The silence stretched.

  I shifted in place, unsure whether to sit or stand. Eimira's arms were crossed, her piercing blue eyes fixed on me like they were trying to peel back the layers of my soul.

  "So..." I finally said, breaking the silence. "Any particular reason you wanted to be alone with a complete stranger?"

  She didn't answer right away. Instead, she paced slowly.

  I took a sip of water from a cup and placed it back on the table beside the bed.

  She stopped next to the window and spoke softly. "Back there, at the tree... you said a name. Nyseria."

  My heart skipped.

  "Do you know her or where she is?" She asked, her gaze still fixed on me.

  I returned the gaze. "No... I don't" I answered looking away.

  "Do not Lie to me!!!" She snapped, her sword unsheathing in a flash, and advancing towards me, only stopping when the sharp point of the sword was near my throat.

  I froze, too stunned by her sudden rage, to move

  Her sword shook due to her trembling hands. I looked up at her, and rather than an angry person, I saw someone lost, confused, looking for answers.

  Eimira lowered her sword shortly after, but the tension still lingered between us. I didn't know whether to speak or stay silent, but she broke it first.

  "I-I'm sorry it's Just-" she moved, sheathing her sword as she did. "It's just that I'm sure I've heard that name. And you just feel too familiar despite us just meeting."

  I didn't expect her to feel this way about me.

  "But I really don't know who she is." I answered.

  "You called me Nyseria though. If it was Cel'Nyseria it would've been understandable."

  "Cel'Nyseria?" I blinked.

  "Everyone calls her that. That's her divine name. It's considered insolence not to call her that."

  "Oh, I see."

  Eimira stood up. "You mentioned you lost your memory anyways, so I'll keep you with me till you regain them."

  She headed towards the door. "Get some rest. I'll have someone send in your d-"

  Crassshhh!!!

  Eimira slipped, knocking over a ceramic plate which ended up breaking and Eimira was falling in the direction of the broken plate. I instinctively reached out to her, grabbing her arm and pulling her towards me.

  We fell on the bed together, with her being on top of me.

  "Ow." Eimira groaned softly.

  I opened my eyes slowly and we locked eyes for a moment.

  Her face flushed red. "Uhm. Thank you."

  "It's... Fine.."

  I noticed she didn't pull away immediately.

  "Uhm, Eimira? You are still on me."

  "Oh.. uh.. sorry. It's just.." she stuttered.

  I could feel her warm breath on my face.

  "I-I know..." She whispered.

  I don't know what came over me, but I began to pull her closer to me and she didn't try to pull away. Her palm braced against the bed near my head and she began to move her face closer to mine, touching noses.

  I felt a familiarity older than a memory. And I'm sure she felt it too.

  Just then the door swung open.

  "Oh my... Straight to the Kid making process I see hehehe" Feona said leaning on the doorway smirking and chuckling softly.

  Eimira upon hearing Feona's voice used her Sylph blessing to launch herself back really fast.

  "I-It's not what you think". She yelled.

  "Ho ho" Feona chuckled looking at Eimira whose face was red. "I get why you wanted to be alone. He's good for you hehe.

  She continued after a slight pause."If I leave now will I finally become an Aunty?"

  “SHUT IT!” Eimira flicked her hand. A surge of wind tore across the room.

  But Feona managed to dodge at the last second. "Hey!!!."

  "THIRTY LAPS AROUND THE VERDANT NOW!!!" Eimira said as she left the room embarrassed, slamming the door as she exited.

  Now in the room, it was just me and Feona.

  "Don't mind her too much, she might appear cold but deep down she's the warmest-" She grinned. "Too bad you didn't get to feel all of that warmth tonight hehe" she said while side eyeing me and chuckling.

  "Haha, I'm not that kind of person". I said, a little bit nervous.

  Feona sighed looking a bit more serious now. "She had always seemed bothered about something every single day since I've known her. Tonight was the first night I have ever seen her so relaxed. Thank you for that"

  Feona stood up to leave the room, but turned back to say something.

