Elegant Soul Path

As if it had been a single moment.

My eyelids slowly, cautiously opened, and I felt the soft fabric of the bed beneath me. Am I still here? The last thing I remembered was also a bed. A hot touch, a trembling sigh… and now, I'm lying here again.

But something felt off.

It was as if a part of my memory had been torn away. As if a piece of my existence had gotten stuck somewhere else. I had no idea how long I had been lying here. Maybe minutes had passed, or hours. But it could have been days. I couldn't tell.

Had I died?

Or had I been brought back?

Was I in another world?

The answer didn't take long to arrive.

A sharp, piercing scream shattered the silence.

— HEY, MOM! MOM! LOOK! EVERYONE, LOOK! SHE'S AWAKE! OH MY GOD, SHE'S AWAKE! — Elis shrieked as if she were witnessing a miracle. — Oh my God, Avarka! Hello? Hello?! Can you see me? Can you see my hand? I'm holding up two fingers! Now three! Now two again!

I flinched.

— Elis, enough! — I groaned softly. — Please stop, or I swear, I'll go right back to sleep!

My head throbbed. I simply didn't have time to process what was happening. I only realized that suddenly, everyone was clinging to me. Clara and John were already wrapped around my neck, hugging me so tightly I could barely breathe, pressing little kisses on my face, and somehow, even holding my hands at the same time. Everyone was talking at once, words buzzing around me like I had fallen into a beehive.

— Are you okay? — John's voice was full of concern. — Is everything alright?

— Look at her forehead! — Clara gently ran her fingers across it. — And her hands! Look at her hands too!

— Let me breathe! Please! — I tried to break free from their overwhelming attention.

John kept his scrutinizing gaze on me for a moment, then nodded firmly.

— I'll go inform the royal family that she's awake.

Clara, who had been silently observing until now, stepped forward.

— Yes, go, dear. They need to know.

John didn't hesitate any further; he was already on his way. Clara, however, turned back to me, the concern still etched on her face.

— Stay here and rest. Elis will stay with you. I'll go and get the doctor.

I wanted to ask what had even happened, but I only nodded.

Elis sat down beside me on the bed, first eyeing me with concern, as if expecting me to collapse at any moment. Then she raised an eyebrow and tilted her head curiously.

— Alright, spill it! What happened?

I blinked at her in confusion.

— I was going to ask you the same thing.

Elis's face darkened for a moment, then a spark of excitement flashed across it.

— Listen, we know what you did. We heard about it. Everyone heard about it. They said that… you were paralyzed.

For a second, there was silence.

— At first, I didn't even want to believe it! — she continued, giving my shoulder a light smack. — But girl… I swear, I nearly fainted when I found out! How could you be so reckless?

I had barely caught my breath, and she was already launching into a monologue.

— Tell me, what the hell were you thinking? — Elis put her hands on her hips, looking at me like a scolding mother. — What was going through your mind when you decided to go up against the most powerful among us?

Her voice grew more intense.

— How did you think you could just stand up to the ruler? What were you thinking?! — She gestured wildly, as if trying to slap some sense into me. — Why did you believe that everything would be fine after pulling something like that? Do you realize that the entire Academy is talking about it? That we all thought we had lost you for good?!

I tried to respond, but she didn't even pause.

— Every teacher, every mentor, everyone froze! They said you had been paralyzed! That you just… — she bit off the sentence and took a deep breath. — I honestly thought, for the first time in my life, that I was going to cry because of you.

Behind her anger, there was something else. Her eyes glistened, her lips trembled, as if the earlier panic was still coursing through her. But then, as if flipping a switch, she narrowed her eyes and spoke in an entirely different tone.

— But you know what? — She suddenly glanced around as if making sure no one else was nearby, then leaned in closer to me, a mischievous grin creeping onto her face. — Tell me… what happened?

I lifted my head, staring at her in confusion.

— That's what I'd like to know too.

But Elis wasn't letting it go. She studied me intently, then suddenly, a triumphant smile appeared on her face.

— Aha. So you don't remember? — she asked, but doubt laced her voice. — Are you sure? Because I swear, if you had seen yourself while you were asleep… Even Mom and Dad left the room…

— What do you mean? — I furrowed my brows.

— Oh, darling… if only you had seen the naughty little smiles you were giving in your sleep… — Elis stretched out the words, clearly enjoying the situation. — I don't know what you were dreaming about, and I have no clue where you went, but I swear, tell me the place, and I'm coming too!

