"If only you could live normally , i wouldn't have to cast dreaming spell on you"
Kaelis returned to her usual corner, smiling softly at the sight of Elarion and Terra's sleeping faces.
"I hope you two have quiet dreams... unlike this twisted reality."
With that, she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep as well.
Elarion opened his eyes, finding himself standing in a familiar house. He looked around and sighed.
"That crazy sister did something unnecessary again."
His gaze settled on a picture frame hanging on the wall. The woman in the photograph was stunning—her appearance mirrored his, but with lighter skin and striking green eyes. He walked over, gently touching the frame as a single tear slid silently down his cheek.
He stepped outside, greeted by a vast field of flowers.
Sitting down among the blooms—white camellias covering the landscape—he picked one and smiled sincerely.
"Enjoying a little break won't hurt anyone, right?" he giggled.
Carrying the flower, he headed back inside and said softly, with a respectful tone:
"Mom, I brought you a flower."
But no one was there to hear him. He sat on the couch and dropped the flower onto the floor with a loud sigh.
"What are you planning, sis?"
Time passed—whether hours or days, he couldn't tell. He pulled several books from the shelf without even looking at their titles and began to read. After finishing two or three, he suddenly threw them aside.
One title caught his eye: How to Live a Happy Life. His eyes narrowed.
"I don't remember this book being in our house..." he muttered, scratching the back of his head.
Then, louder:
"What are you plotting?"
Still, curiosity won. He opened it and began to read—then laughed loudly.
"Forgive people who hurt you or your family? Really?"
His laughter grew with every chapter.
"Bad people's hearts can change if they're spoken to with love, while good people can fall into darkness if they seek revenge..."
He scoffed and tossed the book into the corner.
Elarion climbed the stairs with heavy steps, slamming his foot on the banister as he reached the top. He found a door and kicked it open.
"Where are you hiding?" he yelled.
The room was empty.
Frustrated, he ran back downstairs, flung open the front door, and ran without aim. Time became meaningless in this dreamscape. Eventually, his breath caught as he arrived at a city painted in gold. The gates, the hedgerows—everything glimmered. He entered without resistance; the gates stood unguarded.
As he wandered, he found the streets empty but the market stalls full of fresh fruit and food. The silence was eerie. He stopped at a bar, opened the door, and saw every table covered in steaming dishes. He sat down and laughed.
"So this is your idea of paradise? A lonely life with everything you want?"
Despite his words, he dug in—chicken, meat, fruits, even strange dishes. He devoured them all greedily. Then, mid-bite, he paused.
"I won't lie... this is a good dream. But don't think this'll change my mind."
Finishing the meal, he grabbed a drink, walked out of the bar humming, and slowly made his way to the golden castle.
The garden outside was filled with golden flowers. He picked a few and tucked them into his hair before entering.
"Empty too, huh?" he muttered, rolling his eyes. "What can I expect from you..."
He wandered through the empty halls until he stopped in front of another picture frame on the wall. He laughed.
"You think putting my picture here will make me surrender to your dream?"
Still, he was smiling.
Eventually, he found the bathroom and looked in the mirror. Seeing himself with golden flowers in his hair made his cheeks flush. He quickly yanked them out and stormed out of the bathroom.
Finally reaching the throne room, he sat on the golden throne, crossed his legs, and tried to appear regal—only to blush again, remembering his silly reflection.
"Just show yourself already. I'm embarrassed enough."
Kaelis emerged from the shadows, walking slowly toward him with a mischievous grin. She bowed before him.
"What are your orders, my king?" she teased, laughing.
Elarion covered his flushed face.
"Hey, servant!" he stuttered, trying to compose himself. "What is all this? What are you plotting?"
Kaelis raised her head, smiling gently.
"Why don't you forget everything and stay here with me?" she extended a trembling hand.
"You seemed to enjoy it... We could finally be together—without revenge, without pain."
Elarion slapped her hand away, his voice quiet but cutting.
"I know you could heal your blind eyes, but you're too much of a coward to see anything."
And he didn't stop there.
"You talk about living here, but you're just scared of getting hurt again."
Kaelis shouted, tears running freely down her face.
"What do you know about me? After everything I've gone through to free you from the gods—after you were their slave for centuries!"
Her fists clenched.
"Do you know how much it hurt to be hated by humans and gods while trying to save someone who would abandon me?" she pointed at him, her voice trembling.
Elarion leaned his head against his palm, expression unreadable.
"You mean your old companions, right?" His voice lowered. "They abandoned you after using your power to kill demons. You should blame your own foolishness—not me."
Kaelis's face turned pale as she stared at Elarion, pain etched into every corner of her expression. She swallowed hard, tears clinging to her lashes.
"H-How did you know...?"
Elarion sighed, running a hand down his face in exasperation.
"You always call me naïve, but look at you—you don't know anything."
He pointed at her, disgust flickering in his eyes.
"You always let your guard down around me... so I looked into your memories."
He casually raised the glass in his hand—left over from earlier—and took a long sip, his gaze steady.
"And for the record, I didn't betray you. I just want to live a real life."
Kaelis suddenly threw the wine in his face, a twisted smile spreading across her lips.
"Then how about we break it all?"