In the quiet depths of the night, inside a modest room in their temporary lodging in Dartmoth, Lianna's lying in a bed, his head shifted restlessly, his body moving beneath the blanket.
She was still wearing the big shirt and cloak that Ren had given her, yet no amount of warmth could stop the cold sweat trickling down her forehead.
Her fingers trembled uncontrollably at her sides, and with every breath she took, her chest felt heavy, as if something invisible was pressing down on her heart.
Lianna was being swallowed by a nightmare, a nightmare she could not forget or escape.
She stood in the middle of the elves' forest, but this was not the peaceful woodland she had grown up in, nor the lush sanctuary filled with the songs of nature and the beauty of the great trees.
It was the opposite of peaceful. The trees were burning violently, their branches cracking as flames devoured them, while the leaves turned to ash and drifted helplessly to the ground.
The air was thick with smoke, screams, and the metallic scent of blood. Everywhere she looked, elves were running in panic—some were wounded, some carried children in trembling arms, and others collapsed to the ground, never rising again, everywhere he looked there's are stained of blood, pouring on the ground.
Arrows rained down from the darkness above, and swords tore through flesh without mercy. Others were captured and taken away.
Then she heard someone call her name. She turned around desperately, her heart pounding fast.
"Lianna."
When Lianna saw the one who had called her name, she was shocked. Tears fell to the ground as she saw an old elf with only one arm, no eyes, and a body covered in blood.
Then the old elf spoke again, but Lianna could not hear the words. "Why?"
Lianna couldn't endure what she saw, even though it was only a dream—a dream that felt so real.
She sobbed, closing her eyes and covering her ears, even as she could still hear the screams of her people.
Countless voices echoed in her ears, sharp and accusing. "Why did you leave us?".
"Why didn't you save us?"
The voices repeated over and over in her mind. She felt as if all the elves were standing around her.
The voices grew louder and louder, surrounding her from every side.
"Why…?"
"Why…?"
"Why…?"
Lianna trembled as she slowly opened her eyes and looked around her.
All around her, countless elves stood in silence. Their bodies were broken and covered in blood, their eyes empty as they stared at her.
Some reached out toward her, their hands covered in blood, while others slowly walked toward her.
"Help us…"
"You left us…"
Lianna stepped back, shaking her head. "...!" She opened her mouth, but no words came out. She couldn't say what she wanted to say.
Her feet felt heavy, as if something was holding her in place. The ground beneath her began to crack, and dark shadows spread like a stain.
The elves, covered in blood, slowly moved closer, trying to reach Lianna.
"Why are you still alive…?"
Lianna's breathing became faster. Her chest tightened as fear swallowed her whole, and she didn't know what to do.
"…!?"
She covered her ears again and closed her eyes, sobbing, but the voices only grew louder.
"Lianna…"
A different voice called out—soft, distant, and terrifying… but real.
The nightmare around her began to shake. The burning forest flickered, and the shadows twisted.
"Lianna…"
Her eyes snapped open. She jolted upright in bed, gasping for air as her entire body shook violently. Sweat ran down her forehead, and her heart pounded fast.
The room was silent—too silent—and for a moment, she just sat there, hugging herself, trying to convince her trembling body that she was awake.
Then she looked around, and she saw, on the other side of the bed, Anna sleeping soundly on top of Ren's stomach. Meanwhile, Silya was sleeping on top of Ren's head, blocking his eyes.
The small slime faintly glowed under the moonlight filtering through the window, rising and falling gently as if breathing along with them.
Ren himself was completely asleep, his mouth slightly open, looking absurdly peaceful despite having a child sprawled across him, as if nothing in the world could disturb his rest.
Lianna slowly turned her gaze toward the window beside her. The moon shone quietly in the night sky, its soft light slipping through the glass and falling gently across the room.
She sat still on the bed, watching it in silence. For a moment, everything felt calm… too calm.
Then, slowly, tears began to gather in her eyes. They slid down her cheeks without a sound, one after another, as she continued to stare at the distant moon.
Her lips trembled slightly, but no sound came out. Lianna slowly raised her hand and pressed it against her chest, as if trying to calm the pain inside.
Her fingers tightened on the blanket. The memories of the nightmare still lingered in her mind—the burning forest, the screams, and the accusing voices.
Her body trembled again.
She lowered her head, her long hair falling over her face as more tears slipped down quietly.
"…I'm sorry…"
The words never left her lips, but they echoed deeply inside her heart.
For a long moment, she stayed like that, alone with her thoughts.
Then…
A soft movement came from beside her.
"Lianna?"
Lianna flinched and quickly wiped her tears, turning her head slightly as if trying to hide her face.
"…Lianna?"
It was Anna's voice.
Lianna looked down and saw Anna slowly lifting her head from Ren's stomach, her sleepy eyes half-open.
Anna rubbed her eyes and sat up a little, still looking drowsy.
"Are you okay?" she asked softly.
Lianna froze for a moment, then slowly nodded her head, Anna stared at her for a second, then gently smiled.
Without saying anything else, Anna carefully climbed down from Ren and walked toward her, then, she quietly climb lianna bed and he hugged Lianna heads while his standing.
"…It's okay." Anna whispered, her voice soft and warm.
Lianna lowered her head again, her fingers tightening slightly, but this time… she didn't feel as alone.
Behind them, Ren stirred slightly.
"Hm."
He opened one eye, still covered by Silya, briefly scanning the room before closing it again as if nothing had happened.