Mila blankly looked at the empty sky. She was back in her body. Or, well… What counted as her body in this dreamscape. She still felt sluggish, her thoughts lingering on the last moments Nio had gone through.


    Even Aaers’s penetrating gaze did nothing to move Mila from her apathy. She just couldn’t… anything. Not right now.


    The experience of Nio crawling through the blood, blind and relying only on his touch. The constant thrumming that didn’t change but became more and more insistent at the same time…


    Nio had managed to get himself out of the prepared tomb. He had dragged himself out of that chamber. But…


    Mila’s neck turned, making her avoid looking at the Old Ghost, who had appeared in her peripheral vision. She didn’t hate Aaers for showing the events to her, but… The pain…


    Mila had forgotten how terrible dying felt. Not just being decapitated or having her chest pierced. She meant-


    Nio’s feeble body was driven only by his will. Soft whispers broke past his dry lips from time to time. “Beino… Leona…” He was thinking only about his family.


    Even the bead in his grasp was forgotten. Nio didn’t drop it, but only because his fingers were cramped and refused to let go. His heartbeat grew ever so feeble. His tongue stuck to his gums, and his breath became shallow.


    The path seemed neverending. The very energy that made Nio was constantly drained, making his skin brittle and his muscles weak. His clothing peeled off his body as their seams became dust.


    And when the last piece of clothing fell away, Nio began cutting himself on the stone floor. Each new wound was an outpouring of his life. He continued to move his mouth and tongue – but no sound came from it.


    And yet, Nio still moved. Barely. Sometimes – not at all. The thrumming’s grasp was like a void pulling him back. It continued to drain him of his essence, wanting his all – even his memories of his family. Even his simplest thought of seeing a light again. Even the innocent desire to experience his wife’s touch and hear his son’s laugh.


    “Did it have to be him?” Mila finally broke the silence. “He had a family. He had dreams and goals…” Her admonishment lacked bite. She already knew the answer.


    Everyone had families. Everyone had dreams, and everyone wanted to achieve something. It didn’t help much. She had seen the most intimate moments of Nio’s life. Despite her unwillingness to watch, she had experienced a comfy, warm and loving family life.


    And then it had been taken away from her. Not by Mila’s own mind but by an entity she couldn’t understand. It had been but a memory, but she still felt like it had impacted her mind.


    Maybe it had. Mila had experienced most of what Nio’s body had. Even if she was a separate soul, there had to be a connection somewhere. Maybe through Aaers himself? Maybe it was just her imagination.


    “I liked Nio.” Mila’s limbs still felt too heavy. She tried to move her arm, barely managing to raise it. Her palm was smooth and pale, unlike what Nio’s had been in his last moments. “His son and wife, too.”


    Those moments she had cringed at now took on a new light in Mila’s mind. She knew these memories would haunt her for some time – just like in the past.


    The hardest part was the stairs. Each step was an insurmountable hurdle. They were like tall walls in Nio’s path. He clawed at them, pulling himself up. He knew there would be just an endless stretch of dark corridors ahead, but he didn’t stop.


    After the blood started to run dry, mana served as a replacement. After that, Nio’s body started to lose all senses. His sight had long since been gone – taken by the thrumming. The hearing followed, and then the sense of touch.


    The final sense Nio lost was the sense of direction. He continued to move, unsure if he was getting anywhere. His life faded, and Mila experienced it, too…


    “Did he get out?” Mila wondered. “I… We…” She stopped again. “At the end, he couldn’t feel. Not anymore.” Her head turned, and she finally looked at the blurry figure nearby.


    Aaers nodded. He looked solemn, waiting for more questions.


    “I… Ah,” Mila had many. But she felt so tired. Her mind was still full of the slice of Nio’s life she had seen. “The story…” She recalled. “About the smart boy and the monster… Was it true?”


    This time, Aaers hesitated. It took some time until he shrugged.


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    “Not much of an answer, Great General…” Mila tried to sit up and failed. “I want to be with Isabel.” She let her deepest wish out.


    Mila needed rest. And she knew she would not get any unless Isabel’s hand touched hers. “I want to wake up…”


    The world didn’t change. Aaers continued to look at her until he sighed. His body language asked if that was what she truly wanted.


    “I need to digest what I acquired. I need rest. My mind is… Tired. I am tired.” Mila managed to sit and not fall despite the shaky feeling.


    Mila knew Aaers was waiting for more questions. She even suspected which. But she refused to ask about the damned ghost’s love life, the skills she had acquired or anything else, really.


    “I already know you got your damn pearl. Probably prayed it out of Nio’s cold fingers…” She shuddered, remembering there likely were not even bones left after the Thrumming was done with the man.


