SPIRITBINDER: The Boy Without A Mark
Chapter 37: The Decision

Chapter 37: The Decision

Morvane sat on the edge of his bed, the weight of the frame heavy in his hands as he stared at the gems. The room was dark, only a faint sliver of moonlight filtering through the window. His mind raced as he turned the frame over and over, his gaze flicking from one gem to the other, each one pulsing softly with power. He knew which one the old man had pointed to—the one with the ability to open a portal and send him back in time. The idea was simple, almost too simple. Go back, change the course of events, and stop the prophecy before it could even begin.

But the choice was far from simple. The prophecy had said he would kill Hiraya, and to do that, he would have to erase everything—everything that made her who she was. He would destroy the very person who he had become closed to, his friend, and perhaps even as a family. Could he really live with that?

A soft knock on the door startled him out of his thoughts. He quickly placed the frame under the covers, hoping Medas wouldn’t see it. The door creaked open, and Medas stepped inside, his silhouette outlined by the dim light of the hallway.

"Morvane?" Medas’s voice was soft, almost hesitant. "Why aren’t you asleep?"

Morvane didn’t immediately respond, his eyes still fixed on the frame. His mind was still tangled in thoughts of the future, the prophecy, and the impossible choice he was facing.

"What are you doing here in the middle of the night?" Morvane asked, his voice a little colder than he intended, but he couldn’t help it. He wasn’t in the mood for company.

Medas stepped further into the room, his footsteps light. He glanced around for a moment before walking over and sitting down at the edge of Morvane’s bed, looking at him with a mix of concern and curiosity. "I just wanted to check on you. You’ve been out there with Drevon, right? It seemed like you were dealing with a lot." His voice was gentle, as if testing the waters.

Morvane didn’t answer, his fingers tracing the outline of the frame as he wrestled with his emotions. He wanted to push Medas away, to lock himself in his own thoughts, but for some reason, Medas’s presence felt comforting.

Medas leaned back on the bed, crossing his arms and watching Morvane. "Is there something on your mind?" he asked quietly, his tone still soft but insistent.

Morvane’s chest tightened as he stared at the frame. He couldn’t shake the overwhelming sense of duty and the weight of the prophecy that had been placed on him. Slowly, he let out a deep breath and finally spoke, his voice barely above a whisper.

"What do you think I should do, Medas?" Morvane asked, his eyes meeting Medas’s for the first time. "Should I still do something I was asked to do to save people, even though it would hurt the people I care about?"

Medas’s expression shifted. He looked at Morvane with understanding, but also something more—something deeper. It was as if he knew what Morvane was talking about without needing to hear all the details.

Morvane’s heart pounded in his chest, the weight of his decision pressing down on him. He needed guidance, someone who could help him make sense of everything. But what if the answer was something he didn’t want to hear?

Medas paused for a moment, as if considering the question carefully. Then, he finally spoke, his voice calm but filled with a quiet intensity.

"Sometimes," Medas said slowly, "the right thing to do isn’t always the easy thing. And sometimes, the hardest choices are the ones that shape who we are. But no matter what, you shouldn’t carry the burden alone. The people who care about you, who trust you, will help you find your way."

Morvane looked at him, feeling a mix of relief and uncertainty. Medas’s words were both comforting and unsettling. How could he do something that would hurt those he cared about, even if it was for the greater good?

The two sat in silence for a long while, the weight of the question hanging between them. Morvane’s fingers tightened around the frame, and he found himself wondering if he could ever go through with the prophecy, or if there was another way.

Finally, Morvane let out a shaky breath. "I don’t know if I can do it, Medas. I don’t know if I can be the one to make that choice."

Medas turned his gaze toward him, his expression softening. "You don’t have to decide alone. Whatever happens, you’ll figure that yourself in the right time."

Morvane’s hands trembled slightly as he held the frame, the weight of the decision pressing heavily on him. He turned to Medas, his voice cracking with the rawness of his uncertainty.

