Fifth Month, the 9th day, 1386. 07:10.
IT'S dark. The atmosphere feels heavy. I looked down, and I see a reflection of me. I'm wearing the same white dress from when I went missing with the Grand Duke. I can see myself clearly, but my entire surroundings are completely black. It felt as if I was in a pool of emptiness. My eyes wandered around to search for something… or someone.
I took a couple of steps before I began walking at a proper pace. It came to a point where I couldn't even keep track of how long I've been walking. It felt endless. It felt like I wasn't even moving an inch away from where I first began.
Ah… This… is a nightmare. One of those lucid dreams. But somehow, it's incredibly long and quiet.
"How dreadful," I muttered to myself. It was like any other dream I had yet still so different. I was getting impatient.
"Sera."
I was frozen still in my place as I heard a voice, raspy and weak. At this given moment, I looked behind me. I saw a huge figure. He was big, like an entire palace. I had to look up to be able to observe him. Dark, scaly, and… severely bleeding. It was a mighty being lying on a pool of its beautiful royal blue blood.
"AL!!!" Another voice from behind me called out, hurried, worried, and scared. That same woman ran past me.
Her long black hair was frizzy and messy. The torn white dress she was wearing was dyed in his blood as she hurriedly tried to cover the open wound in his chest with her little magic. She was crying, shedding a river of tears.
"No… please! You can't! Al!"
Her voice cracked. The woman was desperate. From the way her body was shaking, it seems she's also at her limit, but her determination to keep the mighty being alive...
"Sera… I apologize…"
"STOP TALKING! I'm trying to heal you!"
—was her only reason to not pass out right at that moment. She couldn't give up.
"Sera… I won't make it…" The dragon was weak; he could even barely open his eyes.
"NO! You will keep living with me! You will not leave me alone! You—"
"I love you, $#^@."
For a moment, I couldn't hear the name he just uttered. All I could focus on was his deep emerald eyes that met my gaze.
Oh.
"I'm sorry… for leaving you here…"
With the very last of his strength, he showed his love and guilt. His pupils slowly dilated. He was gone. My eyes turned to the woman—
Huh? Wasn't she just there a moment ago? Wait…
I looked down at my hands… It was dirtied with blue blood. My dress is torn and dyed in his blood. I looked up again... and this time, it wasn't a dead dragon in front of me, but a man. It was...
Caius...
What...?
His green eyes were open and dilated, his body is bleeding and unmoving, bathing in his own blood.
Right at this moment, my vision started to blur. I can feel the waters swallowing me from below.
And before I knew it, I was underwater.
Ah… I'm drowning, yet this body of water… feels so warm.
"Ugh…" I can feel the heat of the sun from the ray hitting my face; it woke me up. Finally… The pain on my back and neck slowly registered to my brain, and I winced. I opened my eyes, only to see the mess from last night's study session.
I was on the floor with papers and books all around me. Not only the floor, but my study desk and the wall next to it is filled with papers and open books. Looking at it now… it felt like I snapped out of my hyperfocus for the past five days.
Another dream that felt too vivid. That moment in my dream... Al and Sera... they must be the Witch and the Dragon. Was it some sort of clue on what happened after their deaths? It didn't give me much detail at all... except for that part where Alvaro looks directly in my eyes.
Where I'm drenched in his blood... and Caius was...
I shook my head to get that vision off my mind. It's taking a toll on me for a reason that I don't know. I'm beginning to get confused and it's frustrating me that I have no knowledge of what these dreams mean to tell me.
I must write to the Grand Duke tonight. I don't know why, but something is off. It's not just concerning me anymore, but him as well.
As I was thinking deeply, my stomach grumbled loudly. Oh gods, when was the last time I've had a proper meal? Just then, I heard a knock on the door. I pulled myself up and walked to open the door. Twisting the knob and pulling the door, I saw her; it was Haelyn with a tray of a breakfast meal.
She looked at me with a hopeless smile. "Truly, your hyperfocus makes you extremely… bold. Why, on your thin white sleepwear, did you open the door without even making sure who the person on the other side is, Adela?"
I rolled my eyes back and turned away from her, I walked back inside to start picking up some papers.
"I appreciate you bringing me my breakfast, but I don't think it's necessary for you to do it yourself, Headmistress," I stated strictly, and she scoffed at me.
"The kitchen staff have not seen you during meal time after your first day, and the librarian mentioned that you borrowed a bunch of books related to multiple subjects. Since you haven't come out of your room, I assumed you were in deep hyperfocus again, that's why I had Chion bring you meals for the past two days, but you weren't even opening the door to Chion," she explained and I froze on my spot.
Ah… I still have it. It was useful yet destructive. As far as I can remember, the last time I was this deep in focus was right before Hael finally found himself a trusted aide, which is Lord Felix Adair. I handled everything for him. Research, meetings, and even events. Until he noticed how much I neglect myself during those times of preparation.
"Had I known you still have not removed that bad study habit of yours, I would have given you a whole month to do your research and self-study sessions," Haelyn sighs as she places down the tray on the snack table. "I can't believe you still have it even after years of graduating. You used to always do this days before examination week, and we would be so worried about you that your older brother, Lord Cor, had to reassure us that you've always been like that."
She's not wrong. I would constantly lock myself up in my room and unintentionally starve myself during my sessions, all because I didn't want to be disturbed… not that I could be disturbed in the first place.
"...I apologize. It's been a while since I sat down and studied," I responded, guilty. I went and sat on the couch. In front of me are some toast and scrambled egg with some hot milk on the side. It's a simple breakfast.
"Well, today will be your first day with the students. Lighten up a bit," Haelyn reminded me again. I simply nodded and took my first bite.
I hope they are exactly how I think they are. That would make things easier for me.
"Oh, by the way, I've been meaning to ask, Adela," Haelyn suddenly brought up. I turned my gaze up to her and she continued to ask, "When was the last time you came in contact with the Grand Duke?"
This then confused me, but I answered with honesty, "About a week and a half ago. We haven't even had a proper parting, I have no idea where he went off to next."
Haelyn seemed taken aback by my answer, which later had be suspecting something.
"Why? What's wrong?" I asked, but she simply shook her head.
"Nothing. Focus on your first day."
Her answer has only given me more to think about, but I won't pry for now. She's right, I should focus for now.