The morning sunlight filtered weakly through the heavy curtains of my dorm room, illuminating the faint outline of the figure lying beside me. Veylara's black hair spilled out from beneath the delicate veils draped over her face, shimmering faintly with silver as if catching light from a source that didn't exist. For a moment, it was hard to reconcile her otherworldly presence with the mundane stillness of the room. She was as much a part of my life now as breathing—her voice always there, her influence like a second heartbeat in my chest. "Good morning, darling," she purred, her voice low and smooth, cutting through the stillness. She lay on her side, propped up by one arm, the veils shifting slightly with her movement. Beneath the obscuring layers, I could just barely catch the glimmer of her golden eyes, sharp and observant. "You look restless." I rubbed the back of my neck, still caught off guard by how easily she could read me. "I didn't sleep well. Probably… nerves or something." It was a half-truth, one she could probably see through, but I wasn't in the mood to explain myself. She hummed softly, leaning closer until I could feel the ghostly coolness of her presence brushing against my skin. "You're always thinking too much, Noctis. It's endearing, but it will eat away at you if you let it. And… if I might offer a solution?" Her words dripped with honeyed persuasion, and I braced myself, already knowing where this was going. "Let me guess—you have another brilliant idea to fix everything?" Her laugh was soft, teasing. "You wound me. But yes, I do. Tell me, why are you still here? Why cling to this… charade?" Her hand reached out, almost brushing my face before stopping just short. "Go home. Start fresh. Become what you're meant to be—a true adventurer, unshackled from all of this… mediocrity."
I frowned, her words striking a nerve. "Mediocrity?" I echoed, sitting up. "You mean my friends? My life here? You think that's all beneath me?"
"Not your friends," she said, her tone softening slightly. "But this… place. These walls, these routines—they're not for you. You're wasting away here, playing by their rules, when you were meant to carve your own path. Do you not feel it, Noctis? The pull? The hunger for something more?" I couldn't deny it. The thought of leaving had crossed my mind more than once, especially lately. But there were things tying me here—people tying me here. "It's not that simple, Veylara. I can't just leave."
"Oh, but it is that simple," she countered, sitting up beside me. Her veils shifted slightly, and I caught the faintest glimpse of her lips curling into a knowing smile. "You're scared, that's all. Scared of what they'll think. Scared of the unknown. But I'm here, Noctis. I'll guide you. Protect you. You don't have to do this alone." Her words wrapped around me like a net, and for a moment, I felt the weight of them pressing down on my chest. She was persuasive—too persuasive—and it was getting harder to argue against her. I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Fine," I muttered. "I'll… think about it." Her laugh was soft, almost triumphant. "That's all I ask. Think about it, darling. We'll make a plan. Together." Later, as I walked into class, her voice was still echoing in my mind. She wasn't physically there anymore, but I could feel her presence, like a shadow trailing behind me. I sat down next to Sera, who was already glaring at me. "You're late," she said curtly, not even looking at me as she scribbled something in her notebook. "Yeah, well… good morning to you too," I replied, trying to keep my tone light. She finally turned to me, her sapphire blue eyes narrowing. "Don't try that. You've been acting weird for days, and I'm not buying your excuses anymore. What's going on with you?"
For a moment, I considered telling her. But then Veylara's voice whispered in the back of my mind, low and warning. Not yet. "I'm fine," I said instead, forcing a smile. "Really. Just… tired." Sera didn't look convinced. "You're always tired lately. And distracted. And weirdly quiet. It's like you're not even here half the time." Before I could respond, Alaria appeared, her crimson hair catching the light as she sauntered over with that infuriatingly smug grin. "Oh, don't be so hard on him, Sera," she said, sliding into the seat on my other side. "Our dear Noctis has a lot on his mind, don't you, cutie?"
"Not now, Alaria," I muttered, pinching the bridge of my nose. But she ignored me, leaning closer. "Come on, don't be shy. Tell us what's been keeping you up at night." Her emerald-green eyes gleamed with mischief, and I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. "Back off," Sera snapped, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "Or what?" Alaria shot back, her grin widening. "You'll glare at me until I melt? Oh no, I'm terrified."