  "We will be close in case you need anything- or Eimira hehe".

  She left the room, chuckling.

  Now, I was all alone, left with my thought of how things could have gone if Feona hadn't come in.

  "She was so determined to learn who Nyseria actually was. But why?"

  I slowly drifted to sleep as my thoughts became my lullaby.

  ****

  The air was cold.

  I was standing in a field I didn't recognize— dead trees, cracked earth, and a sky painted in perpetual twilight. The wind howled, and I could barely see more than a few feet ahead.

  "Where... am I?" I asked myself

  A sharp cry echoed in the distance.

  Then I saw them— figures approaching from all sides. Shadows cloaked in smoke, their forms barely solid. I couldn't move. My feet were rooted to the ground, like the earth itself wanted to hold me down.

  "Run." A voice said.

  I didn't know who said it. Maybe it was my own voice.

  But I listened.

  I ran.

  The shadows gave chase. Their steps didn't echo, they didn't need to. I could feel them getting closer. The air thinned with every breath I took, and my legs felt like they were made of stone.

  Faces began to form in the mist.

  I didn't know them, but they knew me.

  "I am here to claim back the life that was stolen from me and given to you."

  Those words came from a single shadowed figure, which appeared larger than the rest. He moved closer and his eyes began to take shape, though it was just a glow.

  I stumbled.

  Fell.

  They all closed in, hands and claws reaching.

  But then, everything stopped.

  And something even darker emerged.

  A figure loomed behind me. Towering, faceless, shaped like a dragonoid. Its entire body radiated a deeper aura than any of the others. It wasn't chasing me. It wasn't speaking.

  It was just... there.

  Watching.

  And then…

  Everything shattered like glass, and I shot up from my bed, drenched in sweat, chest heaving.

  The room was quiet again. Morning light was bleeding through the curtains.

  'What... was that?'

  "Claim back what life? When did I ever take someone's life?" I questioned.

  "And besides that, what the fuck was that bigger one behind me. I couldn't move— heck I couldn't even breathe well."

  Knock knock!!

  If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  "Hey Zandren, it's me Feona, are you awake? Come open the door."

  I groaned.

  "Why is she here so early in the morning?" I stood up still drenched in sweat.

  I creaked the door open and it was followed by multiple gasps. I squinted my eyes a bit since my vision was still blurry.

  Eimira, Feona and three others were at the door and they were all looking down.

  "Ah I see you still need time to prepare." Feona said while observing my body.

  I looked down and finally realised that I was completely shirtless, the only clothing on me being a short trouser.

  Feona’s devilish grin appeared, she leaned in close to whisper. "Cough, cough. You are a bit tired... Sure Eimira didn't sneak in for som-"

  Smack!

  "Ow!!, you bitch!". Feona yelled.

  Eimira stepped forward. "Good morning Zandren, hope you slept well, we will be meeting after you get ready, so we can continue our discussion and maybe try to identify who you really are."

  She continued, now staring at my body. "I prepared new clothes for you, they should arrive soon. Get ready and meet us at the lobby downstairs".

  She began to take her leave, dragging Feona along by her ear and the others followed.

  "Ow ow ow ow ow ow" Feona cried.

  I watched as they slowly disappeared from my sight, before going back to the room to get ready.

  ****

  I arrived at the Lobby of the Citadel, and was going to meet up with the rest, but only Eimira and Feona were present.

  "Hey, what about the others?" I asked

  "What's it to ya?" Eimira replied bluntly.

  Feona stepped up. "They were supposed to be an escort for the captain, buh it seems Ms.Aegis here doesn't need that"

  "Hmm, so where are we headed to?" I asked.

  "Just a walk around the Citadel. Nothing special." Eimira replied.

  "Nothing special she says." Feona rolled her eyes.

  We soon set off after a bit of back and forth.

