Volume 3 Chapter 40 – Among Souls (Patreon)

Voices screamed into Morrigan's head, wailing both in pain and in happiness, in suffering and in elation. The feeling was so overwhelming, that she felt it would just tear her apart. The voices tore at her mind, tore at her soul, tore at her very being, trying to pull her apart.

"Morrigan, remember that you are the future queen of the Demon Kingdom. Do not let them overwhelm you," a voice said to her, surfacing somewhere in between the sea of screams. It must have been Azrael, but it was so difficult to understand anything. The incessant screaming continued.

"You show them who is stronger. They cannot harm you."

She felt a hand touch her shoulder. Initially, she wanted to shake it away, but then she felt a familiar pulse of magic seep into her. It made the voices less loud, allowing her a moment to gather her wits.

I cannot give in. I have to show who is stronger. I am stronger. I am the future queen of the Demon Kingdom.

She chanted and slowly began to wrap herself in a protective magic bubble, pushing the voices away. They resisted and they screamed, but they could not defeat her powerful magic. Eventually, everything went quiet again, and she was able to open her eyes again. She stumbled back as she beheld the sight before her.

"Wha–" she muttered, looking at the millions of little lights, no that didn't like an appropriate way to call them. Wisps. Millions of dark purplish wisps float around in what Morrigan would call a staircase down to hell. The staircase was narrow and with no railings and on each side was a dark void with creepy purple mist rising out of it. "What is this place?"

"This…" Azrael looked around and sighed deeply. "This is the Underdark. The place where all the demon souls come to rest."

A cold shiver ran through Morrigan's body and she brought her arms around herself, rubbing at her cold skin. 

"Demon souls, so those voices…" she asked in a shaky voice, looking at the floating, eerie wisps.

"They're basically dead demons looking to be reborn. The reason why you got so overwhelmed was because they were trying to control your body," Azrael explained and motioned her to follow her down. The staircase was too narrow for them to walk side by side, so she had no choice but to follow him.

"What if they had managed to do it?" she asked cautiously, looking distrustfully at one of the wisps that had floated a bit too close for comfort.

"No, that's impossible. Only humans can get possessed," Azrael waved his hand dismissively.

"But I used to be one," she snarled angrily. "What if…"

"You've been a demon for sixteen years now. I doubt your attachment to your human persona is so strong that you'd still consider yourself to be one now."

"Well, no, but what if…"

"There's no what ifs. You're already a demon through and through. There's no reason to worry," Azrael turned his head and showed her a small smile. She nodded and they continued down the staircase. 

While Morrigan certainly hadn't considered herself to be a human anymore—she was clearly inside a demon body— she was surprised to be called a demon through and through. Oftentimes she would still lean back on her human morals, trying to lean more on understanding and compassion rather than brute forcing things like demons like to do. But apparently, at some point, she had become a true demon.

What are you even on about, Morrigan? You already knew you were a demon the moment you abandoned your human name.

They continued down the staircase until she could finally see a light coming from somewhere further ahead, and a chill surrounding her only seemed to grow stronger. On some fundamental level, her body understood that she was not supposed to go there. Her steps were slow as her legs had to be moved forcefully as if the stairs were covered with glue.

"Could the enemy have gotten and planted a black orb in here too?" Morrigan asked, mostly to try and keep the uncomfortable silence away. It wasn't quite complete. She could still hear a distant sort of whispering of voices coming from the void.

"No, that's impossible. Getting into the previous sites while difficult was not impossible and wouldn't really endanger anyone. The location of the Underdark however is a well-guarded royal secret. Even our coachmen have no idea where it is," Azrael said, then continued after shaking his head.

"Even if they somehow managed to find out the location, they'd have to get past the sphinx. And even if they managed that and got in, they would have no way out. Eventually, they'd succumb to dehydration or hunger."

"Oh…"

"Not to mention that so far, they seemed to be going after places creating magic. This place doesn't create magic, it takes it."

The two of them reached the entrance of some sort of cavern where Azrael stopped.

"You have to go in there alone," he informed her with pursed lips.

"Didn't you say that you have to be together with someone to get out of here?" she asked nervously.

"I'll remain here and wait for you. You need me only to find the way back. Besides you won't be alone in there," Azrael said and smiled bitterly. Morrigan gave him a last nervous look then took a deep breath and headed inside.

"Say 'hello' to Teacher from me," he called out as went into the cavern. It was so brilliantly bright in there that she couldn't see anything. Morrigan shielded her eyes as she slowly fumbled forward with her hand extended so as to not bump into anything.

Suddenly her hand felt something rocky and hard in front of her. The brightest disappeared and she finally was able to look around. It was a large white cavern carved into what appeared to be marble. In the very center stood a dark pillar with sharp edges, almost like a gemstone. Except this one had no luster.

As her hand lingered on the pillar, she felt it drain her magic so she pulled her hand back. However, she noticed that the pillar had begun to sparkle just a little bit when her magic entered it. The sparkle disappeared when she removed her hand. Curiously she looked at it for a while then put her hand back.

Her magic was getting steadily drawn into the pillar and slowly it began to sparkle with increasing intensity. Oddly enough, it wasn't as demanding as her paint magic and she still had plenty of magic left when the pillar seemed satisfied and stopped drawing magic from her.

"Is that it?" she asked and cocked her head.

"Is that it—she says? Are we supposed to perform a play in front of you?" a somewhat familiar voice resounded in the cavern. Morrigan whirled around and saw a whole bunch of demons standing there, one of them being none other than the First Demon King himself.

