Jujutsu Kaisen: The Sorceress of Control

this chapter was much longer than expected

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Makima stood in an isolated corner of the Zenin estate, perfecting the technique she had recently discovered. Over the years, she had noticed how her control over lesser beings grew stronger. First, it was small animals, whose weak minds bent to her will, and then, with more precision, she had developed a devastating ability that allowed her to crush, shoot, or cut her victims without even touching them.

As she aimed at a small rock, she calmly extended her finger, focusing. She whispered a simple word. "Bang." Out of nowhere, an invisible projectile shot a shockwave that shattered the rock into pieces. A fleeting flash of satisfaction appeared in her eyes, but something darker resided there as well.

She had discovered that she could manipulate this force to destroy anyone. In that moment, Makima decided she didn't need to see people die in an ordinary way. With her technique, death would be quick, invisible, and almost painless... but no less final. It was an evolution of her Cursed Domination, a power reserved only for her, an extension of her will over those she considered inferior.

While she practiced, Kaori walked through the gardens, searching for her daughter, who usually spent her afternoons there with a soft smile on her face. She had spent months watching Makima with concern, knowing her daughter was special, but hoping she could be guided toward a less dark path. She heard strange noises near the hill and decided to approach, fearing the worst.

When she arrived, Kaori froze at the scene: a dozen small animals lay dead around her. Their lifeless bodies bore signs of being crushed, cut, or shattered in invisible ways. In the center of the chaos stood her daughter, as calm as ever, pointing at a withered flower.

"Makima..." her voice was barely a whisper as she watched the flower split in two.

Makima didn't flinch at the sound of her voice. She calmly turned and met her mother's eyes. The smile she once had when playing with her mother had long disappeared, replaced by an empty, almost distant look.

"You can't keep doing this," Kaori's voice trembled, not just with fear but with pain. Her daughter, the child she had raised so carefully, was now sinking into an abyss she couldn't understand. An abyss she didn't know how to pull her out of.

"Why not?" Makima tilted her head, genuinely confused by her mother's reaction. "They're just animals; it doesn't matter if they die."

"They're not just animals," Kaori replied, trying to keep her voice steady. "They are living beings. And you... you can't decide their lives like this."

Makima remained silent for a moment, watching as her mother slowly approached. Kaori's eyes were filled with sadness but also determination. When she reached her, she knelt down, taking her daughter's face in her hands and looking her directly in the eyes.

"You're not a god, Makima. You can't control everything around you. And you shouldn't kill just because you can."

Makima stared at her, her mind processing her mother's words. But what she saw in Kaori's eyes wasn't a warning... it was weakness. She stood slowly, brushing her mother's hands aside, leaving the split flower at her feet.

"You... are also inferior. If I wanted, I could make you obey, but I don't, because you gave me life," she said coldly, her eyes narrowing. "But they... they don't deserve your compassion. And I won't stop."

Kaori felt a chill run through her body. It was the first time her daughter had expressed something like that, a veiled threat, a warning that not only did she have the power, but she also had the will to use it against her if she stood in her way.

"If you keep killing indiscriminately, Makima, I won't let you. I won't allow you to become something you can't control," Kaori said firmly, trying to appeal to her daughter's humanity.

Makima gave her one last look before turning to leave. Her mother's words echoed in her mind, but they had no effect. She had a purpose, and no one, not even Kaori, would stop her.

As Kaori watched her daughter disappear into the shadows, a lump formed in her throat. She knew Makima was walking toward a darkness from which there might be no return. With tears in her eyes, Kaori understood that Makima had not only mastered her technique but had also lost something far more valuable in the process: her humanity.

Makima walked away from her mother without looking back. She was determined to continue perfecting her abilities, even if Kaori tried to stop her. Her mind wandered over her mother's words, but she found them irrelevant. The weak had no place in her vision of the world.

She had a plan, and that was to get beyond these walls. Before she could leave the Zenin estate completely, a familiar presence interrupted her.

Naoya, watching her from a safe distance. It wasn't typical for Naoya to avoid anyone, least of all a ten-year-old girl, but he knew well that his sister was different. He approached her with his hands in his pockets, his usual arrogant expression intact.

"So, running away?" Naoya said in his typical tone of superiority, though without the same disdain he reserved for other women.

Makima paused for a moment, not turning to face him. "It's not running away if I never intended to stay," she replied, her voice emotionless.

Naoya smirked. "You're smarter than the rest, I'll give you that. Not like the other weaklings."

"I know that," Makima replied coldly, taking another step before stopping. She slightly turned her head toward Naoya, her eyes barely visible under the shadow cast by her hair. "I won't be gone for long."

