A Nightmare's End

That was just wistful thinking though, it would never actually happen. Those days had long passed and there was no going back to them. "We've changed...or well I have." Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath as she went back to normal. There were things to do and no time to be wasting away. Looking at Felli holding the book in her hands the Queen nodded as they headed back up in silence. Gripping the book tightly that her Mother gave her, Felli wondered why she sounded so out of it just now but she didn't question it.

That was her job so she just left it alone as her Mother dismissed her for the day. Heading back to her room she passed Zelfin on the way there as she did her best to ignore him. Her mother had instructed her to leave him for now so she did her best to accomplish that. Shutting the door behind her she laid down on her bed as she stared at the book in front of her. "Information and Knowledge for Future Rulers." She wasn't too sure how to feel about that title but she opened it anyway. reading through it she let time go on as she eventually slept.

With days passing Xilo and the girls swapped places as they kept watch or fought Astral Beasts that attacked them. So far they luckily didn't meet any bandits or anything similar on their little trip. It was once again Xilo's turn as night hit them. Letting the moon shine down on him along with the stars Xilo watched over Tearia who was still sleeping. A lot of the heat from her body had cooled down along with her heavy breathing. She still hadn't woken up though even for a couple minutes, leaving him slightly worried.

"I hope she's alright."

They only had a couple more days left of travelling then they would be at the Capital. If she didn't wake up at all by then they would need to figure something out. Clearing some of the hair off her face he looked at her sleeping face that was lit up by the stars. Grabbing a hold of her hand he gave it a small squeeze more so to assure himself as the seat under him rocked slightly back and forth. With Xelfia , Relia and even Kirel sleeping right next to Tearia it was quite a sight seeing them all huddled up together.

Checking around the area every once in a while Xilo relaxed like that for the rest of the night. Stuck in a world of sleep, Tearia's mind wandered endlessly looking for something. No matter where she looked though she never found what she was searching for. "What am I even doing?.." She had asked that question multiple times during her search and never got the answer. She just kept wandering until she would eventually find it. She was stuck in an endless pitch dark cave that went on forever, she had been walking for days on end and never found an exit.

"It's all the same."

Everywhere she met she would eventually meet a rocky wall that stopped her from going any further. Hearing another set of breathing again she panicked as she quickly walked away from that area. She didn't know what it was or who but she felt like she was being followed the whole time she was in the cave. Each time she heard it, it was closer than it was the last time and that terrified her. With no one else to turn to for help though she was left alone. "I'll find it..." She didn't even know how she had ended up here.

Aimlessly wandering around she tried to find the thing she seemed to so desperately want to find. Step by step she made her way through more of the cave but she still couldn't find anything. That breathing was getting even closer though so she couldn't stop. She had a feeling that something bad would happen to her if it caught up to her. "Keep going." Trying to stifle her breathing as much as possible she leaned against the wall for support.

Feeling a breeze she shivered slightly as she felt the wall slip from hand. Feeling her body fall to the ground she hit it hard as her body started to fall down a hill. Too tired to stop herself she just let it happen. "Xelfia." More names crossed her mind as the lingering feeling of loneliness grew stronger along with that breathing closing in. "Relia." Pain started to attack her as more rocks dug into her skin while she rolled down the hill. "Kirel." It was so steep at this point that she couldn't stop anymore.

"Grandmother."

The breathing she heard before now felt like it was right behind her but she still couldn't see anything. "Grandfather." Finally she felt her body slam against a wall as she stopped completely. Picking herself up quickly she needed to leave fast. "Father." Whatever she was looking for felt close along with the creature chasing her. She didn't have time to stop and heal herself or think. "Mother." She didn't even bother looking behind her anymore. "Felli." She was too afraid she would see something she didn't want to see, the creature that would end her life in the end.

"Levia."

Going forward she could feel her pulse speeding up as a small light came into sight. Following that light she knew it would be the exit. It was calling to her and she reached out for it. With each passing step she got closer to it as the tunnel around started to light up. She still didn't turn around though as she eventually crossed the line. Standing outside she felt a warm breeze cool her off as she stood on an open cliff with nowhere else to go. "Huh?" Looking around for a couple seconds she tried to find the way down but there wasn't any.

"What are these?"

Looking at quite a bit of stones stuck in the ground she examined them a little more closely. Each one had a name on them that she recognized instantly. Feeling her heartbeat speed up more, Tearia felt fear run through her body like an explosion. She was looking at ten gravestones with the names of people she loved dearly written on them. "Grandmother, Grandfather, Xelfia, Relia, Felli, Kirel, Levia..." Counting through the names each one made her shiver as she heard the breathing directly behind her. She could even feel it touch down on her neck as she read the last name on the stone. Unable to stand it any longer she turned around before she finished to see a very large human-like figure standing behind her with a blade pointed straight at her.

"Xilo!"

Like that she instantly woke up as she saw shaking her body calling out to her in a panic.

"Tearia I'm here, are you alright, Tearia?"

He had heard her mumbling a bunch of different names and panicked a bit as he shook her body hoping he'd get some kind of response.