While the world outside fretted over her still body, Kaya—unaware of their panic—drifted deeper into sleep.
But it wasn’t emptiness.
She found herself standing in a place both familiar and strange.
A forest surrounded her, bathed in golden sunlight that filtered gently through the leaves. Ahead was a small community made entirely of stone—simple, but regal. Like a palace carved into the wilderness.
People moved around the open grounds, laughing, smiling. There was peace here—warm, natural.
Won in flowing frocks that danced with the breeze. Others wore short tunics stitched from soft animal hide. So of the n bore animal features—small rabbit ears twitched in amusent, while a few had wolf ears, alert but relaxed. All of them carried light in their eyes.
Joy. Freedom.
Kaya’s gaze was drawn toward movent.
A girl, running barefoot over the moss-covered stone paths.
Wearing a flared frock that reached her knees, the fabric bouncing with each step. On her feet, soft boots—patched in earthy tones, stitched from sothing that looked like panther hide. Soft and worn, but strong.
Her hair was pulled into a ssy ponytail, swaying as she ran.
She couldn’t see the girl’s face.
But sohow, she knew.
It was her.
A version of herself untouched by fear. Smiling.
Running toward sothing.
Or maybe... soone.
Suddenly, the forest faded.
The laughter, the light... it all shifted.
Now, the girl stood by a large tree, its bark wide and weathered, roots kissing the edge of a wide, glistening river. The water flowed slowly, sparkling under the sun like it carried secrets with it.
She stood there—hands on her hips—staring at soone across from her.
She couldn’t see his face clearly.
Too blurry. Like a smudge on glass.
But her heart knew. It was a man.
And for so reason... the sight of him made her eyes well up.
She didn’t know why.
A tear slipped down her cheek and touched the grass.
But the girl in the dream—her—wasn’t crying.
She huffed and spoke with all the fire of soone who had waited too long.
"You? How dare you? I’ve been looking for you all day, and here you are, hiding under a tree! How many tis do I have to tell you? You’re supposed to co to the etings too!"
A burst of laughter spilled from the man’s mouth. Warm, light, familiar.
"Yes, my lady, yes. I’m sorry," he chuckled. "I was fixing this tree. Sothing was wrong with it."
She scoffed, crossing her arms. "Yeah, yeah. The tree’s wrong, the leaves are wrong, the bushes are wrong—everything’s wrong and only you can fix it."
She reached out and grabbed his arm with mock irritation.
"Just go."
But as she pulled him, the man paused.
He turned slightly.
Even though his face was still hidden—she felt it.
A shift.
Sothing tender in the way he looked at her.
Sothing real.
And suddenly—tears rolled down her cheeks. Not in the dream. In reality.
Because the dream was fading.
A voice called her back.
"Hey! Hey, female!"
Another voice, louder—more urgent.
"Oi! Female—wake up!"
The world shook.
Light cracked through the sky like glass breaking—and suddenly, Kaya’s eyes fluttered open.
The warmth of the dream vanished.
Now she was surrounded—by concerned faces.
rmaids.
Her three fools.
All hovering over her with panicked, worried stares.
She blinked.
One breath in.
Reality had returned.
Even though Kaya was awake now, a dull ache still lingered in her chest.
She couldn’t rember everything from the dream anymore... not fully.
But his voice—that warmth, that laugh—it still echoed sowhere inside her, soft and clear. Just the mory of it was enough to bring fresh tears to her eyes.
They slid down silently.
And around her, everyone froze.
The rmaids.
Cutie.
Vayu.
Even the sparrow stopped fluttering.
Kaya quickly raised her hand, covering her eyes, and took a sharp breath in.
And then, without warning, she sprang upright.
She looked at the rmaids, still blinking in surprise, and gave them a crooked smirk. Her voice ca out hoarse but sharp.
"What? Waiting for to die, bastards?"
The suddenness of it made everyone reel back.
Before anyone could react, she turned, stord toward the little lord—and grabbed him by the collar.
Honestly, she wanted to grab the master’s collar, but the man behind him—the one with that cold, soul-piercing glare—was watching her. And while Kaya wasn’t scared, not exactly, sothing about him made her feet twitch slightly. Just slightly.
So she redirected her fury.
Straight into the little lord’s collar.
"You bastard!" she snapped. "You couldn’t even tell your so-called dicine wears off that quick?"
The little lord blinked, panic-stricken, then quickly turned to glance at the master like a helpless child.
Even he didn’t know.
How could he, if the master never told him?
But the master—cool as ever—just turned his eyes away.
Unbothered. Like none of this concerned him.
That only made her angrier.
Kaya pulled the little lord up higher by the collar, his fins twitching uselessly.
Then suddenly—she coughed.
Hard.
Her whole chest clenched.
And her eyes... they stung.
Not from tears anymore.
But sothing deeper—like they were burning inside.
Kaya groaned, clutching her eyes.
"Ugh!"
The pain was sharp—burning like hellfire behind her lids.
Of course. Saltwater. She had been in it for far too long.
If she didn’t go blind from this, it would be a miracle.
Maybe it was the leftover effect of that damn dicine... but at least she could still see, even if her vision was wrapped in fire.
Hearing her painful groan, the master stepped forward, voice low but firm.
"Put your hand down."
Kaya slowly lowered her hand, glaring through the sting.
The master reached out, covering her bloodshot eyes with his palm. His own eyes closed.
A silent mont passed—like sothing unseen passed between them.
Then he pulled back and said evenly, "Rest. Wash with clear water. Don’t open your eyes unless necessary."
He took a small, cool vial from his sleeve and placed it in her palm.
"Apply this on your forehead. For three days, you’ll be better than new."
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