Luxiana SommerisAs I gathered my things, stuffing my notebook into my bag and adjusting the strap on my shoulder, my eyes flickered to my phone screen for what felt like the hundredth time. Still no response from Anton. A quiet sigh escaped my lips, my thumb hovering over our last conversation, debating whether to send another message when a gentle but sudden tap on my back made me jolt.I turned around, only to be met by Margaret’s knowing smirk. Her arms crossed over her chest, and her eyebrow quirked in playful curiosity.“So,” she began, her voice laced with amusement, “do you have any plans after work? Or are you just going home to daydream about your mysterious boyfriend?”I laughed, shaking my head as I tightened the strap of my bag. “Actually, I want to check up on Anton,” I admitted, my voice softer now. "He went to my house yesterday.”Margaret’s eyes widened dramatically, her mouth parting slightly as though I had just unveiled a long-kept, scandalous secret. Her fingers
Luxiana SommerisWhat grandmother said made me tear up. I didn’t know she was going through it for years, she always appeared healthy and happy around me.Maybe she didn’t want me to know. That was selfish of her, but it also means she loved me that deeply.“But what about your granddaughter?” Margaret suddenly whispered while putting down the teapot, her voice breaking.“That’s what pains me the most,” Grandma said, her eyes misting over. “She still needs so much. She’s barely begun to understand the world, and I worry what it will be like for her when I’m gone.”“She’s strong, but she’s sensitive. She pretends she doesn’t need anyone, but I know she listens through the door. I know she feels everything deeply.”She took another sip of her tea, now lukewarm. “The money we raised… I want it to go to her. To her future. Will you help her, Margaret? Will you watch over her? Make sure she grows up kind and fearless, even when the world tries to convince her otherwise?”“You don’t even ne
Damien“What on earth were you thinking?!” Lilith's voice roared with fury, her eyes burning like coals. “Do you have any idea that the Grim Reapers came to investigate how you managed to cross into the mortal realm?”“They’re starting to suspect that an Oneiromancer is still alive—and if that rumor spreads, she’ll be hunted like prey,” she snapped, each word sharper than the last.I blinked slowly, more from indifference than surprise. Her warnings barely registered—I was too focused on my arms. Good. My fingers were growing back.Since I returned to the dream realm, half of my body had been flickering in and out, like smoke caught in the wind. But here... here, I could regenerate.Slowly, yes. Painfully slow. But it was happening. I just had to be careful now—no more recklessness, no more crossing lines I wasn’t meant to.Lilith had been the one tending to me, feeding me unfamiliar magic to keep me tethered, to help me heal. I hadn’t fully understood it until now: the only thing cap
Luxiana SommerisThe moment I screamed, Anton froze mid-step. Slowly, he turned to look at me, and when our eyes finally met, a strange expression crossed his face—like he’d just snapped out of a trance.“Luxiana?” he called, his voice uncertain. There was a flicker in his eyes, as if my presence had shaken him back to reality.I rushed over without hesitation, glancing at the man slumped in his arms. I have no idea where Anton is planning to take him, but the guy didn’t look good. “What’s going on with him?”Anton parted his lips to speak, but hesitated. “He’s not feeling well. I was going to take him to my place.”I frowned before tilting slightly towards him, “Do you have a doctor at your house, Anton?”He squinted slightly, then shook his head. “Then don’t take him there,” I insisted. “We need to go to the hospital.”Without waiting for his response, I hailed a cab. Once inside, I urged Anton to take the front seat while I helped the unconscious man lie down across the back, gentl
Luxiana SommerisI managed to slip into the depths of his subconscious, my soul treading lightly through the I managed to slip past the veil of reality, tapping gently into the depths of his subconscious.It was a slow descent, like falling through thick fog, my soul wading into the quiet, hidden places of Elijah’s mind. The further I sank, the heavier everything became—my limbs, my thoughts, even the very air around me. It was dark—so dark that it felt as though I were moving through a world drained of color and light. And with that darkness came a gnawing sense of dread that curled in my chest. Something about this place felt… off. Not just distant, but bruised, like a memory that had been hurt too many times.Still, I pressed forward. I had to. And yet, no matter how deep I went, I couldn’t stop my thoughts from drifting to Anton. He had been acting strange lately—distant, distracted, like he was only half-present. There was a tightness to his smiles, a shadow behind his eyes tha
Luxiana SommerisThe moment Elijah was taken, reality snapped back into focus like a slap to the face. I staggered, nearly collapsing into the chair behind me, but I managed to catch myself by gripping the backrest with trembling fingers.My chest rose and fell with heavy, uneven breaths. Tears welled in my eyes as the memory of what just happened to Elijah resurfaced—vivid, raw, and terrifying. And then there was Anton. What the hell was wrong with him?I turned my gaze to Elijah’s still form. A wave of determination washed over me as I stepped closer and reached for his hand, wrapping my fingers tightly around his. I didn’t know him well—not personally, but as an Oneiromancer in this realm, I could do something. Something that might help.“I hope you find your way back to your body,” I whispered, voice soft but resolute. “You’re stronger than you think. I saw that in your dreams.”Closing my eyes, I focused, channeling my energy toward him, trying to guide him back through the threa
