Juan broke the silence first. "Tomorrow, we look for MJ. She's the key to getting Andrie back."
Mathea's eyes flickered with a sharp, determined resolve. "We'll find her. No matter where she's hiding, we'll bring her to justice. She took what didn't belong to her, and she'll pay for it."
"I still don't understand why she would steal the flower," Jea said, her brow furrowing. "She must have known the consequences."
"She knew exactly what she was doing," Mathea replied, her tone steady but tinged with anger. "MJ isn't just a thief. She's been after something much bigger for a long time. She's working with forces that want to plunge everything into darkness."
"Then we need to find her before she can do any more damage," Juan said. "I'll help you track her down."
"I know you will," Mathea said, offering him a tired smile. "We're all in this together."
As the fire crackled softly in front of them, the three companions exchanged quiet, determined looks.
The hours passed, the night growing darker around them. Eventually, exhaustion overtook them all. One by one, they fell into a fitful sleep, their minds heavy with the knowledge of what lay ahead. But Mathea couldn't help but think of Andrie—of the times they had shared, of the man he had become—and how they might never get another chance to say goodbye.
As the fire dimmed, and the moon rose higher in the sky, they all dreamed of the coming battle, of finding MJ, and of the hope that Andrie would return to them—alive, if only for a moment.
Few minutes later, Jea frowned, she couldn't believe her eyes. She didn't want to, anyway. The monster from her nightmares was standing before her. Not in the hazy, fleeting moments of sleep—but here, in the dark forest. The creature she had dreaded every night since childhood now loomed before her, terrifyingly real.
As she stood, her dark green tunic and brown shawl billowed in the wind as she tried to convince herself it was just an illusion, a trick of the shadows cast by the forest canopy. But deep down, she knew better. This was no mirage. Her chest heaved as the icy claws of fear gripped her lungs. How could this be happening?
"Are you guys seeing what I'm seeing?" Jea's voice barely escaped her throat, trembling as though the words themselves carried her fear. Juan looked at her with a small frown and proceeded to sleep.
Mathea yawned and turned, her glowing necklace catching the dim light. "What are you talking about, Jea?"
Athena, ever sharp and pragmatic, narrowed her eyes at Jea. "What's gotten into you, now?"
Jea gestured frantically toward the clearing. "That! That thing! The beast from my nightmares. It's right there!"
Athena followed her gaze, then frowned. "Jea, it's just a goat. A scruffy one, but a goat all the same."
"That's not a goat!" Jea yelled, her voice breaking. The sheer panic in her tone sent a shiver through Mathea, who took a cautious step back.
"What do you mean?" Mathea asked, her brow furrowing deeply. Her fingers tightened around her necklace, its glow intensifying as if responding to her unease.
Jea's words tumbled out in a frantic rush. "That's AdanLeshy. It's not just a monster—it's him. It's my father's face… his eyes… Oh gods, why aren't you seeing this?"
The name alone was enough to silence the group momentarily. AdanLeshy—an ancient, twisted creature of legend. Masculine, humanoid, and predatory, it was said to take on the likeness of its victim's worst fears. It could warp its size and shape, manipulating reality to feed on terror.
Mathea's expression darkened. She had heard the tales before, but seeing Jea so unhinged stirred unease deep in her gut.
"Jea," Athena said, her voice firm but careful, "you need to calm down. Whatever it is, we'll deal with it, but you're scaring everyone."
"Calm down?!" Jea shrieked, backing away from the clearing. "Do you even know what this thing can do? It feeds on fear—on my fear! I'm not crazy! I've seen it a thousand times in my dreams!"
Before Athena could respond, Jea's panic spiraled further. She clawed at her arms, as though trying to wake herself from this nightmare, and staggered dangerously close to the edge of the hill.
"Jea, stop!" Athena yelled, her magic sizzling to life in her hands.
Mathea shouted from a safe distance, "Don't use your magic! She's reacting to it—it's making her worse!"
Athena cursed under her breath and extinguished the flickering light around her fingers. Her muscles tensed as she assessed the situation. Jea stood teetering at the edge, her terror blinding her to the abyss behind her.
Mathea's mind raced. Summoning wind magic was risky here; one wrong move could send Jea plummeting. But standing idle wasn't an option either. She glanced at Athena. "We need to work together. If she falls…"
"I know," Athena snapped. She hated feeling helpless, but this wasn't a situation she could fight her way through.
Jea's screams grew louder, echoing through the clearing. Yhan Yhan, the lion companion, roared, pacing anxiously, while Janna, the small dragon, hissed and flapped her wings in agitation. The animals seemed to sense Jea's distress but couldn't understand it.
"Jea, listen to me!" Athena shouted, taking a cautious step forward. Her voice was commanding, cutting through Jea's cries. "You're stronger than this! Whatever you're seeing isn't real—it's in your head!"
"It's real!" Jea screamed, her voice raw. Tears streamed down her face as she clawed at her temples. "It's him—it's always him! He's going to take all of you away—like in the dreams!"
Athena's stomach churned. They were running out of time. Every second Jea spent spiraling brought her closer to the cliff's edge.
Mathea tightened her grip on her necklace. It pulsed with energy, and she felt a strange sense of clarity. "Jea, look at me!" she called, her voice softer but steady.
Jea hesitated, her wide, tear-filled eyes locking onto Mathea.
"You're not alone," Mathea said gently, stepping closer with measured caution. "We're here. I'm here. You've faced this before, haven't you? And you've survived every time."
Jea's breathing hitched, her body trembling. Mathea's words seemed to anchor her, if only slightly.
Athena seized the moment, taking another step forward. "That's right. Whatever this thing is, it doesn't control you. You're in charge, Jea. Not it."
The beast in Jea's vision snarled, its grotesque form flickering and shifting, as though reacting to the strength in her companions' voices. Jea blinked, her terror giving way to confusion. The shadows around her seemed less oppressive, less real.
"I…" Jea whispered, her voice shaky but no longer frantic.
"You're stronger than your fears," Mathea said firmly. "Now, take my hand." She extended her arm, her glowing necklace casting a soft light over Jea's pale face.
Slowly, hesitantly, Jea reached out. The moment her fingers brushed Mathea's, a surge of warmth coursed through her. The shadows around her dissipated, and the monstrous visage of AdanLeshy faded into nothingness.
Jea collapsed to her knees, sobbing in relief. Athena and Mathea rushed to her side, steadying her before she could fall further.
"It's okay," Mathea whispered, holding Jea close. "You're safe now. We've got you."