Her memories from a young age showed her living here until now. Her entire life was this hovel!

"Morgan, are you alright?" Alaric asked concerned. He had been watching her work, but she suddenly had a look of horror on her face.

"This is mine....I wrote it.." she trails off.

Alaric was confused, of course the book was hers it was in her things. 

He furrowed his brow and thought for a moment, "So, you mean to tell me that you wrote this book? Why did you struggle to open it this whole time?" 

Morgan just shook her head, it was like her whole life had been upended. Nothing made sense, but so many things were coming together. Her life in the hovel, how she knew to perform magic and so many other things.

"I-I need a moment to myself....excuse me.." Morgan stood up and walked to the door disappearing as she grabbed the knob.

Alaric sat there in silence waiting for Morgan to come back.

                        ~~~

Hours had gone by and Morgan had yet to return. Alaric had begun to worry, what if she was in trouble? Alaric paced back forth when he heard a noise behind him. He whipped around to see Morgan standing there with her head down.

"Welcome back...is everything okay now?" Alaric approached her slowly.

"No," she whispered, "Everything I am is a lie..." Morgan fell to her knees sobbing.

Alaric sat next to her allowing her to cry for as long as she needed. Morgan's tears had dried, but her saddness had yet to subside. She looked at Alaric who had been sitting with her the entire time.

"Thank you for...being here it means a lot to me." she said quietly. 

Alaric nodded looking at Morgan, the two now shared a saddness only they understood. They both gained knowledge, but lost a part of themselves in the process.

"Do you want to talk about it?" asked Alaric who held his breath in anticipation.

"Not really, but the short version is that when I turn eighteen my body and mind will be taken over by the true Morrigan." Alaric's face was stoic...or at least he tried to keep his face emotionless, but what Morgan just confessed was insane!

"S-So um.....you're not you or....?" Alaric wasn't even sure what to ask, this was an odd situation.

"Yes and no...I am me, but I am also "Morrigan" if that makes sense." A sigh escaped her lips.

Of all the things to happen to her this broke her heart the most.

"Anyway," she says, "I think I know where that lake is and what was written on those pages." Morgan stood up and sat at the table.

"The lake is called Viviane, it surrounds an island supposedly. The wording on the paper said the sword exists as long as the heir lives." Morgan continued with her explination, but Alaric already knew where it was headed.

The lake was always a big topic in his families history, they even had a cabin near it. He hadn't been since his Mother passed, but his Father took trips up there once a year and now he knew why. Alaric put up a hand to halt Morgan's explination.

"I know where this lake is Morgan. We used to picnic by it when I was younger." Alaric sighed, he never thought he'd be going back there.

What a cruel trick of fate, he thought.

"Are you sure it's the correct lake? I don't mean to sound like I don't believe you, but...is it the same?" Morgan truly didn't want to upset Alaric over this, but they had to be sure.

Alaric gave a small nod and looked up, "I am. This lake has been a family trip for every generation." 

The two sat in a tense silence, soon they'd be traveling a long distance together on this forced adventure.

"Alaric, I only have a year before I'm no longer me.." Morgan says not looking Alaric in the face.

This world truly is cruel, she thought.

"You want to know why she cast this spell!?" Morgan says angrily, "She cast it to be immortal! To continue living and research magic and to find something!" 

The tears fell quickly as she mourned the life she would not get to live out. Alaric put a comforting hand on Morgan's back. She turned and hugged him sobbing uncontrollably.

"You may have just a year Morgan, but this journey we ar going on will be the most fun you'll ever have." Alaric whispered soothingly.

Things are always going wrong, he thought, but we have to work it out in our own ways.

They sat like that with each other for a long time until Morgan peeled herself off of Alaric.

"Sorry about your shirt," Morgan says chuckling lightly, "We should get you a new one." Alaric looked down at his shirt and shrugged.

"Nothing a bit of water can't fix." He stood up and walked over to the bed laying down slowly.

"First thing tomorrow we have to get supplies for the journey. Your magic is nice to have, but I should arm myself with a weapon for my own safety." 

Alaric closed his eyes, "You should get some rest, it might be tough but it's very important," Morgan nodded and sighed.

How could she sleep with so many emotions swirling around? Morgan stared at Alaric who seemed to have already fallen asleep. Standing, she walked to the fireplace and sat in front of it.

"Ignis.." she whispered laying down watching as the flames flickered. She didn't know when she had fallen asleep, but the dreams that came were as unpleasant as the waking hours.

                     ~~~

Morgan's dreams were filled with terror. People she had never seen past by and places she had never been to appeared before her. 

She stood in the middle of a town, blood pooled around her bare feet. Buildings burned and people screamed all around her. 

Someone began laughing manically behind her. She spun around only to see herself covered from head to toe with blood. It dripped and spread all around them as she continued laughing walking closer till she stood right in front of her.

"This is your past...your future...and your present," her voiced echoed, "The boy cannot help you...your body is MINE!" She gripped her hands and Morgan watched the blood transfer to herself.

The laughter started again, but this time it was coming from Morgan. She watched in horror as her body began slaughtering people in the town. Morgan cried out to make it stop, but the laughter got louder and louder until she awoke screaming.

Alaric had rushed to her side asking if she was okay, but she didn't hear it she just held herself and rocked mumbling to herself.

The clock was ticking.