A Dream.
Golderine's View
Golderine finished her homework and stretched, feeling both accomplished and drained. Deciding she deserved a break, she wandered into the kitchen. The savory aroma of Aunt Mariam's famous beef stew greeted her like a warm embrace. Her stomach grumbled audibly, as if it were trying to join the conversation.
"Aunt Mariam, something smells heavenly in here!" Golderine exclaimed, wrapping her arms around her aunt in a quick hug.
Aunt Mariam turned from the stove, her face glowing with a mix of affection and humor. Stirring the bubbling pot with her wooden spoon, she said, "I made beef stew, but don't think for a second you'll get any before dinner!"
Golderine gasped in mock offense, her eyes twinkling. "How did you know I was going to ask for a taste?"
Lucien with smile, stood in front of Golderine and said while chuckling "Your stomach gave you away. It's growling so loud, it's like there's a lion pacing in there!"
Everyone burst into laughter, the kind of laughter that fills a house with warmth. Aunt Mariam shook her head, her own chuckles blending with theirs. "Well, before you even think about sneaking a spoonful, Gold , you'd better change out of that school uniform."
Golderine groaned theatrically, her lips curling into a grin. "Fine, fine. But only because I'm a responsible member of this household," she said with exaggerated grandeur, placing her dishes into the dishwasher with a flourish.
As she left the kitchen, the comforting hum of family life followed her. The sounds of Aunt Mariam's humming as she cooked, Lucien's pencil scratching against paper, and the bubbling stew felt like a symphony of home.
Upstairs in her room, Golderine changed into her cozy sweater and jeans, taking a moment to glance out of her window. The evening sky was painted in hues of amber and lavender, the perfect backdrop to the warmth that filled her heart. Dinner wasn't just about food; it was about the love that came with it, the moments that turned an ordinary day into something extraordinary.
She smiled, already looking forward to sitting around the dinner table with Aunt Mariam and Lucien sharing stories and laughter over steaming bowls of stew. Life, she thought, was beautiful in its simplicity.
Soon Golderine went to sleep and the only Lucien and Aunt Mariam were left.
________________________________________
Lucien's View
"Please look after her and make sure no harm comes to her. I'll be back by morning, long before she even notices I'm gone," Aunt Mariam said, tucking a vial of Nightmare Potion into her pocket.
"Golderine is in safe hands. You don't need to worry," Lucien replied confidently. "No one will even dare to enter, not after you've spread your Death aura Emm. Even ordinary people will feel the chill and think this place is haunted—some might even faint from fear."
A faint smile tugged at Aunt Mariam's lips. "You can sense my aura? It's been a while since I last released it."
Lucien shrugged, leaning against the doorway. "It's hard to miss. But tell me, Aunt Mariam, how does a woman with a heart as unpredictable as yours—cruel one moment and kind the next—become the general of a hundred thousand soldiers?"
Aunt Mariam's eyes glinted with a mixture of pride and sadness. "They say cruelty is a requirement to lead an army, but I disagree. To command loyalty, one must possess wisdom, bravery, and kindness, with just a touch of cruelty—used wisely and for the right reasons."
"No wonder your soldiers would follow you into the jaws of death," Lucien said with a hint of admiration. "You truly are remarkable. Anyway, you can leave now. I'll make sure Golderine is safe. You have my word."
The moment Lucien finished speaking, Aunt Mariam gave him a brief, approving nod before vanishing into the night.
Lucien sighed, glancing toward the room where Golderine rested. He could hear her steady breathing, a small reminder of his responsibility. Despite his nonchalant demeanor, he felt the weight of Aunt Mariam's trust settle heavily on his shoulders.
The house was eerily quiet, the oppressive aura left behind by Aunt Mariam acting as an invisible sentinel. Lucien smirked to himself. Even without her presence, the place practically screamed danger to anyone foolish enough to approach.
"Wisdom, bravery, kindness... and a little cruelty," he murmured, repeating her words. "Perhaps there's more to being a leader than just brute force."
With that, Lucien settled into the shadows, his sharp eyes scanning the perimeter. No harm would come to Golderine on his watch. Aunt Mariam would return to find everything just as she left it—perhaps even better.
________________________________________
Golderine's view
Golderine drifted into a serene slumber, her breathing soft and steady, cradled by the tranquility of the night. Dreams often whispered to her like gentle winds, painting her world in colors of peace. But this dream was unlike any other. It wrapped around her like a cocoon, vivid and tangible, as if her very soul had been summoned to a place beyond comprehension.