    Aaers didn’t respond. His compassionate gaze showed he was finally willing to let her go. A few hand gestures indicated they would talk the next time they slept.


    And then…


    —


    Isabel’s arms hadn’t let go of Mila for a long time now. Not that Mila minded. She was pretending to be asleep, and Isabel knew she was. But neither spoke, finding strength in each other''s presence.


    It was almost time to get up. They couldn’t linger, and the kids should have had enough rest to move for another day – even if it would be hard.


    And by the end of the day, they should be out of the immediate danger. Or at least – from far enough from the Temple’s search forces.


    Mila realised she had to be more specific. She hadn’t forgotten about the many hunters infiltrating the Kingdom. Even if the Eternity’s hunting dogs would lose traces of her, the God of the Hunt wasn’t the same.


    “...awake…” Isabel was as observant as always. She had noticed Mila’s unrest and had decided it was enough lazing around.


    “Hardly.” Mila didn’t feel like getting up. The night’s experience still lingered in her mind. She could not find anything wrong with her body or mind, but the harrowing ordeal didn’t vanish from her memory. “I just recalled something annoying…”


    “...Dream…” Isabel waited for Mila to open her eyes.


    And when she did, Mila was greeted by a worried expression from above as Isabel held her tight in her embrace. “No, not the dream…” She suddenly felt meek, not knowing how much she could say.


    Isabel understood that, too. “...difficult…” She sadly noted, knowing Mila had seen something important but forbidden.


    They couldn’t risk any stray attention – especially from the world itself. “As always, the things we see are not meant for human eyes.” Mila ruefully observed. She stretched lazily, nuzzling closer to her girl.


    “...sweaty…” Isabel apologised. “...bath…” She wishfully added afterwards.


    “Nonsense,” Mila didn’t mind the slightly strong aroma. “You smell—”


    The coughing nearby reminded them of Mortimer’s presence. “Not when children are listening,” he admonished.


    Mila glared at the man and then looked at the children. They were still asleep, which earned Mortimer another glare.


    “They might”, The man shrank back and looked away but was unrepentant otherwise.


    “...time…”


    Mila held back her complaints. She wanted to complain and be rueful, but it was not the time. “Yes, it is time to move, indeed.” She clamped down on Isabel, making the girl let out a happy squeal.


    The laughter and the sound of a sloppy kiss were in stark contrast to the eerily quiet forest.


    They weren’t loud, but it was enough to rouse the three sleeping kids from their sleep. Kanna was up immediately, sending a scathing look Mila’s way.


    Next was Marius, who shot up, warily looking around. He blinked, then apologised for being tardy. He promised to not repeat the mistake. It didn’t look like he had woken up just yet.


    Finally, Vatim crawled towards Mortimer, who picked up the boy. The man shook his head, ruffling the Vatim’s dirty hair. “You have a sister, too. He remained, now being the target of Kanna’s displeased look.


    Mila sighed, shaking off the lingering mental exhaustion. She already longed for another sleep. This night had not brought her any tangible rest.


    But Isabel was getting up, lifting Mila along. The brunette set Mila on her feet and then hugged her from behind, using the smaller girl’s head as a chin rest.


    After some whining about hunger, they began moving. Mila knew she had to practise what she had learnt, but her emotions were empty. Her motivation was non-existent as well.


    Instead, Mila grabbed Isabel and vanished into the tree line. She knew Mortimer would be able to follow directions. And she really wanted to spend some time with Isabel.


    That week…


    It had been too long. Mila needed this time with her lover. She made a round, making sure no issues appeared, and then stopped at a romantic spot next to a small clearing full of flowers.


    “...Mila…” Isabel wondered what had happened. She stepped into the white, knee-high flowers resembling marigolds, inviting Mila to join. “...talk…?”


    “Yes, I have a lot to tell you…” Mila followed, breathing in the relaxing aroma. She decided it was fine to talk about Nio and his family.


    The Old Ghost wouldn’t mind that. And Mila felt like more people should know about the man who had been long forgotten by history.


    This wasn’t quite the way Mila had imagined waking up. It should have involved more cuddling and gentle touches. But the last moments of Nio’s life weighed on her mind.


    “The dream was rather fruitful,” Mila let her fingers brush against the flowers as she walked. “I learnt a lot, but… I even more questions arose.”


    Isabel followed Mila with her eyes, encouraging her to continue.


    “But first, I will tell you a tale about a man and his last moments.”


    The gentler moments could wait after. Mila knew a lot of hugs waited for her after she was done letting her sadness out.