After weeks of intense training, Phoenix lay in her cot, hoping to sleep, but alas, peaceful sleep had been erased from her life ever since that incident.
The nightmare began in a haze, the soft strains of music swelling in the distance as the scene came into focus. Phoenix was there, a vibrant 17-year-old vampiress, her black hair cascading down her back in soft waves.
The square of the Valeria Kingdom's central gathering was alive with festivities, the air thick with the scent of spiced wine, roasted meats, and freshly baked pastries. Lanterns cast a golden glow over the jubilant crowd, and laughter rose and fell like the tide.
Phoenix's laugh was the brightest of all, ringing out as she spun in a playful dance with the children who tugged at her hands. Her crimson dress swirled around her, and her smile was infectious.