  Eimira and Feona were dressed quite casual today. I had only ever seen them in their vanguard uniform. Well it has only been a day since I met them.

  Eimira wore a simple but elegant navy-blue tunic, cinched at the waist with a silver-threaded sash that shimmered slightly under the morning sun. The fabric fluttered softly with every step she took, complimenting her composed, almost regal aura. Her long white hair was tied into a low braid, falling neatly behind her.

  'All these, with a sheathed sword by her side? wow' I thought.

  Feona, on the other hand, went for something far more comfortable-a short earth-brown vest over a sleeveless cream tunic which showed her beautiful tattoos, paired with tight leather breeches and soft boots that made little noise on the stone path. She wore bracelets carved from vinewood on each wrist, and her auburn hair was tied into two short puffs at the back of her head, bouncing slightly as she walked.

  A mischievous grin played at her lips as she nudged Eimira with her elbow. "You are a little too quiet for someone who took her time to make sure she looked "perfect"."

  She then approached me in a swift motion- probably with her blessing. "Well look at The Citadel's most handsome man." she said as she ran her hands on my face.

  Eimira pulled me away. "Don't creep him out, Feona."

  Feona chuckled with a bit of satisfaction as if she got the reaction she wanted from Eimira.

  The path through the citadel twisted gently between moss-covered stone buildings, their walls intertwined with creeping vines and soft-glowing blossoms that pulsed with the warmth of the morning sun. Cobblestones muffled our footsteps, and overhead, vine bridges and wooden walkways connected upper floors like veins.

  All around, the citadel breathed with life, with Feona and Eimira helping me identify some of the animals I saw.

  Small Moss mits— little hand sized creatures with green fur like moss with a long tail—scurried between carts.

  While a pair of Luma Cats— a feline with a distinct diamond pattern and a tail that glows—lounged lazily on a balcony, their glowing tails flickering in sync with the breeze.

  From somewhere above, a Silver Hawk let out a sharp cry as it glided down to deliver a scroll to a merchant stall.

  My eyes trailed to the center courtyard, where a massive Verdant Strider—a kind of mini, human sized dragon— rested, its mossy back laden with crates of supplies.

  Children giggled as they climbed its broad sides, their laughter echoing under the hanging lanterns shaped like glowing fungi. A few Skyrune—a type of bird with a magical ability—fluttered past them, leaving behind shimmering rune patterns that dissolved into mist.

  As we walked deeper into the streets, surrounding the inner wall of the citadel, a solemn tearbeak— a domesticated wild bird—perched on the arm of a cloaked elderly woman. Staring as we walked past.

  Feona walked ahead, stopping right at the centre of the street.

  "Welcome to the Heart of Eldale Citadel," Feona announced, arms wide with pride.

  "You'll find beasts, spirit-touched things, and people who are quite special." she added.

  "Anyways Eimira knows her way from here, I have a friend to meet up with, let's meet up at the Fountain so we can head back together." She smiled. "unless you want to get lost with miss frost here haha." Feona said as she left waving her hands.

  I was alone with Eimira again. Being alone with her made me remember the little moment we shared in the room.

  Our eyes met and we both instinctively looked away.

  She looked so pretty.

  I wanted to compliment her, but I didn't know what to say.

  She noticed this, and tugged on my cloth.

  "Come on, Let's walk around" she said with a little smile.

  To think I'd see her smile even if it's just a bit.

  ****

  We walked side by side, the stone path beneath us dappled with shifting light from the canopy above. The Citadel breathed around us. Vines curling along carved pillars, faintly glowing blossoms opening to the sun, birds with gemstone feathers flitting from roof to roof. The soft hum of nature mixed with the distant chatter of merchants and clinking of tools, creating a harmony only a place this alive could produce.

  I found myself glancing at everything. The moss-covered statues, the subtle rustling of the leaves, even the way the buildings seemed grown rather than built. It was like the earth itself had shaped this place with purpose and care.

  Eimira said nothing. She walked just slightly behind me, her pace measured, her eyes not on the city, but on me.

