…
Exactly 2 years and 7 days had passed since the battle of black skull. 2 years since Changing Star, Song of the Fallen, Nightsinger, Raised by Wolves, Soul Reaper and the Prince of Nothing.. there was another, but no one remembered.. became Saints.
It was also exactly 7 Days since Morgan had turned into a Saint.. she quickly grasped her aspect and came back to work and be the real face of Valor again, after her fathers cold and uncaring punishment.
Morgan knew it was stupid, but hoped that once her father knew she had become a saint, he would show even a semblance of being proud.. silly dreams of course.
Why would Anvil be proud of her daughter being a Saint, when the other daughter she left behind, Nephis, had become a saint in a single day.. of course, it was not a day, but here, outside the Nightmare seed a single second passed.
Meaning that to the world, Nephis had become a saint in a day after being left behind by Morgan and Summer Knight, a slap thrown in the honor of Clan Valor's elders.. her father did not really seem to care, he was cold and uncaring as usual, forging memories with a stoic face, being disappointed even in those.
Morgan was never one that needed Anything but battle. she wanted to fulfill her father and her clan's wishes, being the sharpest blade.. and she was.
But it was not enough in front of the radiant Changing Star.
Of course, Morgan was not so foolish as to not know that Nephis was merely a tool for clan Valor, and both Nephis, Valor and Morgan knew that she wanted nothing more then to destroy the Great Clans.
Morgan would have normally been enraged by this and would have calmly gotten rid of the threat.. but she could not.
Nephis was powerful and she was not confident she could kill her without dying. or even truly kill her, not that she would admit that of course.
Not only because it went against the Clan Elders's wishes.
But because Nephis had the support of the public. Morgan was the face of Valor, but Nephis was the face of Humanity. A saviour and a symbol of Hope. She and her cohort too, made exemption for that Being that was her Brother.
The one who had bested her and caused all of this, who made her fall from the top to the bottom in her own clan, in her own house..
Of course, Morgan still held a great deal of power, Second to none but Valor himself, and quite a bit above Changing Star.
But since her return, she felt something she always suppressed, but now she could not suppress it anymore.
it was a worm of doubt.. she did not know it took place in her heart but she was inwardly questioning why she was who she was. why? for whom? and most of all, she asked herself if she should change.
But she did not know any of that yet, simply taught that what she felt was anger mixed with sadness, and so, she did what she did best.
She went inside True Bastion, after entering the forest, she dismissed all memories, even her clothes, not wishing for them to be shredded apart. and started absolutely Slashing and Cutting everything in her path.
Trees, stones, Nightmare Creatures, even some of the Others if they came before her.. she kept doing this for hours.
She did not realize that she was crying.. She was not sobbing, Her breathing was perfectly controlled and she felt calm, while destroying and cutting everything down.
But her face was still streaked with a constant and quite numerous amount of tears. and the flow was unceasing, it kept going for more then 20 minutes when the naked Morgan heard a voice.
She thought it was one of the Others and simply made it cut apart. but there was nothing to cut.
"..Why are you crying? should you not be happy you're a Saint now?"
Morgan once more cut where the voice came from but nothing was there. Morgan began to feel her surroundings more and clearly felt a very Vile, Evil presence that clearly came from a very Harrowing Nightmare Creature. maybe even more than the Others, albeit it clearly was just one…
Morgan summoned her suit of armor and kept looking around.
"...Why are you so angry and sad?.."
The voice asked calmly, when Morgan's hand and aspect was about to decapitate the creature.
When Morgan saw the creature she was surprised, it had the form of a human girl, a very attractive one at that. the creature ducked, effectively dodging Morgan's attacks.
'What type of creature is it, must it be a Terror or a Titan with this intelligence, it seems to have stolen a body? Could it be Mordret..? unlikely...'
Tens of ideas went through Morgan's head, which was unlike her, considering she was in a potential battle, this was a very rookie mistake, in a battle there was little time to think after all.
but seeing the nightmare creature, possessing the beautiful girl was not attacking, she allowed herself to think while looking at the creature's body thoroughly. Ready for a battle.
