Anasthasia recognized the hall—the same place which all took place—with Prince Julius laughing at her dilemma. Knowing how her limbs restrained, she could only glare at him.
Her lips parted as she tried to roar abuzz, but her voice was nowhere to be found. No matter how she pushed through, it wouldn't come across. She gnashed her teeth as he witnessed how his face contorted further with mockery.
Prince Julius declared once more, "I may not be able to hurt you, Empress of the Prismatic Empire, but I sure can incapacitate those who hold an important place in your heart."
The crowds started to laugh at her. She could feel her body burning; eyes seared from the humiliation. Angered, she shrieked back.
"We will see who has the last laugh!"
Her prismatic powers erupted, which surged colorful tidal waves, swallowing them whole. Just when she wanted to rejoice, shoulders tensed when it ebbed. It turned out to be a complete reversal.
This time, the waves devoured her instead.
'No!'
Sunrise came, golden lights beaming at Anasthasia by the window, but her body remained heavier than ever. Her eyes snapped open, chest rose and fell with rapid breaths, and squirms were futile.
The intense heat irked her and left aghast from the nearly-cracked tempered glass and torn curtains.
Tiredness swallowed her whole; she could only let out a hoarse voice, "Nightmare…"
"Sister Ana!"
Her eyes darted towards Lucy, who looked with deep worry. The twins were behind him, who bore the same sentiments.
But what shocked her was how the room became—pictures hung at different angles, fine cracks stretched across the room, as well as the cabinets and books, sprawling all over the place—resulted in a hot mess.
"Sister Ana, I hope you're feeling well." Her eyes welled up with tears. She bent down; her knees leaned closer on the edge of the bed.
"I think... I'm just overfatigued." Anasthasia replied as she sensed Lucy's palms on her forehead. She heaved a sigh and asked, "Where is Fried?"
Lucy pointed her hands, shaking. "Right beside you."
Anasthasia mustered her strength as she tried to shift her head. There, she saw Friedmirth pinned by the wall, heavily dented, and his head hung down, bleeding, while he growled in pain.
'How can this be?' She reached her hand towards Freidmirth as she cast.
'Regeneration—!'
Her senses began to rile up: the other arm reached her mouth and started to cough; despite her attempts to stop herself, she found traces of blood the moment she let go of the hand.
It garnered shock among them: for several reasons, and this had them all in panic. Lucy took the lead. She jolted upright and waved her hand to the side as she exuded conviction.
"Brother Liam! Please grab some towel and basin. Brother Levi! Please bring some food, most especially the soup that I cooked just now."
The twins raced their way out without any delay.
"What do you mean? I told you I'm fine—"
Anasthasia widened her eyes and coughed once more. Lucy began to shriek and panicked. "You never lied so much! Scratch it! I need to get it now.."
Freidmirth showed signs of quick recovery, which soothed her soul. He currently laid peacefully on the worn-out warm quilt; such bloodstains were never an issue for his rest.
She reached out her hands once more. "Freid…" Calling out multiple times, but he seemed not to respond. Which left her to escape a heavy sigh in her mouth.'
Her vision started to dwindle, so she shut her eyes.
"He seems fine now." Lucy drew closer to Freidmirth and repositioned him. "Sister Ana, what happened? We heard a loud explosion, shaking the area, so we rushed upstairs and saw both of you in a dire state."
'That can't be!' Anasthasia sucked in a cold breath.
She flung her arms over her face and moaned. 'It's as though the Prismatic Curse is back to haunt me, and I'm back to zero—just like my journey when I was around Lucy's age.'
"I'm starting all over again?" She mused so dryly.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Please nevermind it, Lucy."
'Now, I'm having this pseudo-dream, all over the heck again. This is driving me crazy. I need to speak to Blake.'
Series of thuds heard outside her room; her eyes took a glimpse as they came, rushing their way inside. All of them hastened their actions: Liam wiped off the smears of blood on her hands and arm, as well as bloodstains. Lucy grabbed a wet towel and placed it on her forehead.
"You need to eat, Ana."