  I could feel her gaze, quiet but sharp, like she was studying more than just the way I moved.

  Maybe she was searching for something. A memory. A resemblance. Or maybe just... an understanding.

  She was close enough that I noticed how small her steps were compared to mine. I was taller by more than a head, and while I tried to match her pace without making it obvious, she didn't seem to mind the difference.

  At some point, I looked at her, and she quickly turned away, pretending to admire a passing bird gliding between the rooftops.

  "Beautiful place," I said, mostly to break the silence.

  "Mhm," she replied softly. "You've been admiring everything since we started walking."

  I smiled faintly. "Can you blame me?"

  "No," she said, eyes still forward. "Most people who come here either feel overwhelmed... or like they've come home, since it's so rich in Terra blessings."

  She glanced up at me, just briefly.

  "And you... you don't look overwhelmed." she said shortly after

  "Haha, maybe I've been here before," I joked.

  Her gaze lingered a second longer than usual.

  "Maybe".

  She said as the breeze blew softly around us.

  The silence returned, but this time, it felt more like a shared silence.

  Not awkward.

  Just... quiet.

  Eimira stepped forward. "There's a food stall near the eastern courtyard. Their Emberfruit stew is hard to beat."

  "Are you... offering to take me out?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

  She rolled her eyes. "I'm hungry. If you happen to follow me there, I won't stop you."

  "Very generous of you, Captain."

  She almost smirked. Almost.

  At the Eastern courtyard.

  The scent of roasted food, spiced sauce, and sizzling meats filled the air as we sat at a small wooden table shaded by a canopy of flowering vines. Merchants barked their wares nearby, and a young bard strummed a lute just off the square.

  After a while of waiting, the food Eimira had ordered finally came. She dug into her stew with surprising enthusiasm, and for a while, we just ate and exchanged light banter, laughing at a Luma Cat who tried—and failed—to steal a pastry off a vendor's tray, and also commenting on the eccentric hairstyles of passing nobles.

  Eimira made a mess of her plate after she was done. For someone as beautiful as her, she does lose all cool when it comes to food, which I found kinda cute.

  "Oh, look who we have here, if it isn't the Lost Aegis" a middle aged female server called out.

  Eimira replied after swallowing. "Shhhh, don't draw attention to me please".

  "Alright alright." Now looking in my direction. "And who might you be?".

  "Ehhh-" Had no clue of how to answer

  "Whoever he is, it is none of your business" Eimira said with a cold gaze.

  "Oh my." She leaned in. "Did you finally get a boyfriend?"

  "Arrghh, Ms.Sepha, please don't." Eimira blushed.

  "Alright kiddos, I'll send over the meal of the day, on the house." She left, obviously happy.

  We resumed eating and chatting. The food Ms.Sepha sent came, and Eimira immediately dug into it.

  Time slipped past without either of us noticing.

  ****

  Near sunset, and after a while of walking and having fun around the Citadel, we stopped at a really beautiful Garden. In that garden, there was a curved stone bench overlooking a pond. Eimira sat at the bench and invited me to sit with her.

  The sky had begun to melt into soft orange and lavender hues.

  We sat on the curved stone bench which had a flowering tree, its petals falling like gentle rain.

  "I forgot we were supposed to meet Feona..." I said, leaning back.

  "She'll survive," Eimira replied, wiping her hand lazily with a cloth. "She probably already assumed we wandered off somewhere."

  I turned to her. "You don't usually let yourself relax like this, do you?"

  She looked down at the pond, thoughtful. "Not often. Too many people depend on me."

  A pause. Then she asked, "What about you? Your family... your parents?"

  I hesitated.

  "I... don't know much about them. I grew up alone. I've had glimpses, pieces. But eh… not enough to make a picture."

  I continued after a slight pause. "Honestly... I can't even say I had a life, the only thing I remember was waking up at the sanctuary".

  She turned slightly to face me, brows softening. "I'm sorry."

