In her small, warm room, Daphne lay on the bed, while Yarrow, Adonis's loyal dog, stretched out beside her, and the little kitten settled at her feet. Both were deeply asleep, breathing softly, as if sharing her moments of rest after an exhausting day filled with strange events.
Despite her fatigue, Daphne didn't neglect them. She carefully pulled the blanket over their small bodies, fearing they might feel cold as the rain and wind intensified outside. A faint smile played on her lips as she watched the kitten curled up into a little ball of white fluff, while Yarrow, with his large size, seemed to guard her even in his sleep.
In that moment, Daphne felt a sense of peace wash over her, despite everything she had endured since arriving in this world. Their presence beside her eased her loneliness, binding her with a thread of warmth and affection.
"Even if all this is just a dream, having you with me makes it less difficult..." she thought as she gently tucked the blanket around them, ensuring they were wrapped in its warmth.
She closed her eyes slowly and rested her head on the pillow, while the sound of the rain outside played a soft melody, reassuring her that the night would pass, taking her fears along with it.
---
Adonis was lost in his nightmares, which haunted him every night, tearing apart his sleep. They weren't just fleeting dreams; they were a cruel reenactment of the moment that shattered his life—the moment he lost the dearest thing to him.
The dream unfolded before him like an inescapable reality. A small, modest room, where his mother lay on a worn-out bed, her face pale like the fading moon, her eyes filled with pain. His young voice cried out, pleading, but the words seemed to bounce off empty walls:
"Please, don't die! I'll find the medicine... I'll find it, just wait for me!"
But time didn't wait for him. Her trembling hands touched his small face, her faint smile trying to lighten his burden. Yet her final words were like a dagger:
"Forgive me... I've placed too much weight on your shoulders."
Suddenly, the nightmare shifted. He found himself standing in front of a closed pharmacy, his small fists pounding on the door, tears streaming down his face. He hadn't managed to gather enough money for the medicine. His mother's voice echoed in the background, calling out to him, but this time it was different, filled with disappointment:
"If only you were faster, stronger... this wouldn't have happened."
Those words wove a web of guilt around his heart, suffocating him. A strange bird appeared again, with black wings and red eyes reflecting the image of his younger self, running and screaming, but always arriving too late.
Adonis woke from the nightmare, gasping as though the air had been stolen from him. It felt as if those words were still carved into his chest, heavy enough to break him. They were not just a part of his past; they had become a shadow, clinging to his every step.
---
Adonis wasn't used to having anyone in his house in the morning, especially with the lively and warm atmosphere that filled the air. Usually, his mornings were cold, silent, devoid of any sense of life. But this morning was entirely different.
The aroma of fresh coffee filled the air, accompanied by the scent of pastries lovingly prepared by Daphne. In the corner, Yarrow, the small brown dog with shiny fur, played enthusiastically with Marshmall, the little white kitten, who leapt lightly and tumbled in an attempt to catch him.
Adonis observed the scene from afar, crossing his arms over his chest. The dog and kitten had finished their breakfast, while Daphne sat nearby, watching them play with a calm smile. The place felt like it belonged to another world, a world far removed from the stern solitude Adonis was accustomed to.
He felt a mixture of strangeness and admiration, though he didn't want to grow used to it. The fear of attachment always haunted him, for he knew all too well that attachment meant vulnerability, and vulnerability led to loss.
As he prepared to leave, he placed his military cap firmly on his head and headed toward the door. But before he could leave, Daphne followed him with light steps. She gently held the edge of his uniform, causing him to pause and look at her. She raised her hand and wrote in a small notebook:
"Let's have breakfast together."
He glanced at the words, then at her face. There was something in her simple, honest gaze that made him hesitate. Finally, he sighed and turned his head away to hide his unease.
"Alright... but don't expect this to become a habit."
He returned with heavy steps to the table, while a faint smile appeared on Daphne's lips. He sat in silence, watching as she prepared him a cup of coffee. In that moment, Adonis realized that this morning, despite its simplicity, was unlike any morning he had ever experienced before.
---
At the imperial palace, the morning was vastly different from the bustling streets or modest homes of the city. Instead of the air being filled with the aroma of fresh coffee or morning bread, it carried a blend of cunning and deceit, as if the walls themselves breathed schemes woven in the shadows.
The sun barely peeked through the shy threads of dawn over the grand imperial palace, where the empress awoke in her royal suite. The room, seemingly from another world, exuded excessive luxury: walls adorned with gold, a massive bed draped in silk curtains, and air scented with the finest jasmine.
Despite the chaos outside the kingdom, the empress appeared to be in a state of false serenity. She ordered the servants to leave, all except for a mysterious woman who entered the room with quiet steps, carrying a small box of dark wood. This woman was not just a servant or advisor; she was a partner in a dark scheme, bound to the empress by an old and enigmatic story.
The woman placed the box before the empress and carefully opened it, revealing a collection of dark herbs that seemed to pulse with a strange, eerie life.
"What about the herb?" the empress asked in a calm voice, laced with absolute authority.
The woman's barely perceptible smile appeared as she replied confidently:
"Everything is ready, Your Majesty. The herb is potent, but it requires an extra force. Black magic is the key. Once we combine them, nothing will stand in the way of our plan."
The empress gazed deeply at the herbs, then gave a slight nod.
"Fania will be the starting point. I've arranged a laboratory for you there, hidden among the mountains, far from prying eyes. The river that nourishes the city will become our tool."