I wake up some time after falling into some underground location. The first thing I lay eyes on is the small yet blinding light shining on me from where I came from. As I pick myself up off the ground, I see that the rest of the area is in complete darkness.

It made no sense. Even the darkest of areas could be revealed by the smallest of sparks. This place, however, was still pitch-black despite the distant light coming from above. It was as if the light and the darkness were not of the same world: as if the darkness and I were not of the same world.

It could be that, or it could be something more realistic. As I regain more of my sanity, I raise my hand a little and try to form a fireball.

Nothing. I’ve been cursed.

On top of the inability to use magic, being cursed also means I can’t sense any mana. It’s possible that the darkness was created with magic and I just can’t feel the mana it's emanating. If I assume that it is made of magic, then this place is probably another prison designed for if I managed to escape the first one. Could they really have been that cautious of me? What kind of magic even is this?

“Hey, can you quit it with the silent treatment? You caught me already.”

No response.

“I know you can hear me.”

Still nothing.

If this were their doing then they would’ve already come by now. This might be the work of someone else: someone sadistic enough to come up with this. My life now rests on anyone finding this place or the mage themself coming to free me.

This feeling of helplessness…

This feeling of having my life at the hands of others…

I know this feeling all too well. It makes no difference from my previous prison or even while I was “free.”

I was never truly free. I was only made to follow their orders. I existed merely to fight. Living itself was a prison for me.

I know it’s pointless, but I try etching a line on the floor with a fingernail. It’s nonplussing how brittle it is. This marks my first day in this hellhole. I don’t even know if I’ll last until the next day, but it’s good to keep track of something so as not to go insane.

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The light’s dimmer now. It’s nighttime and nobody has come for me. I’ve had some time to think of other ways to get out, but ideas that came to mind were mostly about how I could’ve done some things in my life better. Even cruel people like me have regrets.

I’ve almost given up on getting out of here. I say almost because there’s one idea that came to me amidst all the theatrics in my head: step into the darkness.

I don’t know what’ll happen when I do, but it beats waiting around and dying of starvation or going insane.

As I walk closer to it, I can’t help but feel anxious. It feels as if I’m walking towards certain death. It doesn’t matter, however. I’ve already made up my mind. I’ve always been the impatient type. Who knew that even in a situation like this, I wouldn’t change.

Before I know it, I’m standing a hair’s breadth to it. The thing feels as if it’s alive. A formless monster with an incomprehensible howl. It flows like a waterfall that towers over even the light source. It did not crash on the ground, however. It felt like there was no ground at all apart from the small portion touched by the light. I reach for it with my hand. Almost instantly, I went blind.

It was more than just blindness. I couldn’t move, talk, or anything. The ground beneath me is gone, but I’m not falling. I’m just floating into the nothingness. I also hear voices erupting from the mouths of demons.I feel as if something’s about to murder me. I can’t breathe. I take it back; this is much worse than just waiting for my death. Any feeling of helplessness I have only heightened by going inside of this thing. I need help.

I NEED HELP!

Suddenly, I was able to open my eyes. I’ve never felt so much relief staring into the shining light above me. That was the worst nightmare that I’ve ever had. I’m never going to touch the darkness. It doesn’t matter if what I experienced wasn’t real. I’m just going to wait.

I then remembered the mark I left on the ground. I noticed that there were more marks on it now. I don’t remember ever adding more. Could I have done this while I was sleeping? They look too arranged for that, though. I bear no mind to it and add another mark. That makes seven.

“HEY!”

I’ll keep shouting for help every now and then. There’s nothing else I can do.

The second night falls. I’m actually not too hungry or dehydrated at this point.

I sit down and prepare to go to sleep. Before lying down I feel the ten marks I’d left. I still don’t know how I’d left eight of them in such an orderly fashion. There’s no use in contemplating on it any longer. It’s not the weirdest thing I’ve seen, especially after what just happened yesterday.

Suddenly, I was able to open my eyes. I’ve never felt so much relief staring into the shining light above me. That was the worst nightmare that I’ve ever had. I’m never going to touch the darkness. It doesn’t matter if what I experienced wasn’t real. I’m just going to wait.

I then remembered the mark I left on the ground. I noticed that there were more marks on it now. I don’t remember ever adding more. Could I have done this while I was sleeping? They look too arranged for that, though. I bear no mind to it and add another mark. That makes twenty.