Chapter 261: 261: Stone Cold

Morgana's retelling was pulled from one of her earliest memories. This was shortly before 'she' returned for the first time, during the time period when they were led by Typhon and Ophelia. 

Morgana could even recall what she was doing at the time. She, Ophelia, and Artemis had been sleeping in the cave along with several other nestlings, when Ophelia suddenly woke up with a jolt. 

At the time, Ophelia had been experiencing some intense nightmares that often left her dazed and confused, but whenever this happened, she would always go to find Typhon. 

On this occasion, Morgana thought it was simply another one of them and went back to sleep. Yet, although Typhon was in the cave with them, Ophelia didn't go to meet him, climbing up the cave and out into the forest instead.

Morgana was surprised by this and got up to follow her – the forest they lived in was very dangerous for a serpent alone and she wanted to protect her. 

Unfortunately, Ophelia did not hear any of her calls. She simply stared off into space, moving purposefully through the trees like she wanted to escape from their cave as quickly as possible. 

Morgana wasn't sure what had happened, but she had changed.

There was something dark and different about her compared to the Ophelia she knew, and yet, Morgana could not say why she thought so, she simply had a bad feeling and was desperate to catch up.

However, Ophelia was much faster and more agile than her at the time, and this was extremely difficult. It was also during this chase that Ophelia ran into some problems. 

She encountered some creatures as they emerged from the ground, newly hatched feathered reptiles, similar to the ones Morgana had now, and Ophelia only happened to break one of their eggshells, for the reptile's sole attention to focus on her.

Morgana arrived shortly after to see Ophelia surrounded by several of the creatures. However, they didn't attack her – they simply crowded around her to stare.

Morgana remembered thinking the monsters were acting strange, and she was happy when Ophelia fled, although it only increased their distance once more.

But then, she was shocked to see Ophelia being chased by every single one of the strange hatchlings, and it continued, with her in pursuit, until they arrived at a stream.

Being a serpent, Ophelia easily swam across the water, and the reptiles remained on the bank where they watched Ophelia escaping and Morgana could hear their strange calls in the distance, the reptiles seemingly distraught that she was getting away.

However, not long after, Morgana heard a second sound, a high pitched hissing that made the calls of every reptile stop.

It was coming from across the stream, and after hearing it, the reptiles began to brave the dangerous water to swim, as if compelled by the sound. 

Morgana was worried about Ophelia's safety and didn't pay much attention to the reptiles, insisting on calling out her name.

But Ophelia never responded, instead she continued to hear the high pitched sound, and arrived at the stream to see all the reptiles were in the water, and they'd suddenly stopped swimming. 

At first the reptiles had been hesitant but as soon as they got in, their natural instincts kicked in and they began to swim. But now, it seemed they had stopped moving entirely, each one sinking below the water, with their legs and tails completely still, instead of padding like usual.

It was then that Morgana realised Ophelia was making the hissing sound.

She was witnessing Ophelia's abilities for the first time, and it was in a scene that chilled her to her very core - Ophelia casually watched the monsters take their last breath, their heads forever submerged below the water, until their bodies were carried away downstream.

So when Ophelia finally noticed her, Morgana was caught up in a moment of terror. It occurred to her that her friend could do the same to her, to stop her from telling anyone. 

The hiss Ophelia emitted had even begun to affect her, and Morgana felt compelled to enter the water too. 

Fortunately, Ophelia stopped using her abilities right after, and Morgana regained her senses.

In the end, they decided to return to the cave, ignoring the event entirely, with Morgana promising to never tell anyone. 

Yet even then, she never forgot her fear of Ophelia, and although she never returned to her former self, Morgana kept her promise because her life depended on it...until now.

And Typhon, who had been forced to listen to this sordid tale, found himself getting progressively angrier, until he couldn't take it anymore. 

[Enough!] He bellowed in rage. [I won't have you defame Ophelia with your lies!] 

