The princess was left perplexed.
Her anger had clouded her judgment, unable to understand why that young man with long pink hair was holding her hand, stopping her from unleashing her fury on that human. After staring at him in silence, Morgan saw the girl's head fall to the side… and she seemed not to be breathing.
A chill ran through him.
Without thinking, he reacted on instinct: he threw the princess aside, removing her from on top of the girl. He knelt down, took her in his arms, and began shaking her abruptly, desperate to make her wake up.
"Hey, hey… wake up, wake up. Don't fall asleep… don't fall asleep!"
( Said Morgan, desperate )
"Talk to me… come on, react!"
( Morgan shouted, at the verge of tears )
Princess Aioria didn't know how to react.
Someone had thrown her as if she were nothing.
A stranger had taken her delicate hand… and had tossed her aside as if she were a filthy rag! And on top of that… he didn't even bother to speak to her. Instead, he was worried about that thing, giving her attention… instead of Aioria.
Aioria was in shock.
"Princess, are you alright?"
( Adriel said, crouching to check on her )
"Princess… princess, are you okay?"
( Velatrix said, truly concerned )
Both girls were crouched at Aioria's sides, examining her, making sure she wasn't hurt. But Aioria couldn't take her eyes off Morgan.
"That guy… who does he think he is to touch Her Majesty's hand?"
( Adriel said furiously )
"Yes, I don't like this at all… he must die."
( Velatrix said with restrained anger )
Around them, whispers began to rise.
Incredulous. Annoyed. Amused. Contemptuous.
"Is he helping that beast?"
"Isn't he the same boy who crossed Superior Kalista?"
"Yes, that's him… he protected the human."
"Haha! Did you see how he threw the princess?"
"He tossed her like a dirty rag… he chose a beast over the princess herself."
"Damn… preferring a beast over you… that must be humiliating."
( Was heard among the crowd )
"No, don't worry Princess, don't listen to them."
( Adriel said, trying to comfort her )
"Yes, yes… don't mind those idiots, Princess. If you wish, I can take care of them."
( Velatrix said, irritated )
But the princess had stopped hearing her own thoughts.
She only heard the criticism.
The whispers.
The laughter.
And she slowly stood up.
"Princess?"
( Both girls said at the same time )
"Why… why… why… WHY?"
( The princess repeated, her voice trembling with fury )
She walked slowly toward Morgan.
He was still trying to make the girl react. He leaned closer to her lips, feeling slight breaths.
"She… she's still breathing…"
( Morgan said with a relieved smile )
"I need to take her to get help… quickly."
( Morgan said urgently )
But when he tried to stand, he felt a heavy, dangerous pressure behind him. A cold shiver ran down his spine. He turned his head… and saw only a black hand wrapped in shadows, grotesque mouths emerging from it, falling straight toward his face.
"Disappear."
( The princess said with absolute coldness )
The hand struck down violently… but Morgan was no longer there.
The impact turned the ground it touched into white sand.
Aioria, furious, looked everywhere for Morgan.
"Where is he!? WHERE IS HE!?"
( Aioria screamed, out of her mind )
And then she saw him.
Behind the crowd stood a huge woman—1.89 meters tall—with wolf ears and tail, purple hair with grayish streaks, and hellish-looking clothes… holding Morgan like a bag or a suitcase, while he didn't let go of the human girl, protecting her tightly.
Aioria felt a sting in her chest.
"WHY… WHY ARE YOU INTERFERING, KALISTA!!?"
( The princess screamed, her voice almost breaking )
Kalista, who had her back turned, let go of Morgan abruptly. Then she turned to face Aioria.
Her expression showed annoyance. Irritation. Exhaustion.
"I'm sorry, 'princess'."
( Kalista said with cruel disdain )
"But this one is all mine."
Kalista looked at Morgan threateningly.
He held her gaze, serious, determined.
Then she shifted her eyes to the girl in his arms… and smiled dangerously.
Seeing her, Morgan's expression hardened into defiance, and he shielded the girl with his body.
Aioria bit her lip, trembling with anger.
First, they pushed her aside…
and now they were completely ignoring her.
"Are you… ignoring me?"
( Aioria said, on the verge of collapse )
"Princess! Princess!"
Adriel and Velatrix grabbed her arms, trying to stop her… but Aioria shoved them away forcefully and began walking toward Morgan and Kalista. One of her eyes twitched constantly from the rage.
Her hands became wrapped in shadows.
Her arms darkened up to her shoulders.
Mouths and monstrous eyes began to open across the blackened flesh.
Kalista noticed.
