The Unseen Bonds

Medas' voice softened, the weight of his story still lingering in the air. "When the kingdom found out what happened to Hiraya, it was as if everyone went silent. They stopped speaking about her, stopped looking at her as the markless woman they'd once feared. They knew she was gone, and with her death, everything they had ever said or thought about her... it all just disappeared. That was it."

He wiped his eyes, struggling to keep his composure. "But for me, it wasn't that simple. I couldn't just move on from what happened. Her memory still haunts me, and it's the reason I couldn't stand by while you, Morvane, were struggling with your powers. I couldn't let you go through what she did."

Morvane sat there in stunned silence, his wrists still sore from being bound. But as Medas moved to free him, he didn't resist. Medas undid the ropes, his movements slow and deliberate, as though he wasn't sure how to continue.

"That's our story, Morvane," Medas said softly. "Everything that happened to Hiraya, to me... it's why I'm here now. When I saw you at the festival, I knew I needed to do something. I knew it wasn't a coincidence. I was watching over you, even before we ever met."

Morvane blinked in confusion. "You were watching me?"

"Yes," Medas nodded. "Do you remember when your shadow beast appeared during the festival? That wasn't by chance either. I wanted to test it. So, I cut your arm with a leaf—just enough to draw blood, but not enough to hurt you. It was small, almost unnoticeable. But when you were wounded, that's when it appeared, didn't it? That's when I knew... both you and Hiraya were the same."

Morvane's heart raced as the pieces of the puzzle slowly began to fall into place. "So, that's why... my powers...?" he trailed off, still trying to comprehend.

"Yes," Medas replied. "You and Hiraya share the same connection to those shadow beasts. The difference is, she never knew what to do with hers. You're still figuring yours out. But I knew from the moment I saw you that your powers were tied to something far greater than you might realize."

Morvane stared at him, his voice hoarse. "So, what do we do now? What happens with my power? How do I control it?"

Medas looked at him, his eyes filled with both understanding and a hint of caution. "That's what I need to help you figure out. Your power is dangerous, but it can also be a strength. Just like Hiraya, you need to understand it before it consumes you. I've seen what happens when someone loses control—when they let their powers define them. We can't let that happen to you."

Morvane nodded slowly, processing the weight of what Medas had said. It wasn't just about controlling his powers anymore—it was about understanding them, about finding a way to use them without losing himself in the process. And in that moment, he realized that the road ahead wasn't going to be easy, but maybe, just maybe, he wasn't alone anymore.

Medas took a deep breath, his expression turning more serious. "Well, there's one part of the story I left behind," he said, his voice lowering as he delved deeper into the past. "It's the possession. Hiraya was once possessed by spirits—tok, we called them. The strange thing about it was, she could use their power, almost as if she were borrowing it. But it came with a cost."

Morvane blinked in realization, his mind racing back to the events in the forest. "Ah, yeah. I remember... when I saw that crying man—the ghost. He was... it was strange." He paused, recalling the feeling of encountering something so intangible, so powerful. "He wasn't alive, but it felt like he was reaching for me. That's when... I think my shadow beast appeared, right?"

Medas nodded. "Yes, that's exactly what happened. You were drawn to the ghost, just like Hiraya was drawn to those spirits. You were being influenced, connected to something greater than yourself." He hesitated, his gaze softening. "But there's one major difference. Unlike you, Hiraya still remained conscious when she was possessed. She could feel everything—the pain, the power, the loss of control. But she didn't let it consume her. You're still learning how to deal with it."

Morvane felt a weight press down on his chest. "So, you want me to control it... just like that? To stop it from... taking over?"

Medas gave a firm nod. "Yes. Your shadow beast can't just be a reaction to fear or a weapon. You need to understand it, to control it before it controls you. Hiraya's struggle was that she never understood how to stop the spirits from taking over. She fought, but the more she fought, the more it pulled her in. You have the chance to learn from her mistakes, Morvane. You're not alone in this."