She gave the nod. "I can do it myself." In comparison, she squirmed as she tried to get up. Liam went on and supported, inclined herself by the headboard.
"I know you can't. Let me spoon-feed." Lucy grumbled and took the initiative. "If you don't want to eat, then I hope you don't mind me being too cruel."
Anasthasia reacted shockingly, more humorous than mortified, and pondered, 'She can be scary when needed.' She never argued further and did what she wanted.
After several scoops, Freidmirth shifted ever-so-slightly, which garnered their attention. Of course, Anasthasia grabbed on him and checked his vital signs. It didn't take long for him to wake up.
"Anasthasia…" he chirped weakly.
She cooed immediately, hand patting his head, "It's alright, It's alright. I'm here, I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry; you suffered consequences. You were tired, and I was so selfish to ask for it."
Seeing how he averted his gaze, Anasthasia flicked his snout, which had him spew out smoky breaths.
Freidmirth was pissed.
"You foolish dragon. I wasn't keeping up my word. I must say I was busy and got sidetracked, so allow me to thank you for reminding me."
He narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms, harrumphing, "Whatever!"
"Sister Ana, what is he mumbling?"
"Do you want me to teach you? It's a complicated language."
"Will you?"
With Lucy's eyes beaming, Anasthasia glanced at Freidmirth. "Why are you not angry? Are you afraid that I'll teach her?"
"As if she can learn." he scoffed.
"You underestimate her—"
Freidmirth started to flail his arms. "Do whatever you want! I could care less!"
Anasthasia giggled. "You've grown so attached to Lucy after staying here."
He wanted to refute, but they heard Lucy's giggles that heralded the atmosphere, lifting it to several bounds.
"Sounds like banters, I'm envious."
"Right, I'm impressed you managed to hold it without such communication, Lucy."
"That isn't the only one how you communicate with someone, though." Lucy hunched her shoulders. "Anyway, he behaves so well like a loyal dog."
"Agreed—"
Freidmirth tried his best to wriggle out of Anasthasia's grasp and howled back, "Did you just compare me with a dog, those low-life creatures?!" He received a smack in the head by her and winced in pain.
"Say, Lucy, do you want him to be your beast partner?"
"WHAT?!" They shouted in unison.
Her voice started to tremble, "Sister Ana, that's…" Halted as she noticed how Levi slumped so lifelessly, and Liam stood frozen solid.
"N—No way, a mighty dragon to be—a—a pet." Liam stuttered as though shiver crawled up his spine.
"I'm glad you took note that I'm a mighty dragon!" He revealed a smug smirk. "But I won't accept being leashed and, worse, getting called as a pet!" His eyes lit ablaze, and mouth wide open, releasing fumes of smoke.
"Well, what do you say?"
Lucy started to fiddle her fingers, and pink shade flushed her cheeks. "That is if Freidmirth wants to. It'd be fun to have a dragon by my side."
"Lucy…"
His eyes gleamed in awe. So, Anasthasia snatched the opportunity. "Fried, what do you say?"
"Well… I have heard how rich she is and... I'm well-fed every day without wasting my energy to hunt." He dryly coughed while he crossed his arms.
"You shameless dragon." Anasthasia's scalp tingled from his pretense. "Lucy, he agrees unconditionally."
"What do you mean—"
Lucy squealed in happiness while cutting Freidmirth off; it was ecstasy for her to experience something she never thought in her whole life. Meanwhile, it only dragged the twins for the worst as though no signs of life in their bodies.
Without further ado, Lucy grabbed Freidmirth and shook the twins in vigorous motion. "Wake up! Wake up! We need to go, brothers. We shall head to the Beastmasters Council."
This pissed off Lucy, and she made Freidmirth climb up to her head while she dragged them one by one, with her little strength—by the ear.
Of course, they scowled back from pain as they tried to regain their sanity. Finally, she was alone in the room.
Anasthasia took her time to rest for a while, trying to regain her strength. She risked her life by transmuting it to gold, but at least she got what she wanted.
"The most vulnerable is Lucy; it's dangerous if she's left alone. With Freidmirth, I can be at ease."