Timeless Decisions

Elina

Morgian led the way, his black sunglasses shielding his eyes from the morning sun as he marched confidently through the campus. Red and Chloe followed behind, their silence creating a tension that hung heavily between them. Morgian, more focused on the task ahead than on the dynamics between the girls, didn't notice the strained atmosphere until he realized they were unusually quiet.

He glanced back, his tone flat and disinterested. "Is everything okay with you two?"

Red and Chloe exchanged a brief, uncertain look. There was a flicker of unease in Red's eyes, while Chloe's expression remained guarded, her anger from the previous night still simmering beneath the surface.

"Sure, let's say that," Red replied with a shrug, her voice lacking conviction. She quickened her pace, closing the distance between herself and Morgian. "Are you ready to see your mom?" she asked, trying to steer the conversation toward the impending confrontation.

Morgian stopped abruptly, the question hitting him harder than he expected. He stared ahead, a shadow crossing his features. "No," he admitted quietly, "but do I have another choice?"

The weight of his words hung in the air as he thought back to his mother, the woman she had once been, and the person she had become. The coldness that had overtaken her, the madness that had begun to consume her—it was all too much to bear. Yet, he knew he couldn't avoid the confrontation. This was his chance, perhaps his only chance, to save her, to bring back the mother he loved.

He sighed, the tension in his shoulders betraying his internal struggle. "I'm not ready to accept that the mother I knew is gone," Morgian continued, his voice thick with emotion. "But I can only hope that Elina will help."

Red reached out, placing a hand on his arm. "We'll do everything we can, Morgian. You're not alone in this."

Chloe, who had remained silent, finally spoke up, her tone less harsh than before but still tinged with bitterness. "Let's just get this over with."

Morgian nodded, steeling himself for what lay ahead. He knew the battle wasn't just against the curse—it was against the despair threatening to take over him, the same despair that had already claimed his mother. He could only hope that Elina's return would bring the strength they all needed to face what was coming.

Together, they resumed their march toward the inevitable, each step heavy with the burden of what was at stake.

Morgian's face lit up as he spotted Elina waiting for him inside the castle. Without a second thought, he rushed forward and jumped into her arms, his heart swelling with relief and joy.

"Elli!" he exclaimed, a broad grin spreading across his face as he embraced her tightly, savoring the familiar warmth and comfort that only his big sister could provide.

But as Elina caught him, her arms stiffened around him, and Morgian's joy was quickly replaced with confusion.

Morgian's heart sank as Elina coldly pushed him away, her once warm and comforting presence replaced by a chilling emptiness. The sister who had always been his rock, his source of strength, now looked at him with a detached, almost disdainful gaze. He could barely recognize the person standing before him.

"Elli..." he whispered, his voice trembling with disbelief. "What... what happened to you?"

Elina's lips curled into a faint, mocking smile as she observed his distress. "Why did you even call me here, Morgian?" she asked, her tone dripping with contempt. "Did you really think I'd waste my time with your pathetic little problems?"

Morgian shook his head, struggling to process what was happening. "N-n-no... I... I called you because..." His voice faltered as he tried to find the words. The reality of what had happened to her was too much to bear.