American Comics: Heaven's Reward

"Amora, here I come!"

Just as Amora was about to leave in search of Aaron, determined to get revenge for the slander she had endured, a loud voice echoed from outside the door.

It was Aaron!

She had been planning to seek him out, but here he was, delivering himself right to her doorstep.

The opportunity was too perfect to pass up. It was time to show him who was truly in control.

Amora was stunned for a moment, then a surge of excitement washed over her. What could be better than having the prey come to her?

The last time, she had hesitated. She was worried that Irene might intervene—after all, Irene had called for help when Amora tried to charm Aaron before. And that had ended disastrously for her. Not only had she failed to charm Aaron, but she had been humiliated in front of others.

The humiliation had been unbearable, and now, everyone knew about her failure. She, the Enchantress, had become the butt of jokes.

But today, everything would change.

Amora's recent progress in spiritual charm magic had been monumental. She had broken through to a new level, and now she was confident she could control Aaron.

The moment of triumph was within her reach.

Her thoughts turned to the future—turning Aaron into her personal legendary magician, controlling him completely. Life in Asgard and the Nine Realms would soon be hers to command. A smile crept across her face as the past few days of self-doubt melted away.

"Well, well, if it isn't our little genius Aaron," she called out mockingly. "Aren't you the big hero of Asgard now? Didn't you once call me 'Sister Amora'? And now, look at you—acting like we've never even met. It's like our relationship has changed overnight."

She feigned a tone of sadness, letting her voice drop, and used the subtle charm magic she had perfected over the years.

To anyone else, her voice would have easily swayed their will, making them fall under her control. But Aaron was different.

Despite her best efforts, Aaron remained unaffected. His mental barrier, upgraded to a level beyond her understanding, automatically activated, protecting him from her charms. It didn't even require him to focus consciously—his defenses were now just a part of him.

Amora was taken aback.

"Amora, stop pretending," Aaron said coldly. "You're only exhausting yourself. Just do what you came to do. After you're done, I have something to ask you."

Aaron's bluntness caught her off guard. She stared at him, unsure of how to respond. It took a few moments for her to snap out of her surprise and realize the significance of his words.

She studied him carefully, her eyes narrowing. For the first time, there was genuine concern in her voice.

"Aaron Manningson... Allow me to call you that," she said slowly. "You've surpassed everyone's expectations. You, who seemed so obsessed with magic, with only that in mind, have shown a side to you that no one saw coming. This is the real you!"

Her expression shifted, her teasing tone replaced by a more serious one. "A monster who wears a disguise, who knows everything but hides it. You knew my plan from the start. You still dared to approach me like this. Aren't you afraid that I'll really control you? Once I have you, nothing you've planned will remain a secret."

Her heart skipped a beat as the realization hit her—Aaron, who had once seemed so naïve and unaware, was hiding far more than anyone had realized.

Could it be that even Irene, and even Thor, didn't know the truth about him?

She took a step back, suddenly feeling the weight of a terrible conspiracy. But despite the rising panic in her chest, she pushed the fear aside.

She was Amora, the Enchantress. She was confident in her abilities. Even if her charm magic didn't work, how could someone who had only been practicing for a week possibly defeat her?

What was he really, if not a hero? A magician would never rely on brute force.

With these thoughts in mind, Amora tried to steady herself.

But as Aaron slowly advanced, she couldn't help but take a step back.

"How do you know unless you try?" Aaron said with a slight smile, his tone almost playful. "You came to me, remember?"

The closer he got, the more Amora's nerves began to fray. She quickly gathered her thoughts and cast a charm spell, hoping to break Aaron's defenses.

But this time, something was different.

When Amora attempted to charm him, her magic was completely ineffective. It was like hitting a wall. She had barely been able to rattle his defenses before, but now it was as if she were trying to break through an unbreakable shield.

"Impossible! What kind of monster is he?" Amora thought to herself, her frustration boiling over.

She floated into the air, her body levitating as she tried to distance herself.

But Aaron wasn't fazed. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned his own telekinetic power, creating an invisible hand that yanked her back to the ground.

"You taught me Psychokinesis, remember?" he said calmly, the smirk on his face never fading. "Did you forget?"

More than a dozen daggers appeared in the air around her, blocking any escape route. The space around her was completely sealed off.

"Don't underestimate me!" Amora snapped, summoning a protective energy shield. A new form of magic, one she had perfected just recently. Not even Loki had ever used this particular defensive spell.

The energy shield materialized, just in time to ward off Aaron's telekinetic attack and block some of the daggers.

But the shield was still new, and it barely held against the pressure.

Aaron wasn't going full force, but he was increasing the pressure bit by bit, testing the strength of her magic.

Amora's face twisted in frustration. This monster is far stronger than I thought.

Aaron's interest was piqued. He had never seen a defensive magic quite like this before. He wasn't finished yet, though. He was going to learn everything about this new magic.