Morgan stood speechless before that paradise.
The place was so vast, so immense, that there simply were no words enough to describe it. All he could do was stand there, motionless, his gaze lost in something he couldn't believe could exist.
And from his lips, almost without meaning to, escaped a single word.
- Wow.
But he couldn't keep taking in that paradise for long.
A scream tore through the silence and made him jump. He spun around, heart pounding, searching for the source of that sound. And he found it. It was Xol, eyes wide open, staring at his own hands as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
- What the hell! What is this?
Morgan exhaled slowly, feeling the tension drain from his shoulders. It was just Xol. He burst out laughing without being able to help it.
- Hahaha, what's going on? What's with that scream?
(Morgan said between laughs)
Xol turned to look at him. But instead of insulting him, the expression on his face grew even tighter, and he screamed again, this time with more force.
- WHAT THE HELL! What on earth is this?!
Morgan frowned. Something in Xol's tone was different. The smirk slowly faded from his face.
- Hey... are you okay?
(Morgan asked, confused)
- What the hell, kid! Have you even looked at yourself?
Morgan blinked.
- Look at myself? What do you mean?
(Morgan said, growing more confused by the second)
- Damn it, kid! Stop playing dumb and look at yourself!
Still not understanding what had caused that reaction, Morgan slowly raised his hands to his face.
- Look at myself?
(He wondered to himself)
The moment he touched his face, he froze.
His axolotl gills were gone. His hair felt different, shorter. He lowered his gaze slowly, a sinking feeling growing in his chest. His tail was gone too. He turned around searching for it, almost unwilling to believe it. But it wasn't there.
Morgan's breathing began to quicken.
- What... what's happening to me?
(Morgan said, his voice trembling)
But before either of them could say another word, that entity appeared in the middle of them. No sound. No warning. It was simply there. Its eyes settled first on Xol, then on Morgan, with an expression that blended curiosity and something neither of them could quite decipher.
- Wow... it's not just one. There are two. This is quite interesting.
(Cernunnos said, with a hint of genuine fascination)
Those words made both of them flinch at the same time.
- She...
(Xol said, stunned)
- She...
(Morgan said, shaken)
And then, in unison, both completed their sentence.
- She can see me?
- She can see him?
Cernunnos watched the reaction of both and let out a small laugh, covering her mouth with one hand.
That set Xol off. With barely contained fury, he shouted at her.
- What are you laughing at? What is so damn funny to you?
Cernunnos answered him with a calm that was almost unsettling.
- Nothing. It's just that now I understand everything a little better.
Xol wasn't satisfied. He screamed again, rage bleeding into every word.
- Cut the nonsense, mortal trash! Tell me what the hell you did to us! How can you even see me?
Cernunnos looked at them in silence for a few seconds. Then, with an almost ceremonial slowness, she extended her arms toward both of them, as if welcoming them.
- The real question is not what I did to you. Because I haven't done anything. The question is what you are. This place has no physical form... you gave it one. You are so different and yet so alike. Now I understand. You both form a single being, a single you. And when you are that you... you become a whole.
*End of chapter.*
*Next chapter: The Son of Nature.*