo and Canary echoed in my mind, their voices a distant memory amid the rustling of leaves and the occasional snap of a twig underfoot. Their reassurances felt like a fragile shield against the relentless doubts that gnawed at my soul.

"Why do they believe in me so much?" I murmured to the silent trees, the question hanging in the air unanswered. "What makes me worthy of their faith?"

I couldn't find the answers, not in the swirling depths of my mind nor in the vast expanse of the forest. Everyone believes in my potential, and in the greatness I'm supposed to achieve, but what if I never live up to those expectations? What if I'm just a boy with golden eyes, nothing more? Will they stop loving me, if they know the truth?

I envy Leo and Canary, not for their friendship or their care, but for their freedom from the burden of destiny. They're not weighed down by the labels of greatness. They're just kids, living their lives without the weight of the world on their shoulders. A part of me resents them for their normalcy, their ability to blend in without being judged or labelled. After all, they don't bear the pressure to be something they're not.

For me, every action, and every word is scrutinized through the lens of my supposed greatness. I can feel the eyes of the villagers on me wherever I go, their whispers of admiration or doubt following in my wake and my parents' unwavering belief in my supposed greatness. They see me as a future hero, a saviour, but what if I can't live up to that? What if I'm just a disappointment, a failure masquerading as something more?

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The guilt of deceiving everyone weighs heavily on my conscience. I am living a lie, a charade that grows more fragile with each passing day. Everyone believes in my talents, in my supposed mastery of magic, but the truth is, I can't even see mana and I'm already 8 years old. The facade of magical ability that I've maintained till now, what if they see through the illusion? The thought haunts me, filling me with a deep sense of dread. And yet, despite the fear and insecurity that plague me, I cannot bring myself to confess the truth. The thought of disappointing my parents, of shattering their belief in me, is too much to bear. So, I continue to play the role of the hero, even as the facade crumbles around me.

The lie has become a prison, trapping me in a cycle of deceit and self-doubt. I long to break free, to be seen for who I truly am, flaws and all. But the fear of rejection, of being exposed as a fraud, holds me back.

As I delved deeper into the forest, I felt a strange chill run down my spine, a sensation that was more than just the cool night air. It was as if something lurked just beyond my perception, something dark and unsettling. A shadowy presence that slithered and twisted, taking on a life of its own. But I was oblivious, lost in my own thoughts, unaware of the darkness that trailed behind me. The forest seemed to react to the presence of this shadow, the air growing heavy and oppressive.

It felt like someone was whispering dark temptations into my mind. "Why should Leo and Canary be the ones everyone looks up to? What makes them so special?"

"You're just a disappointment. They're all fools for believing in you," the words like icy tendrils coiled around my heart. The forest around me felt like a reflection of my own insecurities, the trees towering above me like judgmental onlookers. Their branches reached out like accusing fingers, pointing out my flaws and failures. A creeping sense of isolation enveloped me, amplifying the questions that gnawed at my mind. Why was I always the odd one out? What made me so different from everyone else? Why did people place their unwavering belief in me when, in reality, I am utterly useless?

The whispers grew louder, more sinister, echoing through the twisted trees as if the forest itself was conspiring against me. Desperately, I searched for a way out, a glimmer of light in the suffocating darkness. But the whispers grew louder and more relentless, spiralling my emotions out of control. Envy, anger, and resentment churned within me like a turbulent storm, threatening to engulf me in their dark embrace. My hands trembled as I clutched my head, trying in vain to block out the haunting voices that seemed to come from all directions.

As I stood there, overwhelmed by the relentless whispers in my head, a chilling sensation swept over me. The shadows around me seemed to come alive, twisting and contorting into grotesque forms that sent shivers down my spine. The air grew heavy with an oppressive darkness, suffocating me as if I were trapped in a nightmare.

The shadow that had lurked behind me began to pulsate and shift, its movements erratic and unnerving. It took on eerie shapes, morphing into twisted figures that seemed to mock my deepest fears and insecurities. I could feel its energy seeping into my very being like icy tendrils wrapping around my soul and squeezing the life out of me. Every breath I took felt like a struggle, the weight of the darkness bearing down on me with crushing force.

In that moment, I was no longer sure if I was facing a threat or if it was all a figment of my tortured mind. The boundary between reality and nightmare blurred, and it seemed to me like I was teetering on the edge of a bottomless abyss. With trembling hands and a heart heavy with dread, I took a step back, trying to distance myself from the encroaching darkness. But the shadow followed, its presence looming over me like a predator. I watched in terror as the shadow morphed into a weird, flowing form, like thick, inky liquid swirling in the darkness. It took on a shape that was both familiar and utterly terrifying - the form of me Lucifer, but distorted and twisted beyond recognition. Its features were obscured, shrouded in darkness, and had no eyes, only a creepy, smiling face that sent shivers down my spine.

I wanted to scream, to run, to escape this nightmare that had become my reality. But my feet remained rooted to the cursed ground as if I were chained in place by invisible shackles. It was a terror unlike anything I had ever known, a deep-seated dread that threatened to consume me whole.

And then, with a deafening roar that echoed through the forest, the shadow lunged forward, its form engulfing me in a suffocating embrace. I tried to fight back, to push against the overwhelming darkness, but it was like struggling against a tidal wave.

My vision blurred, my senses overwhelmed by the onslaught of darkness. As I felt myself slipping into unconsciousness, I realized that I was losing the battle against my own inner demons.