I felt heat creeping into my face.

— Elis, shut up.

"No, no, no! Now you have to tell me!" She patted my arm with sparkling eyes. "We thought something terrible had happened to you, but you were napping with an expression like you'd just had the best night of your life!"

I tried to push her away, but she only leaned in closer.

"So? What happened? Don't lie to me, I can see that you faintly remember something!"

I wanted to tell her that I didn't have a complete picture of everything. That it felt like someone had erased the details from me. That I didn't know where I had been, but the feelings… those remained.

Touches.

Heat.

My heart suddenly started pounding faster as a faint memory flickered—of something… or someone.

But before I could say anything, the door suddenly burst open.

Clara had returned, and with her, a doctor stepped in. Elis instantly sat back into a normal posture, as if our previous conversation had never happened.

But I still felt my face flush. And for some reason… for some reason, the feeling wouldn't fade.

Clara's voice filled the room gently but firmly.

"He's here."

The words seemed to echo in the silence, and within moments, I felt them stepping closer to me. A man leaned over me, his movements quick but precise.

"Let's take a closer look…" the doctor said, then gently touched my eyelid with two fingers. "Please turn your head to the right… Now to the left… Open your mouth…"

I obeyed, though my muscles were still stiff. The doctor examined me carefully, his fingers lightly touching my jaw before finally pulling back.

After a brief silence, as if speaking more to Clara than to me, he said:

"He wasn't simply paralyzed. He was held in sleep paralysis. And in a supernatural way—where his body remained here, but his soul was taken to an entirely different plane."

My jaw tensed as I tried to make sense of his words.

"What do you mean by that?" Clara interjected.

"It means," the doctor continued seriously, "that someone likely wanted to talk to him. Or perhaps they had another purpose."

"Wanted to talk to me?" I asked, my throat tightening.

"It's impossible to say. Do you remember anything?"

"Only fragments…" I muttered. "Voices, sensations… but nothing concrete."

The doctor nodded, as if this was exactly what he expected.

"Understandable. They likely gave you back some of your awareness… then took it away again."

Clara stiffened, her expression darkening.

"But why would someone do this?" she asked quietly, almost to herself. "Why… especially an angel… why would they do such a thing?"

The doctor sighed and rubbed his forehead.

"I don't know," he admitted. "But whoever it was, they had the ability to do it. And now, if you'll excuse me…"

He stood up, adjusting his coat with a swift motion.

"…I have another appointment to run to. A lot to do."

He gave a few more instructions: I needed to rest, avoid exerting myself, and…

"Pull yourself together before the camp." Then he stormed out.

The camp. The word suddenly stuck in my mind.

"What camp are we talking about?" I asked sharply.

The room fell silent, as if everyone was holding their breath. Then my gaze landed on Clara, and she answered with a wistful smile.

"Believe me, darling, I'd love to lie to you. Especially now that your third month is almost over… that is… you only have one month left."

The words fell on me like cold rain.

"However," Clara continued, "your actions have consequences. I'm not saying I'm sorry, because I think you got the lightest punishment possible. But I sincerely hope that they didn't use your consciousness to torture you. Did you feel anything like that?"

I shook my head.

"No… I don't think so."

"Well… I think you felt something better," Elis muttered.

"Elis!" Clara scolded her sternly.

"Did you really feel nothing?" she asked again. "Wasn't it like your soul was burning?"

"No… I didn't feel anything like that."

Elis pursed her lips and quietly added:

"I think your soul did burn… just from something else."

Clara shot her a sharp look, to which Elis raised her hands, feigning innocence.

"Alright, alright…"

Clara finally sighed and looked deep into my eyes.

"The situation is that you have to serve here for at least another year. And that's just a probation period."

I felt something tighten in my chest, but I said nothing.

"The ruler made a firm decision about it. Just as he decided that you're being sent to the other side of Rindanof."

I raised an eyebrow.

"The other side?"

"The more dangerous side," she clarified. "There's a camp there, and you're going with your assigned team. You'll be guarding the border."

A heavy silence settled over the room. But Elis couldn't hold back.

"Which border?" she asked her mother, a bit anxiously.

Clara replied grimly.

"The danger zone."

The air in the room froze.

The words became heavier as I started piecing together the gravity of the situation. But one thing was certain: I still didn't regret what I had told the ruler. If this was my punishment, so be it.

