NOVEL WEB Vol 5. Chapter 94: The Psychologist
On a desolate, ruined land, a man staggered forward, dragging his battered body with great difficulty.
Beneath his feet lay countless corpses, and his shoes were soaked with sticky blood and torn flesh.
The brighter the light around him grew, the more blurred his vision became. His body wavered, as if ready to collapse at any moment.
Slowly, he raised his hand, spreading his fingers as though trying to grasp something ahead.
Suddenly, faint, ethereal figures began to appear before him, one after another.
They transitioned from blurry to clear, standing in front of him, their expressions filled with disappointment.
"Boy, you were supposed to save them."
"Captain, why didn't you succeed? You used to be able to."
"Leon, you failed to protect Hefei. You promised me, but you didn't keep your word."
As the voices fell, the figures disappeared one by one.
But the accusations directed at the man were far from over.
"My dear husband, we've lost. The fate of the Silver Dragon Clan should never have been entrusted to you."
"Silver Prince, is this the end? It seems you're no more the prophesied 'Child of Thunder' than I am."
"Brother, you failed to protect anything. Nothing at all."
"Dad, why is it so cold? Mumu feels so cold..."
"Mumu is scared. Why didn't you come to hold me...?"
"My father never failed, but everyone is gone. Grandpa Taggar, Grandma Charlotte, Aunt Helena, Aunt Isha, and even—"
"Rosvisser!"
Leon jolted awake, sitting upright in bed. His right hand clutched the blanket tightly as he gasped for air.
His pupils were dilated, and cold sweat drenched the sheets beneath him. The nightmare had shaken him to his core.
But no matter how vivid the dreams felt, the quiet environment around him reminded him that it was all just a dream.
Click.
The bedside lamp turned on.
A gentle hand cradled Leon's face, guiding him to lean into the warmth of his wife's embrace.
Her silver hair cascaded around him as she intertwined her fingers with his, feeling his still-steady pulse.
Rosvisser lowered her gaze, planting a soft kiss on his forehead as she spoke tenderly,
"It's okay. It was just a dream. I'm here. Don't be afraid."
She comforted him with practiced ease, a sign that this wasn't the first time such an incident had occurred.
Since their brief conversation in the courtyard, Leon's nightmares had only worsened.
Previously, they occurred about three times a week. Now, it was every single night—sometimes even during naps.
Leon's mental state reflected his torment, and Rosvisser felt his suffering deeply.
She had arranged for the Silver Dragon Clan's apothecary to prepare calming remedies and tried to make Leon as comfortable as possible before bed.
Nothing worked.
The nightmares still dragged him into their depths, and Leon described them as feeling less like dreams and more like a surreal blend of reality and illusion forcefully thrust into his mind.
The pain they caused wasn't just from the vivid, horrific scenes he experienced. The lingering psychological weight after waking was unbearable.
Caught between reality and fantasy, Leon felt himself losing his grip on what was real.
After calming down slightly, Leon patted Rosvisser's shoulder.
"I'm going to wash my face."
"Alright."
Leon threw off the blanket and got out of bed.
In the bathroom, he turned on the faucet and splashed cold water on his face. The chill refreshed him momentarily, but the shadow of the nightmare still lingered.
He rested his hands on the sink, staring at his reflection in the mirror.
His damp hair clung to his forehead, droplets trailing down his dark locks. His face bore the exhaustion of several sleepless nights.
"What's happening to me?" he murmured.
As he spoke, a faint blue glow flickered in the mirror.
Startled, Leon blinked and leaned closer to investigate.
But upon closer inspection, he realized the glow wasn't from the mirror—it was emanating from the scar on his brow.
The scar, a relic from his time serving in the dragon military, was subtle and had once added a rugged charm to his appearance.
Rosvisser had often admired it when they first met.
But now, the scar was faintly glowing blue.
Thinking it ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ was his imagination, Leon rubbed his eyes and looked again. The glow was gone.
"Maybe I'm just seeing things," he muttered.
With his lack of sleep and the strain of the nightmares, hallucinations weren't surprising.
Leon brushed it off and returned to bed. After exchanging a few words with Rosvisser, they kissed goodnight and drifted back to sleep.
The following morning, Leon woke up groggily, his routine delayed by his poor sleep.
By the time he finished freshening up, Rosvisser was waiting for him at the door.
Dressed in a greenish-blue robe and holding a white-gold towel, Leon tilted his head in confusion.
"Is something wrong?"
"My sister is here."
Leon scratched his head. "Big Sister Isha? Why is she here? Well, let's go greet her."
"She's not here as a guest."
Leon froze. "Not as a guest? Then...?"
Ten minutes later, in the palace hall:
"A psychologist?"
Leon stared in surprise at the elderly woman seated before him. Her refined posture, graceful movements, and gold-rimmed glasses exuded an air of authority.
"That's right," Isha replied matter-of-factly. "When Little Ros wrote to me about your nightmares and how nothing seemed to work, I went to Sky City to bring you the best and most renowned psychologist in all of Dragonkind—Dr. Rachel. Thank me later."
Leon blinked, then chuckled wryly, shaking his head. For a better reading experience, visit M(VLEMPYR).
"Nightmares aren't exactly a psychological issue, are they?"
Isha sighed. "Who knows? But since nothing else has worked, it won't hurt to try this, right?"
Appreciating her good intentions, Leon nodded.
"Alright. How do we begin? What do I need to do?"
Isha turned to Dr. Rachel, who responded in a gentle voice.
"Just lie down and relax, Your Highness. Don't overthink it."
"Understood."
Leon lay down on a plush sofa, placing his hands on his abdomen as he closed his eyes.
Dr. Rachel sat beside him, beginning a calming conversation that felt more like casual chatter between friends.
Meanwhile, Rosvisser and Isha stood nearby, observing the session.
Rosvisser folded her arms and leaned toward Isha, whispering,
"Do you think this will actually work?"
"Who knows? But you don't want your husband suffering like this forever, do you?"
"No... I guess this is worth a try."
The sisters watched as Leon's expression gradually softened, his tone growing slower and more relaxed.
"It's working...," Rosvisser murmured, astonished.
"She's incredible. She managed to calm him down already," Isha whispered back.
Dr. Rachel glanced over and reassured them,
"This isn't hypnosis. I'm simply guiding His Highness into his subconscious to uncover the root of his nightmares. Once we find it, we can address the cause."
"Thank you, Doctor," Rosvisser replied.
Dr. Rachel then turned her attention back to Leon.
"Now, Your Highness, I want you to recall the most troubling aspects of your dream. You may feel fear in reality, but here, nothing can harm you. Trust in yourself to face and conquer this."
Under her guidance, Leon began to respond. But his reactions weren't entirely positive.
Sweat formed on his forehead, his fists clenched tightly, and his breathing grew ragged.
Rosvisser's heart raced with worry.
"Is he okay? This looks just like when he's in the dream."
Dr. Rachel's voice remained calm but firm.
"The dream's impact on him is profound. I'll try to bring him out now."
As Rachel worked to wake Leon, Rosvisser and Isha watched anxiously. After a tense moment, Leon's expression finally relaxed, and his breathing steadied.
"He's fine now. He'll wake up shortly," Rachel assured them.
Isha let out a breath of relief. "So, Doctor, what's wrong with him?"
Dr. Rachel shook her head. "This doesn't seem to be purely psychological. I'm afraid I can't provide a solution."
Rosvisser's face fell. "Then... what should we do?"
Rachel paused, then spoke carefully.
"There is one being who might have answers. The Twilight Tower's master—Dimos."