Naoya watched her leave, knowing his sister was unlike the other women he despised. Makima was dangerous, even to him, but she was the only one he wouldn't dare underestimate. "Hmph, you'd better," he muttered to himself, aware that no matter how much power she had, she was still his sister. And as such, she would have to come back sooner or later.

But deep down, a small part of Naoya knew that one day she wouldn't return... and on that day, he would have to take drastic measures.

Makima walked slowly through the city, savoring her newfound freedom. It was the first time she had stepped outside the walls of the Zenin estate, and everything she saw intrigued her. She had never explored beyond the boundaries of her home, a place that always felt like a prison disguised as protection. No one knew where she was, and that thrilled her. Her mother always kept her locked away, claiming it was for her protection, but Makima knew the truth: they weren't protecting her, they were protecting the world from her.

Back at the Zenin estate, chaos reigned. No one could locate Makima, and Kaori was terrified. Last night, she had discovered what her daughter was becoming, realizing the growing cruelty within her, and now, the girl had vanished. She should have been training with her brother, like every morning, but she was nowhere to be found. No one knew anything. Kaori, more than anyone, feared what Makima might be up to. She knew her daughter had used her technique to escape unnoticed, and danger was imminent.

Quickly, the entire sorcery world was given the order to find her. "Don't look her in the eyes!" was the warning passed between sorcerers as everyone mobilized in search of her. The situation was so dire that even Tengen was alerted.

Meanwhile, in the city, Makima strolled with an ice cream in hand. She had ordered it without paying; the man had simply obeyed. She tasted it but found nothing special. "Sweet... but boring," she thought as she continued observing her surroundings.

She walked until something caught her attention: a group of children walking together, laughing and talking amongst themselves. One of them, a boy with a shy expression, walked beside a girl with a radiant smile. The energy they exuded was different from the rest of the people, and that piqued Makima's curiosity. She decided to approach.

"Who are you?" Makima asked directly, her voice calm yet intriguing.

Both children stopped when they saw her. Rika, ever cheerful, was the first to speak.

"Hi! I'm Rika, and this is Yuta. We're friends!"

Yuta nodded shyly, visibly nervous in Makima's presence. She observed them closely, sensing something deeper in them, a latent energy that intrigued her.

"And you?" Yuta asked, summoning his courage. "What's your name?"

Makima remained silent for a moment, weighing whether it was worth sharing anything about herself with these children. In the end, she decided to give them only a name.

"Makima."

Rika's smile grew even brighter.

"That's a pretty name!" she said enthusiastically. "Would you like to walk with us? Yuta and I were heading to the park to play for a bit."

Makima looked at the ice cream in her hand, still unfinished, then at the two children. She didn't fully understand the purpose of "playing," but something about the way they spoke made her curious. She nodded slightly and began to walk alongside them.

As they walked, Rika and Yuta talked about their games and what they enjoyed doing together, as if they were in a world of their own, completely unaware of the darkness surrounding Makima. For her, it was strange that anyone would want to spend time with others just for fun. What did they gain from it? She didn't understand.

As she walked alongside Rika and Yuta, Makima couldn't help but think that "playing" was an empty word. Until now, playing for her had always meant experimenting with her technique, making living beings suffer under her will with a smile on her face. It was a constant experiment, a routine she had perfected from a young age. However, as they neared the park, something shifted quickly, throwing her off balance.

They arrived at the park, and to her surprise, instead of diving into chaos or pain, the two children simply started running and laughing, swinging on the swings. Makima stood in the center of the park, observing them, not fully understanding what was happening. There were no screams of despair, no suffering, only joy. It was strange, disconcerting. For the first time, she felt like something didn't quite fit in her worldview.

Noticing her discomfort, Rika stopped and smiled at her, almost dragging her toward one of the swings. "Come on! Join us!" she said cheerfully, without waiting for a response.

Makima hesitated. Whenever her cousins had tried something similar, she had always ignored them. They were weak, and their invitations to "play" felt empty, as if they were afraid to be around her. They always wet themselves in fear or left before long. But this girl, Rika, wasn't like that. She didn't wait for a "yes" or a "no," she simply pulled her along without hesitation.

"How strange..." Makima thought as she lightly swung on the swing, pushed by Rika. It was the first time someone treated her without fear or doubt, and that unsettled her even more.

The wind blew gently as Rika and Yuta's laughter filled the air. Makima still didn't understand it. All of this, this concept of fun and play, was completely foreign to her nature. Yet, for some reason, she didn't get up to leave. Something held her back, something she couldn't yet identify.

Most of her life had been spent experimenting on living beings, making them suffer, molding them to her will. And now, for the first time, someone had pulled her to the other side of that spectrum.

