In the dream, the full moon was so bright. The light came through the leaves of the trees, and made the daturas more beautiful under its light. For a moment, Ayla was sure she was in the Night-Blooming Garden, but soon the moon hid behind the clouds and everything became dark.
“I’m sorry, A
Hope had abandoned her a long time ago. It didn’t happen at once, but bit by bit.First, when her parents had passed away. Her mother had made her promise she’d take care of her baby sister, and Lyra was so very scared, but promised nonetheless. And how was she supposed to fulfill that prom
For her first hunting mission, it didn’t go terribly wrong. The demons were killed, and she had only got one of the demon’s claws buried in her leg because she was too slow, but made up for the mistake by cutting off his head seconds later.“This will take a few days to heal.” G
“How is it that she isn’t back yet?”Ayla went to the Master Ray’s manor to celebrate Estée’s birthday with her, but instead found out that her friend still hadn’t come back from a mission in a Eastern Europe city from a week ago.
Now that everyone must have woken up in the manor, it wouldn’t be long before they realized she wasn’t around.‘Things won’t be pretty when I go back.’
“Even though the girl has regained her memories from the past week, that still doesn’t answer any questions.” Nox sighed.He’d sent two squads to search the region under his supervision, but there weren’t results. It was the same for all other masters in their respective r
The first rays of sunshine greeted her that morning, but Ayla rolled lazily on the mattress a few times before waking up. Then, all of a sudden, she gasped and jumped off the bed.
Missing someone started with the smallest things, in such a way that one didn’t notice at first.There wasn’t any chocolate while camping in the borders of the cursed land, no Pinky Cloud to visit, and while Ler didn’t think that the inability to indulge in some sweets was something t
Someone was singing outside, a tune she’d never heard before. But then again, what did she know about songs or poems? Very little, if not nothing at all.‘Soft the drowsy hours are creeping,
Today, the boy was accompanying his father to work. His mother was busy too, and it wasn’t good to stay with the teachers and the maids every day, she said. Being only five years old, he was excited anytime he’d get to see his parents working. After all, no other child in Cloud City was in
Ayla finished braiding her hair and stared at her reflection in the mirror.“There’s no reason for you to be nervous.”
“Miles, Lila. You two need to be at Master Rabi’s manor at noon, he requested people for a reckoning and healing assignment. But, when you come back, remember to report to me first.”“Yes, my lady.” The guardians said in unison before exiting the room.
As it should be, now that she had regained her spiritual powers, when Ayla stopped in front of Sussy's place. Ler, who stood silently next to her, was still taking in the surroundings.“I just want to check on her to know she is okay.”
“Oh, I missed this so much.”With things slowly going back to normal, Pinky Cloud opened again, and for the first time in months they were sitting at their usual spot in the shop.
Lyra left the tenth manor the next morning.“Someone has to clean up that place, no one will do it for me, and the flowers will die if I don’t take care of them.”
The never-ending stroll through the night-blooming garden was a dream, Ayla was sure of it.Because the person who was walking by her side was no other than Adon, and when he suggested to take a detour inside the forest, she agreed without any apprehension.
When the rain stopped and all the fallen had been retrieved, the masters informed that the Cloud City won with ‘only one hundred and seventeen victims’ during those fatidic hours. The number got stuck in her head before she left the facilities of the second manor. That’s what he was to the living. Just one of one hundred and seventeen.
Ler staggered when he released her from his embrace and walked towards the door.“You and your sister stay here. I still have something to do.”