"So… this is the place?"
( Said Morgan, astonished, his voice barely above a whisper. )
"Yes… this is it."
( Satana replied in a melancholic tone. )
Morgan swallowed hard. His throat felt dry and heavy, as if the very air inside that forest refused to enter his lungs. He took his first step toward the cabin, and the wood beneath his feet creaked with a sharp groan that echoed in the silence.
Satana and Galahad followed closely behind him.
Morgan stopped in front of the door.
His hand trembled.
The wind blew through the trees, making the leaves whisper like distant voices. The cabin seemed to watch him as well — old, dark, breathing in its own decay.
Morgan slowly turned toward Satana, searching her face for some kind of reassurance, some sign that everything would be alright.
Satana looked at him calmly… and simply smiled.
She nodded slightly.
That was enough.
Morgan took a deep breath… and gently pushed the door.
The wood shrieked as it opened.
He peeked inside.
"Hello? Is anyone here?"
( Morgan asked timidly, his voice shaky but brave. )
There was no answer.
Only silence.
A cold silence.
Heavy.
Disturbing.
The interior of the cabin was almost completely dark. Only a few rays of sunlight filtered through broken, dusty windows.
Everything was in ruins.
Old, decaying furniture covered in thick layers of dust.
A torn couch with stuffing spilling out like ripped entrails.
Cobwebs hanging from the ceiling like forgotten curtains.
The wooden walls were rotten, blackened, and damp.
Morgan opened the door fully and entered slowly.
Each step made the floor creak with a dry, terrifying sound, as if the cabin itself was protesting his presence.
He walked cautiously, looking around, trying to find someone… or something.
Satana and Galahad entered behind him.
Galahad was trembling with fear and clung tightly to Satana, almost hiding against her shoulder.
"It looks like no one is here…"
( Morgan said, confused and slightly uneasy. )
"So… can we leave now?"
( Galahad said, stammering, her eyes wide with panic. )
"How strange… at the very least, she should be her—"
Satana couldn't finish her sentence.
A loud creak echoed from the ceiling.
CRACK!
The sound reverberated through the cabin.
Galahad jumped in fright and let out a small choked scream.
Morgan looked up, curious… and a little alarmed.
Instead of running, he took a step forward.
He decided to investigate.
Before continuing, he turned to see if Satana and Galahad would follow.
Galahad was literally glued to Satana, shaking like a leaf, clutching her with such terror that it was almost comical.
Satana, however, simply smiled calmly.
"Don't worry… I'll stay with her."
Morgan let out a small laugh.
"Alright."
He continued toward the source of the noise.
He reached a staircase that led to a second floor.
Just as he was about to place his foot on the first step…
CRACK!
Another creak — even louder than before.
Morgan looked up.
In the corner of the ceiling… he saw something.
Something that didn't seem entirely real.
A dark, blurry figure, as if it were there… and not there at the same time.
Morgan froze, staring at it intently.
Then…
The figure moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
It slid across the wall like a living shadow and disappeared through a hole that led back to the main room.
Morgan reacted instantly.
He ran back to the living room, chasing the creature, his heart pounding.
He arrived breathless in front of Satana and Galahad.
"Did you see it?"
But neither answered.
Both were staring upward… directly above Morgan's head.
Galahad was completely terrified, clinging desperately to Satana.
Satana, however… was smiling.
Morgan swallowed hard.
Very slowly… he turned around.
He looked at the ceiling.
At first, he saw only wood.
Nothing more.
But the longer he stared… the more he felt something was wrong.
As if the ceiling were breathing.
As if it were watching him.
"What the hell…?"
( Morgan said, utterly confused. )
"What is it… what is it…?"
( Satana whispered, though her voice didn't sound truly scared — more expectant than anything. )
And then… it happened.
The figure opened its eyes.
Blue eyes like a reptile's.
Cold.
Shining.
Hypnotic.
Galahad screamed, jumped back… and instantly fainted.
Satana caught her gently so she wouldn't hit the floor.
