Since humans first gained consciousness, the question has arisen whether evil is an inherent part of their nature or if society corrupts their essence. And within this dilemma emerges the question: can a pure and kind soul transform its surroundings, or is it destined to be consumed by the cruelty that envelops it?
Well, this story will explore that mystery. It will follow a young man who seeks to illuminate a world shrouded in darkness—a world where cruelty and despair have taken hold. At its heart lies a wager between two gods, a bet that will determine the fate of an entire species and test the true nature of humanity. Will this pure and untainted soul manage to survive in a blood-stained world without losing its purity, or will it inevitably be consumed by the very darkness surrounding it?
(Somewhere in the world)
"Haaaauuuuuummm..."
(Yawn)
"Wow, I slept a lot."
These words came from a young man with semi-long, slightly messy black hair, lying in a hospital bed. Sunlight streamed through the window, shining directly on his face and illuminating his honey-colored eyes. He closed them and smiled as he felt the warmth of the sun on his face.
"Ahhh, so warm."
(Said the young man with a sigh.)
The young man turned his head and stretched his body to reach for a pair of glasses on the nightstand next to his bed. He grabbed them and put them on, yawning once more. He got out of bed and stretched a little, but as he did, he began coughing violently. His cough was so strong that he lost his balance and let his body slump slightly, holding onto the edge of the bed for support.
"Yeah, sure! I'll check it out later when my shift ends."
(A female voice was heard outside the young man's room.)
"Alright, how's our little ray of sunshine doing today?"
Said a young doctor with long, curly red hair and blue eyes as she opened the door to the young man's room.
When the doctor saw the young man's condition, she became extremely worried, dropping the items she had in her hands to rush over and check on him.
"Morgan! Morgan! What happened to you? Are you okay?"
The doctor, visibly alarmed, helped Morgan up and sat him back on the bed.
"It's nothing, really. I just stretched a little while getting out of bed."
(Said Morgan with a faint smile on his face.)
The doctor began examining Morgan to ensure he was alright and that nothing serious was happening.
"I understand you want to be more active, but please be more careful. Your body has been weaker than usual lately."
(Said the doctor, slightly annoyed.)
"Yes, yes, I'm sorry, Doctor."
(Said Morgan apologetically.)
"And what's with calling me 'Doctor'? We've been around each other for three years now! Call me Nilah, Nilah!"
(Said the doctor in a loud voice.)
"Come on, try it."
Doctor Nilah sat down next to Morgan, arms crossed, waiting for him to say her name.
"Ni... ni... ni..."
(Said Morgan softly.)
Doctor Nilah leaned closer to Morgan's face and whispered.
"Go on, say it."
"Nilah."
(Said Morgan, embarrassed, shrinking in his seat.)
"Ahhh, I knew it! You're so cute!"
(Said Doctor Nilah, hugging Morgan and showering him with affection.)
"Doctor!"
(Yelled Morgan as Nilah pressed his face against her chest.)
At that moment, an alarm went off. The sound came from a phone located on the same nightstand where Morgan's glasses were.
"Hmph, what an inconvenient phone."
(Said Nilah, slightly irritated.)
"It's time."
Morgan pulled away from Doctor Nilah, got up, and slipped on a pair of shark-shaped slippers. He walked slowly to a longer cabinet at the back of the room. On top of the cabinet sat a large aquarium. Morgan opened a drawer and took out a bag labeled "Special Food for Axolotls."
"It's time to eat, Kuku."
Inside the aquarium swam a small, adorable pink axolotl. Morgan dropped the food into the tank and watched as his little pet ate. He smiled warmly as he observed it enjoy its meal.
"Hehehe, even in moments like this, you look so adorable."
(Said Doctor Nilah, laughing softly.)
"You're making fun of me again!"
(Said Morgan, clenching his fists and shaking them up and down.)
"Sorry, sorry! But you really do love animals, huh? Your pajamas have dinosaur prints, your slippers are shaped like sharks, and your father brought that tiger-print blanket all the way from his country. Plus, you have that little buddy over there."
(Said Nilah, glancing at the aquarium.)
"Of course! 'Ever since I was little, my parents taught me that caring for animals was a way to value life because every creature, no matter how small, has its place and importance in the world.'"
(Said Morgan with a big smile as he looked at Nilah.)
Doctor Nilah smiled as well, touched by Morgan's words and his radiant expression.
At that moment, several children burst into Morgan's room, shouting his name.
"Morgan! Morgan!"
Some of the kids ran to hug him, and Morgan welcomed them with open arms and a warm smile.
"Morgan, can you tell us a story today?"
(Asked a little girl, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.)
Another doctor entered the room hurriedly.
"Sorry, sorry! Kids! Don't bother young Morgan! He's not feeling very well."
"Don't worry, Doctor Lina. It's fine, really."
(Said Morgan to reassure her.)
"Okay, I'll tell you a story, but only if you promise to listen to Doctor Lina."
