Morgan, after walking for quite a while, finally made it back to the main road—the path that would take him straight to the capital of all kingdoms: Fallen Crown.
He stood there, in the middle of the road, motionless. In silence. Just staring at the horizon, as if waiting for a divine sign… or as if he had forgotten why he had stopped in the first place.
Calmly, he reached into his pockets. He pulled out two rings: one was the one Mani had given him, and the other belonged to Mani's wife. Morgan gripped them tightly, closed his fist, and pressed it against his forehead. A mix of gratitude, sorrow, and rage shook his soul. He remembered the good man who had helped him without asking for anything in return… but he also remembered that scene. That unforgettable moment. The way he found his friend's wife. The pain. The brutality. The senseless cruelty.
Morgan's heart sank. He remembered Mani's voice speaking about his wife: the sweetness in his tone, the joy, the love, the future he envisioned with her and their child. A future that now would never be.
Morgan, sobbing, shook his head.
He clenched his teeth. He remembered how he had frozen. Helpless. Unable to do anything while that Zorath committed that atrocious act right in front of his eyes. And how, despite everything, the humans had thanked him… as if he had saved them.
"I... I didn't do anything... I froze... I couldn't do anything for them! He was the one who did something! He saved them, not me!"
(Morgan said to himself)
Then, with fury, he raised his gaze to the sky and shouted with all his soul:
"BUT THAT… THAT WAS THE LAST TIME I EVER STOOD THERE AND DID NOTHING!!!"
He then lowered his gaze, a new determination igniting in his eyes. He put on the rings of Mani and his wife. And he began to walk.
"I won't let more people lose their futures, or their dreams, like that. That god gave me this power for a reason… and this must be the reason."
(Morgan said, each step more confident than the last)
"Ever since I arrived in this world, I've been asking myself what my purpose is… Well, I think I know now."
(He said as he started jogging slowly)
As he ran, childhood memories came to him. He saw himself reading comic books, dreaming of colorful worlds and heroes with ridiculous capes but enormous hearts.
"I had forgotten… But ever since I was a kid… I always wanted to be one of them."
(Morgan thought to himself)
"I… I'll become a superhero!"
(He said with a huge smile)
And then he pushed off harder and started running with everything he had. He ran through the rain, under the stars, beneath the scorching sun. He didn't stop for a second. His body ached, but his soul burned even more.
Humans, unlike other animals, are not the strongest or the fastest. But they're the only ones capable of running impossible distances without stopping, without giving up. And now, Morgan was proving why that ability had once changed the history of his species.
After running for days without rest, he saw it.
A black castle floating in a vast blue sky, anchored to the ground by massive silver chains. Below, a colossal kingdom, and within it… an even larger castle.
Morgan stopped in a barren plain, gazing at the scene as if it had come out of an epic novel.
"Alright. I've made it."
(Morgan said with a smile)
"I have no idea what awaits me there… but without a doubt, this is where everything will start to change!"
(He said, full of optimism)
He took a deep breath and shouted:
"HERE I COME!!!"
And without further delay, he started running again. Like a madman. Like lightning. Like a child who doesn't know what he's doing, but does it with all his heart.
After a while, he finally saw the entrance to the kingdom. And with it, giant statues of white marble. Beings with masks, horns, long ears, and tails. All imposing. All... intimidating.
But Morgan didn't stop. No! He was charging forward like a runaway train!
Two guards stood at the entrance, one on each side of the massive gate.
"Hey, what is that?!"
(One of the guards said)
The other squinted, trying to focus.
"Uh... I don't know... It's small... and pink!"
(She replied, confused)
Both stepped into the middle of the road, still unsure whether it was an enemy, an animal, or a lunatic.
But Morgan didn't slow down when he saw them blocking the path.
"No way they're not moving..."
(Morgan muttered as he approached at full speed)
The guards looked at each other, tense, and said in unison:
"No way he's not stopping..."
But Morgan didn't stop.
"OUT OF THE WAY, OUT OF THE WAAAAY!!!"
(He screamed, charging like a crazy goat)
All three shouted at the same time, and finally... BOOM!
They collided like bowling pins. Morgan and the two guards were sent flying into the city.
Morgan lay on the ground, half-conscious, seeing little birds spin above his head. Then the female guard—with green scales, blue eyes, short black hair, and white and black armor—grabbed him by the shirt and lifted him up.
"Hey, kid! What the hell's your problem?! You think you can just go around tackling people like that?! You looking for trouble with me, you little bastard, huh, huh?!"
(The guard shouted, furious)
"Leila, Leila, he's unconscious! Leave him!"
(Her partner said)
Due to the impact and exhaustion from running nonstop for days, Morgan had passed out. His body had finally given in to the fatigue.
"Don't talk nonsense, Mark! Brats like this need to be taught with punches!"
(Leila yelled, annoyed)
"Ahhh, Leila, everyone's watching us!"
(Mark pleaded, sweating nervously)
"And why the hell should I care?! My issue is with this pink bastard!"
(Leila said, still holding the unconscious Morgan)
But then, a female voice—serene… and imposing—cut through the tension:
"What is going on here?"
Leila, with all the energy of a street thug being interrupted, turned around abruptly.
"Huh?! Who the hell is ask—"
But upon seeing who had spoken, her voice stopped cold. Her skin went pale.
"L-Lady Zarathoz..."
(Leila stammered)
Standing before them was an imposing woman: tall, with grayish scales, gray hair, and skin as white as the moon. Her turquoise eyes glowed with authority. She had a long reptilian tail, elegant horns, and wore an outfit from another world... Elegant, yet perfectly matching the color of her scales and eyes.
"I asked what is going on here."
(The woman said with a firm, cold voice)
"N-nothing, Lady Zarathoz. Th-this young man appeared out of nowhere and… he crashed into both of us..."
(Mark said, kneeling with his head down)
"Come on, you kneel too."
(Mark whispered while pushing Leila's head down)
The woman looked at both guards, then focused her gaze on Morgan. She observed him closely from head to toe… and suddenly, she smiled.
"Interesting..."
End of chapter.
Next chapter: Let's Make a Deal.