"Enough," I said sharply, cutting them both off. "Just… enough, okay? I can't deal with this right now." Sera looked hurt, and Alaria looked amused, but neither of them said anything else. I slumped in my seat, feeling the weight of their gazes and Veylara's unseen presence pressing down on me. The day stretched on, every moment feeling heavier than the last. And all the while, Veylara's whispers never stopped.
The day dragged on like an endless storm cloud, weighing on my chest with every passing hour. By the time the final bell rang, I felt like I had been pulled in a dozen different directions—each one leaving me frayed at the edges. Sera had been icy and distant all day, barely acknowledging me after our tense exchange that morning. Alaria, on the other hand, was relentless, constantly trying to draw me into her games, her teasing words and sidelong glances like a fire I couldn't quite extinguish. Through it all, Veylara's whispers were a constant hum in my mind. "This is why you need to leave, darling. These people… they don't understand you. They never will."
I tried to push her voice aside, to focus on the mundane chatter of the classroom or the scratch of my pen against paper. But no matter how hard I tried, she was always there, her words coiling around my thoughts like vines. When the day finally ended, I practically bolted out of the classroom, ignoring Sera's lingering gaze and Alaria's playful calls behind me. The corridors were busy with students hurrying to leave, their voices blending into an incoherent murmur. I made my way back to my dorm, my steps quick and purposeful.
The moment I closed the door behind me, the room felt colder—quieter. I let out a sigh, leaning against the door for a moment before turning around. Veylara was already there, her veils shifting softly as she stood by the window. Her black hair, streaked with silver, cascaded over her shoulders, shimmering faintly in the dim light. "You look tense," she said, her voice low and soothing. "Long day?"
I scoffed, dropping my bag onto the floor. "That's one way to put it." She turned to face me, her golden eyes glinting like molten fire beneath her veils. "And yet, here you are. Back in this cage. Tell me, Noctis—how long will you keep pretending this is where you belong?" I ran a hand through my hair, frustration bubbling to the surface. "I told you, it's not that simple. I can't just walk away from everything."
"Can't you?" she asked, stepping closer. Her movements were fluid, almost ethereal, like she was gliding rather than walking. "What's holding you back, truly? Is it loyalty? Fear? Or something else entirely?" I didn't answer, and she took another step closer, her presence overwhelming in the confined space. Her arms slipped around me from behind, her touch cold but oddly comforting. She leaned in, her voice a whisper against my ear.
"You're meant for more, Noctis," she murmured, her tone soft but insistent. "You can feel it, can't you? That pull… that longing for something greater. Let me help you. Let me guide you." I swallowed hard, her words igniting a war within me. Part of me wanted to fight back, to tell her she was wrong—but another part, a quieter, darker part, agreed with her. "What's the plan, then?" I asked finally, my voice barely above a whisper. "If I leave… what happens next?" She smiled, her veils shifting as she tilted her head. "Ah, so you're finally listening. Good. We'll start with your home—your roots. There's power in the places that shaped you, Noctis. And then… well, the world is vast, and there's so much for you to discover. So much potential waiting to be unlocked." Her words were like a siren's call, pulling me deeper into her orbit. But beneath the allure, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to her plan than she was letting on. "And what do you get out of this?" I asked, turning to face her fully. Her smile widened, a hint of mischief dancing in her golden eyes. "I thought you'd never ask. Let's just say… your success is my success. Our fates are intertwined now, darling. Your victories are mine, and your pain… well, I'll do everything in my power to spare you from it."
I wasn't entirely convinced, but the weight of her words—and her presence—left little room for argument. "Fine," I said, letting out a long breath. "We'll go. But not yet. I need time to figure out how to explain this to everyone."
Her laugh was soft, almost melodic. "Oh, Noctis. You're still thinking about them? Haven't I told you? They'll never understand. They'll only hold you back."
"Maybe," I admitted, "but they're still my friends." She said nothing for a moment, her gaze studying me intently. Then she stepped back, her hands trailing off my shoulders. "Very well. Take your time, if you must. But don't wait too long, darling. The world won't wait for you forever." With that, she turned away, her figure dissolving into shadowy tendrils that disappeared into the air. I stood there for a long time, staring at the empty space where she had been, my mind racing with thoughts of what lay ahead—and the people I'd have to leave behind.