SPIRITBINDER: The Boy Without A Mark
Chapter 58: Sugar Boo

Chapter 58: Sugar Boo

Morvane wandered aimlessly, a lone figure against the vastness of the world. Exiled, shunned, and with nowhere to go, he struggled to adjust to his new reality. For someone who had never stepped outside the boundaries of Baltalaha, the world now felt cold, hostile, and endless.

He considered seeking refuge in another kingdom, but knowing the rulers and their intricate connections, he was certain that Medas could track him down wherever he went. No kingdom would welcome him without questioning Medas’s actions.

With no other options, Morvane resorted to sleeping wherever he could find shelter—under the canopy of forests, in open fields, or in abandoned barns. The once-proud assistant of Ketamran now fought to survive each day.

As the days passed, the weight of his situation grew heavier. Hunger gnawed at his stomach, and exhaustion clouded his thoughts. Each night felt colder, lonelier, and more unforgiving.

One night, after trudging through endless fields, he stumbled upon a cornfield. The tall stalks provided some semblance of cover, and he collapsed onto the ground, too tired to think of anything else. As he lay there, the cool earth beneath him, sleep finally claimed him.

But not for long.

Morvane woke with a start, his instincts screaming that something was wrong. The air felt charged, as if danger was lurking nearby. Before he could fully grasp what was happening, an arrow whizzed past him, lodging itself in the ground mere inches from his face.

His heart pounded in his chest. He scrambled to his feet, his eyes darting around.

Another arrow. This one grazed his arm, tearing through his sleeve and drawing a thin line of blood.

Panic surged through him, and he bolted, running as fast as his legs could carry him. The sound of his own breathing mixed with the rustling of the corn stalks around him.

Another arrow flew past, embedding itself in a stalk just ahead of him.

Realizing he couldn’t outrun his attacker, Morvane skidded to a stop and summoned his shadow beast. The dark entity emerged from the shadows around him, its massive form looming protectively. Its glowing eyes scanned the area, its low growl resonating through the field.

"Who’s there?" Morvane shouted, his voice firm despite the fear coursing through him.

Silence.

Then, a figure stepped out from the trees bordering the field. The moonlight illuminated her striking features, her elegant yet commanding presence unmistakable.

It was Vianna, ruler of Nirvath.

Morvane’s eyes widened in disbelief. "You," he said, his voice a mixture of shock and confusion.

Vianna smirked, lowering her bow. "You’re quicker than I expected. Most would’ve been skewered by now."

He frowned, his shadow beast growling in warning. "What are you doing here? And why are you shooting at me?"

Vianna tilted her head, her smirk growing. "What is Medas’s little assistant doing in my land? You know this is part of Nirvath, right?"

Morvane tensed, his mind racing. "I didn’t know. I’ve just been... wandering."

She stepped closer, her sharp eyes studying him. "Wandering, hmm? From what I hear, you’ve been banished from Ketamran. What did you do to earn such a punishment, Morvane?"

His jaw tightened, but he said nothing.

Vianna let out a soft laugh, the sound both melodic and unsettling. "Oh, don’t worry. I’m not here to drag you back to Medas. He may have his reasons, but I have mine for being here."

"Then what do you want?" Morvane asked warily.

She looked at him, her smirk fading slightly as something unreadable flickered in her eyes. "You’ve caused quite the stir, you know. Exiled from Ketamran, and now wandering the lands like a lost puppy. The other rulers are talking. And I find myself... curious."

"Curious?" Morvane echoed, unsure of her intentions.

Vianna stepped even closer, her gaze piercing. "Yes. Curious about you, and about how far you’ll go to prove yourself. So, tell me, Morvane, what’s your next move?"

Vianna stepped closer to Morvane, her every movement calculated, her presence both captivating and unnerving. Her gaze lingered on his shadow beast, which stood protectively between them, its dark form flickering under the pale moonlight.

"You know," she said, her voice smooth and dripping with curiosity, "I find you... fascinating. I’ve heard the stories, of course. About the markless boy at last year’s awakening." She tilted her head, a playful smirk gracing her lips. "And yet, here you are, wielding a power that shouldn’t even exist for someone like you. Care to explain how that’s possible?"

Morvane hesitated, his jaw tightening. "I don’t have to explain anything to you," he said firmly, though he couldn’t help but feel uneasy under her penetrating gaze.