With a cheerful smile, she spoke:
"It's a pleasure to see you again, Miss Zarachi."
The figure stopped blending with the wood.
Its skin changed, fading like smoke.
And before them appeared its true form.
It was a girl with short, multicolored hair: black, blue, red, white, and turquoise mixed in a wild, unique style.
Her eyes were different colors:
Left — blue.
Right — red.
Her skin was covered in greenish scales with purple and black tones that shimmered softly in the light.
Her tail was long, reddish with blue highlights, swaying energetically behind her.
Suddenly…
BAM!
She leapt from the ceiling with agile movement and landed in front of them with a huge, excited grin.
"Tanii! I'm so happy to see you! How have you been? Is everything okay? I didn't expect to see you here! You're always with the Director and barely show yourself."
( Zarachi said with overflowing joy. )
"Please forgive me for that, Miss Zarachi."
( Satana replied with deep respect. )
"Oh come on, Tani, don't be so formal… you know you can call me by my name."
( Zarachi said, a little embarrassed. )
Satana laughed softly.
"Haha… alright."
"So tell me… what brings you here, Tani?"
( Zarachi asked with a big smile. )
Satana pointed at Morgan.
"Well… he's interested in joining your house."
Zarachi's eyes widened dramatically.
"Seriously?! A new member?!"
( She exclaimed excitedly. )
She turned to look at Morgan.
But Morgan was completely still… staring blankly into space.
Zarachi looked at him in amazement.
"Wow, wow, wow! I can't believe it! Is he the one everyone's talking about? The one who defeated Kalista?!"
( Zarachi said, practically bouncing with excitement. )
"Yes. Zarachi, this is Morgan."
( Satana said happily. )
Zarachi rushed toward Morgan.
"Hello, hello! My name is Zarachi, and I am the provincial leader of the House of Ahura Mazda. It's an honor to meet you. I've heard you're incredible… it will be a pleasure to have you here!"
( She said with pure enthusiasm. )
But Morgan… didn't respond.
He didn't even blink.
Zarachi tilted her head, confused.
"Uh… hello?"
( She said, puzzled. )
She stepped closer and realized something terrible…
Morgan was completely frozen in shock.
Zarachi panicked.
"Ahhhhh!"
She began shaking him desperately.
Suddenly…
Morgan gasped sharply, as if his soul had snapped back into his body.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you!"
( Zarachi said, crying from embarrassment. )
Meanwhile, Satana was fanning Galahad's face with her hands to wake her up.
Morgan took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.
"That… was close…"
( He said, still shaken. )
"I'm so sorry, really, I didn't mean to scare you!"
( Zarachi said, deeply ashamed. )
Morgan started laughing nervously.
"Don't worry… don't worry… haha… that was amazing! How did you do that?!"
( He said, impressed and still a bit embarrassed. )
Zarachi blinked.
"What do you mean?"
( She asked, confused. )
Morgan pointed to where she had been camouflaged.
"That… what you did so we couldn't see you."
( He said, eyes shining with curiosity. )
Zarachi smiled.
"Like this?"
In an instant… her body changed.
She took on the colors, textures, and shapes of her surroundings… becoming almost invisible, like perfect camouflage.
Morgan's eyes widened in awe.
"Incredible!"
He began clapping excitedly with a huge grin.
Zarachi dropped her camouflage and appeared again.
"Hehe… thank you."
( She said shyly. )
Morgan stepped forward and extended his hand.
"Well… sorry about before. My name is Morgan. It's a pleasure to meet you… and I'd like to join this house. I want to be part of Ahura Mazda."
( He said with a sincere, bright smile. )
---
End of chapter: Next chapter — The Monologue of Love.
Good night. I'm sorry for changing the episode title again; I was planning a very specific scene that was supposed to appear here, but I've been feeling a bit sick and couldn't continue writing the way I wanted. I'm really sorry about that… I promise that in the next chapter I'll reach that important scene. Thank you for your patience.