I got up and went to wash my hands. When I returned, Sheng Xing had closed his robe and cleaned up the mess.
-Sheng Xing, could you lie down and close your eyes? I'll try to connect to your spiritual sea, I said softly.
He nodded, then went to lie down on the couch. I sat on the floor next to him, resting my head on his chest, feeling the warmth of his body against mine. The closeness of our pheromones created an atmosphere of comfort and intimacy.
-Breathe deeply and relax, I whispered, closing my eyes to focus. I could feel the steady rise and fall of his breath beneath my head, which helped me synchronize my breathing with his.
I focused on our connection, visualizing a soft, golden light connecting our minds. Little by little, I felt our pheromones intertwine, creating a palpable harmony between us. The light grew brighter, more intense, until I felt a connection.
I entered a state of deep meditation. Slowly, I found myself in a vast ocean of emotions and thoughts, Sheng Xing's spiritual sea, also called his subconscious.
The landscape around me was beautiful and mysterious, a mixture of bright colors and intense sensations. The soft water caressed my feet as I stood on a beach, the sea stretching endlessly before me. Waves of pheromones danced in the air, creating a sensory symphony.
I took a deep breath, focusing on the mission at hand.
-Sheng Xing, I called softly, hoping my voice would reach his mind.
Soon after, I saw a figure form on the horizon, walking towards me. It was Sheng Xing, his expression soft and open.
-Aiko, he said, his voice echoing like a soothing echo.
-I'm here to help you, I said, moving toward him. "We need to harmonize our pheromones to make you feel better."
He nodded, reaching out to me. I took it, feeling a wave of warmth and connection envelop us. We closed our eyes together, visualizing this golden light that united us, letting it diffuse across this spiritual sea.
As we stood on this quiet beach, hand in hand, the sky above us began to warp. The clouds, which had been soft and peaceful, twisted and swirled in chaotic motions. An ominous breeze picked up, making my hair fly around me.
-Sheng Xing, what's going on?, I asked, my voice trembling slightly.
Sheng Xing pulled me roughly against him, his arms around me, as if trying to protect me from something invisible.
-Stay close to me, Aiko, he whispered, his gaze fixed on the sky with alarming intensity.
The beach was starting to disappear beneath our feet, as if it were being swallowed up by an invisible force. The whole world around us seemed to dissolve, I felt Sheng Xing holding me even tighter, but I could feel a strange energy separating us.
"No... Not now...!, he whispered, his golden eyes shining with worry.
Before I could say anything, everything disappeared. A blinding light surrounded me and I felt a void beneath my feet, as if I were falling.
When I regained consciousness, I was no longer on the beach. Everything around me had changed.
I suddenly found myself in a chaotic battlefield. A heavy metal helmet rested on my head, and I sat on a huge white horse. Soldiers surrounded me, their shiny armor gleaming in the harsh light of the battlefield.
They protected me on all sides, their swords drawn, ready to defend me. The sound of clashing swords and the warriors' cries filled the air, making me dizzy.
-Your Highness! This way!, one of the soldiers yelled, looking at me with pleading eyes. "You must escape, the enemy is approaching!"
I frowned, completely lost.
Your Highness? What is he talking about? Where am I? I thought.
Another soldier, his red cape fluttering behind him, quickly approached me.
-Run! From behind, quickly!, The sky was dark, and arrows rained down from the sky like deadly showers of metal. I heard the whistling of arrows flying around me, some of them digging into the ground right next to my horse.
My heart was racing.
-But I... I can't abandon them!, I screamed as I watched the soldiers fight to protect me.
-If you stay, you'll be captured, Highness! The enemy won't give you a chance!,
A piercing scream tore through the air, and I saw a soldier collapse, an arrow stuck in his back. The chaos was complete, and I didn't know where to look or what to do. Yet a strange certainty grew within me. It was as if I had a role to play in this world, as if my presence here was vital.
-Your Highness! Run away, now!, the captain repeated his tone growing more and more desperate.
I looked around, but my thoughts were confused. "Where is Sheng Xing?"
The captain looked at me as if he didn't understand.
-I don't know who you're talking about, Your Highness!
It was all unreal. But something deep inside me pushed me to act, not to give in to panic. I pulled on the reins of my horse, ready to follow the instructions.
-Very well, but you, you must protect yourself too. I will come back for you, I said with determination.
-Your safety comes first! Come on, this way!, another soldier shouted, while fighting several enemies at once.