The sky above Erthwood was painted in ominous hues—dark, rolling clouds, marbled with flashes of violet, spoke of the magic unleashed below. Morganna watched as the chaos she had ignited continued to unfold. The villagers ran through the crooked alleys, their cries echoing around the square, mixing with the panicked clatter of feet and the distant tolling of bells.

Morganna strolled leisurely through the disarray, her serpent following, its scales glistening in the flickering torchlight. With each step she took, the creature slithered with a hypnotic grace, occasionally hissing at those unfortunate enough to get too close. She reveled in their fear. To her, this was poetry in motion—a symphony of desperation and shattered order.

However, she had no intention of wasting time in this miserable village. Morganna had larger plans, and staying in one place too long was never part of her strategy. Even as she walked, she could feel the power she had drawn upon during her escape beginning to ebb, reminding her that even she had her limits. She needed to move on.

The outskirts of Erthwood were barely more than a scattering of shacks and huts, shadowed by the skeletal remains of a once-great forest. The Wastes of Callum lay beyond—a vast, dangerous expanse that few dared enter. It was the perfect place for her to vanish, to regroup and plan her next move.

But she wasn't planning on doing it alone.

As she approached the edge of town, Morganna stopped, her eyes narrowing as she spotted a familiar figure crouched in the shadows, watching her. His presence wasn't entirely unexpected, but it was irritating. The man wore a tattered cloak, and from beneath its hood, his silver eyes glinted like daggers.

"Lucian Grey," Morganna called, her voice dripping with mock affection. "What an unpleasant surprise. Were you waiting for me, or simply waiting to die?"

The man stepped out of the shadows, lowering his hood to reveal a stern, handsome face marred by a fresh bruise along his jawline. His silver hair caught the light of the moon, giving him an ethereal, almost ghostly appearance. He frowned at her, his expression a mixture of concern and reluctance.

"I knew you'd survive," Lucian said, his voice low and weary. "The entire village could feel the pulse of your magic. It's impossible not to know when you're near, Morganna."

Morganna chuckled, her lips curling into a cruel smile. "And yet you stayed. Why? I thought you were eager to be rid of me." She studied him with interest, noting the wariness in his eyes, the way he shifted his weight from foot to foot.

"I stayed because you owe me, Morganna," Lucian replied, his voice laced with frustration. "You promised me power—revenge against those who wronged me. But instead, all I've found is chaos."

Morganna took a step closer, her golden eyes locking onto his. "Revenge is chaos, Lucian. You should know that by now. What did you expect? An orderly exchange of favors? I gave you a chance to join me, and you chose to stay."

Lucian clenched his jaw, struggling to keep his anger in check. He had once been a noble—a man with power and influence in the Valenstone court. But a betrayal by his allies had cost him everything, leaving him with nothing but hatred and a thirst for vengeance. Morganna had been his chance to regain what he'd lost, but following her had only led him deeper into madness.

"You said you had a plan," he said finally, his voice quieter now. "A way to bring them all down—the Emperor, the nobles, everyone who betrayed us. I've followed you this far, but I need to know if you're still committed to that goal, or if you're just out here playing games."

Morganna's smile faded, replaced by something colder, more calculating. She reached out, her fingers brushing against Lucian's cheek, making him flinch slightly. Her touch was almost gentle, but there was an underlying threat to it, like the whisper of a blade against skin.

"My dear Lucian," she said softly, "I am always committed to my goals. I will burn Valenstone to ashes, and I will see the Emperor groveling at my feet before I end his miserable life. But to do that, I need power—power far beyond what I have now."

Lucian frowned. "What kind of power?"

Morganna's eyes glittered with dark promise. "The kind that lies beyond the Wastes of Callum. The kind that even the Emperor fears." She paused, her gaze shifting to the distant horizon, where the barren expanse of the Wastes lay waiting. "There are artifacts out there, ancient things that were lost to time and darkness. I intend to claim them."

Lucian hesitated, the uncertainty clear in his eyes. "The Wastes are cursed, Morganna. No one who ventures there ever returns. Even the stories—"

"Stories are written by those too afraid to step into the darkness," Morganna interrupted, her voice sharp. "I am not afraid, Lucian. I know the risks, but I also know the rewards." She turned her gaze back to him, her golden eyes piercing. "I saved your life because you have potential. You can either follow me into the shadows and seize the power you crave, or you can stay here, cowering in fear like the rest of them. Choose."

Lucian took a deep breath, his mind racing. He knew that following Morganna meant walking a dangerous path—one that could end in either triumph or death. But what other choice did he have? His life in Valenstone was over, and the thought of returning to the broken remnants of his past was unbearable.

He nodded, his resolve hardening. "I'll follow you, Morganna. Into the Wastes, into the darkness—whatever it takes."

Morganna's smile returned, cold and satisfied. "Good. Then let's not waste any more time."

Without another word, she turned, leading the way into the night, the serpent still slithering at her side. Lucian followed closely behind, his heart pounding with both fear and a strange, exhilarating sense of anticipation. The path ahead was uncertain, but for the first time in a long time, he felt alive.

And as they disappeared into the shadows of the Wastes, Morganna's laughter echoed back to the empty village—a promise of chaos yet to come.