Chapter 5 : Hidden Wings
The night had not been easy for Ren. The luxurious room, with its plush bed and silky furnishings, felt like a world apart from the worn-out tent he once called home. The contrast was jarring—and unsettling. He tossed and turned, haunted by questions and images of both past and present. Who was he, truly? What secret did these weighty earrings now carry? And what did it mean to be a "prince" of the Dark Angels?
Was this the explanation behind the strange power he'd felt when he shattered the earth upon falling—and the rapid healing of his wounds? Sleep didn't come, only scattered fragments of rest, and when the first rays of dawn slipped through the large balcony doors—lighting the dust dancing in the air and highlighting the splendor of his golden prison—Ren was already awake.
He was examining his reflection in the polished surface of a table—white hair, gray skin, the dark halo—when he heard a soft knock at the door. He hesitated for a moment, then called out quietly, "Come in."
Princess Elena stepped inside. She wore simpler clothes than the day before: soft green trousers and a shirt the color of forest leaves, with light boots—an outfit that suggested she didn't plan on staying confined to the palace today. Her silver hair fell freely over her shoulders, and her emerald eyes held a curious gleam—a mix of official caution and personal intrigue.
"Good morning, Ren Alastair," she said in a calm, reserved tone. "I hope you had a restful night."
Ren didn't bother replying to the empty courtesy.
"I thought… since you're here, and staying in this room might get dull, how about a short tour of Elore's capital city? Seeing the outside world might help your memory… or at the very least, give you a change of scenery."
Ren was surprised by the offer—and by the sudden kindness in her tone, especially after the tension and suspicion that had filled their first encounter in the throne room. He couldn't help but wonder: Is this because of the earrings? Do they truly believe I'm of royal blood? Are the Dark Angels really that feared and powerful? And if I am royal… does that make me stronger than others? Or just a pawn carrying a name and history I don't even understand?
He knew Elena's kindness was a thin veil over constant surveillance, but the idea of leaving this room—even briefly—was tempting.
After a moment of thought, he replied quietly, "Thank you for the offer, Princess Elena. I'd be happy to join you."
Elena gave a small smile—one that seemed almost genuine this time.
"Excellent. Just… one thing."
She hesitated briefly, then added quickly, as if afraid she might back out, "You'll need to hide your wings. We can't exactly walk through the capital looking like… that."
Ren's eyes widened slightly. "Hide my wings? I… I can do that?" The thought had never occurred to him.
At this, Elena's patience thinned a little. A flicker of her true personality—slightly haughty—surfaced in her tone.
"Of course you can! All Dark Angels can! I've read in multiple historical texts that you can pull your wings into some kind of pocket dimension or something like that… just by focusing and willing it to happen. Now, come on, try it!"
Ren blinked at her, caught off guard by her tone. How could someone know more about his supposed abilities than he did? Still, he decided to give it a try. He closed his eyes, focusing all his thoughts on his wings—their weight, their presence behind his back. Then, with all his will, he wished them gone. Wished them to withdraw. To return to the void they had come from.
At first, nothing happened. Then he began to feel a strange sensation, like a deep hum or low vibration starting at the base of his wings and spreading outward. He opened his eyes to see the massive black wings begin to glow—surrounded by a dense black aura, a majestic and raw darkness flowing around them like liquid smoke. It didn't feel evil—just pure, untamed power.
The energy gathered for several seconds, then, as if it had absorbed the wings entirely, it vanished in a flash. The wings were gone. His back was smooth—untouched. As if they had never existed. A sudden, unfamiliar lightness spread across his shoulders.
All of it happened under Elena's watchful gaze. She stood stunned, emerald eyes wide as she witnessed the incredible surge of power and the graceful disappearance of the enormous wings. When it was over, she continued to stare at Ren's face, her expression unreadable—some mix of awe, deep curiosity, and maybe… something else.
She kept staring for several long seconds. Then, as if suddenly realizing she was doing it, a soft blush colored her cheeks and spread to the tips of her pointed ears. She quickly turned her face away and walked toward the door in a slightly flustered stride. Before exiting, she said in a voice that sounded embarrassed and slightly choked, "W-Well! That… that's good. I'll be waiting for you outside, at the main entrance of the wing."
She stepped out quickly, closing the door behind her.
Ren stood alone once again, puzzled by the princess's unexpected reaction. He touched his back, feeling the space where his wings had been moments ago. He'd done it. He had controlled a part of this strange new body.
He turned to the mirror once more. Without the wings, he looked… less monstrous, perhaps? But the dark halo still floated above his white hair. His gray skin and crescent-shaped black earrings still marked him as something different. Something unknown.