"What if I only have one chance?" Morvane said, his voice barely a whisper. "What if I need to make the choice now? What should I do?"

Medas remained quiet for a moment, his gaze steady and serious as he looked at Morvane. The room felt still, almost suffocating with the tension. Then, Medas spoke, his tone calm but resolute.

"Then do the choice with the greater good in mind," Medas said simply. "It won’t be easy, but sometimes the hardest choices are the ones that will mold you."

Morvane swallowed hard, his thoughts swirling. Medas’s words didn’t offer him the certainty he was searching for, but they gave him something else—a reminder that the weight of the decision wasn’t solely his to carry. The path ahead wasn’t clear, but he wasn’t alone.

Medas gave him a small, understanding smile. "Goodnight, Morvane," he said, before standing and walking toward the door.

Morvane watched him leave, his heart heavy with the burden of what lay ahead. As the door clicked shut behind Medas, Morvane sat in the dim light of his room, the frame still in his hands. The silence felt deafening, and for the first time, he realized that the choice was no longer just about what he wanted. It was about something greater, something beyond his personal feelings.

With a deep breath, Morvane closed his eyes, trying to find the clarity he so desperately needed.

Drevon emerged from the shadows, his grin sharp and full of mischief. "So, Morvane," he said, his voice low and teasing, "do you now have a decision?"

Morvane stood tall, feeling the weight of his choice settle within him. "Yes," he said, his voice steady despite the turmoil within. The path ahead wasn’t just about him anymore. It was about what needed to be done, what was right for everyone.

Drevon laughed, the sound almost like a challenge. "Alright then, so consume that gem and let’s go write history!" His eyes sparkled with excitement, as if the fate of the world was something to be taken lightly.

Morvane exhaled deeply, his hands cold as he held the gem. The energy within it pulsed, almost alive. It wasn’t just a choice anymore—it was a leap into the unknown, a step into a future he might not be able to control.

With one final breath, Morvane consumed the gem. The moment it passed his skin, a surge of power flooded through him. His mind whirled with the energy, the magic mingling with his own, filling him with a newfound purpose.

He focused on the vision of Hiraya’s cabin. He could see it clearly in his mind—her cabin, nestled in the quiet woods. The home that held the answers, the one place he had to return to in order to make things right.

Morvane stretched out his hand, his fingers trembling as he concentrated. The portal was difficult to summon, the magic resisting him, as though testing his resolve. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his heartbeat quickened with the strain of it. His first two attempts fizzled out, the air crackling with failed energy.

On the third try, the magic clicked. The air shimmered, rippling like water, and a swirling portal appeared before him—a gateway to the past, to the place where it all began.

Morvane stepped closer, his hand reaching toward the portal. But before he could cross, he turned to Drevon. "How sure are we that this portal will lead to Hiraya’s cabin?" he asked, his voice tinged with doubt.

Drevon gave him a confident smirk, leaning casually against the wall. "Well, I think," he began with a slight chuckle, "as long as you think of the place you wanna go, the portal will take you there."

Morvane hesitated for just a moment. There was no turning back now. With a deep breath, he stepped forward, crossing the threshold of the portal. The world around him twisted, and the familiar surroundings of the kingdom faded into the unknown.

As Morvane stepped into the swirling portal, the world around him bent and folded, a dizzying cascade of lights and shadows. For a moment, he felt as though he were falling, weightless, through time itself. His heart raced, the uncertainty of what awaited on the other side gnawing at him. Would this really work? Would he find himself where he needed to be—or would the very fabric of time tear itself apart with his meddling?

Then, with a sudden jolt, the chaos stopped, and the world around him settled into a sharp, familiar focus. The air was cooler than he expected, tinged with the scent of pine and earth. He blinked, taking in the dense forest surrounding him. The faint outline of a cabin appeared in the distance, just as he had imagined.