Lucian's eyes flickered open, his vision swimming before gradually focusing. The ceiling above him shimmered, a vast expanse of blue that rippled like water touched by the gentlest breeze. It was unlike any sky he had ever seen—both familiar and impossibly foreign.
Pushing himself up, pain flared across his chest, forcing him to grit his teeth. His body felt heavy, each movement burdened with fatigue, yet the throbbing ache was fading, replaced by a soothing warmth that seemed to flow through his veins.
He took in his surroundings, breath catching in his throat. Crystal-clear water, no more than a few inches deep, spread across the ground, reflecting the sky above with surreal perfection. The horizon was painted in hues of peach pink and vanitas blue, where the sun and moon hung together, frozen in perpetual twilight. The sun's gentle pink radiance intertwined with the blue glow of the crescent moon, casting an ethereal light over everything.
Ahead, eight towering gates stood solemnly, reminiscent of the torii gates from ancient shrines, yet their design was unlike anything from his world. Beyond them, a floating castle loomed, majestic and otherworldly, its walls shimmering as if woven from starlight itself. The Castle of Blue Night—a name whispered through his mind, resonating with a strange familiarity.
Floating stairs stretched from the ground to the castle, curving gracefully upward, leading to a vast garden blooming with flowers of every imaginable color. Water fountains danced with light, their droplets catching the glow of the sun and moon, creating a dazzling display. Beyond the garden stood the grand entrance, its gates intricately carved with symbols he could not read, pulsating softly with energy.
Lucian's head spun. "Where… am I?" he muttered, his voice barely more than a whisper.
"You are in my domain," a melodious voice answered, smooth as silk and resonant with power.
Startled, Lucian turned to see her standing by the edge of the water. A breathtakingly beautiful woman, her presence commanding and otherworldly. Her flowing hair shimmered like liquid silver, cascading over her shoulders in elegant waves. Eyes of deep sapphire met his, piercing and ancient, holding secrets that spanned eternity.
She was tall and graceful, dressed in robes of midnight blue that danced around her form like mist. But what struck him the most were her horns—majestic and spiraling upwards, gleaming faintly with an ethereal light. They were unlike any he had ever seen, both regal and terrifyingly powerful.
"You are awake," she observed, her gaze softening. "Your injuries were severe. It is a miracle you survived."
Lucian winced, memories flooding back—Xeran, the others, the dungeon, the beast's last breath, and then... darkness. "What happened? How did I get here?"
Her eyes flickered, a shadow of emotion passing through them. "The beast you defeated tore a rift between realms with its dying breath. You were caught in its wake and brought to this place, The Castle of Blue Night—a plane between heaven and earth."
"A plane… between heaven and earth?" Lucian repeated, his voice tinged with disbelief. "Why am I here? Why did it bring me here?"
Valentina's lips curved into a faint smile, her expression unreadable. "Fate works in ways beyond mortal understanding. Perhaps the realm itself called to you… or perhaps something within you resonated with this place."
Her words were cryptic, revealing nothing yet sparking countless questions within him. Lucian wanted to demand answers, but his body betrayed him, a wave of exhaustion washing over him. He swayed, vision blurring, knees buckling beneath him.
In an instant, she was at his side, moving with a speed that defied logic, her arms steadying him. Her touch was cool, almost soothing, and her scent was intoxicating—a mix of night-blooming flowers and something ancient, something powerful.
"You are still weak," she murmured, her voice a whisper that caressed his senses. "Rest. Your body is recovering faster than it should, but you are not yet ready."
Guiding him back to the silken bed, she helped him lie down, her movements gentle yet firm. Lucian's eyelids grew heavy, a drowsiness pulling him under.
"Who… are you?" he managed, his voice faint.
She hesitated, a fleeting sadness darkening her eyes before she answered, "I am Valentina, the guardian of this castle."
Her name danced through his mind, a melody that felt both foreign and familiar. He tried to hold on to consciousness, to ask more, but the world around him blurred, darkness encroaching once more.
As his mind drifted away, he felt her fingers brush against his forehead, her voice echoing softly, "Sleep now, Lucian Solryn. Your journey here has only just begun."
And then there was nothing but the endless blue sky, reflecting in the crystal-clear water, the sun and moon watching over him as he surrendered to the darkness.