Gemotions

Michael felt a coldness creep up his spine. The kindergarten teacher had called him, requesting a meeting. Now, he sat across from her, a picture on the table between them. It depicted a smiling, seven-headed serpent, hovering over a playground. The artwork, in bold crayon strokes, was unmistakably the work of his niece, Chloe. And the serpent... it was the exact form of Ignis, the entity he'd conjured to scare away the bullies who tormented him in the fifth grade.

His knuckles were white as he gripped the edge of the chair. "Is... is this Chloe's?" he asked, his voice barely audible.

The teacher nodded, her brow furrowed with concern. "She tells us he protects her."

Michael struggled to find words. The room seemed to shrink, the air thick and heavy. He felt a profound sense of disorientation, a disconnect from reality. The serpent, the playground, Chloe's innocent smile... it all felt surreal.