Chapter Seventy Three - Sands of Deception III

~.ARET.~

"Nova! Horia!" I called out, my voice echoing through the dense fog. Panic threatened to overwhelm me as I realized I was separated from my friends in this disorienting place.

Suddenly, I felt a gentle tug on my arm, and I was pulled into a different space. When I opened my eyes, the fog had dissipated, and I found myself in a familiar clearing. The trees, the scent of the forest, it all seemed so real.

"You get startled a lot."

I blinked, my heart still racing from the confusion and fear. Standing before me was Lorraine, my older sister who had passed away tragically half a year ago. Her playful grin was as familiar as ever.

"L-Lorraine?" I stammered, unable to fully process how I had gone from the eerie fog to this comforting scene.

She chuckled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "You look like you've seen a ghost, Kaerlia."

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. "b-but you are a ghost."

Lorraine's expression softened, and she placed a hand on my shoulder. "