Chapter 10: A THE SPARK OF CHANGE

The atmosphere in the room was thick with tension, as if the air itself was charged. Lycia and Morrigana stood motionless, their eyes wide, each of them unsure of what would happen next. The sound of Cove's powerful voice thundered through the room, loud enough to cut through the noise around them, sharp and commanding. His gaze shifted quickly from Morrigana to Lycia, his face a mix of rage, confusion, and an emotion that almost seemed like he was worried. It was as though he was trying to understand what was going on, torn between his anger and the deeper concern he felt.

"What do you think you're doing, Morrigana?" Cove shouted, his tone was sharp and commanding as he marched toward her.

His eyes locked onto Morrigana’s, burning with a mixture of fury and disbelief. The sight of Lycia, her face wet with tears, and the broken chains that was scattered on the floor only seemed to make him angrier. Instead of feeling sympathy or calming down, the scene only added fuel to the fire of his rage, doing little to soften his fury.

Morrigana tried to speak, but nothing came out. For the first time in years, she was speechless. The power Lycia had shown only moments before, had stunned her deeply. Her fingers were shaking unconsciously, almost as if they were remembering the strong energy that had pushed her away earlier. She couldn’t shake the that lycia could possess some sort of extraordinary power.

Morrigana finally spoke, her voice shaky at first.

"She...she attacked me," she said, trying to sound confident, though there was a hint of uncertainty, like she wasn’t sure of what happened. But she quickly pulled herself together, standing taller and brushing off any sign of weakness.

"I was merely defending myself," she added firmly, trying to make her actions seem justified.

"Defending yourself?" Cove's voice dropped, filled with disbelief, as if he couldn’t believe what she was saying. Like the idea was so far-fetched, so ridiculous, that it didn’t make sense. His eyes narrowed, locking onto Morrigana with an intense, piercing stare.

"Do you think I'm stupid?" he growled, his tone low and threatening. His tone making it clear that he found her explanation hard to believe, almost as if it were something out of a story that couldn’t possibly be true. "I have known you long enough to see when you've gone too far."

Morrigana’s jaw clenched tightly, her teeth tensed, but she didn’t say anything in return. Instead, she shot a hateful glare at Lycia.

Lycia stood there, still shaking but strong, her whole body holding a quiet power. The strength she had just discovered seemed to linger around her, a faint but undeniable force that radiated outward. It was as though the energy she had unleashed earlier was still surrounding her, making her appear unshakable despite the fear in her eyes.

Cove stood next to Lycia, his posture rigid as he fixed his gaze on her. His voice was still firm, but with a trace of concern beneath the sternness.

“Are you hurt?” he asked, his words sharp, yet carrying an underlying seriousness that made it clear he was focused on her well-being despite his frustration.

Lycia paused for a moment, her voice trembling as she tried to steady herself. "No, I’m fine. Just... startled," she said quietly, not meeting Cove’s eyes.

Her thoughts were racing, still trying to make sense of what had just happened. Her mind kept going over the overwhelming power that had surged inside her, wondering where it had come from. What had she just done? How had she been able to do something like that? The questions filled her head, but she couldn't find the answers.

“You should rest,” Cove said softly, guiding Lycia gently toward the bed and helping her sit down. He then turned back to Morrigana, his face hardening as his anger flared up again.

“Leave. Now!!,” he ordered, his voice cold and commanding, making it clear that he wanted no further argument.

For a moment, Morrigana looked like she might argue, her anger flaring as she opened her mouth to speak. But the sheer force of Cove’s authority was too much to ignore. She hesitated, then, with one last furious glare at Lycia, she spun around and marched toward the door. Her boots hit the floor with heavy steps, and as she threw the door open, it slammed shut behind her with a loud bang, echoing through the room.

Silence settled over the room, broken only by Lycia’s unsteady breaths. Cove sat beside her, his brow furrowed in thought.

“That wasn’t normal, was it?” Lycia finally asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Cove shook his head. “What wasn't?.” He hesitated before responding, his tone cautious.

 “Get some rest,” he said curtly, his earlier gentleness replaced by his usual cold demeanor. Without waiting for a response, he turned and left the room, leaving Lycia alone with her swirling thoughts.

Meanwhile, Morrigana paced her chambers, her mind racing. The scene replayed in her head: the way Lycia had broken the chains as if they were nothing, the heat that had filled the room, the sheer force that had pushed her back. It wasn’t just surprising; it was terrifying.

But beneath her fear was a dangerous realization. After what she just witnessed, if Lycia did possesss powers, she was not just a threat, she was a looming danger that could easily overtake her. Morrigana's mind raced, knowing that if she didn’t act fast, Lycia could become a rival she couldn’t defeat. And Morrigana wasn’t about to let that happen; she would crush the threat before it had a chance to grow.

She stopped in front of her mirror, her reflection glaring back at her.

“If she thinks she can outmatch me, she’s gravely mistaken,” Morrigana muttered to herself. “I’ll find a way to turn this to my advantage. One way or another.

The night was restless for all three of them. Lycia lay awake, her mind plagued with questions about the incident. Cove sat in his quarters, staring blankly at the walls, his thoughts unreadable. And Morrigana schemed, her thoughts a tangle of anger, fear, and ambition.

As the first light of dawn crept over the horizon, one thing was certain: the events of the night had set something in motion. The balance of power was shifting, and none of them could predict what would come next.