STRANGE MAGIC

SHOCKING CONVERSATION

When Darren woke up in the morning, the first thing he saw was the faint glow of sunlight streaming through his window. The air was calm, carrying the quiet hum of birds outside. He stretched, still feeling the strange weight of the dream he had last night. His heart felt heavy, as if the dream had followed him from sleep into waking.

He stepped out of his room and met his parents in the sitting area. “Good morning,” he greeted them with a tired smile.

His mother looked at him closely. “How was your night, my son?” she asked.

Darren sighed. “It was... strange. I had terrible dreams again,” he said softly. His father exchanged a glance with his mother, concern flickering in both their eyes, but neither spoke right away.

After a moment, Darren excused himself and went outside. The morning breeze touched his face gently as he walked toward the backyard. He crossed the small path that led to the field behind their house and made his way to the farm where the animals were kept. The goats bleated softly as he approached, and the chickens scattered around his feet.

He began feeding them, spreading grain and pouring water into their troughs. He stayed there for almost two hours, working in silence. The sun had risen higher by the time he was done, shining across the fields like melted gold.

When he returned inside, breakfast was ready. He joined his parents at the table, and they began eating together. The house was peaceful — until his father suddenly said, “Darren, I want to warn you about something.”

Darren looked up. “What is it, Father?”

His father leaned forward, his tone serious. “You must be careful with your powers. You should keep them hidden — deep and quiet. Especially after what happened the day before yesterday.”

Darren froze. The memory of his fight with the trader came back instantly — the anger, the fire that burst from his hand, the shock in the trader’s eyes. He looked at his father curiously. “How did you know about that?”

His father frowned. “I heard things. People talk. Now tell me — who is this trader you fought with?”

Darren hesitated for a second before answering, “His name is Rurik.”

The moment he said the name, his father’s face went pale. He almost dropped his cup, his hand trembling. “What did you just say?” he whispered.

“Rurik,” Darren repeated, confused. “Why? Do you know him?”

His father stood up slowly, his expression dark with anger and fear. “That man is dangerous. He almost killed me when I was in my twenties. You shouldn’t have gone near him, Darren. You shouldn’t have crossed paths with him at all.”

Darren blinked in surprise but then smiled faintly. “Well, I guess I beat the hell out of him, Father. He’s not even close to my speed.”

His father stared at him in disbelief. “You did what? Did you use your powers — your magic powers?”

Darren looked down, then nodded slightly. “It was by mistake,” he said. “But I don’t think he saw much. I left before he could understand what happened.”

His father shook his head in shock and frustration. “You don’t understand, Darren. Using that power openly can destroy everything. Once people know about it, they will come for you. You must hide it, no matter what.”

Darren frowned, his voice low. “And how am I supposed to hide something that burns inside me every time I breathe?”

“I don’t know,” his father admitted, his voice trembling slightly. “But you must. If you don’t, you will bring danger to this family — and to the entire village. That power… it’s not just magic. It’s something greater, something dangerous.”

Darren’s mother had been quiet the whole time, her hands shaking slightly. She tried to speak but no words came out. Her face was filled with worry and fear.

Finally, Darren stood up and looked toward the open window. The morning sky was bright and beautiful, filled with drifting white clouds. He stared at it for a long moment, his thoughts heavy. “Maybe I’m already in trouble,” he said quietly. “But what’s done is done. I’ve already broken my peace, and there’s no going back.”

His father’s voice rose again. “Darren, you keep joking, but this time I’m serious. This is not something to take lightly.”

Darren didn’t answer. He walked outside again, feeling the wind on his face. He looked up at the bright blue sky, thinking about his life — his family, his future, and the strange power that burned within him.

As he stood there, lost in thought, a faint vibration ran through the ground beneath his feet — so soft that it could have been his imagination. He turned his head slowly, eyes narrowing, but there was nothing there. Only the sound of the wind whispering through the trees.

Still, deep inside, something told him this peace would not last.