Chapter 17: Delicate Cry Of The Dream Damsel
E'er hath I been, ere time's first breath did wake,
In yon primordial sea, where silence spake,
No hand of god nor mortal's fleeting ken
Did craft my form; I was, and e'er hath been.
In realms unseen, where light and dark entwine,
My essence weaves through dreamers' hearts and minds,
Yet oft I muse upon my timeless berth,
Whence came my soul, and what doth gift me worth?
Art thou a specter, birthed from chaos' womb,
A figment spun from ether's twilight loom?
Or art thou truth, eternal as the stars,
A keeper of the dream-world's silent bars?
Oft in the night, beneath the moon's soft sigh,
I wander 'mongst the dreams that flit and fly,
And ponder on the threads of fate's grand scheme,
What meaning lies within this endless dream?
For though I be as ancient as the night,
A wraith of whisper'd hope and soft delight,
In silent hours, when stars alone bear witness,
I question still my purpose and my fitness.
Yet in the dreams of men, I find my place,
A mirror of their fears and hope's embrace,
And though my origins be shrouded, dark,
My being burns with everlasting spark.
So let the world sleep 'neath my tender gaze,
And dream in peace through endless nights and days,
For I am she who guards the dreamer's flight,
The maiden of the dreams, eternal fantasy, Lioneia.
***
I hath found myself. I did open mine eyes, adrift amid the sea of stars, engulfed in the vast cosmos. Who am I? What manner of being am I? Even now, the answer doth elude me. Yet, strangely, I know it doth linger in the recesses of my thoughts. I do know—somehow, I know. Lioneia. Yea, Lioneia. Thus do I take on the name Lioneia.
Since I hath known this world, I hath been alone. No kin hath I known, no ties hath bound me. The sun, my father; the moon, my mother; and the stars, my sisters.
For the longest while, such was my belief. Yet one day, akin to my own origin, these small companions appeared from the void, inhabiting the world they trod upon.
At first, 'twas but intrigue that seized me. Yet as time hath passed, I find myself entwined, indulging in their lives. Thus, I feel my purpose, my fate, my role.
Shy and ashamed, I could only converse with them in their slumber, gracing their dreams. Night after night, I played and laughed with them, guiding them to wondrous realms they yearned to behold, fulfilling desires beyond their grasp, saturating their fantasies to the fullest. For I am, in my essence, I am dreams.
Thus did things persist for the longest time, until...
Clouds veiled our sunshine, storms beset our play, and from the malevolent cosmos, he emerged.
Upon a chariot of evil, he arrived and wrought havoc. Spreading fear, nurturing horror, he tarnished their innocent dreams and sowed seeds of dread within their hearts.
Unacceptable! I hailed. I shall not permit thee to besmirch their pristine worlds with thy dark touch. For I, Lioneia, the damsel of dreams, shall safeguard their joy.
Thus, the war between I and thee commenced.
For the longest time, I exerted my utmost effort, shielding them from thy terror. I tried, I tried, I tried, yet more and more lost their cheer, tainted by thy impurities. His might proved too formidable for me to withstand. Driven into a corner, I was compelled to make choices.
With deepest sorrow within, I broke my body and shattered my soul, scattering it upon the world.
Eventually, those fragments found their way into every being's heart, residing within so they might remember. Even the smallest joy in their hearts shall once again bring visits to their dreams, where we, shall play together.
In the end, the greatest part of me resolved to plunge into the cycle of life and death, gradually recovering my fragments, my essence, my might. I vow upon the cosmos and my name, Lioneia, to return and thwart thee once and for all.
***
How many times has it been? How many lives have I lived? I've lost count. Each time, facing death and rebirth, yet with every life, I still remember my roots, my true self. How many names have I been given, how many faces have I worn? I cannot forget my true purpose.
In this life, I was born once more, and this time the name Theresia was given to me.
I was born from the womb of a farmer's wife who lived in a humble village in a barren land.
I was born from the womb of a farmer's wife, in a humble village nestled amidst barren lands. My mother often shared tales of our family's hardships—days marked by toil and want. Yet, as their daughter, Theresia, I became their source of joy amid adversity. My laughter echoed through our fields, a song of hope in our daily struggles. Despite our challenges, their love and pride in me remained steadfast. I grew knowing that my presence brought light into their lives and dreams.
Our happy life was precious but short-lived. Living as a poor farming family, our debts continued to accumulate until eventually, not a single one could be repaid.
Unable to settle my parents' debts, I was taken away by the creditors. My parents tried everything—pleading until blood streamed from their eyes—but it was all in vain, and I was still taken away.
Though their actions were cruel, I cannot bring myself to hate them. I understand that the dark entity took part in planting evil in their originally pure hearts and led them astray.
