The dawn came, shrouded in the muted hues of an unsettled city. Lunaris, usually abuzz with the thrill of magic and invention, felt eerily subdued. Even the usual chatter of street vendors had died down to hushed murmurs. The people sensed something was wrong; a nameless fear lingered, settling into the bones of the city like a chill.
Morganna stood atop a crumbling tower at the edge of the abandoned guild hall, watching the city below as it squirmed under her unseen hand. She breathed in the crisp morning air, savoring the anxiety that seemed to weave through every street. Her golden eyes glinted with malicious satisfaction, her red hair dancing in the wind.
Lucian stood a few paces behind her, his eyes fixed on her back, a storm of emotions raging within. He was used to her cruelty, her games, but somehow Lunaris felt different. It wasn't just another kingdom falling prey to Morganna's schemes; it was a place that had once thrived on freedom, chaos, and possibilities—a chaotic playground that was now being twisted and controlled by her hands.
"You look tense, Lucian," Morganna said without turning, her voice a lilt of mocking amusement. "Are you worried about something?"
He exhaled, shaking his head slightly. "You know as well as I do what's happening out there. The city is going to implode, Morganna. This isn't just about taking down a few arrogant princes anymore. Lunaris will tear itself apart."
"Ah, but isn't that the beauty of it?" Morganna turned to face him, her smile almost tender. "This city was built on the lie that chaos can be contained, that power can be shared among those too greedy to let it go. What I'm doing here is not destruction, Lucian. It's liberation."
Lucian gave a mirthless laugh. "Liberation. Is that what you call this? Making the princes hate each other, slaughtering their followers, and leaving the entire city in a state of panic?" He gestured outwards, towards the city. "This isn't freedom, Morganna. It's madness."
Morganna stepped closer, her eyes narrowing as she looked up at him. "Madness and freedom are not so different, dear Lucian. People claim to want order, but deep down, they crave chaos. They want to be free of the rules, of the expectations—free to be themselves, no matter how dark that self may be." She paused, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I'm simply giving them permission to embrace what they truly are."
Lucian held her gaze, his lips pressing into a thin line. He saw the fire in her eyes—that spark of fervent belief that had driven her all these years. He knew arguing was futile, but a part of him still longed to make her see that there could be another way.
"Come," Morganna said, breaking the silence, her smile brightening as if their conversation had been nothing more than a lighthearted chat. She turned, her gaze falling on the figure approaching them from the shadow of the staircase. "Isolde. Right on time."
Isolde stepped out of the darkness, her cloak trailing behind her, the edges of her figure shimmering with barely contained magic. She moved with a predatory grace, her eyes fixed on Morganna with a mixture of wariness and respect.
"The streets are stirring," Isolde said, her voice smooth and low. "The nobles are desperate. They've called for an emergency council meeting, but they cannot agree on anything. Rumors of assassins, of betrayal, have paralyzed them. They are too frightened to take any decisive action."
Morganna's smile widened. "Perfect. Let them wallow in their fear. Let them make mistakes. The more fractured they become, the easier it will be for them to destroy each other."
Isolde nodded but did not look entirely convinced. Her sharp eyes darted to Lucian, then back to Morganna. "And what of the people? They will not stay quiet for long. Lunaris is not Valenstone; the citizens here will not simply obey once they know their leaders are weak."
Morganna's gaze darkened, a flicker of annoyance crossing her features. "Then we give them something to focus on—an enemy to rally against." She glanced at Lucian, her smile turning predatory. "Perhaps a rumor of an outsider, a traitor in their midst. Someone who has been poisoning the minds of their precious princes. Someone like… me."
Lucian blinked, taken aback. "You want them to hunt you?"
Morganna shrugged, her expression almost playful. "Why not? A little cat and mouse keeps things interesting. Besides, if they're focused on me, they won't see the real danger until it's too late."
Isolde frowned, her brow furrowing. "And what is the real danger?"
Morganna stepped closer to the edge of the tower, her gaze sweeping across the city, her voice barely above a whisper. "Themselves. Their own greed, their own hatred. It will consume them, and I'll be there to fan the flames."
Lucian stared at her, an uneasy feeling settling into his stomach. He could see it now—the entire city turning into a battlefield, neighbors turning against neighbors, all in the name of power and fear. Morganna was not merely playing a game; she was tearing down everything and everyone that dared to pretend it could be whole.
"You're really going through with this," Lucian muttered. "You're going to make them hunt you just to prove a point."
Morganna turned to face him, her eyes blazing with that same fierce determination. "Yes, Lucian. Because they need to understand—chaos is not something they can control. It is not something they can tame or use as they see fit. It is wild, untamed—and it is mine."
She looked at Isolde, nodding once. "Spread the word. Let them know that the Crimson Witch is their enemy, and if they want to save themselves, they must come for me."
Isolde hesitated, then bowed her head, disappearing back into the shadows without another word. Lucian watched her go, then turned back to Morganna, his expression pained.
"One day, Morganna…" he started, his voice trailing off. She looked at him expectantly, her eyebrow raised.
He sighed. "One day, you might push too far."
Morganna smiled, stepping closer until their faces were only inches apart. She reached up, brushing her fingers against his cheek, her touch both gentle and chilling. "Perhaps. But until then, dear Lucian, we have a symphony to compose—a symphony of chaos. And I intend to make it a masterpiece."
Lucian closed his eyes, a shiver running down his spine at her touch. He knew there was no changing her—no bringing her back from the dark path she had chosen. He opened his eyes, staring into hers, seeing the fierce light that refused to be extinguished.
"Then let's hope the world survives to hear it," he whispered.
Morganna laughed softly, her eyes glinting with wicked delight. "Oh, it will hear it, Lucian. Whether they survive… well, that remains to be seen."
And with that, she turned away, her cloak swirling around her as she began her descent from the tower. Lucian watched her go, the shadow of her laughter still echoing in the dawn. He followed, knowing that no matter how far she strayed, he would remain by her side, bound to the darkness she created, and to the chaos she so loved to unleash.
The city of Lunaris was waking, but its awakening would not be gentle. It would be a violent, messy struggle—and Morganna would be the hand guiding every piece, every broken fragment, until all that remained was what she desired most: chaos unbound.