After hearing Morgana's reasons, a strange hush had fallen over the cave, with every nestling who ever felt discomfort or fear because of Ophelia's abilities, unknowingly agreeing with Morgana in their hearts.

Also, seeing her cower in fear from Typhon's voice alone, made her all the more tragic. 

[I can only tell everyone what I saw.] Morgana whimpered pitifully. [I can't hide it anymore – It isn't fair on them, and 'she' deserves to know who she can trust–] 

[Not another word from that vile tongue of yours!] Typhon roared. [You should be ashamed! How can you betray your captain's trust to save yourself?] 

Betray? Morgana couldn't believe it. This cheap serpent!

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Ophelia was the one who betrayed her first by not coming to her defence.

But instead of saying what she felt, Morgana cowered in fear, refusing to look at Ophelia even though she could feel two intensely cold eyes boring holes in her skull.

Now that she'd revealed those two were just as evil as she was, there was nothing left for her to say. All that was left was for 'her' to decide.

Typhon didn't know what to believe. 

While he knew it was impossible for Morgana to imprint on those reptiles without knowing how, or seeing it happen like she said. He found it difficult to believe Ophelia had done the things she said - and in such a manner. 

Ophelia only ever used her abilities for self defence because she knew they were dangerous, and he was personally offended that she was being accused of such a callous deed. 

However, when he spoke to Ophelia, she refused to say anything to defend herself, which only pissed him off - she couldn't possibly think that pretending to take away some of the blame would save Morgana? 

Typhon worriedly stared at their leader to see if she believed it, but there wasn't much he could glean from her calm eyes. 

Aside from listening to Morgana, all she had done was give Ophelia a rather questioning look.

It seemed she was shocked by Morgana's words and Typhon was deeply frustrated - he wanted to knock some sense into his sister, and he desperately wished he could read 'her' mind to know what she was thinking.

What if 'she' believed this far fetched tale and used it against them?

Moreso, Typhon was even more disgusted to see Morgana cowering on the ground like a whipped dog. She would flinch at his every word, making it appear as if he wanted to kill her on the spot.

Why would he do that? 

It was more satisfying to torture her for a very long time, until she eventually asked to die.

Unable to take it anymore, he addressed their leader. 

[She tells us a made up tale and expects us to believe she wouldn't say anything to save her life.] 

Typhon's words may have been calm, but they dripped with deadly intent and Arsinoe, who observed his reactions from below, was even more enraged because Morgana was the cause.

Could she be telling the truth?

Arsinoe didn't really care. 

All she knew was that her presence made Typhon upset. 

Unlike some of the nestlings, she had many good reasons to hate Morgana. It was especially sickening to see the black hearted serpent continue to cower before them with that pitiful look. 

Where was this pity when she tried to kill her? Or when she attacked Typhon? 

Arsinoe didn't completely agree with their leader's plan to erase Morgana. The idea of a nicer version of Morgana under Typhon's command was enough to make her skin crawl. 

And as her hatred built, Arsinoe found herself creeping closer and closer to her target. She'd already made up her mind to kill Morgana to prevent her from speaking anymore.

Because what if...what if Typhon actually started to like her?

She would rather die than let that future become a reality, so she generated a water blade, condensing it until it formed a pressurised stream.

[Don't do it!] 

Arsinoe heard the voice of their leader speaking to her, but it was too late because the water blade was already hurtling towards her target.

Morgana, who caught the movement, smiled to herself – she was waiting for something like this. 

Without missing a beat she allowed herself to be struck by the attack, crying out in torment as she was slashed. 

A long deep scar soon appeared across her body, adding more to the list of horrible injuries, which only made the nestlings around her grimace in horror, with several of them turning to Arsinoe in shock. 

And Morgana, who was already bloodied and bruised like she had been tortured for several days, rushed to their leader, crying accusatory tears at Typhon and his 'henchsnake' who wanted to silence her for good.

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