The night was still.
Only the faint hum of insects and the rustling sea breeze filled the air outside Milly's villa.
Inside, everything was quiet until Milly's eyes snapped open.
Her room was dark, but the faint glow of that mysterious object on her desk pulsed gently, illuminating her silver hair with a ghostly light.
She hadn't even realized she'd fallen asleep sitting upright against the wall.
Milly (softly): "You again…"
Her voice trembled. The light grew brighter rhythmic, steady, like a heartbeat not her own.
A low whisper rippled in the back of her mind.
Alter Ego (distant, echoing): "You shouldn't resist me, Milly…"
Milly froze. Her pupils constricted to gold slits. She tried to speak, but her throat went dry.
The whisper grew louder, clearer, wrapping around her mind like a coiling serpent.
Alter Ego: "You know this power. You felt it in battle… You remember the fear, the thrill our strength. You're nothing without me."
Milly (weakly): "No… you're not me…"
Her body suddenly stiffened.
Her right hand twitched—then clenched into a fist against her will. Her legs followed, standing up without command.
Milly (struggling): "S-Stop! This isn't your-!"
Her words cut off as her own lips curled into a smirk-
but the tone that followed was not hers.
Alter Ego (through her mouth): "Stop pretending you're weak. We're one and the same."
She stepped forward mechanically, her body moving like a puppet's.
The golden glow from her eyes turned sharp, flickering with red veins of light.
Each step echoed against the cold floor.
The object on the desk pulsed brighter resonating with her unnatural movements.
Alter Ego: "You think you can hide me forever? You can't even control your own hands, my dear…"
Milly's consciousness clawed for control. Her inner voice screamed as she forced her will against the invasive presence.
Every nerve in her body burned as she tried to resist.
Milly (internally): I won't let you hurt anyone again… I won't!
Her arm raised by the alter ego suddenly stopped mid-air. The glow in her eyes flickered… dimmed…
Then the smirk faded.
The whisper cut short, twisting into a pained, distorted hiss.
Alter Ego (fading): "No, what is this?! Who dares!"
And just like that, the presence vanished.
Milly's body dropped to her knees, gasping for breath as though surfacing from deep water.
Sweat dripped down her temple. Her hands shook violently, but she was free.
Milly (panting): "Something… stopped her…"
She looked around the room, no one was there. Yet, the air felt heavy, charged with something unseen.
Her gaze drifted back to the glowing object. It had stopped pulsing.
Silent.
Dormant.
But she could feel it faintly watching.
Milly (trembling whisper): "Who's really controlling who…?"
The wind outside shifted, carrying a faint echo a growl, deep and distant, almost like a dragon's call.
The same sound Arthianos once made before vanishing into her magic.
Milly wrapped her arms around herself and sat motionless until dawn, afraid to sleep again.