Amon took "Morgan's" face with a single hand and forced him to lift his head to look at her directly. Her fingers tightened firmly, almost with contempt. Morgan barely reacted; he only frowned, annoyed, while Amon moved his face from left to right, carefully examining his gills, as if he were a curious object.
-Interesting… and what exactly are you, boy?
( Said Amon, serious, with a trace of dangerous curiosity )
Morgan tilted his face as much as he could and formed a crooked, defiant smile. Then he brought his face closer to hers, without the slightest hint of fear.
-A fucking unicorn.
( Said Morgan mockingly, openly provoking her )
The reaction was immediate.
Everyone in the room widened their eyes, tense, frozen in horror. A muffled murmur swept through the place. Fear was evident in every restrained breath. "Morgan" had mocked the princess… right to her face. He had laughed at her. Something no one with even a shred of sanity would dare to do.
But the unthinkable happened.
Princess Amon began to laugh.
At first it was a light laugh, almost imperceptible, but little by little it grew, becoming louder, stronger, more unsettling. Those present, trembling, began to laugh as well, nervously, following her lead without knowing whether it would save them… or doom them.
-It seems the new student has a sense of humor.
( Said Amon between laughs )
Morgan opened his mouth, that same suicidal audacity still burning in his eyes.
-And if you want, I can tell a few—
He didn't finish the sentence.
Amon violently grabbed his jaw and lifted him off the ground as if he weighed nothing. Then, without warning, she slammed his body against the floor with savage brutality. The impact echoed throughout the entire hall.
-MORGAN!
( Shouted Luzbel, her voice breaking )
"Morgan" lay sprawled on the floor, still held by the jaw by the princess. He didn't lose consciousness, but the pain was immediate and absolute. He felt his bones give way, his ribs shatter one by one, his spine crack in an unnatural manner. The air was ripped from his lungs.
-You didn't just break the rules of this sacred institution… you also dared to mock me to my own face.
( Said Amon, now furious )
Amon released his jaw. Morgan rolled across the floor and spat blood. Gasping, struggling to breathe, he barely lifted his head.
-Rot in hell.
The spark ignited.
"Morgan", or rather, Xol—who had taken possession of his body—began to frantically think of a new form, a new manifestation to initiate the fight.
-Bitch… I'm going to return the favor right now.
( Thought "Morgan" )
Amon extended her hand toward Morgan's neck, ready to end it, treating it as a simple formality.
Then, time stopped.
Literally.
Amon froze, just like everyone else present. Even the air itself seemed motionless.
-What… what's happening?
( Said "Morgan", confused )
He was conscious, but he couldn't move. He tried to lift an arm, turn his neck, breathe harder… nothing. Something pinned him to the ground, an invisible, oppressive force.
-What the hell is going on!?
( Said "Morgan", now furious )
He blinked several times.
When he focused again, it was no longer Morgan who was there.
It was Xol.
Xol was trapped, immobilized, while Morgan's body lay unconscious beside him. In front of him appeared a translucent figure. She was female. She wore a mantle that covered her head and fell to the ground. Her presence imposed calm… and guilt. When she spoke, her voice sounded distorted, ancient.
-Oh, my son… you have learned nothing. You continue to use the gift I gave you in the wrong way. I thought the punishment I granted you had been enough, and that this opportunity would be the way for you to see your mistakes. But I see that it was not so. You still have much to learn.
( Said the figure with compassion )
Xol clenched his teeth.
-Who are you? Reveal your face, woman!
( Said Xol, irritated )
The figure slowly knelt down and brought her hand closer to Xol's chest.
-What are you doing? Don't touch me! Don't you dare touch me!
( Xol shouted in fury )
-I hope this finally teaches you…
The figure plunged her hand into Xol's chest. From within, she extracted something brilliant, something impossible: it looked like a star split in half.
Then she stood up and walked toward Morgan.
-Hey, hey! Give it back! Give it back to me! Give that back! I order you!
( Xol shouted, desperate )
The female figure gently caressed Morgan's face and hair with painful tenderness. Then she placed her hand into his chest and pulled out the other half of that star.
-That day, I gave your brother half of your existence… and he gave it to this poor young man. Perhaps that was my mistake. I should have taken everything from you, so you would learn what it means to have nothing. Now I see my failure… and I must correct it. My son, I love you, but you must learn.
The two halves merged into a single star, shining like no other.
-Now you and he must share the same path. One must learn from the other. Perhaps, when the time comes, you will understand the truth, my son.
The figure brought the star close to her mouth and began to murmur words in an incomprehensible language. The words floated around the star, forming layers, structures carved with symbols, slowly dimming its glow.
-What have you done? What have you done!?
( Xol screamed, crying in fury )
-Before, you could use this power at will, but with a time limit. He could use it without a time limit, but with a restricted amount of what he wished to be. Now, both of you will only be able to use this gift for a limited time. Access to everything you can be will be restricted… and furthermore, the gift itself will decide which form to take, adapting to the needs of the moment.
( Said the figure, showing the star )
-You condemned us! You just condemned us! You condemned us both!
( Xol shouted, broken )
Forgive me, my son… but this is how it must be. This is your punishment. A punishment you must share with him. I hope that with this, you will finally learn… and be able to return to me.
The figure began to fade away. Her voice grew more and more distant.
-Wait… you are… no… no, no, no. Why did you do this to me?
( Said Xol, shocked and shattered )
The figure smiled softly.
-I love you.
She disappeared.
Time began to flow again.
Xol, still in Morgan's body, began to cry. Amon stopped, confused, upon seeing the sudden change. "Morgan" spoke through sobs.
-Why…? Tell me, why…? Tell me, mother… why have you abandoned me…?
End of the chapter.
Next chapter: A single path.