I stood up and looked at Clara and the others with determination.

"I'll face it. If the ruler wants to unleash the heavens on me, I'll still climb out from under it."

"Avarka…" Clara spoke gently, but there was concern in her voice. "Don't be reckless. This isn't a game. The danger zone is no dreamland. Anything can happen there."

Elis placed her hands on her hips.

"Did you watch the flash drive we gave you when you arrived?"

I averted my gaze.

"Not really…"

"Well, that's a bit of a problem…" Clara sighed. "But it was expected. Take it with you!"

Elis tilted her head, then spoke softly:

"But for now, get yourself together, because we're having a little farewell party."

She looked me over and added with a smirk:

"And please… take off that outfit. If the one you were with in your dream didn't take it off, then I will."

I only responded with a teasing grin and stuck out my tongue at her playfully. I wasn't expecting a reaction, but suddenly, Clara burst into laughter.

"Oh, girls, sometimes you can be such silly little fools," she said, her voice purring with affection. "But I love you so much!"

Before we could respond, she pulled us into a big, warm group hug. Clara held us tightly, as if her embrace could smooth away all pain and uncertainty.

"I'll protect you, sweetie," she whispered to me, her eyes shining with pure sincerity. "Nothing will happen. We'll help you however we can."

For a moment, I believed her. That as long as Clara was with us, nothing bad could happen. Then her voice changed, becoming deeper, as if she wanted to etch something important into me.

"But always keep your heart in the right place. Never forget that."

And then…

"However, when you're in the danger zone… don't let your heart decide. Only logic. If there's trouble, don't be a hero. Look for an escape route, run, defend. And under no circumstances let the mad souls manipulate you."

Elis interrupted with her usual mischievous smirk:

"Yeah, those bastards love to manipulate. Think about it—if they were smart enough to evade the law their whole lives, yet still didn't choose a normal path, imagine what they could do to someone who believes their words?"

A chill ran down my spine, but I didn't let Clara see it. I just nodded.

We exchanged a few more words, and then Clara said goodbye. 

"I'll leave you now, enjoy yourselves, relax a bit, but we'll meet again tomorrow," she said, and then left. 

I stood in my room, looking over the contents of my wardrobe. I didn't want to dwell on depressing thoughts. I put on a red skirt and chose a blouse-like top that subtly covered what needed to be covered but still allowed me to look nice. I let my hair down, allowing the dark strands to fall freely. That's when I noticed that Elis had also dressed up: she wore a light blue dress, her blonde hair glowing even brighter in the dim light. As I looked at myself in the mirror, one thought flashed through my mind: I'm alive. I didn't die. I should be happy about this. I should be happy that I can still see Clara and be here with Elis. However, the moment was interrupted by an unexpected idea. I spotted those high-heeled boots in the wardrobe that I received when I first arrived here. I grabbed them and tossed them to Elis. 

"Look, a gift for you!" 

Elis stared at them for a moment, then raised her eyebrows. 

"Oh my God! Are you trying to send me out on the streets as a stripper?" 

My laughter caught in my throat when she added, 

"Well, I'd rather be a newspaper vendor because I'd definitely break my neck in these!" 

I couldn't hold back anymore. We laughed out loud, and finally, both choosing our own shoes, we set off into the city, nicely dressed.

The streets glowed in the light of the lanterns. The special decorations of the houses, the old marble buildings, the dark yet inviting alleys... everything was so different from the rest of the world. The city had its own charm. It was no coincidence that we preferred walking over any other mode of transportation. As we walked, my thoughts wandered. Then a deep voice echoed in my mind, as if an old echo had returned: 

"That was just my reckless decision." 

A tight feeling arose in my chest. It was as if images flashed from nowhere. I was confused, my heart was pounding, and for a moment, I felt like I couldn't breathe. In my mind, green eyes flashed, sharp and cold. Instinctively, I blinked, trying to return to the present. Elis was talking beside me, her voice soothing, even if I couldn't fully follow her words. I tried to focus on her, her playful style, her laughter, and slowly I returned to reality.

