Chapter 76 The Shadow Watch Reacts
Back in the Watchtower, the others were watching the Veil like it was a particularly dramatic stage play.
Thessa paced. “Okay, so she’s destroying the crowns. That’s good, right?”
Yuel frowned. “It depends. If the crowns are tethered to her fractured identity, she might be unravelling herself.”
Zeke scribbled furiously. “Chapter 42: Mo Unravels Reality While Everyone Eats Muffins.”
Kael leaned against a pillar. “I’m just saying, if she explodes, I called it.”
Lira passed out more muffins. “We should be supportive. And sugar helps with trauma.”
Ellira stared at the Veil monitor. “Something’s forming. A new crown.”
Talon finally spoke, arms crossed. “That’s not a crown. That’s a choice.”
Everyone turned.
Thessa blinked. “Did you just say something profound?”
Talon shrugged. “I have layers.”
“Kinda like onions,” Kael responds with a raised eyebrow.
Back in the Veil, the ancient evil embodied Crown-Mo, everything was unravelling.
Her flame sputtered. Her crown cracked.
“You think you’re winning,” she spat. “But you’re just erasing yourself.”
“No,” I said. “I’m choosing myself.”
I raised my hand.
The last of the false crowns shattered.
The Veil screamed.
Crown-Mo fell to her knees.
Her eyes—my eyes—were wide with disbelief.
“You were supposed to become me,” she whispered.
“I was never supposed to be you,” I said. “You were just the fear of what I could become.”
She reached for me.
And vanished.
Silence.
Then—
Light.
A new crown formed above me.
Not forged from fear.
Not shaped by prophecy.
It was golden, yes—but soft. Gentle. Like a sunrise, not a sword.
It didn’t demand.
It offered.
Milo stepped forward, eyes wide. “That’s not the Hollow Crown.”
“No,” I said. “It’s mine.”
The crown hovered.
Waiting.
I didn’t reach for it.
I let it come to me.
And when it touched my flame—
There was a flare of a memory, but it lasted for a second before disappearing.
Back in the Watchtower, the Veil pulsed.
The new crown appeared in the sky like a second sun.
Thessa gasped. “She did it.”
Yuel smiled. “I wonder if she got her memories back.”
Zeke dropped his quill. “I need a new title. Mo and the Crown of Self-Acceptance doesn’t have the same punch.”
Kael smirked. “She didn’t explode. I owe Lira five gold.”
Lira beamed. “Told you. Muffins and faith.”
Ellira’s eyes narrowed. “Wait. Something’s wrong.”
Everyone turned.
The Veil shimmered.
And cracked.
I turned to Milo.
The crown settled on my brow.
My flame surged.
“You did it,” Milo says with his large goofy smile on his face.
“Yeah,” I respond, taking a step away from him.
“Mo? What’s wrong?” Milo asks, looking at me with concern.
“Thank you for helping me fight. I am glad that you are safe.” I respond before turning and walking away.
“Mo? Where are you going?” Milo shouts.
“I am sorry, I don’t know you,” I respond as I continue to walk away.
“MO!” Milo shouts.