  I shrugged. "You?"

  A breath left her like a weight.

  "My mother was kind. Soft-spoken, even when the world was cruel." Her voice shook slightly. "She had these gentle hands... always warm. I remember that the most."

  Her next words came slowly. "It came during a raid. I was eight. She told me to hide, and I did. I watched through the cracks... as they-" her voice broke. "I watched it kill her."

  She continued. “I ended up killing the thing, and a whole lot of them right after my— my mom was killed.”

  “You killed it?” I asked.

  “I awakened right after she died, and it was so strong that the shock alone flattened the buildings around a certain radius.” She chuckled dryly. “That was what got me the name, The Lost Aegis.”

  She looked at her hands. “What if I had awakened a moment sooner… then my mom would still be alive.”

  She turned to me with tears in her eyes. “Zandren… please tell me it's not my fault.” She sniffled. “Please tell me it's not my fault my mom died.”

  The garden fell quiet.

  I pulled her closer, she didn't resist. She just fell into my arms.

  I didn't say anything, I just shared my warmth.

  For a while, we just sat there, letting the silence fill the spaces our words couldn't.

  By the time we left the garden, the sun had fully gone down. We stopped at a small tavern which was close to the Citadel's Sanctuary.

  We had a couple of drinks, and were already getting a bit tipsy.

  Eimira raised her cup. "To dead mothers and… whatever. Hiccup-"

  "Wow," I said, chuckling. "That's probably the darkest toast I've heard."

  She grinned faintly, cheeks already tinged pink from the drink. "Don't mock my trauma poetry."

  We downed the amber liquid and winced in unison. Whatever it was, it burned.

  "Okay, that's really strong. Whoo." I blinked.

  "I ordered the strongest one they had. I regret nothing." she replied laughing.

  At that moment seeing her laugh, time felt as if it stopped. I couldn't laugh along because I was mesmerized by her beauty without the coldness.

  "What's wrong Zandren?" She hiccuped.

  "Nothing... Nothing is wrong, let's keep drinking" I said as I downed the liquor in my cup.

  She called the bartender for more.

  We drank more. Laughed more. Stories slipped out, some real, some exaggerated. She called me "Mystery Man." I called her "General Frost."

  By the time the moon was high, we stumbled our way back toward the Verdant, arms linked more for balance than affection.

  We managed to get ourselves to the unsure of where we were even heading to. We entered a room after struggling to find our way.

  We fell through the door laughing, trying to keep quiet but failing miserably.

  "Is this your room?" I asked, looking around.

  "Yours...? Mine? Hiccup- Who cares?" she mumbled, struggling to speak.

  Eimira stumbled slightly as we went deeper into the room, giggling under her breath. Her cheeks were flushed, whether from the wine or the way she looked at me, I couldn't tell.

  "You know..." she murmured, stepping closer. "I've never... let anyone see this side of me."

  Her fingers touched my chest, then drifted up to the edge of my collar.

  "You're different," she whispered, almost like she was confessing a secret. "I hate that you're different."

  Then she tugged at my tunic, pulling it off half-sloppily while removing her own outer layer. I barely had time to speak before she pushed me gently onto the bed and straddled me, eyes locked onto mine.

  "I don't know why... but I feel safe when I'm with you..."

  Her voice was faint now, lips barely forming the words. She slowly started leaning in, while moving her hands on my chest.

  And then.

  Her body slumped forward, head resting softly on my chest.

  Passed out.

  I lay there, stunned, half undressed, her weight on top of me, the room spinning slightly from the wine.

  "...Seriously?" I said, slightly chuckling.

  I sighed and looked at the ceiling.

  "Jeez, don't just go out after saying something like that." I said as I moved her from my body and gently to the bed.

  She immediately rolled towards me, her head on my arm and her hand on my chest.

  I didn't push her away, I just laid still and aligned my breathing with hers.

  I soon slept.

  Sleep took us before anything could.