All the children cheered loudly at once.
"Yes!"
"Alright then, get comfortable."
(Said Morgan cheerfully.)
The children quickly sat on the floor, their eyes fixed on Morgan with excitement. Doctor Nilah remained seated on the bed, watching Morgan with a gentle smile. Doctor Lina sat beside her, eager to hear Morgan's story as well.
"How... how is he doing?"
(Said Lina, looking downcast.)
Doctor Nilah didn't respond. She simply lowered her gaze, crossing her arms and gripping one tightly.
"I see..."
(Said Doctor Lina with a sad expression.)
At that moment, Morgan clapped his hands loudly and said in a cheerful voice:
"Alright, alright, I'm starting now! Pay attention!"
However, Morgan didn't know what story to tell, so he began to think deeply.
"Hmmm, what story can I tell them?"
(He thought to himself.)
Then, Morgan noticed the children were staring intently at his aquarium, particularly at his small pet, Kuku.
"I've got it."
(Said Morgan with a smile.)
"It seems you're really interested in Kuku. But did you know there's a whole story about him?"
(Said Morgan proudly.)
The children were amazed to hear this, their eyes widening in surprise.
"Do you want me to tell you his story?"
(Said Morgan with a slight smile.)
All the children shouted "Yes!" in unison, filled with excitement.
"Alright then, listen closely."
A long, long time ago, when the Earth was newly born, the gods gathered one day to discuss an important matter. In their hands, they held the fate of the nascent world. They began to debate how they could ensure the sun and moon would traverse the skies, bringing light to every corner of the world. After much deliberation, they came to a single conclusion: only by offering their divine blood could they give the sun and moon the strength needed to walk the heavens.
The god of the wind, the most powerful among them, was chosen to oversee the sacrifice. With a sigh that shook the heavens, he accepted his duty and began to blow with all his might. One by one, the gods offered their lives, and with each sacrifice, the sun and moon grew stronger. Creation was proceeding as planned until the turn of the last god came.
But this god was different. Terrified by the prospect of death, he fled in desperation. His heart pounded with the echo of his cowardice as he ran through mountains and valleys, seeking a refuge where he could escape his fate. But the god of the wind, relentless in his duty, unleashed furious gusts that swept across the land in pursuit.
The fleeing god, in his desperation, began to transform. He became an immense tree, a rock, a maguey, a cob of corn, but the winds always found him, stripping away each disguise. Exhausted, his final hope led him to the sea. There, submerged in the depths, he took the form of an axolotl, a small and gentle creature barely worth noticing.
Believing he had finally outwitted his pursuer, the god swam through the dark waters, hidden in his new skin. But the winds of the god of the wind were tireless and omnipresent. They found him even there, among the river's shadows. And in that place, the last cowardly god was finally caught. His life came to an end, and his divine blood joined that of his brothers to complete the sacrifice.
With the sacrifice complete, the sun and the moon ascended into the sky, moving with infinite grace. Their celestial dance filled the world with light and darkness, with days and nights, allowing life to bloom for the first time. The sacrifice of the gods was etched into the soul of creation, and in the river where the last of them fell, the axolotl became an eternal symbol of transformation, fear, and destiny.
All the children were deeply impressed by the story Morgan had told them. They began chatting among themselves about their favorite parts of the tale. Seeing their reaction, Morgan could only smile cheerfully, while both doctors looked at him with pride, smiling from ear to ear.
However, this joyful moment didn't last long, as Morgan suddenly began to feel dizzy, placing one hand on his forehead before losing his balance and steadying himself on the cabinet that held his aquarium.
Doctor Nilah's expression changed in an instant. She stood up in a flash to help Morgan.
"Get them out of here, please."
(Said Doctor Nilah, looking at Doctor Lina.)
Doctor Lina quickly ushered the children out of the room while Nilah helped Morgan back to his bed.
"Are you alright?"
(Said Nilah, worried as she checked to make sure Morgan was okay.)
"Yes, yes, I just got a little dizzy. I'm fine."
(Said Morgan, trying to reassure her.)
"I just need a little more sleep, and you'll see I'll be fine."
(He said, raising his fist and smiling.)
Doctor Nilah's face turned sad again as she watched Morgan. However, a knock at the door interrupted the moment, and then the door opened.
Entering the room was a woman in blue clothing, with long blonde hair, blue eyes, and tattoos on her neck, arms, and under one eye. She was accompanied by a man with brown skin, brown eyes, slightly long hair tied back in a ponytail, a bit of a beard, and an earring in one ear.
Seeing them, Morgan greeted them cheerfully.
"Hi, Mom..."
But before Morgan could finish saying the word, the blonde-haired woman threw herself at him, hugging and doting on him as if he were a small child.
"Oh, I missed you so much, my ljóska!"
(Said the woman lovingly as she hugged Morgan tightly.)
"Yeah, I missed you a lot too, Mom."