"..My presence seems evil because of my Aspect, Miss Morgan."
Morgan for the first time bothered to ask herself if this being was a human.
Morgan spoke with a calm and firm voice, showcasing her authority clearly. Morgan was also truly striking after becoming a saint, it was like looking at a sharp blade ready to split your skull apart with her Pale skin, red lips and Vibrant Red eyes.
"Identify yourself."
The beautiful and seductive women in front of her was just as tall as her, about 185 cm. She was wearing a Dark Green dress with golden ornaments that reached mid thighs, she was also wearing a black corset, her skin was incredibly pale, probably as pale as marble, the veins underneath her skin clearly visible. The women in front of her had curly ginger hair that reached half of her back, and were left cascading down in a waterfall braid with curls. the most peculiar traits about this woman was her red eyes, the fact that she was not wearing shoes, that she had fangs, and that at the tip of her hands and feets fingers, her skin and nails turned abyss black, forming a sharp weapon, it could be considered as something quite similar to Morgan's own Aspect.. but also clearly different, she did not forget the strong feeling of profane coming from this women, she felt just as dangerous as a Great nightmare creature..
The supposed human female spoke.
"I'm Lilith Arcane, Miss Morgan."
Morgan did not recognize that name. she would know, she had checked the list of new Saints after coming back from her third nightmare, and there was no 'Lilith Arcane' '..Could it be a new Saint.. but the list is updated everyday and this morning she was not there.. and if she did Transcend today she wouldn't be here.. how did she even get in True Bastion if she even is a Human?..'
Caught in a daze, she could not react when Lilith appeared in front of her,'..Shit! This was such a stupid mistake!'. Morgan was about to cut her down but..
Lilith was with her hands on her cheeks, and.. Thumbs under her eyes..? '..W-What is she doing..?'
Morgan swatted her hands away and took a step back, touching her cheek with one hand and realised it was.. '..Wet? this is a tear.. Have I been crying without realizing?'
"You have been crying since you started to slice down trees and rocks."
Morgan was surprised, she had not realized, not only that she was crying, but that she was being watched, especially while being naked. 'Could this girl want to blackmail me..? Unlikely.. and even if she did have pictures of my body now, i could just kill her and get rid of her.. but even if i don't it's not the end of the world.. embarrassing at most.. if that was her goal then she is foolish...'
Morgan then realised she was also a fool, Letting her emotion get the better of her in True Bastion of all places where she could be in Serious danger.. '..I'm an idio-'
Before she could finish her thought, Lilith took a step back and said.
"You're sad and angry.. looking as to how you cut down everything around i gathered you don't have many opponents to duel and you're quite frustrated. So how about you duel me? no transformation ability, no weapon memories."
Morgan was stunned, she was no fool, was this girl trying to say she was so childish she would go on a rampage because she did not have anyone to spar or train with.. no, it was an awkward way to try and comfort her without making her feel bad..
'..Me, Morgan of Valor, being.. confronted..? ..i don't even know what to think.. but for now, i will take a duel.. it might be foolish but.. i really wanna get my mind off things.. was i always this weak minded..?'
"Fine, I accept your duel, but since you know me you must also know my aspect does not require me to use a sword to kill an opponent, I myself am a sword."
but the girl in front of her looked confused and said casually.
"I know your aspect, but don't be foolish. your a human, Morgan of Valor. a human."
..Those words… strangely made Morgan incredibly mad.. so mad in fact she wanted to kill the girl in front of her.. 'Lilith'
'..Why.. you have no right to say that..'
Just like that, Morgan launched herself at Lilith with a deadly strike. Lilith moved her arm to defend against Morgan's strike.
such a rookie.. and she wanted to duel me.. now you will lose your arm and i will bring you in a bastion for questioning if you're even human..'
Morgan's hand, which was comparable with a sword, slashed Lilith's arm.. the wound was not shallow.. but not deep either.. furthermore. It seemed that thanks to blood manipulation she was able to heal incredibly quickly..
