The dispel spell hits the child - the young abomination - sure and true, and the fire within his body cools down--

"Nuggins is gone. Everyone is gone. Died to make me better, as they keep saying, and I have."

--but only for a moment. It comes back almost in the next instant, the steam stronger than ever, and a corner of the book in his arms begins to shrivel up into ashes. The the skin around the scar on his cheek begins to turn bright red.

"I am better. I am stronger. I can hurt everyone. I can burn everything."