Sakura Shinguji-Albatou: Thanks. Morgreth was supposed to be zonked out, but he's so fixed on overcoming Folken and taking the title of Strategos, that he willed himself to remain partially conscious. He won't let anything or anyone get in the way.
 
 
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Chapter 10: Enter the Black Winged Angel
 
[Inside of Morgreth's Mind]
 

Dilandau struggled to regain consciousness. The anesthetic was alluring…seducing him to free-fall into the zero gravity of sleep.

 You do that, and he'll cut you up in no time!  he thought back, forcefully.

"Not if I have anything to say about it," responded a familiar, mellifluous voice.

Dilandau searched through the dark, trying to locate the source of the voice. Instead, he saw the twisted pit of Morgreth's mind. Where those snakes curling around his feet?  And what was that sound? Crying children? Wailing? Dilandau shivered.

"This is more of you then I really wanted to see, Morgreth," replied Dilandau. He chuckled to himself, imagining what Morgreth was seeing in his body.

Then, without warning, the boy was born aloft. He looked up and saw Folken above him.

"You have wings?" asked Albatou in disbelief.

"Apparently," Folken replied dryly, as he looked forward.

Faces of children appeared and vanished before them. There were twisted mouths and widened eyes that segued to bright images of Morgreth receiving the title and honor of Strategos from Emperor Dornkirk.

"W-where are we, Folken, in Morgreth's mind? This place is sick!"

"Yes. You have put us both in grave danger, Dilandau." Folken answered, seriously.

Dilandau felt his heart sink. For Strategos to admit that…

"Why didn't you just leave me here, Folken?" he retorted.

"Because you are dangerous enough in your own body, never mind that of a Sorcerer."

"But…if he tries to…Folken, you fool! You could die!" hollered Albatou.

"Foolishness learned from you, no doubt," quipped Folken, as he banked to the right. "You are a bad influence, Dilandau Albatou."

"You're welcome," yawned Dilandau.

A claw gently pierced his shoulder. Albatou let out a yelp.

"If you think I risked my life coming here to ferry you out of trouble just so you could sleep, then you are sorely mistaken," admonished Strategos.

"Ok, ok…I get your point," Dilandau said, rubbing part of his shoulder. "And just how, exactly, are we supposed to escape this hell hole?"

"Didn't you think about that before you entered the infirmary?" asked Folken.

"Why should I? How was I supposed to know that he could swap places with me?" the youth retorted.

"I told you he was dangerous," Folken replied, flatly. "That should have been enough."

"Did you know that he could switch with people, Folken?" he asked.

"No. I wasn't aware that his studies had accelerated that far." Folken's eyes scanned above. Bright forks of light tore across Morgreth's mind…and shadowy shapes seemed to consume the energy from those forks. "I fear that his lust for power may very well cost him his life."

"What is that, Folken?" Dilandau asked. He pointed at  the shadows gobbling the light.

"Things that are best left alone by any sane sorcerer," replied Folken. He paused. "Dilandau, do you remember the Girl from the Mystic Moon?"

"You mean the wench that Allen was slobbering over?" inquired Albatou. "Yes. Why?"

"I want you to focus all of your attention onto her. All of your thoughts must be on her. Do you understand?"

"Not really, Strategos. But you know what you're doing."

Folken smiled inwardly at the boy's trust. If only he had trusted in him sooner.

"A Sorcerer's mind can amplify on a greater frequency than most. If we orient our thoughts on the girl, she may be able to help us."

"And given that you're also in here, it will double the frequency?" asked Dilandau.

"That is the theory," answered Strategos, as he stretched his left hand out to Dilandau.

"Very well," replied Dilandau, as he held onto Folken's hand. Both of them set their minds onto the Girl from the Mystic Moon. Their thoughts became a symphony. Melody and harmony danced in the darkness and became one. Their bodies glowed and a beautiful pillar of light shot upwards. This pure light and pure sound was unstoppable. The demons of Morgreth's mind tried to consume it, but they were annihilated by its hidden power.