SPIRITBINDER: The Boy Without A Mark
Chapter 63: Medas’ Rage

Chapter 63: Medas’ Rage

The figure’s chilling voice echoed in the air, and just as quickly as it had appeared, it vanished into the darkness, as if mocking them. The air around them felt still, and the tension that had been building moments ago seemed to dissipate as quickly as it had arrived.

Vianna stood tall, her eyes scanning the shadows where the figure had been, but there was no sign of him anymore. She let out a quiet breath, her stance relaxing. "Maybe some kind of fool who just wants to mess with us," she muttered, brushing the encounter off with a wave of her hand. "Let’s go."

Morvane nodded but still looked uneasy. He couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t the last time they’d cross paths with whoever—or whatever—that figure had been. But he forced himself to push it aside. They had bigger concerns right now.

Turning to Luna, Morvane spoke softly, his voice filled with gratitude. "I have to go now, Luna. Just tell Grandma I’m sorry, but we’ll have to leave soon. I’ll come back when I can."

Luna, her arm now fully healed, nodded with a small, understanding smile. "I’ll tell her. Be safe, Morvane. We’ll be waiting for you."

Morvane gave her one last look, then turned to Vianna, who was already heading toward the path that would take them out of the village. He caught up with her quickly, both of them silently moving toward the edge of the village, ready to leave the chaos behind.

But just as they were about to leave the familiar surroundings of the village, their eyes caught something that made their hearts freeze.

In the sky above them, hovering silently, was a figure. A figure they knew too well.

Medas.

The towering figure of the ruler was suspended in the air, as though he had been waiting for them all along. His cloak billowed around him, and his eyes gleamed coldly from beneath the hood. The harsh light of the moon seemed to sharpen the contours of his face, making his expression unreadable.

Vianna froze in place, her hand instinctively reaching for the weapon at her side. "How long has he been there?" she whispered to Morvane, her voice laced with unease.

Morvane’s jaw clenched. "I don’t know. But he’s been watching us." His eyes scanned the air around them, as if expecting an attack at any moment. "We need to go, now."

But Medas didn’t move, nor did he speak. He simply floated there, his presence a silent command in the night. His cold eyes were locked on them, as if daring them to make the first move.

Vianna glanced at Morvane, silently urging him to make a decision. The tension was thick in the air, and they both knew that whatever happened next could change everything.

Medas finally broke the silence with a low, menacing chuckle. "So, you think you can leave, just like that? After everything you’ve done, you think I’ll let you slip away unnoticed?"

The air around them grew colder as Medas’s voice broke the silence, his words dripping with disdain. "Didn’t I banish you, Morvane? You’re not welcome here. What made you think you could return, as if nothing ever happened? As if I would let you simply walk back into this place whenever you please?"

Morvane’s posture stiffened, but he held his ground, his voice calm despite the tension building between them. "I didn’t come here to defy you, Medas. I just wanted to see my grandmother and my friends." His gaze briefly flickered to the village behind them, the memories of home haunting him. "Is that too much to ask?"

Vianna, standing beside Morvane, could feel the weight of Medas’s glare, and she stepped forward, her voice sharp and unyielding. "I think, Medas, your anger toward a child is far too much. Let him visit his loved ones, at least. Why do you insist on punishing him for something that happened so long ago?"

Medas’s cold eyes turned to her, narrowing with disbelief. "So, you, Vianna, of all people, are the one to defend him? I thought you were heartless toward men, especially the ones who are no better than criminals. What is this, some new form of mercy?"

Vianna didn’t flinch, her expression resolute as she met Medas’s gaze. "I’m not heartless toward men. I’m heartless toward crimes. I’m heartless toward a patriarchal system that creates monsters like you and leaves children to suffer the consequences. The truth is, I’m tired of seeing innocent lives destroyed for nothing." Her words cut through the night air, heavy with conviction. "I won’t stand by and watch."

Medas’s anger flared, his eyes turning back to Morvane, a fire of rage burning even fiercer than before. The weight of his hatred pressed down on Morvane like a physical force.

Morvane stood taller, though, no longer allowing fear to dictate his response. "I understand. I know how you feel. But now, I’ll leave." He made no move to run; he simply spoke the truth. "I’ve made my decision."