(Said Morgan, hugging his mother tightly and letting her shower him with affection.)
"Hey, that's not fair! You're hogging him all to yourself!"
(Said the man, sounding a little sad.)
The man also hugged Morgan, and Morgan responded to the hug with equal affection.
"How are you, son?"
(Said the man, smiling.)
"Perfect!"
(Said Morgan, proudly giving a thumbs-up.)
"Really? That's great to hear."
(Said the man as he ruffled Morgan's hair.)
"Sorry we didn't come to see you sooner, my ljóska. We've had so much work at the sanctuary lately."
(Said Morgan's mother as she hugged him lovingly.)
"Yeah, and Nala's cubs were just born!"
(Said the father cheerfully.)
Morgan's eyes lit up with excitement upon hearing this.
"Really? Really? That's amazing! I'd love to see them soon. They must be so cute!"
(Said Morgan, full of enthusiasm.)
"Oh, I almost forgot! I took a picture to show you."
Morgan's father pulled his phone from his pocket and showed the photo to Morgan. Both parents sat on either side of him. Morgan eagerly took the phone and saw a picture of four African lion cubs.
"Ahh, they're so adorable!"
(Said Morgan happily.)
"There are two males and two females,"
(Said Morgan's mother with a smile.)
"Everyone at the sanctuary misses you, son. They all send their regards."
(Said Morgan's father, looking at him proudly.)
"Yeah, I want to go back soon too."
(Said Morgan with enthusiasm.)
"You will, son, you will."
(Said Morgan's mother as she kissed him on the head.)
Doctor Nilah, who had been silently observing, finally broke her silence to address Morgan's parents.
"Excuse me for interrupting, Mr. and Mrs., but I'd like to speak with you in private."
(Said Doctor Nilah seriously.)
"What's this 'Mr. and Mrs.' nonsense, Nilah? Call us by our names—Frey and Aurelio!"
(Said Morgan's mother, slightly annoyed.)
"Yes, yes, we've known each other for so long. You have to call us by our names!"
(Said Morgan's father, supporting his wife.)
"Alright then, Frey, Aurelio, could we talk in private?"
(Said Nilah calmly.)
"Of course."
(Said Morgan's father, smiling.)
"We'll be right back, ljóska, we won't take long."
(Said Morgan's mother as she kissed him on the cheek and got up from the bed.)
Doctor Nilah left the room, followed closely by Morgan's parents.
"Oh, looks like she's here!"
(Said Morgan's mother cheerfully before fully leaving the room.)
"I'm here! I'm here!!!"
Bursting into the room came a girl with short black hair, running at full speed. She was breathing heavily, clearly having run quite a lot.
The girl fixed her gaze on Morgan and launched herself at him, shouting:
"Brother!!!"
Morgan welcomed her with open arms, his characteristic smile on his face.
"Ixchel, how was school today?"
(Said Morgan happily.)
"Really good, brother, really good! I made two more friends!"
(Said Ixchel proudly.)
"Really? Tell me about them. How's school going for you?"
"Of course!!!"
(Said Ixchel, excited.)
She kicked off her shoes and climbed onto Morgan's bed, sitting cross-legged.
"Today, I became friends with two girls from my class. One is named Elena, and the other Vilma. Elena likes cats just like me, and Vilma loves horror movies just like I do! So, I started talking to them just like you taught me, and now they asked me if we could hang out this weekend."
(Said Ixchel cheerfully.)
"That's great, Ixchel. You're such a wonderful girl."
(Said Morgan, proud of his sister.)
"Yes! Thanks to you, I can talk to other people without stuttering. I even understand math now because you taught me how to solve the problems on my exams. I also finished building our house in the game we play together. I've done so many things thanks to you being with me. I even found the courage to tell our parents that I want to be an artist."
As she said these words, tears began streaming down Ixchel's face. She threw herself into Morgan's chest, hugging him desperately.
"So, so... please, big brother, please don't die, don't leave me alone. You still have so much to teach me. I beg you, don't leave me alone."
(Said Ixchel, crying inconsolably into his chest.)
Morgan, seeing this, hugged Ixchel and began gently stroking her head.
"Calm down, I'm not going anywhere. There are still so many things I have to do with you. I can't die before I see you grow up and graduate from university as a great artist. So until that happens, I'm not going anywhere."
(Said Morgan kindly, gently stroking Ixchel's hair.)
"Do you promise?"
(Said Ixchel, sobbing.)
"Yes, I promise. Have I ever lied to you?"
(Said Morgan proudly.)
"You're right, you never lie. So, I'll believe in you."
(Said Ixchel as she wiped her tears.)
"That's my girl. You're the best little sister in the world."
(Said Morgan with a smile.)
At that moment, Morgan's parents and Doctor Nilah entered the room. With a serious expression, Doctor Nilah spoke to Morgan.
"Morgan, your parents and I need to talk to you."
Next chapter: the bet