A faint voice started to call me. It was a familiar voice, but I don't want to wake up...
- Zuki...
- Izuki...
- Mizuki...
It seems like the voice is getting louder, right?
- Mizuki, wake up!
I don't want to... I just want to keep sleeping...
- Mizuki, this isn't a game! Quick, we have to get out of here! They're here!
Someone starts shaking me until I wake up, apparently it's Lilia... Is she... Is she crying?
-Mizuki wake up, we have to get out of here NOW! -Mizuki wake up, we have to get out of here NOW! My father... They've eliminated my father! They're looking for you! Quick, run, I'll... I'll stop them! -Lilia's words fell like ice water on my body, she is crying and her clothes are all torn, no, that's not the most important thing, they have defeated the Lich King, really? We must run, but! I don't feel well, looking at my body I can see I'm covered in vines and there are red spots all over my body, what is this? I try to touch a vine, but... It hurts! A stabbing pain runs through my body just by touching it.
-W-What happened? - I barely managed to ask in a cracked voice.
-There's no time to explain, you must run!
Now that I look around, I'm not in the Lich King's castle, I'm.... I don't know where I am... There are stone pillars everywhere, the sky is red and very hot, breathing is difficult, the air is very heavy... My mouth is parched and has a slight metallic taste... I hear Lilia recite a recovery spell but I can't concentrate, suddenly, the vines around me wither, I guess it was Lilia but.... As the vines wither, Lilia seems to be suffering...
-Just... Just run... Yes? - Lilia looked at me with pitying eyes... No... I don't like those eyes.
Before I know it, a force arises that forces me to run, I don't want to run, I want to stay with Lilia! Legs, don't move, don't move! I don't want to... I don't want to run away again! Why doesn't [Lunar Will] activate! Activate, activate!
As much as I tried to stay by Lilia's side, I couldn't. To my horror, as I run I can only watch as Lilia runs away and a large rock, no, a meteorite? I can only read her lips that say 'I'm sorry.'
Suddenly, the thunderous sound of the falling rock echoes in the distance, a sound that reverberated deep inside me. Watching the scene, my heart sank as everything around me became a blur.
I opened my eyes, feeling the frantic beating of my heart still echoing in my ears. The faint moonlight filtered through the curtains, bringing me some comfort. I stood still trying to calm my breathing and heart but to no avail, I still vividly remember that scene and with it I shiver again.
After a moment, I manage to calm down, but my fingers still refuse to leave the sheets, slowly, I get out of bed, but before I can get up, someone pulls me out of my pyjamas, Lilia, rubbing her eyes with her hands and with a tired voice asks.
- Where are you going, Mizuki?
Seeing her, I can't help but superimpose the Lilia that appeared in my nightmare and this one, those eyes... I don't like eyes that pity me... before I can get tears in my eyes, 'Lunar Will' activates and I manage to calm down almost completely.
-I-I was just going to look at the moon...
- Is that so? I'll come with you. - She said in a sleepy, real voice... I really wouldn't want to wake her up for something like this, but I guess there's no choice... I really need her company this time...
- Well... - At my response, devoid of any energy, Lilia smiles.
On the balcony.
The faint moonlight cast its soft glow on the balcony, giving it a silvery hue as the two friends, wrapped in sheets, gazed at the vast firmament. Time had passed in silence since their arrival, immersed in an atmosphere where words had become superfluous. Their eyes were lost in the moon and stars, creating a tense and dark atmosphere.
Lilia, feeling the growing pressure in the air, opted to retreat indoors. Mizuki, immersed in her thoughts, did not notice her friend's absence. The nightmare lingered in her mind, enveloping her in a blanket of dark memories. Without warning, her thoughts were interrupted by ominous whispers emerging from deep within her subconscious.
- Leave her, you should not be together.
- You only bring misfortune.
- Ridiculous, it will happen again hahaha.
- Tragedy will happen again and you will be alone again hahaha.
These sinister murmurs wove their words into Mizuki's heart, entangling him in a spiral of doubts and fears. As the silence of the balcony was disturbed by the shadows of the night, the young woman struggled against the whispers that tried to undermine the solidity of her friendship with Lilia.
- Maybe I should,' she said to herself with a sombre look on her face.
- It would be better before it happens again, wouldn't it? - Even darker thoughts began to emerge from her heart, luckily, they were stopped by Lilia herself.
Lilia, who had previously returned inside the castle, stands next to Mizuki with a sheet and a cup of hot tea.
-Here, I think you could use some. -She says as she passes a cup of tea to Mizuki.
- T-thank you... -Mizuki shyly grabs the cup and looks at the sky again.
Lilia, noticing her friend's attitude, only sighs and moves even closer to her friend.
-Are you alright?' There is no answer to her question.
- Did you have a nightmare?
-¡¡¡!!!
Although Mizuki didn't say anything, Lilia already knew what it was about and, with another sigh, she moves closer to Mizuki. Mizuki, not being prepared for Lilia to come closer, backs away.
-Why... Why are you avoiding me? -Lilia's discouraged question, hurt Mizuki more, who hurriedly tried to correct herself.
-I-I'm sorry! I-I didn't mean to! It's just that... you scared me... -Mizuki's flustered attitude made Lilia smirk.
- Just kidding, Mizuki, don't worry about it, okay? -She says as she turns her gaze to the sky.
At his words, Mizuki nodded still shyly.
- Did you have a nightmare?
Mizuki was surprised, but she just nodded.
- Was it a vivid dream?
Mizuki only nodded again.
-Did someone die?
At his words, Mizuki's heart clenched, and so did her hand.
-I understand... I was dying?
The pressure that Mizuki felt, had now doubled and even if she tries, 'Lunar Will' doesn't apply.
Surprisingly to everyone, Lilia rushed over to Mizuki to hug her and catch her with the blanket she was holding.
- I've got you, I won't let you go, so don't worry, okay? - Lilia shows a silly smile again as usual, after that, Mizuki's heart calmed down.
- Thanks Lilia, but, I'm the one who won't let you go! -Right after that, Mizuki hugged Lilia more eagerly.
Just to give you an image, while playing under the moonlight, a rain of stars starts to appear, but none of them noticed...
- Kyaaaa help, help, they've caught me!
While our 2 friends are having fun fooling around, there is a prowler in the shadows of the night.
- So nothing happened... -In the deep darkness of the night, the figure of the Lich King looms, hidden with his most powerful stealth magic he hides and his words, which would usually echo in the 7 heavens, now only sound for him.
- I had already prepared myself in case they were intoxicated by the ghostly shadow, but it was fortunate that it was no big deal, although why are Mizuki and my daughter so close?! - The Lich King always kept monitoring these 2 little ones, a bit stalkerish, yes, but that's how he is...
However, he wasn't the only one eagerly watching them. In an even more distant place, an existence starts to notice Mizuki from his throne...?
- Interesting... It's more entertaining than the other 'channels'.
-Let-me, see!
- No! Last time we had to hire a new channel because of you!
-It was so boring!