'What?!..This is-'
Before she could think, Lilith's hand sharp nailed hand shot at her neck. she could not think, the blow was much faster them she had anticipated. and much more precise then a normal Saints would be..
'She is strong… i'm still mad.. but i wanna enjoy this duel, i have been starved of opponents lately..'
And so they did. Morgan and Lilith, which had somewhat similar Aspects traded blows.. Lilith was smiling charmingly as she fought Morgan, not ever actually cutting her when she had opportunities. It was not out of disrespect but because she didn't know if Morgan could heal quickly. and Morgan knew it. she could feel it, and was not offended by it albeit she still felt a little angry about it and mad from before.
Morgan did not hold back anything, as she saw this 'Lilith' could heal herself quickly..
Morgan was truly satisfied. without noticing she poured all her emotions in this duel, smiling and crying at the same time.
They fought for 25 minutes, the winner? there wasn't, Morgan had used her Aspect to cut down countless enemies and objects before this duel and was out of essence, if Lilith wanted to kill her now was a golden opportunity.
Lilith walked close to her, Morgan was feeling something she did not know, and was ready to embrace death..
But she was even more shocked then she would have been if her head was sent flying..
This girl, Lilith, casually hugged her and sat on the dirt floor..
'Huh..?'
….
'Huh..?!'
'What is she doin-?!' before she could finish she heard Lilith's voice in her hear, her head on her shoulder as she hugged Morgan.
Morgan herself was now sitting/laying awkwardly on the floor, unbecoming of a Princess of Valor.
"I don't know what you were crying about, but you are a Human, Morgan, not a sword. a sword is just a tool meant to kill. but you are alive. can think and make your own decision.. so, stop thinking your just a sword."
…
Morgan was once again very Mad at the woman holding her. 'Who did she think she is.. telling me what i am..' But.. Morgan, trapped in the hug as she was. I could feel it. all the bottled up sadness, hate and disappointment she felt for her Clan, her Father and even herself…
Morgan new it was shameful and she should not allow herself to.. it went against everything she was..
But she hugged this stranger back..despite her flaw that would cut everything she touched.... she cried on her shoulder.. Morgan knew that Lilith could feel her crying, but she did not allow herself still to make any noise that was louder than a gasping breath, she did not sniffle or make groans..
But Morgan still felt liberated somehow.. After her birth and early childhood, from the age of 5, Morgan had never cried. was not allowed too.
Because she was Morgan of Valor…
Morgan hugged this stranger.. Lilith. as she cried. blood was soaking her hand, she knew her flaw was hurting this women. but Lilith did not flinch or ask her to move.. so she selfishly hugged her as tight as she could and cried silently..
minutes passed and Morgan calmed down.. her cold mind not programmed to deal with the embarrassment of this action she just performed.. so she stayed there.. trying to think of a solution to this problem.. and failing.
She was an heir of the war lineage.. but this was not considered a battle, so she did not have any strategy..
'This is one of the worst battles I have ever faced!! how do i look at her.. who even is she..?!'
"Hey, Morgan. I will see you often. albeit in secret. let's be Friends, ok?"
Morgan heard her words but could not understand or register them..
"I will be going now, take care of yourself."
"Wai-."
Just like that, Lilith squeezed in their hug a bit more. and caresses her cheek before disappearing.
…
Morgan was left there.. a little messy, sitting on the floor, her eyes still a little wet. but not puffy since she was a Saint now..
she was alone, thinking.. overthinking.. and failing to come up with anything..
After 10 minutes she got up, cleaned herself a bit and pulled on her Tether in Bastion, the city. she found herself in her room at night.. she took a shower and went to sleep.
She did not sleep a single second that night.. too busy thinking about Lilith's words.
'You are a human, not a sword..'
Morgan did not like hearing this.. she did not know why but she had a suspicious..
" Is being a sword all I know how to do..?"
…
'..i shall check on this Lilith Arcane tomorrow..'
…