She smirked.
"Oh… looks like the princess wants to play too. Alright… let's see how strong you really are, 'little princess'."
( Kalista said, biting and provocative )
She removed her coat and grinned, showing her sharp teeth. Ready to attack.
Several meters away, Luzbel watched everything, paralyzed with terror. She couldn't move. She couldn't speak. She couldn't even breathe properly. Satana shook her, trying to snap her out of it, but it was useless.
The confrontation was inevitable.
Until an elegant, firm voice echoed among them:
"You there… that's enough."
Both women stopped instantly.
Kalista slowly turned her head first.
Walking through the crowd was a man with pale skin, reddish eyes, and golden hair. His attire was ostentatious, immaculate, radiating calm authority.
Kalista regained her composure and stood straight, giving a silent bow.
The man looked at both of them and asked with a disarming kindness:
"May I know what is happening here, ladies?"
( Said Athelstan, smiling slightly )
"Nothing serious, Sir Athelstan… just a small disagreement with Her Majesty Aioria."
( Kalista replied with impeccable courtesy )
"And could you tell me the reason for the quarrel, Miss Kalista?"
( Athelstan asked in a calm voice )
"Her Majesty Aioria tried to harm this guy… and he has unfinished business with me. I couldn't allow anyone to meddle in my personal matters. I sincerely apologize for causing this commotion."
( Kalista said, lowering her head again )
"I see… if that's the case, I must ask you to return to your room, please."
( Athelstan said kindly )
"As you command."
Kalista turned to leave, but before that, she walked past Morgan. She crouched, without looking directly at him.
"You and I will settle our score… so prepare yourself, because the next time we meet will be in our battle sanctuary."
( Kalista whispered, icy and threatening )
Then she rose, glanced at Athelstan with respect, and said:
"With your permission."
Aioria, seeing her leave, tried to go after her.
"Where are you going!?"
( Aioria shouted angrily )
But Athelstan stopped her sharply.
"Miss Aioria!"
( He said firmly )
"But she… she—!"
( Aioria said, helpless, almost crying )
"Miss Aioria… that behavior is unworthy of a lady. And even less of a princess. I must ask you to return to your room."
( Athelstan said with firm kindness )
"B-but… but…"
( Aioria stuttered, breaking down )
"Or would you prefer I call Her Majesty Amon?"
Her sister's name left her speechless.
The shadows dissolved from her arms.
She lowered her head, motionless.
Athelstan then looked at Adriel and Velatrix.
"Ladies, would you be so kind as to escort Her Majesty to her chambers?"
( He said with a gentle smile )
Both answered "yes" in unison, took the princess by the arms, and quickly led her away. They bowed before leaving.
Aioria still didn't react.
Once they were gone, Athelstan noticed the eyes on him.
He sighed. Clapped once. Raised his voice.
"Alright. Everyone to your rooms. There's nothing more to see."
The crowd dispersed.
Athelstan approached Morgan, knelt, and spoke softly:
"And her? How is she?"
( He asked, looking at the human girl )
Morgan held her closer, trembling.
"She's still breathing… but she's bad. Really bad…"
( Morgan said, almost crying )
"May I?"
Athelstan extended his arms. Morgan, hesitant, handed her over. The man checked her wounds quickly.
"They're very severe… she's lost too much blood. I don't think she'll make it."
( He said with sorrow )
"Luzbel, you—"
Athelstan tried to speak to her, but she remained frozen.
Then he looked at Satana.
"Go get the Headmistress… maybe she can do something. Hurry! … No, she won't get here in time…"
( Athelstan said, defeated )
Satana hesitated. Morgan looked down at his blood-stained hands. His mind held only one thought:
I want to help her… please… I want to help her… someone… help her…
And then it happened.
His body began to glow.
The light blinded Athelstan. Luzbel reacted, trembling. Satana, who was about to run, turned around as she felt a different vibration in the air.
Athelstan was stunned.
Morgan's body was now covered in slime, with antennae on his head and a shell on his back. He quickly took the human girl and held her, letting the slime cover her completely.
Luzbel approached, shaking. Athelstan stood up, confused, unable to comprehend what he was seeing.
"What are you doing—?"
But before he could finish, he saw the girl's wounds beginning to heal.
Fast.
Too fast.
His eyes widened.
The girl regained consciousness briefly. Morgan, desperate, asked:
"Your name… quickly, tell me your name."
She replied in fragile whispers, between consciousness and unconsciousness, before fainting again:
"Ga… l… a… h… ad…"
End of the chapter.
Next chapter: A Vision.