(Chapter 72 My Birthday)
"My Lady...?"
Tempest's eyes widened in surprise, stunned to see her there. Furina, resting so quietly. For a fleeting moment, their eyes met, her gaze half-lidded with fatigue. Without thinking, Tempest reached out his hand toward her, almost as if to offer comfort. But before he could make contact, the world around him shifted.
In an instant, the scene dissolved, the walls of the Palais Mermonia fading away. The surreal landscape from earlier returned, the vast open skies, floating flowers, and soaring manta rays. Nahida had gently intervened, resetting the dream to its previous peaceful state, as if to remind Tempest of the boundary between dream and reality.
"What...?"
Tempest muttered, his hand still lingering in the air, fingers reaching for something now beyond his grasp. Confusion washed over him as he looked around, trying to piece together what had just happened.
Tempest's eyes twitched with frustration as he gritted his teeth. Without hesitation, he shifted Nahida in his arms, holding her firmly but gently, lifting her to meet his gaze directly. Her small frame seemed even more delicate in the intensity of the moment.
"Why did you do that?!"
Tempest demanded, his voice a low growl, barely concealing the mixture of anger and confusion simmering within him.
Nahida blinked, her calm demeanor undisturbed by his outburst. Her emerald eyes held a deep wisdom beyond her childlike appearance, as she waited for him to release the tension of his grip.
"I must apologize to you, Tempest, but it is my belief that interfering with the dreams of others, particularly the dreams of fellow Archons, without their consent. Such an act crosses a line I'm not comfortable with. I hope you can respect that boundary."
Nahida's voice becomes firm as she expresses her boundaries regarding dream interference. Her emerald eyes met his with unwavering resolve.
"But you're comfortable invading mine, aren't you?"
Tempest's voice was laced with frustration as he glared at Nahida.
"I let you rummage through my memories to your heart's content. Do you think any normal person would allow that?"
His grip on her small frame tightened, causing Nahida to wince slightly.
"I've followed your advice every time you popped into my mind, trusted your guidance. Yet, you won't even share anything about yourself, Young Pasha..."
Tempest's words were sharp, his teeth gritted in frustration as his emotions boiled over.
"Is that really fair?"
As Tempest's words hung in the air, the once-serene dreamscape began to shift. The vibrant flowers that had bloomed around them withered and crumbled into ash, their color drained into shades of gray. Above, the graceful manta rays that once glided peacefully across the sky twisted into grotesque, nightmarish forms, sharks with multiple, glowing green eyes that swirled with malice. The air grew thick with tension, and a creeping darkness spread across the horizon.
The dream had become a reflection of Tempest's inner turmoil, his anger warping the peaceful vision into something far more sinister.
"Sharks, huh? Are you still afraid of them, Tempest?"
Nahida's voice remained calm despite the growing tension, her tone almost teasing as she gazed at the twisted creatures above.
Tempest's grip on her tightened slightly before he loosened it, his eyes narrowing as he looked up at the circling sharks with disdain. The mention of his fear brought back old memories, ones he had tried to bury long ago.
"So, you've reached that deep, huh? Don't ignore my question, Young Pasha..."
Tempest's voice was low, his grip on Nahida still firm as his gaze darkened.
"I did not mean to ignore your question. I understand your frustration, Tempest, but there are boundaries even within dreams. I entered your mind because you allowed it, but I cannot and will not breach the minds of others, especially not another Archon, without consent. What you saw of Furina was only a fragment, and interfering could cause harm, not just to her, but to you as well."
Nahida sighed softly, her gaze gentle but unwavering as she met Tempest's intense stare. She glanced at the circling sharks overhead before returning her gaze to him.
"I respect the trust you've shown me, but that doesn't mean I can give you everything you want. Some things, you must seek on your own."
Tempest sighed heavily, his frustration giving way to resignation. He gently released his grip on Nahida, setting her down carefully. As he did, the once dark and foreboding dreamscape gradually began to revert to its previous serene state. The withered flowers began to bloom again, and the eerie, multi-eyed sharks faded back into the graceful manta rays that floated effortlessly through the sky. The tranquil beauty of the dream reasserted itself, wrapping them in a calm, soothing atmosphere.
"I want to go home..."
Tempest murmured, his voice tinged with weariness and longing. He looked around at the tranquil dreamscape, the serene beauty offering little solace for his troubled thoughts.
Nahida smiled gently at Tempest before she spoke.
"No, it's perfectly fine. Your outburst was something I anticipated. Perhaps it's time I share more about myself with you. But before we proceed, I need you to answer a question for me."
"We are friends, are we not?"
