Chapter 40: A King Without a Queen
Null's senses returned to his body with a jarring, violent snap. The stench of decay vanished, replaced by the cool, damp air of the alley. The rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor was gone, and in its place was the steady hum of Ashley's energy barrier. His hands, which had been phantoms in Sophie's mind, were once again physical, resting on her temples. The psychic storm that had raged around her had completely subsided. The chunks of concrete, once floating ominously in the air, now lay scattered across the ground, and the last of her screams had died to a ragged, choked gasp.
Null pulled his hands away, his own body trembling from the psychic strain. The visions were still raw in his mind: the desolate future, the tormented Galeipot, the impossible void, and the divine fury of God. He clenched his fists, forcing the images into a deep, locked vault in his mind. He couldn't tell them. Not yet. The information was too much, too heavy, too terrifying. He had to process it on his own. He was the king, the Unwritten King, a king that wasn't supposed to be written, and for now, he had to carry the weight alone.
He looked down at Sophie. She was still on her knees, but her body was no longer shaking with agony. Her eyes, no longer blank and wide with terror, were focused and clear, though filled with a profound sadness. She looked at the ground, at the small cracks in the asphalt, and then slowly, she looked up at Null. There was no fear in her gaze, only a quiet, weary acceptance.
"It's over," Null said, his voice a low, raw whisper. "He won't control... at least for now."
Sophie didn't respond with words. Instead, she reached out a hand and touched the asphalt. A small, green seedling immediately sprouted from the ground, its tiny leaves unfurling with a gentle, serene life. The power was still hers, but it was no longer a destructive force; it was a power of creation. She had found a purpose, a reason to fight. She looked up at Null, her expression one of immense relief.
Ashley's energy barrier shimmered and faded, and she and Kai ran into the alley. They stopped short when they saw Sophie. She was sitting calmly on the ground, surrounded by the chaotic aftermath of her power, but she was smiling.
"Is she okay?" Kai asked, his voice filled with concern.
"She's fine," Null said, his gaze fixed on Sophie. "She's in control now."
Sophie rose to her feet, her movements fluid and confident. She fixed her monocle and adjusted her hat. "Thank you," she said, her voice a soft, melodic sound. "You… you showed me something. You showed me that I didn't have to be the monster. You showed me that I could be something more."
She looked from Null to Kai and Ashley. "I saw a glimpse of what you're fighting for. A future that isn't... broken. I saw him. The God in my stone. He showed me the real price of my second chance. I had to live a new life, as a new person, in a new body, to atone for what I did. I had to wait until I was strong enough to face him, to take back my power, to turn back to a male, and to revive my friends."
She looked at Null, her eyes shining with newfound determination. "I saw your promise, and I will help you. Your deal. I accept."
Null nodded, a quiet understanding passing between them. They were more than just two teenagers with a cosmic power; they were two people burdened by a past they couldn't remember, and a future they couldn't escape. Sophie was a victim, a victim who was ready to become a hero.
"We have to go to the school," Null said, his voice a low growl. "We have to find the next one."
As they walked out of the alley, a ripple in the shadows near the wall signaled Fang's return. He materialized, his piercing eyes focused entirely on Null.
"Wait, that's a guy—" Fang said, his voice a disbelieving tone. Before he could finish, Ashley slapped him on the arm.
"Be quiet, Fang," she hissed. "She can hear you."
Fang simply grinned, and a low, mocking laugh escaped his lips. "Why were you late?" Null asked, his voice filled with a hint of annoyance.
"Oh, just busy," Fang said, waving a hand dismissively. "I was busy talking to someone special. Someone... who is very interested in the new king."
He walked alongside Null, his voice a low, confidential whisper. "A king is only as strong as his queen. You have the power of the Unwritten King, but a king without his queen is a king with a very fragile kingdom. He can lead his people to their deaths and the destruction of his family. You're an open wound, Null. A target for every ambitious queen and every devious rival. They will do anything to get a piece of you, to control you."
Null frowned, a flash of confusion in his eyes. "What are you talking about?"
Fang's eyes twinkled with mischief. "I am just saying, be careful. Many women will do anything to get a king." He then let out a laugh, "Or in your case, sooji or Ashley?" He then disappeared again into the shadows.
Null's face flushed with a dark blush, and he shot a glare at the spot where Fang had just been standing. Kai and Ashley, who had heard the whole exchange, were both trying to stifle their laughter.
Sophie, however, was unfazed. She simply looked at Null, a small, knowing smile on her face. "He's not wrong. You are a king. And a king without an anchor can be dangerous. We have to find the others."
Null sighed, the frustration of Fang's antics giving way to a new, unwavering determination. The sun was now a bright orange orb on the horizon, casting a golden light on the world. The world was still a beautiful, fragile thing, but now they knew what they were fighting for. Their small group had grown, and their purpose was clearer than ever before. The next stage of their mission had begun. And with sooji Kai Ashley and Sophie everything was going fine
End of chapter 47
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