Cast adrift, I eventually found myself sold to the highest bidder—a nobleman from a wealthy family. Fortunately, fate smiled upon me this time. Instead of mistreatment, I was embraced by my new family. The count and his wife welcomed me as their own child, bestowing upon me their name. Thus, I lived in luxury, lacking for nothing, and I inherited the name Theresia Valeriee.
Growing up, I was raised to harness my true potential, honing my abilities in the realm of dreams. Upon reaching the coming of age, I was admitted to a prestigious magic academy known as Calleimus Academy.
On my first day, I encountered new faces and witnessed unfamiliar sights, yet my shyness and timidity persisted. I yearned to make friends, but found myself struggling to break free from my reservations.
Despite everything going relatively well, a crisis unfolded during the opening ceremony as a wyvern rampaged, putting everyone in peril. Some bravely joined forces to subdue the beast, but they struggled in the process.
Should I intervene? I thought.
But among them, one individual stood out, a boy with the name, Lam Hoffman.
My first impression of him was that he was arrogant, rude, insensitive, and delusional. However, fate had another surprise in store for me. The boy whom I initially dismissed as ordinary displayed great strength—a power truly to be reckoned with.
As such, my curiosity got the better of me. Day by day, I found myself glancing at him. Why? I asked myself. Was it intrigue? Or was it something else? I couldn't quite comprehend it.
The more I kept my eye on him, the more he surprised me. Thy might is out of this world. Who art thou, Lam Hoffman, son of man?
With my questions unanswered, I decided to find out for myself. Summoning my courage, I resolved to speak to him where I was most confident—in dreams. Thus, I would visit his chamber.
Why do I go to such lengths? I truly don't know. Perhaps I was desperate, scared, and tired. These burdens on my shoulders grew heavier with the knowledge that I was alone in this world and always would be.
And so, that very night, I slumbered on top of his bed. At first, he was startled—after all, who wouldn't be? Someone had mysteriously found their way into his chamber, sleeping on his bed.
I tried to reason with him, and surprisingly, his reaction wasn't what I expected.
I thought he wouldn't accept it, that he might cast me out or yell at me. But with a defeated expression, he allowed me to spend the night.
While I was sleeping on his bed, I occasionally stole glances from under my eyelids. I watched the figure in front of me; he was sitting at his desk, working on something intricate. I couldn't help but stare at his eyes—those eyes. I could read them as clearly as a book.
Those eyes were strong, undeterred, authoritative. Yet within them, I could also see regrets, vengeance, anger, and betrayal. They held the gaze of someone burdened, burning with ambition yet weary at the same time. It was a fitting gaze, one that reflected with my own.
I felt a sense of familiarity, perhaps, he is someone I could share my story with, or even deeper, someone who could help me, someone who could save me.
I found the absurdity of my thinking. Why am I beginning to feel like those maidens?
Out of the trillions of dreams I weave, I can't help but be curious about some, especially those desired by maidens. Most of them long for an individual—often appearing in various forms: a gentleman, a noble, a warrior, a knight, a squire, a prince.
In these dreams, I glimpsed the yearning hearts of maidens from different walks of life, each seeking companionship, admiration, and love.
They longed for someone to come, to rescue them from their towers, to whisk them away to distant lands, to dance under the moon's grace—their prince charming, their silver knight in shining armor.
As I delved deeper into these dreams, I couldn't help but wonder about my own place in their narratives, and whether I too longed for a connection that transcended the bounds of my existence, do i deserve to desire such one?
I pushed every doubt from my mind. Tonight, let me indulge in my own desires. Just for this night, let me be selfish and invite you into my embrace.
Storming through his memories, witnessing his dreams, I sympathize thee.
He is a special one, like me. This isn't his first journey—how many times has it been? Once? Twice? A hundred times? I haven't the slightest idea. But one thing I know for certain: his previous journeys were not journeys filled with sunshine.
Thousand wars has he been in, and a thousand times he emerged victorious. His might is endless, a champion in his own league. Yet every time, he feels unsatisfied. Truly, the human heart is an enigma.
I feel a throb in my heart. Maybe, just maybe, you're someone who could help me, someone who could rescue me, someone who could soothe me, someone who could save me. My prince charming, my knight in shining armor.
Unfortunately, it seems our meeting came too late. Over the past days, I've felt it—the nightmares, the terror has found me. It has returned to claim its unfinished victory, and my time has come. My duty, my responsibility. This has been my fate from the very beginning. Once again, I must confront it, for the sake of the children of this world.
In the depths of my heart, I long, I desire, like a vulnerable maiden. If you could hear the voice of my heart; I'm scared, I'm weary, I don't know what to do. Oh my prince, my knight, my squire, my champion, my noble, my gentleman, my first and last love,
Please, save me!
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