After granting Seraphine and her companions the blessing, I received another notification:
"Congratulations. As your first apostles, you may now bestow names upon them."
It felt natural to follow through after seeing how they'd fought, and I found myself instinctively choosing fitting titles for each of them. Seraphine Astralheart, Sareth and Elara Silverleaf—it was almost like the names had been waiting, etched somewhere in the back of my mind.
Once it was done, a wave of exhaustion washed over me. I sighed, finally letting the day's events slip from my mind, and went to sleep.
---
In the midst of sleep, a sudden darkness surrounded me, thick and heavy, pressing against my senses with an ominous presence. I looked around, finding myself in a shadowed, unfamiliar place. Instinctively, I took a step forward, feeling compelled to wander through the dark.
Then, I heard it—a faint, trembling sound that sent a shiver down my spine. It was the sound of someone crying. Curiosity and an odd sense of urgency pulled me forward, and I followed the sound. Soon, I found her: a silver-haired girl, dressed in a dark, gothic outfit, sitting on the floor with her head tucked into her knees and her arms wrapped tightly around herself, lost in silent, pained weeping.
Something about her felt familiar, but I couldn't place it. I moved closer, quietly observing, noticing the way her figure seemed so fragile and abandoned. Without thinking, I reached out, compelled by an inexplicable urge to comfort her.
"Who… who are you?" I asked softly, not wanting to startle her.
No response. I waited, the silence stretching between us as I pondered who she could be. Then, in a broken, barely audible voice, she spoke first.
"Why...?" she murmured, her voice hollow and strained.
Confused, I took a step closer. "Why what?"
She raised her head, her gaze piercing through the darkness, her blood-red eyes blazing with anger and loneliness. "Why did you do that to me? I just wanted you to look for me…" Her voice grew more intense, her words raw and filled with a pain that cut deeply.
"I…" I began, unable to find the right words.
"Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! " She repeated, each word an anguished accusation. I wanted to answer her, but my throat felt tight, my voice trapped. A dark, malevolent aura began to seep from her, one that was both frightening and strangely familiar.
As the darkness spread, her cries grew more intense, her pain and despair mingling with the shadows that twisted around her. Desperate to help, I stepped forward, but as I reached out, the shadows surged, enveloping her completely. The last thing I saw was her sad, hollow gaze, as if silently pleading for release before everything went black.
---
I jolted awake, my heart racing, the memory of the girl's sorrowful eyes still vivid in my mind. "Was it... just a dream?" I whispered to myself, feeling an unexpected weight pressing down on my chest. The girl felt so familiar, yet I couldn't recall who she was or why she seemed so important.
Shaking off the remnants of the dream, I got out of bed and headed to the bathroom to wash my face. The cold water helped clear my mind, but the memory of that encounter lingered, gnawing at me as I started my daily routine. I couldn't help but wonder who that girl was—and why she felt so painfully real.
---
After a long day, filled with tasks that kept my mind occupied, I was finally heading back to my apartment. My thoughts were still lingering on the strange dream, but the sound of laughter caught my attention. I glanced over and saw a group of kids huddled in a circle, seemingly enjoying themselves.
But then I heard it—a faint, painful purr. Frowning, I took another look and saw what they were doing: the kids were hitting two cats with sticks, one black and the other white. The sight made my blood boil. Without a second thought, I approached them, glaring until they scattered, intimidated by my presence.
Turning back to the cats, I noticed that the black one, though clearly hurt, positioned itself protectively in front of the smaller white cat, as if shielding her from further harm. Cautiously, I extended my hand, trying to show I meant no harm. But the black cat was wary, its claws scratching my hand in defense.
"Hey, it's okay," I murmured, keeping my voice gentle as I tried to earn its trust. Slowly, I released a calming aura, feeling the cat's guard start to lower as it relaxed. It cautiously approached, allowing me to reach out again. I managed to pick up the injured white cat and examined her carefully. Though her wounds weren't severe, she was bruised and battered.
With a sense of pity, I ran my hand over her, using a small healing skill to close her wounds. Her eyes blinked open, a bit dazed, but she quickly calmed, her soft purrs a sign of relief. Placing her down, I watched as she began licking my hand, showing a surprising amount of affection.
Turning to the black cat, I gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, I won't hurt you." This time, she didn't resist, letting me pet her as I healed her as well. Once her injuries were gone, she gave a little leap onto my chest, nuzzling against me as if to show her gratitude.
"Ahh, you're quite the feisty one, aren't you?" I chuckled, scratching her behind the ears as the white cat joined in, rubbing against my leg.
"Well," I said, looking at them both, "I guess I can't leave you two behind now, can I?" I picked them up, cradling them in my arms as they purred contentedly. Smiling to myself, I turned to head back to my apartment, the strange weight from this morning finally starting to lift.
---
Unknown to me, a figure watched from a distance, silently observing the scene.
[AN: First off, I apologize for the delay—I know it's been a while since the last update. But Thank you for your patience. In this chapter, I wanted to explore some pivotal moments that will have a big impact on the upcoming story, and I'm excited to see what you all think. Your thoughts and feedback mean a lot, so don't hesitate to share them or ask questions if anything sparks your curiosity!]