The club was inviting from afar. It wasn't like an average club: the red carpets, the carved marble columns, the crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling all transported us to a sophisticated yet mysterious world. The dance floor wasn't a crowded chaos; every movement here was filled with elegance and rhythm, as if people weren't just dancing but were part of an ancient ritual. As we entered, Elis and I quickly downed a glass of wine. Then another. And another. Just this once... let a little more slip by. The lights flickered, the music pulsed, and I tried to forget what awaited me tomorrow. Then, in a point in the crowd, I spotted a familiar figure. The general. In the play of the spotlights, his face was sometimes shrouded in shadow, sometimes sharply outlined. His gaze met mine, and I immediately knew he saw through me. He saw that I had drunk too much wine, saw that I was trying to have fun, but inside, something was still gnawing at me. Before I knew it, he was already heading towards me. Elis was talking to someone, so she didn't even notice the general approaching. For a single second, I wondered. What does he want to say to me? And am I prepared to hear it? He's definitely angry.

The general approached me, his movements light yet determined, as if he had calculated every step in advance. The shadows danced on the marble floor to the rhythm of the music, and for a moment, I thought maybe it was just the wine playing tricks on me, that maybe I was just imagining he was coming straight towards me. But no. His gaze was locked onto mine, and as he stopped in front of me, a faint, barely noticeable smile crossed his face. 

"I see you're having a good time," he said, his voice deep, velvety, yet with a measured discipline. 

I couldn't tell if he was mocking me or just making a simple observation. I tried to pull myself together, and with difficulty, I managed to force a small smile onto my face. Although it wasn't customary for me to smile at him or anyone else here, now it was as if I was speaking to a friend. 

"Well, since they're sending me to a place tomorrow where I might not return from, I thought I'd make the most of the evening," I replied lightly, as if it didn't hurt at all to say that sentence. 

The general furrowed his brow, and for half a second, it seemed as if he wanted to say something. But then he just sighed and placed a glass in front of me on the counter, which the waiter had brought from nowhere. It was water. 

"Drink slower. If you really want to enjoy an evening, at least remember it the next day!" 

I laughed, but there was something bitter in that laughter. Maybe he felt it too. 

"How kind," I remarked sarcastically. "So now you're the one looking out for me?" 

The general didn't respond immediately. For a long moment, he just watched me, as if weighing his answer. Then he slowly put down his own glass and looked at me with his head tilted. 

"No. I'm not looking out for you. But I can see that tonight, you don't really want to look out for yourself." 

His words stopped me for a moment. There was something sharp in them, something too precise. As if he saw something in me that I didn't even want to notice. I reached for my glass, but he stopped my hand with a gesture. Not strongly, just enough to stop my movement. 

"You have to leave tomorrow," he said quietly, and for the first time, there was nothing official in his voice. There was no military discipline, just a strange softness I had never heard from him before. 

"It's not certain that anyone will bring you back if you get into trouble." 

A lump formed in my throat for a moment. I didn't know what to reply. Because deep down, we both knew that was the truth. 

"I know," I finally whispered. 

The general held my gaze for another moment, then slowly released my hand. 

"Then at least don't set out on your journey having already let go of your life." 

His words lingered in the air as he slowly stepped back, as if signaling that he didn't want to continue the conversation. But I looked at him for a long moment, trying to figure out what he might be thinking. Then finally, I just nodded and turned back to Elis, who had noticed that something was happening between us. Her face reflected curiosity, but she didn't say a word. The general disappeared into the crowd as if he had never been there.

The room spun around me. It wasn't entirely the drink – though that was working in me too – but something deeper, something that trembled in my bones. My head buzzed, my skin tingled, as if some foreign force was pulling me back into a memory that was never truly mine. No images came, no words, just feelings. Impossible feelings. Touches. The emerald green eyes... the cold, piercing gaze that cut through my thoughts. My body seemed to move on its own. I didn't remember what happened to me, but my instincts screamed. I tried to hold onto the counter, but the marble was too cold, too distant. One touch, then another. And then I understood. My whole body was numb, but my throat tightened with the realization. 

"Hey, girl... are you okay?" 

Elis's voice rang softly beside me, but it seemed so distant, as if it came from the other end of the world. My head buzzed more intensely. I tried to concentrate on her voice, but another force pulled me back. My vision blurred, but when I looked up again, he was there. Standing on the platform, motionless, his emerald green eyes fixed directly on me. Cold, inscrutable – a hunter who knows exactly when to strike. I looked back at him, my head a chaos. The anger I still felt towards him... the strange feelings, the touches that pierced me as if they were happening right now. The world started spinning with me. Elis was already dragging me to the restroom, and I let her. In the elegant room, everything was too bright: the black-and-white marble tiles gleamed in the light of the lamps, the gold-framed mirrors were huge, as if they wanted to both swallow and reveal a person's soul. Clear, cold water flowed from the tap, and I splashed it on my face with trembling hands. Elis watched me in the mirror. 

