Chapter 24. The True Nature

  Leonel froze as the enchanted orb glowed, emitting a vibrating hum. He quickly activated it, and the translucent figure of one of his subordinates appeared before him.

  — Leonel, we found something important about the puppets, — the voice was tense, breathing uneven.

  — Speak.

  — They... they aren’t just artificial beings. They were once living creatures, but they’ve been altered. Half from the world of Darkness, half from the world of Light. Someone tore them from their real lives, erased their memories, and turned them into empty shells.

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  Leonel glanced at Beligor. He didn’t move, didn’t react, as if the words had nothing to do with him.

  — So he was someone before, — Ethan murmured.

  — And not just anyone, — the voice from the orb continued. — If they were made half from Darkness and half from Light, it means they once belonged to both worlds.

  — But why turn them into puppets? — Stan frowned.

  — There’s more, — the voice hesitated, as if preparing to reveal something terrifying. — If their memories weren’t completely erased, if they recall even a fragment… the process can be reversed.

  Leonel’s gaze snapped to Beligor.

  — You’re saying… he can become who he was?

  — Theoretically—yes. But it requires magic sealed within one of the ancient scrolls. We’re searching for it now.

  Leonel deactivated the orb and turned back to the puppet.

  — Beligor… you were someone before they turned you into this. Do you want to know who you are?

  The puppet remained silent. But now, something different flickered in his eyes. Not emptiness. Not indifference.

  Somethin

  g that looked a lot like doubt.