Nahida asked, her voice carrying a hint of hopefulness.
"We are friends, Young Pasha, though you sometimes treat me more like a child, and you act like a long-lost Mother to me."
Tempest said with a smile. Nahida giggled softly, clearly pleased with his response.
"Then, come closer, Tempest."
Nahida said, extending both her arms toward him. Tempest knelt down, and she gently pressed her forehead against his.
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"When I woke up, I was riding in a flower carriage. I'd just had a dream... I dreamed it was my birthday."
Nahida's voice echoed softly as the dream atmosphere began to fade. Tempest observed as the scene shifted to one of her memories. In this memory, Nahida slowly awoke, surrounded by the vibrant blooms of the carriage. Tempest's form was now translucent, merely an observer in this glimpse into her past.
"In the dream, the Knight of Flowers and his retainers found me."
Nahida continued, her voice tinged with nostalgia. The scene transitioned to a vivid memory where Nahida lay in a lush field of grass, surrounded by a menagerie of curious animals. As she stirred awake, a group of figures approached, what Nahida referred to as the Knights of Flowers. Their arrival was marked by an air of gentle authority, as they encircled her with a sense of reverent duty.
"Oh Archon, we've finally found you. The people can't wait to meet you."
Nahida said, her face beaming with joy, grasped the hand of the Flower Knight, her smile reflecting both her excitement and the warmth of the welcome she was receiving.
"The Sabzeruz Festival began, and everyone smiled as they gathered around me."
The scene shifted to a vibrant festival, with Nahida at its heart, surrounded by a joyful crowd. The atmosphere was filled with laughter and celebration, reflecting the warmth and happiness of the occasion.
"Finally, I got back on my carriage and waved goodbye."
The scene shifted to a heartfelt farewell as Nahida, sitting gracefully in her carriage, waved to the crowd. The people gathered, their hands raised in farewell, as the carriage slowly moved away, leaving behind a trail of warm, lingering goodbyes.
"When I woke up, I was riding in a flower carriage. I'd just had a dream... I dreamed it was my birthday."
The scene shifted back to the start, but this time, Nahida appeared weary and drained. Her eyes reflected a deep fatigue, contrasting sharply with the earlier vibrant celebration.
"In the dream, the Knight of Flowers and his retainers found me."
The scene shifted once more, revealing a starkly different landscape. The once-vibrant field was now desolate, the animals that had surrounded her earlier had vanished. The figures who approached her were not the familiar Knights of Flowers but strangers in their place. Their presence was somber and foreboding, a stark contrast to the joyous scene from earlier.
"Oh Archon, we've finally found you. The people can't wait to meet you."
One of the figures, with an air of urgency and authority, grabbed Nahida by the wrist. The look of disbelief and confusion in her eyes was palpable as she was dragged away. The contrast between her earlier elation and her current bewilderment was stark, highlighting the drastic shift in her circumstances.
"The Sabzeruz Festival began, and everyone smiled as they gathered around me."
The scene shifted once more, but instead of the vibrant festival, Nahida found herself being dragged toward a towering structure. The people around her still wore smiles, but these expressions were clearly insincere, masking a more sinister intent. The contrast between the joyous occasion she had envisioned and the grim reality she was now facing was jarring and unsettling.
"Finally, I got back on my carriage and waved goodbye."
The scene shifted again, but this time, Nahida was not returning to a cheering crowd. Instead, her small hand reached out desperately, as if pleading, 'Don't leave me,' here. The figures who had found her shoved her into a prison without a second glance. As they walked away, their backs turned coldly, they left Nahida behind, locked away, and her hopeful farewell met with only silence and abandonment.
"When I woke up, I was riding in a flower carriage. I'd just had a dream... I dreamed it was my birthday."
In the final scene, Nahida was no longer surrounded by people or the bustling sounds of celebration. Instead, she was enclosed within a tree-like structure. At the center of the tree was a glowing orb, and inside that orb, like a delicate bird trapped in a cage, sat Nahida. Her small figure floated, looking fragile, her eyes reflecting the sorrow of someone abandoned by the Nation she was meant to protect.
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"Mmpf..."
Tempest's eyes slowly fluttered open, the remnants of the dream still lingering in his mind. He found himself lying on his bed once again, back in the real world. The vivid memory had ceased playing, and his Akasha Terminal had shut down, casting his room into silence. But something was different, his Pyro Delusion was glowing intensely, casting a flickering red light across the walls. A familiar heat stirred within him, a seething, dangerous fury. It was a sensation he hadn't felt in a month, not since his Father was alive.
Hatred.