Even with that smile of superiority, Xol offered his hand to Morgan; he tried to take it, but Xol pulled it back quickly, mocking him. Morgan stood up on his own, annoyed.
–haha, you fell for it once again.
( Said Xol, laughing )
Morgan didn't respond; he simply turned his face away, indignant.
–but well, it seems that's what was keeping you here.
( Said Xol, crossing his arms and staring at the creature )
Morgan tried to look at it from the corner of his eye, but immediately looked away. He simply couldn't hold the gaze of that creature, who stared at him silently, without blinking.
–alright, as long as you don't do anything stupid, that thing won't be able to cross.
( Said Xol proudly )
Morgan looked at his hands and—at least to him—they were starting to look blurry. He tried rubbing his eyes, but everything kept getting more distorted.
–w… what's happening…
( Said Morgan, staggering )
–looks like the sleeping beauty is waking up.
( Said Xol mockingly )
Morgan turned abruptly to look at Xol, but he saw him blurry; the only thing distinguishable was the spectral glow in his eyes.
–don't forget our deal, hero… remember, I'll be watching.
Xol's voice sounded distorted as his figure and everything around him began to fade.
–you'll see…
( Said Morgan, clenching his teeth )
When everything had vanished completely and he could only see pure white, he shouted with all his strength:
–you'll see that I can do it!!!
Morgan woke up sitting upright in an instant. Luzbel and Satana jumped in fright from his scream; Luzbel fell off the bed, while Satana covered her ears and bumped into the wall. Morgan looked around, especially at the two girls now on the floor. He tilted his head, confused.
–why is it that every time I wake up, I'm in a different place…
( Said Morgan sarcastically )
He walked over to check on Luzbel, who was lying on the floor with her legs up, holding her head. Morgan looked at her, and their eyes met.
–are you okay?
( Said Morgan, tilting his head slightly to one side )
Luzbel stared at him for a moment, then Morgan offered her his hand, smiling. She took it gently and stood up.
–all good?
( Said Morgan with a warm smile )
–yes… thank you.
( Said Luzbel, returning the smile )
–ahhh… ahhh… my head… it's spinning…
( Said Satana, wobbling )
Morgan was relieved to see her. He jumped over to her quickly and began asking questions while holding her hands.
–how are you? What happened? What happened to the girl? Is she okay?
( Said Morgan, mixing joy with uncertainty )
–wait, wait… my head is still spinning…
( Said Satana, rotating her head slightly in circles )
–ah, sorry, sorry…
( Said Morgan, embarrassed )
Satana sat on the bed, and Morgan, excited, sat beside her. She sighed and adjusted the devices on her ears.
–alright… first of all, what was that? Why did you wake up like that? You'd been unconscious for a long time and suddenly you jump up shouting "you'll see that I can do it."
( Said Satana, slightly annoyed )
–ahhh… I did that?
( Asked Morgan, confused )
–yes, it happened just moments ago. Don't you remember?
( Said Satana, confused )
–now that you mention it… why did I do that?
( Said Morgan, questioning himself )
He tried to remember why he had woken up like that, but could only recall fragments of what he had lived in his subconscious.
–ahhh… seems like my lady hit you pretty hard.
( Said Satana with a sigh )
–but answering your questions: after you interfered, my lady hit you and you passed out. After that we took you to her office. And don't ask: the girl you helped is fine… considering everything.
( Said Satana, smiling )
Morgan was overjoyed to hear the girl was safe.
–really? She's really okay?
( Said Morgan, eyes shining )
–yes, that's right.
( Answered Satana, smiling )
Morgan dropped himself onto the bed and began rolling around, overflowing with joy. Luzbel could only smile at his expressions, so genuine; he was truly happy to know the girl he saved was alright.
–and her name? What was her name?
( Said Morgan, eyes glowing )
–her name… uh… I think she didn't mention it.
( Said Satana, looking at Luzbel )
–I don't know it either. I didn't have time to ask… and it's not common for us to know humans' names.
( Said Luzbel, lowering her head )
–I see…
( Said Morgan, downcast )
–well, doesn't matter. I'll just go and ask her in person, then.
( Said Morgan, cheerful again )
He stood up, ready to leave the room, but Luzbel and Satana stopped him immediately.
–wait, wait… you can't go out yet. It's dangerous to go outside right now.
( Said Luzbel, blocking his path )
–yes, yes, at least wait until my lady returns.
( Said Satana, hugging him from behind )
–come on, it'll be quick, nothing will happen.
( Said Morgan, walking toward the door )
–waait, waaait…
( Said Luzbel, being dragged by Morgan )
–wait… I promise you that as soon as the director returns, I'll take you to her so you can ask for her name. But you need to trust me and stay here for now.
( Said Luzbel, serious but gentle )
–hmm… how can I trust you if I don't know you? You're a stranger.
( Said Morgan, turning his head aside indignantly, eyes closed )
That made Luzbel a bit sad, and she lowered her head.
–you're right…
( Said Luzbel, helpless )
But while staring at the floor, she suddenly saw a hand in front of her. She looked up and saw Morgan offering his hand again, smiling. Confused but moved, Luzbel took it, and Morgan said cheerfully:
–my name is Morgan. Nice to meet you.
–my name is Luzbel…
( Responded Luzbel, still a bit confused )
Morgan took her other hand and began shaking both up and down excitedly.
–wow, Luzbel? That's your name? It's really pretty. Are you an angel or something? Why the wings? See? Now we're not strangers anymore.
( Said Morgan with great joy, shaking her hands )
Luzbel saw the shine in Morgan's eyes and, for an instant, thought she saw someone else's figure reflected in him. It surprised her… and saddened her a bit. Just then, someone knocked on the door. Luzbel instinctively placed Morgan behind her to protect him; Satana also went on alert. The doorknob began to turn, and Luzbel said firmly:
–stay behind me.
The door opened, and a familiar voice, sounding rather pleased, said:
–well, well… looks like the little sheep has finally woken up.
Satana quickly approached, placed a hand on her chest, and bowed.
–welcome back, my lady.
Luzbel relaxed slightly, though her expression remained serious.
–is everything alright, director?
( Said Luzbel seriously )
–it was quite annoying… but yes, everything's fine.
( Said Zarathoz, stretching tiredly )
–now then, back to the matter at hand. You want to keep the boy safe… and I want to investigate him further.
Zarathoz walked up to Morgan and crouched a little to look at him directly. Morgan didn't say anything; he just returned her gaze with seriousness. Luzbel, bothered by how close she was getting, put a hand between them to separate her.
–so… there's only one way for both of us to get what we want.
( Said Zarathoz, now looking at Luzbel )
–and what way is that?
( Said Luzbel firmly )
–isn't it obvious? We'll have him enter the academy.
( Said Zarathoz with a smile )
–are you serious?
( Said Luzbel, eyes sharp )
–of course. That way you can watch over him and I can keep an eye on him. Isn't that a wonderful solution?
( Said Zarathoz with a false smile )
–it's too dangerous… if we leave him with the other students, they might discover him.
( Said Luzbel, standing protectively in front of Morgan again )
–maybe yes… maybe no. We'll have to find out, won't we, Lu? Or what do you think, boy? Would you like to enter our academy?
( Said Zarathoz with a dangerous smile )
Morgan thought for a moment about the proposal… and about his goal.
–maybe if I stay here, I can start a change…
( Said Morgan to himself )
Filled with determination, he answered firmly:
–I accept.
Zarathoz smiled again, satisfied, and with that slightly dangerous tone, she said:
–then… so it shall be.
End of the chapter.
Next chapter: Galahad