Morgan's eyes narrowed as the person in the dark robe turned to look at them. She drew in a breath, her hand rising to her forehead when she recognized the old man with the white beard, the seer she had once visited with Landon. Morgan rolled her eyes and walked over to drop her bags on the table. She noticed a few items scattered there that clearly belonged to him.
"What brings you here?" she asked coldly, standing with her hands on her hips. "And how did you get inside? One of your magic tricks?" she snapped, staring at him as he pulled the hood off his head.
Landon set his luggage on the floor by his mattress and placed his pet creature gently on the bed. "Stay here," he whispered to it before approaching the two adults.
"It's very important, for us, for him, for everyone," the seer said, voice full of urgency. "Please, you must understand and allow me." His eyes were filled with worry. If he didn't begin his work on the boy, the boy who carried the soul of the god of hope and light, terrible things could happen. The time was now, not later.
Morgan shook her head firmly. She wasn't listening.
"No." She waved him off. "Please leave." Her sharp stare made the seer look quickly toward Landon, who was approaching with a confused look on his face.
"What's important? Mother… what are you stopping him from saying?" Landon asked, looking from her to the seer.
Morgan stiffened and inhaled deeply. The seer looked at her again, silently begging for permission. Her glare warned him not to say a word. Langford, the seer, wanted to rush to Landon and kneel down to explain everything, but he stopped himself.
He dropped his gaze and reached for the bag he'd placed earlier. When he arrived, he thought something bad had happened to them, maybe Pluto had gotten to them. Seeing them enter the house with luggage made him feel relief. But now, none of that mattered. What mattered was what had not yet been done.
Landon watched the man, worry in his eyes, as the seer opened the door. Then he slipped outside and closed it behind him.
Morgan sank into a seat, rubbing her face with both hands. Landon sat across from her.
"Mother, what are you not telling me? I heard him talking about me knowing the truth… What truth? What am I supposed to know?" Landon searched her face.
Morgan sighed. She couldn't tell him. She couldn't risk his safety. She looked at him quietly.
"Landon, there's nothing you need to know," she said quickly, placing a hand on his. "You're just a boy. You shouldn't have to carry responsibilities like that." She stood up, still shaken from everything that happened at sea. They hadn't made it far. They failed to escape Petra. Thoughts of Pluto sent a chill through her.
She walked to her bed and lay down, avoiding Landon's questioning eyes. She stared at the frog as it let out a soft ribbit and, slowly, sleep washed over her.
"Gwen…" Morgan whispered in her sleep.
Landon turned when he heard her. Who was she talking to? He stroked the smooth back of his pet until it slept in his lap. His mind tried to pull up memories of dreams he couldn't understand, doors inside monster eyes and overheard whispers about him.
He placed the toad gently beside him and lay down. Fear crept in, fear of the dark realm he always saw in his dreams. Still, he closed his eyes and prayed he would be strong enough for whatever waited.
Morgan opened her eyes in a place that looked like heaven, a land of peace and soft glowing light, where souls who had lived good lives finally rested.
Standing just ahead was the woman she missed most. Gwen.
Morgan's eyes filled with happy tears. "Gwen?" she breathed, running to her. She threw her arms around her, holding tight like she would never let go.
"I've missed you. Oh God…" Morgan hugged her again. When they finally pulled apart, she cupped Gwen's face with both hands.
"How have you been? How's my boy? Landon… I missed you too. I'm doing okay," Gwen said gently.
Morgan nodded. "Life has been different without you. Landon is doing so well. He's a big boy now."
Gwen smiled. "I know. It's been years."
Morgan took her hand. Her voice lowered. "I still haven't told him the truth about his birth. The darkness in Petra keeps growing… and I feel guilty hiding who his real mother is."
"Shh," Gwen whispered. "He doesn't have to know. You raised him from day one. There's nothing wrong with keeping the secret. It's between us."
Morgan's expression fell. "It's not only between us. The seer knows. He says Landon is the savior of Petra. Do you realize how dangerous that is? I won't let that happen. I need him safe. With me."
Gwen went quiet, then spoke softly. "Morgan… that's why I'm here." Her voice trembled with urgency. "You must let Landon discover who he truly is. The destiny of Petra lies with him. You can't stop it. If he doesn't accept his fate, if he doesn't learn his power, danger will find him anyway."
Morgan frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Let the seer guide him," Gwen said. Pride filled her eyes. "Landon is the reincarnation of Erlys, the god of light. It was written long ago. He was chosen."
Morgan shook her head quickly. "No. He's just a boy. He doesn't know anything. And this Erlys, who even—"
"Morgan." Gwen stepped closer, voice kind. "You don't want anything bad to happen to our child, right?"
Morgan's heart squeezed. Gwen would still be alive if Malik hadn't murdered her. She wanted to stay here with her, but Landon still needed her in the dark world she escaped.
"Petra is drowning in darkness. Monsters rule the streets. Malik's family is gone. The kingdom is nothing like it was," Gwen continued. Morgan already knew… and it terrified her.
"I don't have much time," Gwen said. "Don't stop the seer anymore. Let Landon learn who he is. Five paths lead to Petra's freedom, but time is running out. The longer we wait, the harder it becomes."
Morgan swallowed hard.
"Under the king's room lies an enchanted book," Gwen whispered quietly. "It will guide him. And in the underworld… there is a second book, one that belongs only to Landon. Its power is tied to him. Only he can read it."
Morgan's lips parted, confused, but the moment she tried to speak, Gwen stepped back.
"Until we meet again, Morgan," Gwen said, fading away.
Everything turned dark.
Morgan woke to the flickering candlelight. She held her forehead, tears forming as she whispered,
"Gwen…"
Her heart hurt. The dream still clung to her mind, Gwen in a white robe… the word underworld…
Landon whimpered, shaking in his sleep. Morgan rushed to him. Sweat drenched his forehead. She lifted him gently.
"Landon, it's me. I'm here," she whispered, holding him close. His quiet sniffles broke her heart. She was the reason he still suffered. She was the one keeping his truth away.
He opened his eyes slowly.
"You'll be okay," she said, hugging him tightly, chin resting on his head. As he breathed in her arms, her decision formed.
She would stop running.
She would stop hiding.
His dreams needed meaning. His destiny needed to begin.
Morgan closed her eyes.
Gwen… protect our child. Don't let anything bad happen to him now. Please. Keep Landon safe.
Silence surrounded them, and the future waited.