Luxiana SommerisI didn’t go home. Not until Elijah opened his eyes. Something was unsettling about watching someone lie unconscious in a hospital bed—so still, so silent, the steady beeping of machines the only confirmation that life still lingered within them. I stayed by his side, curled into the stiff hospital chair, watching the way his chest rose and fell. I listened to the sterile hum of the fluorescent lights and counted the cracks on the tiled ceiling just to keep myself grounded. I refused to leave. I refused to let him wake up alone.When he finally did, it was slow—his eyes fluttering open like he wasn’t sure if the nightmare had truly ended. And when his gaze landed on me, the dam broke. Tears welled up in his eyes, spilling down his cheeks as he reached for me like a drowning man catching hold of a lifeline.“You brought me back,” he whispered, his voice hoarse and shaky. “I was trapped… and it was your voice, your presence… that pulled me out. I came back because of y
Luxiana Sommeris“W-What happened to you?” I asked, my voice trembling as my eyes scanned him from head to toe. Something about him seemed… incomplete—like pieces were missing, pieces that shouldn't be.Damien caught the way I stared and tried to lighten the atmosphere between us. “Oh, this?” he said casually, gesturing to his arm or what remained of it. “I lost an arm… and a few fingers. But don’t worry, I’m working on growing them back.”“W-What?” I stammered, struggling to wrap my head around his words. “Why would you—was it because you went to the waking realm?” My voice dropped as I slowly began to walk toward him, heart pounding.My teeth sank into my bottom lip as I took in the rest of him. His fingers—some of them were gone. And his limbs… it was like they had only just begun to regenerate, raw and unfinished. My chest ached, and before I knew it, hot tears were streaming down my face without warning or permission.He didn’t say a word. Instead, he stepped forward and pulled
Luxiana Sommeris“W-What happened to you?” I asked, my voice trembling as my eyes scanned him from head to toe. Something about him seemed… incomplete—like pieces were missing, pieces that shouldn't be.Damien caught the way I stared and tried to lighten the atmosphere between us. “Oh, this?” he said casually, gesturing to his arm or what remained of it. “I lost an arm… and a few fingers. But don’t worry, I’m working on growing them back.”“W-What?” I stammered, struggling to wrap my head around his words. “Why would you—was it because you went to the waking realm?” My voice dropped as I slowly began to walk toward him, heart pounding.My teeth sank into my bottom lip as I took in the rest of him. His fingers—some of them were gone. And his limbs… it was like they had only just begun to regenerate, raw and unfinished. My chest ached, and before I knew it, hot tears were streaming down my face without warning or permission.He didn’t say a word. Instead, he stepped forward and pulled
Luxiana SommerisI didn’t go home. Not until Elijah opened his eyes. Something was unsettling about watching someone lie unconscious in a hospital bed—so still, so silent, the steady beeping of machines the only confirmation that life still lingered within them. I stayed by his side, curled into the stiff hospital chair, watching the way his chest rose and fell. I listened to the sterile hum of the fluorescent lights and counted the cracks on the tiled ceiling just to keep myself grounded. I refused to leave. I refused to let him wake up alone.When he finally did, it was slow—his eyes fluttering open like he wasn’t sure if the nightmare had truly ended. And when his gaze landed on me, the dam broke. Tears welled up in his eyes, spilling down his cheeks as he reached for me like a drowning man catching hold of a lifeline.“You brought me back,” he whispered, his voice hoarse and shaky. “I was trapped… and it was your voice, your presence… that pulled me out. I came back because of y
Luxiana SommerisThe moment Elijah was taken, reality snapped back into focus like a slap to the face. I staggered, nearly collapsing into the chair behind me, but I managed to catch myself by gripping the backrest with trembling fingers.My chest rose and fell with heavy, uneven breaths. Tears welled in my eyes as the memory of what just happened to Elijah resurfaced—vivid, raw, and terrifying. And then there was Anton. What the hell was wrong with him?I turned my gaze to Elijah’s still form. A wave of determination washed over me as I stepped closer and reached for his hand, wrapping my fingers tightly around his. I didn’t know him well—not personally, but as an Oneiromancer in this realm, I could do something. Something that might help.“I hope you find your way back to your body,” I whispered, voice soft but resolute. “You’re stronger than you think. I saw that in your dreams.”Closing my eyes, I focused, channeling my energy toward him, trying to guide him back through the threa