As she lightly swung, Makima couldn't help but recall her mother's attempts to mold her into an obedient girl. Kaori had always wanted to shape her according to the clan's norms and expectations, hoping she would follow in her footsteps and become a respectable young woman worthy of their lineage. At first, Makima had tried to please her. In some way, she had wanted to be that ideal child her mother desired, but soon she realized that something within her didn't fit that mold.

There was a voice, a deep instinct inside her, that told her all of it was pointless. Her mother's teachings, the clan's expectations, submission to those who thought they were at the top... it all seemed absurd to her. Makima understood that her potential went far beyond what others could see. What ordinary people perceived as the pinnacle of power was, for her, merely another step on a path only she could walk.

Even in that moment, sitting in a park with two children oblivious to her true power, Makima felt that distance between her and the world around her. While Rika and Yuta laughed and played without a care, she knew her destiny was much greater than that of any ordinary person. This simplicity that surrounded them, this idea of fun, of happiness... it all seemed insignificant compared to what she truly desired: to dominate and control the world on her own terms.

Her mother had always tried to instill limits, to teach her obedience, but Makima had left that idea behind long ago. She knew she was special, she knew she wasn't meant to be like everyone else. That's why, even though in her childhood she had tried to follow the path Kaori had set for her, she had ultimately abandoned it, knowing that the "peak" everyone desired was just another step in her true ascent.

As her thoughts consumed her, Makima continued swinging slowly, watching Rika and Yuta with a mix of confusion and curiosity. There was something different about them, though she didn't yet know what. But what she did know was that while they lived their lives in this tiny world, she had already decided that this world would belong to her one day.

As they walked toward the park's exit, Rika excitedly insisted they meet again. Yuta, though more shy, nodded silently, also hoping to see her again. In her usual calm manner, Makima suggested they go get ice cream. Both children exchanged awkward glances before Rika spoke up, apologizing: "We don't have any money…"

Unfazed, Makima responded with a simple smile, "I'll treat you." The two children, now visibly relieved and excited, accepted the offer. When they arrived at the ice cream shop, Makima ordered three cones. Without hesitation, the man served them immediately. The three walked out, Yuta and Rika enjoying their ice creams with joy, while Makima, for her part, reflected on the taste of hers. For her, it was simply another version of the same thing, different in texture and flavor, but equally dull. Her mind wandered, searching for something to entertain her when suddenly, something unexpected happened.

A truck swerved sharply, accelerating toward Rika and Yuta. Makima, calm as always, came to a halt, watching the scene unfold without moving. But Rika, in an impulsive act, pushed Yuta aside with all her strength to save him, sacrificing herself to the impact. The vehicle hit her brutally, sending her body flying through the air until it landed heavily on the pavement.

The sound of the collision was deafening. Yuta, letting out a desperate scream, ran to Rika, kneeling beside her motionless body, utterly consumed by horror. Makima, taking one final lick of her ice cream, observed closely, noticing that Rika's soul wasn't leaving this world. Something dark and twisted was brewing.

A malignant energy began to emanate from Rika's body, transforming her essence into a curse. The profound love and desperation she felt for Yuta fueled the creation of something grotesque and terrifying. A spectral figure slowly emerged before them, taking shape under Makima's attentive gaze.

"Fascinating..." she whispered to herself. Despite the terrifying scene, she felt neither fear nor sadness, but rather a latent curiosity.

Yuta, enveloped in his anguish, clung to Rika's lifeless body, unable to comprehend what was happening around him. His pain was palpable, his despair consuming him. Makima noticed. She knew she could exorcise Rika's curse with a simple gesture, but something held her back. Acting impulsively wasn't her style.

Makima recalled the one pact she had made in the past, with her own father. After that, she had lost interest in using her technique in such a way, as it hadn't worked out in her favor. But this situation was different. Rika had intrigued her, sparking a small but noticeable curiosity within her. It would be a shame to lose her, Makima thought. Not only because Rika was an interesting entity, but because she seemed to have something special.

Makima knew she could intervene and create a pact between Rika or Yuta, one that would allow them to stay together under certain conditions. Rika could return to her human form, but with the power to manipulate cursed energy—an ability that, under the right control, could make her even more powerful than she could be in this form. However, was that risk worth taking? Would it be more interesting to watch her as a curse, grotesquely bound to Yuta, or to create something new with her own technique?

Makima was undecided. An opportunity like this was rare. She could free them both and make them her servants, or simply let them flourish in this strange, disturbing bond that was forming. But how useful would that really be to her?

For the first time in a long while, Makima felt doubt. Her fingers tensed slightly, ready to act, but something held her back. Perhaps, for the first time in a long time, she had found something worthy of contemplation. She had taken a liking to Rika, and losing her completely would be a pity.

As Rika's dark power enveloped Yuta with twisted devotion, Makima reflected in silence.