And I did not

lose.
it struck me how unconvincingly mediocre his skills were
once the vision of flames abruptly subsided.
as if his strength had always been drawn from them.
but the flames..
they were there, I swear.
but they hardly scorched.
and the faces, the signs of what they meant
blinding, and yet riveting.
the total fear of having everything lived out like that.
the atmosphere was indescribable.
I dunno how I resisted in the end.
why the whole fiery scene abated all of a sudden
and how I gained that outstanding clarity to strike.
I just knew I'd do my best to defy even the devil to make sure all that was shown did not happen.
I would despair for myself,
but never for those whose images burned.
and perhaps that was all that was needed.

curses of any kind appear to require the victim to believe in its effect, there are no exceptions to that.
I think perhaps that was all to this moloch fire.
a curse that I broke free of when I decided not to believe
to defy, to think I am stronger than the will of bizarre flames.
come to think of it now, its actually not much.
but back at that moment, it meant everything.
I decided not to question how everything took effect.
perhaps it was pyrotechnics
perhaps it was really something mystic
perhaps there was a touch of clairvoyance.
perhaps it never really happened.

because it was no battle of skill or technique.
it was one of wills.
and perhaps that is how he got his reputation.
indomitable will is something fearsome,
a huge measure of power.
rather than give credit to the power of my spirit
I think its more likely that I was simply underestimated.
a time when my age seems to have worked to my advantage.

in any case it has steeled my resolve
and with this victory
the next stage of matters beckons.