Morgana's nails dug into the edge of the ancient stone seat as she seethed, her body rigid with a fury she hadn't felt in centuries. The mountain air was thin and sharp, biting into her skin, yet her anger burned hotter, feeding off the chilling winds around her. Sitting next to her was Lady Celeste, equally enraged, though her expression was one of cold calculation rather than unchecked wrath.
"How?" Morgana hissed, her voice low and venomous, as she stared out at the mist-covered peaks stretching before them. "How could Aria be the White Wolf? I made sure—personally—that Celestia could never reincarnate. She swore on her life she'd never return."
Lady Celeste remained silent for a moment, her gaze fixed into the distance. Unlike Morgana, who was stewing in anger, Celeste's mind was already working, calculating every possibility, every conceivable threat and advantage. But despite her composed exterior, there was no mistaking the glint of danger in her eyes.
"It seems, Morgana," Celeste said, her voice measured but edged with menace, "that Celestia kept her promise. After two thousand years, she has found a way back. It appears that your magic was insufficient to truly prevent her return."
Morgana's face twisted in rage. "You don't think I know that?" she spat, her eyes flashing with barely contained fury. "She's defied me, humiliated me! To come back through some naive child—a girl who knows nothing of the power she wields. It's an insult, an affront to everything we built!"
Lady Celeste turned her gaze on Morgana, her lips curling into a bitter smile. "You underestimate her, Morgana. It is that same naivety that makes her dangerous. That girl might lack skill, but she possesses something far more potent—innocent determination. A force far harder to break."
Morgana's hands clenched into fists. She hated hearing it, but deep down, she knew Celeste was right. Aria might be young and untrained, but the power of a White Wolf was formidable, and if Celestia's spirit truly resided within her… well, it would not be long before she awakened to her full potential.
But Morgana refused to dwell on that thought. She leaned forward, her voice a deadly whisper. "I don't care who she is or what she represents. I will not let her stand in our way. Celestia's resurrection or not, she must be eliminated."