"You're… Morax Nachtstern," she gaped, then took a few cautious steps back. "You won't attack me in your landwyrm form anymore, will you?"

"Honey, you attacked her?" spoke the demoness next to, looking shocked. She had long red hair just like Morrigan's, but her stature was more mature.

"I had to test her," Morax lifted his hands up defensively.

"She's merely a child. How uncouth," the demoness shook her head and the King looked to the side somewhat shamefully. "I apologize for that, dear. Morax had always loved to test his children. I'm Queen Milnea."

"No, Father is right. Future rulers need to be tested," spoke another demoness, her hair short and black. She reminded her of Deziara, appearing more athletic and physically powerful.

"You are?" Morrigan asked cautiously, although her face did seem familiar in more ways than one.

"Oh, surely you have seen at least one portrait of me. I am your grandmother – Hellia Nachtstern," she replied, and Morrigan instantly remembered. She had seen her portrait in one of the library books. But Lucius had warned Morrigan to never ask anything about the previous King and Queen, and Father never really spoke of her.

"Father doesn't talk much about you…" Morrigan replied sheepishly and looked at the rather timid-looking demon next to her. It must have been her husband King Leopold Nachtstern. Although she knew nothing about him besides his name.

"Huh? Whyever not?" The demoness appeared confused.

"I'm surprised you'd even ask," a beautiful female voice resounded behind Morrigan, and she turned to look. It was a demoness with light hair and clear silver eyes. Her heart clenched as she looked at the person who was undoubtedly her mother.

"What do you know, you weakling?" the Queen snarled back, but Morrigan was not listening to her anymore.

"You're… You're my…" she uttered wondering what she was supposed to do at a moment like this. Her human mother never showed her any love and affection. Would her demon mother be different? She knew that she was a kind person, but at the same time, she could be resentful. After all this demoness had given her life for Morrigan to be born.

"I'm your mom!" she suddenly called out and mercilessly pulled Morrigan into a deep hug. Her form wasn't fully physical— it felt like she was hugging something that could vanish at any mother. But Queen Eirwen wasn't bothered by the fact, squishing and squeezing her then taking a step back and grabbing her face and moving it this way and that.

"Look at you! What a beauty! See that, you old farts! These are peak demon genes put into one perfect package. And who created it? It was me!" she laughed, then pulled Morrigan into another hug.

"Ugh… I seriously don't know what my son saw in you," Queen Hellia sighed and shook her head.

"I do. The Demon Castle long since needed a fresh character," Queen Milnea said with a mischievous sort of smile.

"And thanks to that union we will get the strongest demon ruler yet," King Morax said solemnly.

"W-What exactly is going on here? How am I able to m-meet all of you?" Morrigan asked, still smothered in her mother's embrace.

"You're in the Underdark so all the dead demon souls preside here," Mom explained.

"But shouldn't you have been reborn by now?" 

"Where are you rushing, child? We've barely been dead for 30 thousand years. Let us rest for a little bit," King Morax replied. 

Merely 30 thousand years? That seems like a long time to me.

"Time is relative here, dear. It's not like we wander around like this the whole time. We are sleeping mostly. The only reason you can see us now is because you gave us the magic necessary to wake up and materialize," Mom explained, gently patting Morrigan's head. She felt like melting into her comforting embrace.

"But why is this necessary?" 

"It is a test of willpower. And also so we could bestow our gifts upon you," Queen Hellia said.

"Gifts?"

"Speak for yourself. I already gave her a gift," King Morax laughed.

"You did, but we didn't!" Queen Hellia grumbled, then came closer to Morrigan. "While I am not happy about the decisions my son has made, your strength is indisputable. It shall be one of the things none shall be able to take from you."

She touched Morrigan's forehead and then disappeared. Her husband followed after her.

"Neither will they be able to take your free will," King Leopold said, touching her forehead and also disappearing.

"I see great fire in your eyes, so fire is something that shall never hurt you," Queen Milnea said, holding Morrigan's hand for a moment, then disappearing.

"Watch over the people of Demon Kingdom," King Morax said, then lowered his voice to a low whisper. "Even those you may deem unbeatable may require your strength."

Then he disappeared too, leaving Morrigan alone with her mother who still clung to her.

"Oh, my sweet child— what a burden has been placed upon your tiny shoulders," she sighed and patted her head again. "But I'm sure you'll be able to overcome them. You're mine and Alphegor's daughter."

"I… What if I can't?" Morrigan asked nervously.

"You're not alone, Morrigan. I already sense that there's someone right outside waiting for you," she said with a smile.

"It's Azrael. He said to tell you 'hello'."

"That rascal. Haven't seen him in so long and all he says is 'hello'. Is he being a good brother to you?" she asked.

Morrigan had to pause for a moment. She had never really called Azrael her brother, but in a sense that is exactly what he is. What he always has been. A big, annoying but nonetheless protective brother.

"Yes. Bringing both the good and the bad parts of a sibling," she replied. Eirwen laughed heartily.

"I'm glad. So glad. There's so much I wish to tell you and ask you, but our time is already over. Here is my blessing to you – may you always find light even in the darkest of times," she said and gently kissed Morrigan's forehead. They stared at each for a moment and then the beautiful figure of her mother disappeared.

Tears streamed down her face. Morrigan wanted to spend more time with her. For a moment she considered giving more of her magic to the pillar just to talk with her more. But she knew that by doing that she'd be breaking some unwritten rule. So instead, she took one last look at the pillar and walked out of the cavern.

Azrael was waiting for her and tears were streaming down his cheeks as well.

"Let's go," she said and took firm hold of his hand.

< Previous Chapter | Table of Contents | Next Chapter >