"Maybe... maybe you were right," I finally spoke. My voice was soft, but even I was surprised at how uncertain it sounded. 

Elis furrowed her brow. 

"About what?" 

I looked in the mirror, but my own face seemed foreign. 

"Maybe I really was with someone... while I was asleep." 

Elis's eyes widened. 

"What?!" 

I shook my head as if that could clear it. 

"I don't know, I don't remember. Just feelings... touches. No images, no places, no sounds... just touches." 

Elis sighed softly, but a warning glint appeared in her eyes. 

"How deep were these touches?" she asked, flashing that mischievous, playful smile she usually did at times like this. 

I blushed. My heart pounded in my throat. Never... never had I experienced anything like this. Elis's eyes widened, and she laughed softly. Then I quickly went out to keep the box in sight. 

"Emerald green eyes," I muttered... 

"Emerald green eyes?" Elis snorted and looked up. 

"No! No, no, no! Avarka... Are you sure?" 

The room seemed to quiet around us. As if all noise, all movement had frozen. Elis stared at me. 

"It's not the ruler, is it?" 

I didn't answer. 

"No!" she clutched her heart. "No, Avarka, please don't do this! Who knows who's playing with you, but if you involve His Majesty, if you anger him, you might really be done for." 

I knew she was worried, I knew she wanted to help, but I didn't care. I shook off her hand and moved forward. 

"Are you coming, or staying?" I tossed at her. 

Elis probably prayed silently, for she closed her eyes for a moment, then followed me. I reached the box. I didn't have to search. I knew where it was. I felt it. He stood before me. His gaze bore deeply into mine as I spoke: 

"Tell me, how many-part storybook are you writing?" 

For a long moment, he looked at me silently, then replied quietly, coolly: 

"Wasn't what you got enough?" 

My heart beat faster. 

"Too much!" I retorted, but my voice wasn't as confident as I wanted it to be. "How dare you... how dare you..." 

I was confused. The memories were fragmented shards. But he looked at me coldly, mercilessly. 

"Not enough that you've just come to your senses, but you're already flaunting yourself here?" 

I clenched my fingers into a fist. 

"Do you think I'd reach out to you, even with a finger?!" 

He slowly lowered his head, then raised his gaze to mine again. 

"I don't have time for nonsense, little girl!" 

My head started to numb. I didn't even hear what he said. It was as if I had gotten into a game whose rules I didn't understand. I saw his lips. For a moment, my breath caught. Was it the effect of the drink? The anger? The trauma? I didn't know. I only knew that something attracted me... and as I understood this, I was horrified. 

"Don't tell me you don't feel it," I whispered. 

I clung to Elis's arm, and she winced. 

"Avarka, it hurts... are you okay?!" 

Elis looked apologetically at the ruler. 

"Your Majesty, we apologize, really... she's not well right now..." 

I couldn't distinguish between my actions and my feelings. I no longer knew why I said what I said, why I did what I did. I was just dazed as my gaze searched his. I trembled with the raging feeling of how much I wanted him... I didn't even recognize my own behavior. And then I heard the general's voice. Sharp, decisive, it cut into my ear: 

"Give her to me!" 

I felt as the other arm was also grabbed, firmly, strongly. And then it happened. I didn't know what drove me. A sense of justice? The desire to prove that this was all real? But in that moment, when the general's fingers closed around my wrist, I moved forward. And before I could comprehend what I was doing... my lips pressed against his. The world stopped for a moment. The air froze in those around us. The general froze in place. The world spun with me, but I couldn't decide if it was the drink, the feelings, or the shock itself that stirred reality within me. The kiss... was just a moment. A single, foolish, inexplicable moment, after which the silence of the room cut like glass. The general remained motionless. He didn't return the kiss, but he didn't push me away immediately either. A blink of an eye, a soft hiss, then the laws of power and hierarchy returned between us. The next thing I sensed was a cold hand on my shoulder, gently pulling me away. The ruler. 

"Enough." 