Luxiana SommerisI managed to slip into the depths of his subconscious, my soul treading lightly through the I managed to slip past the veil of reality, tapping gently into the depths of his subconscious.It was a slow descent, like falling through thick fog, my soul wading into the quiet, hidden places of Elijah’s mind. The further I sank, the heavier everything became—my limbs, my thoughts, even the very air around me. It was dark—so dark that it felt as though I were moving through a world drained of color and light. And with that darkness came a gnawing sense of dread that curled in my chest. Something about this place felt… off. Not just distant, but bruised, like a memory that had been hurt too many times.Still, I pressed forward. I had to. And yet, no matter how deep I went, I couldn’t stop my thoughts from drifting to Anton. He had been acting strange lately—distant, distracted, like he was only half-present. There was a tightness to his smiles, a shadow behind his eyes tha
Luxiana SommerisThe moment I screamed, Anton froze mid-step. Slowly, he turned to look at me, and when our eyes finally met, a strange expression crossed his face—like he’d just snapped out of a trance.“Luxiana?” he called, his voice uncertain. There was a flicker in his eyes, as if my presence had shaken him back to reality.I rushed over without hesitation, glancing at the man slumped in his arms. I have no idea where Anton is planning to take him, but the guy didn’t look good. “What’s going on with him?”Anton parted his lips to speak, but hesitated. “He’s not feeling well. I was going to take him to my place.”I frowned before tilting slightly towards him, “Do you have a doctor at your house, Anton?”He squinted slightly, then shook his head. “Then don’t take him there,” I insisted. “We need to go to the hospital.”Without waiting for his response, I hailed a cab. Once inside, I urged Anton to take the front seat while I helped the unconscious man lie down across the back, gentl
Damien“What on earth were you thinking?!” Lilith's voice roared with fury, her eyes burning like coals. “Do you have any idea that the Grim Reapers came to investigate how you managed to cross into the mortal realm?”“They’re starting to suspect that an Oneiromancer is still alive—and if that rumor spreads, she’ll be hunted like prey,” she snapped, each word sharper than the last.I blinked slowly, more from indifference than surprise. Her warnings barely registered—I was too focused on my arms. Good. My fingers were growing back.Since I returned to the dream realm, half of my body had been flickering in and out, like smoke caught in the wind. But here... here, I could regenerate.Slowly, yes. Painfully slow. But it was happening. I just had to be careful now—no more recklessness, no more crossing lines I wasn’t meant to.Lilith had been the one tending to me, feeding me unfamiliar magic to keep me tethered, to help me heal. I hadn’t fully understood it until now: the only thing cap
Luxiana SommerisWhat grandmother said made me tear up. I didn’t know she was going through it for years, she always appeared healthy and happy around me.Maybe she didn’t want me to know. That was selfish of her, but it also means she loved me that deeply.“But what about your granddaughter?” Margaret suddenly whispered while putting down the teapot, her voice breaking.“That’s what pains me the most,” Grandma said, her eyes misting over. “She still needs so much. She’s barely begun to understand the world, and I worry what it will be like for her when I’m gone.”“She’s strong, but she’s sensitive. She pretends she doesn’t need anyone, but I know she listens through the door. I know she feels everything deeply.”She took another sip of her tea, now lukewarm. “The money we raised… I want it to go to her. To her future. Will you help her, Margaret? Will you watch over her? Make sure she grows up kind and fearless, even when the world tries to convince her otherwise?”“You don’t even ne
Luxiana SommerisAs I gathered my things, stuffing my notebook into my bag and adjusting the strap on my shoulder, my eyes flickered to my phone screen for what felt like the hundredth time. Still no response from Anton. A quiet sigh escaped my lips, my thumb hovering over our last conversation, debating whether to send another message when a gentle but sudden tap on my back made me jolt.I turned around, only to be met by Margaret’s knowing smirk. Her arms crossed over her chest, and her eyebrow quirked in playful curiosity.“So,” she began, her voice laced with amusement, “do you have any plans after work? Or are you just going home to daydream about your mysterious boyfriend?”I laughed, shaking my head as I tightened the strap of my bag. “Actually, I want to check up on Anton,” I admitted, my voice softer now. "He went to my house yesterday.”Margaret’s eyes widened dramatically, her mouth parting slightly as though I had just unveiled a long-kept, scandalous secret. Her fingers
Luxiana SommerisI bit the inside of my cheeks, struggling to suppress the laughter still bubbling inside me. But even as we messed around, as the air between us filled with lighthearted banter and the familiar pull of unspoken words, a weight settled deep in my chest.I knew. We both knew.Our time here—this fleeting moment in the waking world—was slipping through our fingers like grains of sand. Reality was calling, tugging insistently at the edges of consciousness, and no matter how much we laughed or tried to fill the air with nonsense and playful bickering, the inevitable truth remained: I would wake up soon without him by my side.For now, though, I let myself forget. I let myself savor the warmth of his touch, the way his fingers lingered just a second too long, like he memorized the feel of my skin beneath his. I let myself get lost in the mischievous gleam in his eyes, in the sound of his voice when he said my name, in the way he acted as if we had all the time in the world