Vianna let out a soft laugh, her melodic voice cutting through the tension. "Oh, don’t be so serious, darling. I’m not here to interrogate you." She took another step forward, close enough that he could see the sharp glint in her eyes. "But you can’t blame a girl for being curious, can you? After all, power like yours... it’s rare. And I have an eye for rare things."

Morvane took a step back, his shadow beast growling lowly, its form rippling as if ready to attack.

Vianna raised a hand dismissively, her smirk never faltering. "Relax, sugar boo. If I wanted to kill you, you wouldn’t have seen me coming."

"Sugar... boo?" Morvane repeated, his confusion momentarily overriding his caution.

Vianna chuckled, clearly enjoying his reaction. "What? You don’t like it? I think it suits you. You’re like a lost little puppy—adorable, but with a bite."

Morvane scowled, trying to ignore her teasing. "What do you want from me, Vianna?"

She tapped a finger against her lips, pretending to think. "Hmm... what do I want?" She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a whisper. "How about this? Let’s go to my place. We can talk there, sugar boo."

"I’m not going anywhere with you," Morvane said firmly, though his resolve wavered under her piercing gaze.

Vianna’s smirk widened, her confidence unshaken. "Oh, I think you will. You don’t have anywhere else to go, do you? And besides..." She gestured to the shadow beast, which seemed to eye her warily. "That power of yours... I have a feeling there’s more to it than you’re letting on. Don’t you want to know just how far it can go?"

Morvane hesitated. He didn’t trust her—everything about her felt like a trap. But she wasn’t wrong. He had nowhere else to go, and her offer, however dangerous, was tempting.

"Fine," he said reluctantly. "But I’m only going to hear what you have to say."

Vianna’s eyes sparkled with amusement. "That’s the spirit." She turned on her heel, her movements as graceful as ever. "Follow me, sugar boo. We’ll have so much fun."

Morvane sighed, dismissing his shadow beast as he reluctantly followed her. Whatever Vianna’s intentions were, he would have to stay on guard.

As Morvane followed Vianna into Nirvath, he was immediately struck by the sight before him. The kingdom was breathtaking—its streets were lined with elegant marble buildings adorned with intricate carvings, and its people moved with a sense of purpose and grace. But what truly astonished him was the people themselves.

Everywhere he looked, there were women—guards patrolling the streets, vendors selling their goods, even workers tending to the lush gardens. It was a stark contrast to the other kingdoms he had visited, where men dominated most roles of authority.

"Why is everybody... a woman?" Morvane asked, his voice laced with curiosity and a touch of disbelief.

Vianna glanced over her shoulder, her lips curving into a playful smile. "Oh, darling, haven’t you figured it out yet? This is a Queendom. Ruled by a queen—me!" She twirled dramatically, her arms outstretched as if to emphasize her dominion. "And I like my girls running things around here."

"So... only women live here?" Morvane asked, still trying to wrap his head around what he was seeing.

Vianna let out a soft laugh, clearly enjoying his confusion. "Not exactly. There are men, of course. But they’re not exactly running the place. Most of them stay at home. You know..." She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "This place has the reversed roles of what you’re probably used to."

Morvane blinked, trying to process her words. "Reversed roles? So... women are the leaders, the warriors, the workers?"

"Exactly!" Vianna said with a flourish. "And the men? Well, they take care of the home, the children, and the less stressful things. It’s only fair, don’t you think? After all, women are perfectly capable of running a kingdom—and we do it better, might I add."

Morvane frowned slightly. "And your population? How do you... you know, grow it?"

Vianna smirked, clearly amused by his question. "Oh, sugar boo, you’re adorable when you’re confused. Men are still needed for certain things, obviously. But let’s just say the dynamics here are a little... different. Relationships, families, everything—it all works out. Trust me."

Morvane glanced around again, still amazed by the sheer efficiency and beauty of Nirvath. Despite his reservations about Vianna, he couldn’t deny that her Queendom was unlike anything he’d ever seen.

Vianna stopped in front of a grand palace at the center of the city. Its towering spires shimmered in the sunlight, and its intricate design spoke of both power and elegance. "Welcome to my humble abode," she said with a grin. "Now, let’s head inside. We have so much to discuss."