Chapter 6: Into the Lion's Den
The heavy wooden doors of the Midnight Sun Church creaked open, revealing a dimly lit interior bathed in an eerie glow. Pod followed Morgan into the grand hall, his heightened senses instantly overwhelmed by the sheer presence of power emanating from the walls. The church felt alive, as if it was watching him, its energy pulsating with a dark intensity that made his skin crawl.
Morgan walked with a steady, confident stride, never once looking back to see if Pod was following. His movements were purposeful, like a man in total control, and Pod couldn't help but feel the weight of the man's authority pressing down on him. This was no ordinary Choujin—Morgan was something more, something dangerous.
"Stay close," Morgan said without turning his head. "This place can be… disorienting for newcomers."
Pod nodded, though he was already struggling to maintain his focus. The church seemed to warp around him, the architecture shifting in subtle ways, as if it wasn't bound by the laws of reality. The longer he walked, the more his mind felt like it was unraveling. Was this Morgan's power, bending space itself? Or was it something else, something more sinister?
They reached the center of the hall, where a large, ornate altar stood. The walls were lined with intricate carvings of Choujin in various forms—some beautiful, others monstrous. Pod's eyes lingered on the monstrous ones, their twisted faces and contorted bodies a chilling reminder of the fate that awaited him if he didn't find a way to control his powers.
Morgan stopped in front of the altar and turned to face Pod, his expression unreadable.
"You came here seeking answers," Morgan said, his voice echoing in the vast, empty hall. "But before I give you any, I need to understand exactly what you are."
Pod tensed, unsure of what to expect. He had no idea how much Morgan already knew about him or his powers, but he could sense the man's curiosity—like a predator circling its prey.
"I don't know what I am," Pod admitted, his voice barely a whisper. "All I know is that ever since I made that deal, everything's been… wrong. I can't control it. My senses, they're too much. And the more I use them, the more I feel like I'm losing myself."
Morgan's eyes gleamed with interest. "A deal, you say? With whom?"
Pod hesitated. He hadn't told anyone about the creature in the alley, about the dark bargain he had made. But something about Morgan's gaze told him that hiding the truth would be pointless.
"There was a creature," Pod said slowly. "In an alleyway. It offered me power in exchange for a piece of my soul. I took the deal, and now I'm… this."
Morgan's expression remained calm, but Pod could see the flicker of something—recognition, perhaps—in his eyes.
"A soul-bond," Morgan muttered, almost to himself. "Fascinating."
He stepped closer to Pod, his presence looming over him like a shadow. "Do you know what that means, boy? Do you understand the gravity of what you've done?"
Pod shook his head, his heart pounding in his chest. He had known the deal was dangerous, but he hadn't realized the full extent of the consequences.
Morgan studied him for a long moment, then sighed. "You're in deeper than you realize. A soul-bond isn't just a simple exchange of power. It's a fusion of your very essence with something far darker. The more you use that power, the more you feed the creature inside you. Eventually, it will consume you, and you will become nothing more than a vessel for its will."
Pod's stomach churned at the thought. He had felt it—the darkness growing inside him, the loss of control. But hearing it spoken aloud made it all the more real.
"Is there a way to break the bond?" Pod asked, his voice trembling with desperation.
Morgan's lips curled into a thin smile. "There is always a way. But it comes at a cost."
Pod's heart sank. He had already paid such a heavy price—what more could he possibly give?
"The Severers," Morgan continued, "are your only hope. They are the few who have managed to break free from the bonds that enslave them. But finding them will not be easy. They hide from the churches, from the Choujin, and from the world. And even if you do find them, they may not help you."
Pod felt a flicker of hope, but it was quickly extinguished by the weight of Morgan's words. The Severers were real, but they were elusive, and seeking them out would be a dangerous, possibly futile endeavor.
"Where do I start?" Pod asked, his voice filled with a mixture of determination and fear.
Morgan's smile widened, but there was no warmth in it—only cold calculation. "I will tell you where to begin, but in return, you will owe me a favor. One day, when the time comes, I will call on you. And when I do, you will answer."
Pod hesitated. He had already made one bargain that had cost him dearly. But if this was his only chance to break free from the darkness, what choice did he have?
"Fine," Pod said, his voice firm. "I'll do it."
Morgan nodded, satisfied. "Very well. There is an old temple, deep in the forest beyond the city. The Severers once gathered there, though whether any still remain is uncertain. That is where you will find your answers."
Pod's mind raced. A temple in the forest—it was a lead, at least. But it sounded dangerous, and there was no guarantee the Severers would still be there, or that they would help him.
"I suggest you leave immediately," Morgan said, turning away from him. "Time is not on your side. The more you use your power, the closer you come to losing yourself completely."
Pod took a deep breath, steeling himself for the journey ahead. He didn't know what awaited him in the forest, but he knew he had no choice. If he didn't find the Severers, if he didn't break the bond, the darkness would consume him—and the world would be left with something far worse than just another Choujin.
As he turned to leave the Midnight Sun Church, Pod felt the weight of Morgan's gaze on his back. The leader of the church was playing a game, one Pod didn't fully understand, but he couldn't afford to worry about that now. There was too much at stake.
The doors of the church closed behind him, and Pod stepped back out into the cold night air. The city of Shigatsu sprawled out before him, its lights twinkling like stars against the darkness. Somewhere beyond the skyline lay the forest—and the answers he so desperately needed.
His journey had only just begun.