The beast hunters arrived. "Are you for us or against us?"Markus stared at Ugochukwu, feeling a strange mix of fear and awe. He had never seen a man so large, so imposing. Ugochukwu's voice was deep and booming, and his eyes were dark and inscrutable. He was an intimidating figure, but there was also something strangely compelling about him. He seemed to exude power and authority, but there was also a hint of something else, something that Markus couldn't quite put his finger on."I am for peace," Markus said, trying to keep his voice steady. "I seek only to protect those who cannot protect themselves.Ugochukwu studied Markus for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, he spoke again, his words slow and deliberate. "You claim to seek peace, yet you bring death and destruction. How can you justify this?"Markus took a deep breath, trying to find the words to explain himself. "The Spidynx were terrorizing the villages, killing innocent people. I did what I had to do to stop them."
Aviva paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts. When she spoke, her voice was calm and measured."I know you must have questions, and I am prepared to answer them. But first, I must ask for your trust. I know that is a lot to ask, given what you know about me. But please, hear me out."Juniper and Markus exchanged a glance, unsure of what to do. They knew that Aviva's story would be difficult to hear, but they also knew that they needed to hear it."Go on," said Juniper, his voice tense but steady.The room was silent, save for the sound of Aviva's sobs and the rustle of the wind outside. Ugochukwu stood before her, his head bowed in shame. He knew that there was no excuse for what he had done, no way to justify his actions. But he also knew that he had to try. He had to find a way to make things right, even if it was impossible.He looked up, meeting Aviva's gaze. "I can never undo what I did," he said, his voice raw with emotion. "But I can try to make things right. I can try."U
Juniper blinked, looking at Carnelian like she'd just seen a ghost. "I... I've never seen you before in my life."Carnelian let out a small laugh, clapping her hands together. "Oh, but we did meet. You were just a baby then.""I doubt I'd forget someone like you." Juniper said, not quite convinced.Spike, meanwhile, was staring at the two of them in confusion. "You mean we're related? Like cousins?" he asked, his eyes wide. "Is that why you're always hanging out at our house?"Carnelian nodded. "That's exactly why." she said, smiling. "I've been watching over you all this time, making sure you're safe."Juniper scoffed, crossing her arms. "You didn't do a very good job then. Spike got kidnapped."Spike looked at Juniper, feeling a bit betrayed. "You didn't have to bring that up.""I'm just being honest, Spike." Juniper said, giving him a half-apologetic look. "You can't deny it was a bad situation."Dorian, sensing the tension in the air, cleared his throat. "I think we're getting off
Elliott had been the one to point out that Carnelian could have stopped the boulder, if she had wanted to. But why would she have let it fall in the first place? And why would she have kept the truth from them? Spike's head was spinning, as he tried to process what he was hearing.Elliott's words rang in Spike's ears, echoing through his mind. He tried to deny them, but deep down he knew they might be true. Why else would she have let him be in such danger, if she hadn't wanted him to use his powers?He clenched his fists, his heart pounding in his chest. He had trusted Carnelian, he had believed in her. But now he wasn't so sure. And that uncertainty was tearing him apart.Lucille entered the room, her footsteps echoing softly in the silence. Spike looked up at her, feeling a mix of emotions - relief, gratitude, and trepidation. Lucille's presence was calming, but there was something about her that made him uneasy. She was beautiful, but there was a coldness to her that he couldn't i
Then, a gentle hand rested on her shoulder. She turned to see Spike standing there, his eyes full of compassion. She took a deep breath, and he said, "It's okay."Nora turned and walked away from Carnelian, her eyes burning with suppressed anger. Carnelian watched her go, shocked by the fire in her eyes. She had expected Nora to explode, but she had somehow managed to contain her rage.As she stood there, alone, she was aware of someone else's gaze upon her. She turned to see Spike, his eyes shining with admiration. He had heard so many stories about her, and he found himself saying something he didn't mean to say. "I wish she was my mom," he said, his voice quiet and full of longing.Carnelian's heart ached at those words. She had always been jealous of Nora, but now she felt a different emotion - sympathy. She had never realized how difficult it must have been for Nora to live up to the legend that surrounded her. And now, she had heard Spike's words, and she knew that Nora's legen
Travis hesitated, and for a moment, it seemed like he might not answer. But then, he spoke, his voice low and intense. "To make the world a better place," he said, his eyes never leaving hers.Travis pondered the possibilities that lay before him. With the knowledge of King Melchior's library, he could easily manipulate others into doing his bidding, and as a result, his wealth and power would grow exponentially. But a small voice in the back of his mind whispered that such a path would be corrupt, and that perhaps there was a better way to achieve his goals. He wrestled with these thoughts, unable to make a clear decision.Carnelian pondered. It seemed like a great risk to place such faith in a man of Travis's dubious character. He had a history of deceit and manipulation, and it was hard to imagine that he would be a responsible guardian of such powerful knowledge. It was almost as if King Melchior was setting him up for a great fall, testing his character to see if he could be trus
Carnelian felt a chill run down her spine as she tried to make sense of what she was seeing. Something about it felt unnatural, wrong even.As the Pegasus whinnied, Travis turned to see what had spooked the creature. His eyes widened as he saw a figure descending from the sky, riding a pegasus made of clouds. Lightning crackled around the horse, illuminating the figure's face. Travis's blood ran cold as he recognized the man - it was Wilbur Stormrider, the very person he'd been trying to avoid.Travis's eyes narrowed as he recognized the man before him. Wilbur Stormrider, the God of Storms and Lightning, had arrived. Wilbur dismounted his pegasus, his face set in a smirk. Travis felt a surge of anger as he remembered the last time they had met. Wilbur had tricked him, using his powers to cause a storm that had nearly killed him. Now, Wilbur stood before him, as arrogant and smug as ever.Travis and Carnelian stood facing Wilbur, the tension palpable between them. Wilbur knew he had m
Markus was caught off guard by Wilbur's sudden outburst, and he was unable to defend himself against the powerful blast of energy. He was knocked off his feet and sent flying through the air, crashing into a nearby wall. The other gods, startled by the unexpected attack, flew away in a panic. Wilbur stood there, breathing heavily and surveying the destruction he had caused. He felt a sense of satisfaction, but also a twinge of regret.Ugochukwu, a quick and agile warrior, sprinted after Wilbur with his two daggers drawn. But Wilbur was faster and stronger than he had anticipated, and before he could even land a blow, Wilbur turned and hit him with a powerful blast of air. Ugochukwu was thrown backwards, the wind knocked out of him. He struggled to catch his breath, watching helplessly as Wilbur continued his rampage.Aviva, a powerful sun goddess, she summoned rays of solar energy and blasted them towards Wilbur. But Wilbur was too fast, running up the walls and dodging the blasts wit