Medas’s eyes widened at the words, but his fury only deepened. With a sudden, powerful motion, Medas hovered down to the ground, his boots hitting the earth with a resonating thud that seemed to shake the very air. His voice was low, dangerous.

"You’ve committed a crime, Morvane," he hissed. "You thought you could just come and go as you pleased? You thought I would let you walk into my kingdom without consequence? No, you will pay for your insolence."

The air around them shimmered as Medas’s power began to surge, the ground beneath his feet crackling with energy. His presence was overwhelming, and it felt as if the world itself was holding its breath, waiting for the storm that was sure to follow.

Without further warning, Medas’s anger erupted, his eyes burning with cold fury. The air around him seemed to crackle as he used his telekinetic ability, sending a powerful force hurtling toward Vianna and Morvane. The wave of energy came with such intensity that it seemed to tear the very fabric of the night apart.

Vianna was quick to react, her body already in motion, dodging with grace and agility that only a ruler could possess. She twisted, her feet light on the ground, as she pulled Morvane out of the line of fire. She wasn’t the only one who reacted swiftly—Morvane, despite his past struggles, was quick to follow her lead, moving with purpose, avoiding the brunt of the attack.

But Medas’s telekinetic powers were relentless. He wasn’t going to let them escape so easily. Without hesitation, he pushed harder, unleashing another, more forceful blast of energy.

Vianna’s reflexes were sharp, but even she couldn’t keep up with the sheer strength of Medas’s power this time. The force of the attack slammed into her chest like a physical blow, sending her flying backward. Her body hit the ground with a sickening thud, sliding across the dirt and rocks, far from where she had been standing.

Morvane’s eyes widened in shock as he watched Vianna’s form crumple to the ground, a wave of concern flooding over him. "Vianna!" he shouted, his voice breaking through the haze of fear and anger that clouded his thoughts.

For a moment, time seemed to stop as Morvane turned toward her, but there was no time to hesitate. Medas was already preparing another attack, his face a mask of cold determination.

Vianna struggled to push herself up, groaning as the pain radiated through her body. Her movements were slow, but she managed to rise to her knees, forcing herself to focus. She could feel the bruises forming beneath her armor, but there was no time to dwell on the pain. She had to keep going.

Medas’s power surged again, but this time, Morvane was ready. His hand reached for the blade at his side, his eyes filled with a fierce resolve. He wasn’t going to let Medas harm anyone else.

Medas’s voice was cold and taunting, a sneer curling on his lips as he floated just above the ground, his eyes burning with fury. "So, you’re ready to fight now, Morvane?" he said, his tone dripping with malice.

Morvane stood his ground, his heart racing. He never wanted this. He never wanted to fight Medas, the one who had shaped so much of his life, the one who had banished him from the kingdom. But now, with Vianna down and Medas’s power crushing them, he had no choice.

He looked to Vianna, who was still struggling to rise, and felt the weight of his decision. He couldn’t back down. Not now.

With a sharp inhale, Morvane drew a small dagger from his belt. He nicked his palm, the sharp sting of the wound igniting the surge of power within him. The blood from his hand dripped onto the ground, and from the shadows beneath him, the familiar, dark shape of his beast emerged.

The Shadow Beast, a creature born from his inner power, its dark form swirling like smoke and its eyes glowing with eerie yellow light, materialized beside him. It was fierce, loyal, and strong. Both it and Morvane were now ready to face the danger ahead.

Medas’s eyes flickered with interest as he saw the Shadow Beast appear, but his expression quickly soured. He raised his hand, and his power surged again. It was mesmerizing to watch—the raw energy rippling in the air, distorting everything around him like a storm of electricity. The ground trembled beneath them, and the air itself seemed to crackle with the force of his abilities.

Morvane’s heart raced, and his breath quickened. He could feel the overwhelming power radiating from Medas, and despite everything he had faced, a wave of nervousness and doubt washed over him. Medas was too strong. This was no mere confrontation; it was a battle of overwhelming forces.

The Shadow Beast growled low beside him, sensing Morvane’s unease. Morvane patted its dark, shadowy form in reassurance, but even he couldn’t ignore the rising dread.

Medas posed himself, his arms raised high, and with one final, sweeping motion, he unleashed a powerful wave of energy, a surge that rippled through the air with terrifying force.

Morvane’s knees buckled slightly under the weight of it. He clenched his fists. He had no choice but to face Medas head-on. There was no turning back now.