As Klaus succumbed to the depths of sleep, mere hours passed before his brows began to furrow, and an agitated expression took hold of his face.
His head tossed from side to side, a frown etching deeper into his features as the dream state gripped him tightly.
His head tossed from side to side, the frown on his face growing ever more pronounced as the ethereal realm of slumber ensnared him. In the midst of his tossing, his back pressed firmly against the bed, and a curious transformation began to unfold.
The five beast marks adorning his skin shimmered with an otherworldly brilliance, their radiant glow imbued with a pulsating vitality that seemed to animate the very symbols themselves.
With a sudden twist, Klaus shifted his position once more. His back now pressed firmly against the mattress, tiny beads of sweat dotting his forehead.
Within seconds, his heart began to race, pounding with such intensity that it threatened to break free from his chest. The mounting palpitations mirrored the growing anguish etched across his face.
His body convulsed violently, his hands clenching into tight fists as the torment surged through him. Just as it seemed his heart would give way under the strain, Klaus bolted upright, his eyes shooting open wide.
In an instant, he clutched his head, a potent mixture of fear and bewilderment contorting his features. "What was that?" he murmured, his voice barely audible, lost in the turmoil of his mind.
Before Klaus could gather his wits, the door to his room swung open with a resounding slam, jolting him from his reverie.
Margaret and Valeria burst into the room, their eyes immediately locking onto Klaus. Concern etched across their faces as they took in his disheveled state.
"You had another nightmare, didn't you?" Margaret's voice was gentle, as soft as her expression. She approached Klaus, her hand extending in a reassuring gesture.
Klaus nodded slowly, an acknowledgment that drifted in the silence before he averted his gaze from Margaret's concerned eyes.
With a tender grace, Margaret moved towards him, the rustle of her gown whispering against the stone floor. She perched on the edge of the bed, her hand alighting gently upon his trembling back, a soft apology escaping her lips.
Valeria, unable to contain her concern, broke the quietude. "This is the third nightmare this week, Master. What could possibly be causing this?" Her question hung in the air, a specter of uncertainty that neither of them could ignore.
Margaret inhaled deeply, the gravity of the situation settling on her shoulders. Her face was a canvas of concern, and her gaze on Klaus was filled with empathy. "I wish I knew," she confessed.
"If he could recall the details of his dreams, perhaps I could provide some guidance."
"But without any recollection..." Her voice trailed off, the unspoken words hanging heavily in the air, only to be interrupted by Klaus.
"I remember," he murmured, his voice a mere whisper yet resounding in the silence of the room.
Margaret, seated next to him, caught his words clearly, as did Valeria.
An exchange of glances passed between them before Margaret gently probed, "What is it, Klaus? What do you remember?"
"I... I was in a lake," Klaus revealed, turning to meet Margaret's gaze.
"A lake?" echoed Margaret and Valeria in unison, their thoughts aligning in the shared confusion.
Margaret gently pressed her hand against his back, encouraging him to continue. "What else can you remember, Klaus?"
"Nothing," he admitted, a sense of defeat coloring his tone. "Is that enough to help me?"
Valeria couldn't help but arch an eyebrow at his words. She shook her head, her disbelief evident. "Do you have any idea how many lakes there are? In the Arvandor kingdom alone, there are three. And that's not even considering the entire southern territory."
"Was there anything unusual about the lake? Something that stood out or seemed out of place?" Valeria probed further, her tone hinting at slight desperation.
Klaus's brows furrowed, his eyes reflecting a distant memory. "The lake... it was drenched in blood," he revealed.
A ripple of shock passed over Valeria and Margaret, their expressions mirroring bewilderment and confusion. They exchanged a silent conversation, each as confounded as the other by the revelation.
Seeking to guide him through his fragmented recollections, Margaret intervened. "Klaus, let me help you navigate this." Her voice was soft yet firm. "Look at me."
At her directive, Klaus turned his gaze to meet hers. Margaret gently cradled his head in her hands, her touch as calming as her voice. "Take a deep breath and concentrate," she instructed.
"But Master, you..." Valeria began to protest, only to be cut off by Margaret's firm reassurance.
"Don't worry, I won't be harmed. I'm merely guiding him, he'll be doing the heavy lifting." Margaret's words were a soothing balm to Valeria's concerns.
Turning her attention back to Klaus, she continued, "Channel the mana I'm transferring into you towards your head."
Klaus followed her instructions, guiding the surge of energy cascading through his body straight to his brain. Seconds passed, punctuated only by the rhythmic ticking of a distant clock. Then, Margaret's voice echoed through the silence.
"Now, tell me what you see."
Klaus' lips parted, his voice barely a whisper as he delved into the memory. "The lake... Blood," he mumbled. His voice grew stronger as the vision unfolded before him, "There was a battle beside the lake."
His words hung in the air as he navigated through the vivid images, "Flames! Lightning!" His wonderment was palpable, causing Valeria to shake her head in disbelief, while Margaret's stern warning resonated in the room.
"Stay focused, Klaus!" She urged him, her voice a stark command piercing the stillness.
Klaus muttered an apology, his focus sharpening once more, yet hardly a moment passed before his eyes flew open, a gasp escaping his lips.
Margaret's eyes widened in response, her gaze filled with a mixture of concern and curiosity. "What is it, Klaus? What did you see?" Her tone had softened considerably, the stern command replaced with a gentle coaxing.
A slow nod was his reply. "A cemetery," Klaus divulged, his voice barely above a whisper.
A visible change washed over Margaret and Valeria's faces, their expressions morphing into a blend of surprise and curiosity. Valeria stepped closer to Klaus, her brows furrowed in thought. "So let me get this straight. A bloody lake, a fierce battle, the unleashing of magic, especially a lightning and now a cemetery?"
Klaus merely nodded again, his gaze fixed on an unseen point in the distance.
Valeria's features hardened with recognition. "I know this place. I know where he's been in his dreams."
Margaret's and Klaus' heads turned in unison, their eyes locking on Valeria. The sudden declaration had drawn their full attention, a silent question hanging in the air. Valeria met Margaret's gaze with a steady determination.
"It's the same place the prince is heading," she revealed, the final piece of the puzzle falling into place.