His voice was quiet, but that made it all the more fatal. I felt my body tense, my heart pounding in my throat. I couldn't speak, I couldn't move. The only thing I perceived was the pair of emerald green eyes that held me captive as if they were shackles. Then I heard Elis's footsteps as she stepped behind me, as if instinctively trying to shield me. 

"You're coming with me! Now!" 

There was no question. There was no escape. There was no other choice but to obey. I was about to move when another voice cut through the silence. 

"Your Majesty." 

The general. His voice was calm but firm, not challenging, but not submissive either. 

"I don't want to interfere with your decisions, but it's my responsibility to keep her safe. Tomorrow she'll come with me to the camp, and she'll serve in my unit. I believe it's my duty to keep an eye on her now as well." 

I was stunned. I wanted to look at him, but I didn't dare move. I just stood there, my body still tingling from the ruler's cool touch. Silence. Seconds that seemed endlessly long passed. Elis's hand wrapped around my arm, as if ready to pull me away if the situation turned bad. Then the ruler finally let go. 

"If you're so attached to her, take her. But remember, general..." 

His gaze darkened, his voice carried something threatening, something deeper than anger. 

"Tomorrow you'll follow my orders. Both of you." 

The general nodded. I felt my hand clench into a fist. My anger, my confusion, all those intertwined feelings wanted to burst out for a moment, but there was nowhere to escape. The general turned to me. 

"Let's go." 

And I, perhaps for the first time that evening, obeyed with relief. He probably just saved my life. Or from an unpleasant conversation. It's unclear if what I'm claiming was true. I'm afraid it wasn't. Very much not. The next thing I remember is the cold leather seat of the car. I just stared out the window. In my mind, everything that happened that evening still echoed – the ruler's gaze, the general's words, that reckless moment when I almost... when I really kissed him. But we weren't heading to the academy. As time passed, I realized the buildings were becoming more unfamiliar. Instead of the usual route, we were heading in a different direction. Later, I recognized it. It was the castle. Does he live here?... The room was huge, yet cozy. The walls were lined with bookshelves filled with old, heavy volumes. The fire crackled quietly in the fireplace, radiating warmth into the stone walls. It wasn't very cold outside, but the air could cool down, especially inside. The bed I sat on was enormous, too big for just one person to use. The general sat across from me in a chair, watching silently. I tried to pull the blanket over myself, as if I could hide behind it, as if it could conceal everything I felt. Then he spoke. 

"How do you feel?" 

His voice was different than usual. Not commanding, not distant. Just... sincere. I looked up at him, and I saw that he was genuinely waiting for an answer. 

"I don't know," I whispered softly. 

His gaze was searching, but not intrusive. 

"Actually... I fully expected them to take my life." 

The words just spilled out of me. 

"But what I experienced was much stranger." 

The general didn't interrupt, he let me speak. For the first time, I felt like he was really listening to me. And I couldn't hold back the question that had been nagging at me since I came to. 

"They didn't take the one-year salary from the dark-clad ones, did they?" 

The general didn't answer for a moment. As if the question surprised him. Then a faint, almost imperceptible smile crossed his face. 

"You look like someone who's been knocked out. You're talking nonsense, but at least you're in control of yourself a little now." 

He leaned back in the chair. 

"Probably, what they did to you was worse than if they had simply put you to sleep. Your confusion couldn't even be painted, you're so scattered... And what's your first question? Whether they took away others' salaries?" 

He let out a deep sigh. 

"Don't worry. They didn't take it from them. Why, I don't know myself." 

His voice softened for a moment, as if he was trying to figure out the answer himself. 

"But it's possible that you contributed to this." 

My gaze snapped towards him, but I still didn't dare look him in the eye. 

"Regardless..." he continued softly, "you'll still face your own punishment for this. Tomorrow we're heading to a rather desolate area." 

Then he fell silent for a moment. Our gazes connected, and now I couldn't tear my eyes away from his. 

"But I'll look after you. Everyone. That's my duty!" 

For a long, silent moment, we just looked at each other. Then, as I was about to lie back to finally end this conversation, the general suddenly, almost inaudibly... laughed. Laughed. I looked at him in surprise. It wasn't a mocking laugh, it wasn't cold or calculating. It was simple, pure, and sudden, as if he himself was surprised by it. 

"What's so funny?" I asked cautiously. 

He was still smiling, but there was a peculiar glint in his eyes. 

