** She looked around the whole place. She just left to take a nap a top a tree and yet she was woken by shouts from her friends. **
** When she opened her eyes, what welcomed her was the scene close by where darkness was seeping out of her sister's body. **
** The rest of her friends were all crying. They seem to not notice that even the bodies of the other Elite squad had darkness seeping out of them. **
** It seems that they were focused on the matter at hand where they had died with the wound on their throat. **
** She didn't understand what was going on so she could only climb down the tree. Just as she got close to where they were, a strong explosion came that she was caught off guard. **
** Phoenix, her inborn beast, came out of her body and protected her. But the explosion wasn't a simple explosion of fire but darkness was included within it. **
** In the end, Phoenix could only give up his life in order to save hers. She couldn't even cry about his loss and with her tattered body, she walked over to where the rest are. **
** Phoenix did not only protect her but her friends as well, she was close to them when the explosion happened. If Phoenix didn't protect them as well. Then they would be dead by now. **
** "Raynisha..." she weakly called causing the red haired lady to look back at her. **
** Raynisha smiled when she saw her, Miasma was surrounding her body and not just her but the rest of the Elite squad as well. **
** It was thanks to Phoenix's power that her friends remained unharmed by the Miasma. He had given up his life but his power remained protecting them because she was still alive. **
** And because she maintained that power despite her wounded body. **
*****
Sweat trickled down her forehead as Saphira struggled to wake up from the nightmare she was having.
Carmilla went to check on her when she saw her struggling in her sleep.
She tried shaking her but to no avail, all she can do was to pull her up and shake her even more.
This allowed Saphira to wake up from what she was having.
She took deep breaths as she looked at her mother, who was looking at her with worry.
"Are you okay? What is it?" Carmilla asked with worry.
Saphira shook her head and smiled with exasperation, "It is just same old thing mother. Must be because this is my first night here."
Carmilla was even more worried.
Saphira took the handkerchief she was giving and wiped the sweat on her forehead, "Don't worry mother, I am fine. Even if it keeps coming back on me, it will remain as an event of the past."
She reached out and caressed Carmilla's face, "But I am living for the present and the future."
"Just speak to us, okay? If there is anything, tell us. Your father and I. Together with your grandftaher, we all are here for you. Even my parents are worried of you," Carmilla then said.
Saphira nodded her head.
Despite what happened, the Blackbourne family didn't turn their backs on them as well.
And that is why Saphira is grateful she was born in such a loving family.
"Dinner is ready, why don't you go and take a bath then come down to eat with us? All your grandparents are here," Carmilla fixed her hair and smiled warmly.
The only one missing was her father's mother who had died when her father was young.
He has three other siblings and he was the youngest.
All three had their own families and was living close by as well. But because of what had happened, they were left with no choice but to go back to Vermin Kingdom.
Now only their family remains here because of the duty they have for the Empire.
"I understand. I'll come down in a minute," she replied getting up to take a bath.
Once she was alone, she took a deep breath and sighed.
No matter how long, it will always hunt her.
The things she witnessed.
The things she found out.
Everything was hunting her every single day.
Today was just quite special that it was an intense one.
She ended up feeling as if she was in it once again, the reason her mother had difficulties waking her up.
She massaged her temple as she was feeling her head aching.
With another deep breath she let go of all the emotions that was turning in her heart.
There is no time wallowing in pain or agony over the past.
No matter how many times it was shown to her or how many times she will experience it.
It will never change a single thing.
It is better to refocus herself on things that should be done instead of thinking about those.
The tragedy of eight years ago.
The Emperor only knew bits and pieces of it.
She didn't tell him the whole of the story.
That they will have to face greater enemies that will cause them different damage in the future.
And she chose to withhold another information because she herself didn't understand just what it was.
She got changed before coming down and there in the dining table sat all the people she hold dear in her heart.
A smile bloomed in her lips, "It has been a while my dear grandparents."
There are three of them and she felt it to be too troublesome if she were to call them one by one.
"You are even too lazy in calling your grandparents one by one," Carmilla's father spoke.
Saphira grinned and approached each of them to give them respect.
"I will have to speak with you in the study later on," Asherton spoke with her when she approached him.
"I understand grandfather," she replied respectfully.
"Shall we eat now?" Carmilla announced and the table was as joyful as ever.
But not once did they mention the name of Raynisha or of what had happened eight years ago.
Instead they asked Saphira everything that they could ask in her experience for the past eight years that she was away.