She gasped as her surroundings shifted. The golden light of her garden vanished, and she stood in an ethereal expanse. Above her, the sky was a magnificent tapestry of swirling gold and silver, speckled with stars that gleamed so brightly they seemed within reach. Beneath her feet, a crystalline surface pulsed gently, alive with unseen energy, its translucent glow casting soft reflections of her awestruck face.
"Where… am I?" she whispered, her voice a fragile echo in the vast silence.
"This is the Liminal Realm," a voice replied, deep and resonant, as though it carried the weight of eternity.
She spun around, searching for the speaker, but there was no one. The voice seemed to emanate from the very air, surrounding her like a warm embrace.
"Golderine," it continued, "you are here because the forces of nature have chosen you, you are the Goddess of Nature and Moon . You are destined to command the elements and weave the rhythms of the universe."
Before she could respond, the crystalline ground beneath her shimmered and began to change. Vines unfurled at her feet, weaving intricate patterns of green. Flowers bloomed, their petals glowing faintly with otherworldly hues, while ancient trees sprouted in the blink of an eye, their branches reaching skyward. A gust of wind encircled her, carrying the scent of rain-soaked earth and the rustling whispers of a thousand leaves.
"You are the Keeper of Nature's Power," the voice declared. "The forests, rivers, winds, and skies shall bow to your will."
A surge of energy coursed through her veins. Her hands glowed green as vines coiled up her arms, their thorns melting into symbols of strength etched onto her skin. She raised a trembling hand, and an ancient oak erupted from the crystalline surface before her, its bark shimmering with a life she had never seen.
Curious, she reached out to touch it, but the tree froze under her fingers, encased in a sudden sheath of ice. Startled, she stepped back, only to see the ice melt into flames. Fire licked at the base of the oak, growing fiercely. Panic surged within her, and she raised her hands defensively. A powerful gust of wind shot from her palms, extinguishing the flames, followed by a rush of water that washed the charred surface clean.
Her breath quickened as realization dawned. The elements answered her. She closed her eyes, focusing, and felt the winds swirl at her command. The waters below rippled in response to her thoughts. With a wave of her hand, the oak bloomed anew, vibrant and unyielding.
"Mastery over nature's elements is only part of your calling," the voice spoke again.
The sky above began to change. The gold and silver swirls dimmed, replaced by a colossal moon that bathed the landscape in a radiant, silver glow. Its light touched her, wrapping her in a soft, ethereal warmth.
"The moon's power flows through you as well, Golderine. You are the Keeper of the Moon's Might."
A column of moonlight descended, engulfing her. She felt her feet leave the ground as silvery energy poured into her, weaving itself with the vibrant green of nature's power. The pendant around her neck began to glow, transforming into a crystalline crescent moon entwined with delicate vines.
The voice continued, calm and commanding. "The moon grants you dominion over tides, shadows, and the mysteries of light and darkness. You are the guardian of balance, the beacon in the night."
She stood on a storm-tossed shore, calming raging seas with a flick of her wrist, the tides bending to her will.
Shadows curled at her feet, forming barriers of protection and veils of concealment, shielding her from unseen foes.
A celestial bow of silver light appeared in her hands, its arrows crafted from pure moonlight. She fired one, and it split the heavens, illuminating the darkest corners of existence.
In her grasp, the phases of the moon shifted seamlessly. Each phase unlocked new abilities—stealth in the crescent, clarity under the full moon, and strength during the gibbous.
Her transformation was complete. Her hair, once dark, now shimmered with streaks of rosegold and silver, flowing like liquid light. Her eyes reflected the stars, and her movements exuded an elegance that seemed otherworldly. She felt the pull of the tides, the rhythm of nature, and the moon's whisper in her soul.
"Embrace these gifts, Goddess" the voice urged, softening. "But know this: great power demands greater control. Darkness will rise to challenge you, seeking to shatter the union of nature and the moon. You must master your emotions, for they are the keys to your strength—and will bring doom to you life and your loved ones ."
As the voice faded, the world pulsed with renewed vitality. She descended gently to the crystalline ground, her heart steady and her mind alight with purpose.
The scene around her began to dissolve. When she opened her eyes, she was back in the garden. But it was transformed. The flowers glowed faintly with moonlight, their petals shimmering with life. The trees whispered ancient secrets, their branches swaying as though greeting her return. The air hummed with power.
She woke up from the dream and closed her eyes again,not aware that blood red necklace that Lucien gave her was taken off and putted under her pillow , unnoticed. There was now a crescent moon entwined with vines necklace that radiated with power and was on her neck.