Morvane sat back, the weight of Medas' words sinking in. He was no longer just a person with strange abilities—he was a part of something much larger. Something dangerous, yet powerful. He had to take control, or it would take him. And that thought, more than anything, terrified him.

As Medas and Morvane continued their conversation, something caught Morvane's attention. He froze, his body stiffening as he saw the familiar sight—a faint figure, shimmering in the dim light behind Medas. His heart skipped a beat. The spirit of Hiraya stood just beyond him, her translucent form almost glowing in the room.

Medas turned, following Morvane's gaze. "What? What's happening?" he asked, noticing Morvane's sudden shock.

Morvane's voice trembled as he tried to speak, but the words caught in his throat. "It's her... Hiraya... she's here."

Medas stared at the space where Morvane pointed, his eyes narrowing, though he could see nothing. "You're seeing her? The spirit?"

Morvane nodded slowly, still unable to look away. "Yes... she's here, Medas. I can feel her..."

Taking a deep breath, Morvane stepped forward, summoning all the courage he could muster. "Hiraya," he called softly, his voice cracking. "Hiraya, is it really you?"

For a moment, there was only silence. Then, Hiraya's ghostly form began to shimmer more brightly, her eyes filled with sorrow. She raised her hand and pointed towards the portrait—the one with the broken glass and hidden letters, still resting against the wall. It was the same portrait that Medas had brought into the room just earlier.

Morvane's heart raced. He felt a strong pull towards it. Without thinking, he walked over to it, lifting the portrait gently. He could hear Hiraya's voice, faint but clear in his mind: Destroy it, Morvane. Destroy it now.

Morvane's hands shook as he stared at the portrait, torn between his feelings for Hiraya and the doubt that lingered in his mind.

"What are you doing?" Medas's voice broke through the tension. He quickly stepped forward, his brow furrowed with confusion and concern. "What's happening? Why are you holding it?"

But Morvane didn't answer. He could only focus on Hiraya's spirit, who was still silently urging him to destroy the portrait.

In an instant, Medas' telekinesis reached out, pulling the portrait from Morvane's hands. "You can't destroy this, Morvane," he said firmly, his voice sharp. "The spell that binds the crow is tied to this portrait. If it's destroyed, the spell will break, and the crow will be free."

Morvane's mind raced, the weight of Medas' words sinking in. "But... Hiraya... she's telling me to destroy it," he whispered. "She wants it gone."

Medas's expression softened, his voice filled with regret. "What if she still can't accept what I did? What if she's still fighting it?" He bent his knees, lowering his head as if pleading to Hiraya. "I'm sorry, Hiraya. I'm so sorry."

Morvane watched him, his heart aching for Medas but also for the spirit before him. Then, after a long pause, he turned to Medas and spoke with quiet conviction. "Maybe... maybe we should trust her. She's the one asking for this. We can't hold on to the past anymore."

Medas hesitated for a long moment, but in the end, he gave a reluctant nod. "Alright, Morvane. If you believe it's what she wants... then do it."

With trembling hands, Morvane took the portrait back, his eyes locked on Hiraya's spirit. He felt the overwhelming urge to honor her request, to release her from the bonds that had kept her trapped. Without looking back, he brought the portrait down with force, shattering the glass and the frame into pieces.

The moment it broke, a rush of black smoke poured from the portrait, swirling in the air with a dark, ominous energy. Morvane stumbled back, shielding his face as the smoke seemed to twist and coil, moving toward the door as if drawn by some invisible force.

In another room, hidden from view, a loud crack echoed. The gem that had once encased the crow—the dark, frozen spirit of the beast—shattered with a violent force. The crow, now free from its prison, spread its wings and took flight, darting through the palace like a shadow, heading toward the room where Medas and Morvane stood.

Medas looked at Morvane, his eyes wide with disbelief and dread. "What have you done?" he whispered, the air heavy with the tension of the crow's awakening.

Morvane could only stare at the door, his heart racing as the black wings of the shadow beast drew nearer.