"Nothing," he shook his head, but the smile remained on his lips. "I just... I really can't decide if you're one of the craziest people I've ever met, or if I am, for still being here with you." 

And with that, he stood up, as if with that sentence he had closed the evening. And I lay there, wrapped in the blanket, and for the first time that evening, I felt that maybe... just maybe... I wasn't completely alone. As if a void had been filled by his presence. And then I understood something about life. That when we lose consciousness, when we drift, when we search for someone to belong to, it's an indescribably good feeling if someone fills that void. If someone considers us important and stands up for us. But of course, this is also just a temporary state. Our true destination, our soulmate is irreplaceable. Then we became aware of a noise. The general started towards the door, and I, still in a slightly dazed state, flinched under the blanket. He gestured with one hand that I could follow him. The noise came from downstairs, and as I looked down, I saw familiar figures, the arrogant lady giving instructions to the dark-clad ones with determined movements. She pointed to the weapons with her hand, her voice sharp and demanding. 

"These here," she commanded. "Those there. Prepare them for the morning, then we'll take them up. Everything must be perfect!" 

Another female voice spoke, softer, calmer. 

"This could have waited until morning, Dahlia." 

The addressed sister didn't hesitate for a moment, her movements remained unwavering. 

"No, sister. This needs to be taken care of now." 

The work continued uninterrupted until one of them looked up and saw us at the top of the stairs. The attention slowly spread to the others as well. The general calmly started down, but I remained motionless. Dahlia's gaze narrowed as she looked at me. 

"What's she doing here?" she asked, her voice tense with cool suspicion. 

The kinder woman smiled and greeted softly, 

"Hello, my child." 

Before I could reply, I heard footsteps. The ruler's figure slowly emerged in the light, his movements light, yet everything was filled with that measured strength that radiated from him. He stopped, and with his cool gaze, he surveyed the scene. He stood before me at the top of the stairs. 

"What's she doing here?" he asked, but not me, rather the general. 

The general straightened up, almost imperceptibly. Then he walked over to me. 

"We're leaving in the morning anyway, and we'll be leaving from here, she's in an unpredictable state," he replied simply. 

The ruler scanned the room, then spoke with an icy edge: 

"That kiss seems to have been effective." 

His words almost cut into me. I physically felt the weight of the gazes on me. The general didn't waver for a moment, and for the first time, I heard him address the ruler like this: 

"Your Majesty." 

The air vibrated between them. The ruler's eyes narrowed, but the general continued: 

"You know I respect every step you take. But don't forget that I'm also of royal lineage. You have no right to scandalize someone I invited to myself." 

The words sliced through the space like a sharp blade. 

"Or to think ill of her," he added, and although he didn't raise his voice, its weight pressed heavily on those present. 

The ruler's eyes flashed. 

"And don't forget that you're my subordinate," he replied with icy calm. "I don't interfere in your private life. But you also know well that having a subordinate here doesn't reflect well on you." 

The general didn't reply. An invisible tension pulsed between the two men. For a moment, it seemed as if something unspoken also hung between them, something neither of them wanted to say. Finally, the ruler made a small gesture to the dark-clad ones to continue their work, then turned on his heel and left. The general took a step back, then turned to me. 

"Let's go," he said softly. 

We returned to the room we had come from. The general closed the door, then spoke in a calm but firm voice: 

"You don't have to be alone." 

For a moment, I stood silently, not knowing what to say. My thoughts were still revolving around the scene that had just unfolded. I wanted to apologize. For everything that happened tonight. I wasn't in control of myself. 

"You can stay here," he added, his voice sounding softer for the first time. 

I nodded silently, then sat on the edge of the bed. The general didn't say anything more, just sat in one of the chairs. We remained like that – in the silence, which wasn't oppressive, just filled with unspoken words. 

"I'm sorry," I whispered, trembling, deeply wrapped in the blanket. 

But at least I said it. He deserved my respect. 

"You weren't yourself," he said in a strangely soothing voice, then continued quietly but firmly as he walked towards the door. 

"If you need anything, I'll be in the room across. In four hours, we'll gather in the great hall. And one more thing," he looked deeply into my eyes. "It won't be an easy task. Fear raises a barrier. Get used to it!" 

Then he closed the door behind him. I was afraid. Yes. But was he right? Yes. But what reassured me was that I wasn't alone. He didn't let the wind just blow me away. That gave me strength. To now steer the wind myself.