The moonlight spilled softly into Thalia's room, casting silvery streaks across the walls and floor. The night was quiet, with only the gentle rustling of leaves from the estate gardens breaking the stillness. Thalia lay in her bed, her silver hair fanned out against the pillow, her breathing slow and even.
But as she slept, a memory stirred.
She saw a pair of blue eyes, bright and warm like the reflection of the sky on a tranquil lake. They radiated love and comfort, filling her with an overwhelming sense of peace.
The image shifted, and she saw a man with red eyes. He smiled at her, his gaze filled with devotion and tenderness. His voice, soft and gentle, whispered a single word that resonated deeply in her heart.
"Lia..."
The sound of the name lingered, pulling her deeper into the vision. The man's smile seemed familiar, as though it belonged to someone she had once cherished.
Thalia's eyes snapped open, her heart racing as she sat up abruptly.
Her room was dark except for the pale glow of the moon filtering through the curtains. She pressed a hand to her chest, trying to calm the erratic beating of her heart.
"What was that?" she whispered to herself, her voice trembling.
The warmth of the man's voice and the tenderness in his gaze lingered in her mind, filling her with an inexplicable ache. She had never seen him before—or had she?
She reached for the pitcher of water on her bedside table, pouring herself a glass with shaking hands. She drank it quickly, the cool liquid soothing her parched throat but doing little to calm the storm inside her.
Feeling restless, she pushed herself out of bed and walked toward the balcony.
The cool night air washed over her as she stepped outside, the soft rustle of leaves and the distant chirping of crickets filling her ears. The moon hung high in the sky, its silvery glow illuminating the estate gardens below.
She leaned on the railing, her crimson eyes staring into the horizon. "That wasn't my memory," she murmured to herself. "It was hers—the original Thalia's."
The thought sent a shiver down her spine. These visions, these fragments of a life she hadn't lived, were becoming more frequent. It was as though the original Thalia was trying to tell her something.
Her gaze drifted to her wrist, where a bracelet adorned with blue gemstones caught the moonlight. She lifted it to examine it more closely.
"It was in the dream..." she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Unfastening the clasp, she slipped the bracelet off her wrist, holding it up to the light. The stones seemed to pulse faintly, as though alive.
Before she could think further, a voice—soft but clear—echoed around her.
"You've finally found me."
Thalia froze, her blood running cold. Her gaze darted around the balcony, but she was alone.
"Who's there?" she demanded, her voice shaky.
"I'm here," the voice replied calmly, as if amused by her reaction.
Startled, Thalia dropped the bracelet. It clattered onto the floor, and she stumbled back, her back hitting the balcony railing.
A soft blue glow began to emanate from the bracelet, swirling and growing brighter until it coalesced into a shape. Before her, hovering in the air, was a small dragon, its shimmering blue scales catching the moonlight.
The dragon was no larger than a house cat, with luminous eyes that glowed with intelligence. Its wings, though delicate, glistened like shards of ice.
Thalia's scream pierced the night.
The dragon flinched and let out a startled screech of its own, flapping its wings wildly.
They both froze, staring at each other with wide-eyed shock.
Thalia was the first to recover, clutching her chest as her breath came in quick bursts. "What... what are you?"
The dragon tilted its head, looking almost offended. "I am Suiryu, the spirit bound to the water user. And you, girl, are making quite the first impression."
Thalia blinked, her mind racing. "Suiryu? Water user? What are you talking about?!"
The dragon sighed dramatically, shaking its head. "You truly know nothing, do you? Of all the vessels I could be bound to, I get one with no memory or sense of her destiny."
"I'm not a vessel!" Thalia shot back, feeling a surge of indignation despite her fear.
Suiryu narrowed his eyes, his tone growing serious. "Oh, but you are. And it's time you learned the truth about who you are, Thalia Astoria—or should I call you Lia?"
The mention of the name from her dream sent a chill down Thalia's spine. Her knees felt weak, but she steadied herself against the railing, her crimson eyes meeting Suiryu's glowing blue ones.
"What do you mean? What truth?" she demanded.
Suiryu smirked, but before he could utter a word a voice interrupted him " Lady Thalia is everything alright ? " Said a maid .
Suiryu looked annoyed and looked at Thalia with annoying look .
"Yes everything is alright", " you can go back to sleep" said Thalia .
Then she looked at him demanding answers his sharp teeth glinting. "All in good time, child. But for now, let me ask you this—do you truly believe that your power is ordinary?"
Thalia's hand instinctively went to her wrist, where the bracelet had rested moments before. The truth was, she had always felt there was something more to her fire abilities, something dormant and hidden.
Suiryu's gaze softened slightly. "Good. You're starting to understand. Now, let's begin."
Thalia's world tilted as Suiryu 's words sank in. There was no turning back now. Whatever lay ahead, it was bound to change her life forever.