• It was noon when Scarlett opens her eyes and staring on the odd writing on the ceiling. “I had a weird dream…” Scarlett closes her eyes again, putting her arm on her head. She’s feeling dizzy and sleepy.

    “Really? What dream?” it was a male voice but she was too tired to find out who.

    “I don’t know… I was on fire or something… a war… I was stuck in somewhere… I can’t go home… I met a handsome prince… he’s nice to me but a grumpy general… soldiers… I met an Asteria? I don’t even know what they are… And I helped many people… I save them…” Scarlett shaking her head as she’s mumbling ridiculously. Her throat felt dried and she is coughed, going uncontrolled.

    “Here… drink some water.” A calloused hand touches her cheeks then hold the back of her head as she tries lifting her head, eyes still closed but mouth open to wait for the hand to offer her the drink. The man was holding a bowl of water and Scarlett slowly drinks the water and then finished it. She laid back to her uncomfortable bed and cough.

    “Do you need more?” the man asked and Scarlett shakes her head, she forced herself to sit and then she opens her eyes and her jaws dropped. She was staring to Elard. Her eyes were large like goldfish and Elard was smiling.

    “Oh no. It's not a dream…” she drops back into the pallet, weak and dizzy.

    “What? Not happy seeing my face?” Elard asked, laughing. Scarlett opens her eyes again, she felt a stung in her eyes but she controlled it. “Shut up…”

    “Did you listen to yourself just now? A grumpy general?” He laughed. “I wondered what would Royk will say when he hear this.” Elard helped her to sit and Scarlett thanked him with a slow voice.

    “I just remembered everything… oh man.” She held her head. Elard handed her another bowl and it was steaming. The smell of whatever it is in the bowl had eased her headache and slowly she took the bowl.

    “Priest Kuranda said to give this herbal tea to you when you’re awake. He said it’ll ease your weariness.” The tea was purple in color, not the color perfect for a tea she thought but at the end she took a sip. The heat had sent a warm feeling throughout her body and she felt better.

    “It’s good.” Elard watches as she drank the herbal tea completely and then handed the empty bowl to him. Elard stands up and pulled her up. First she lost her balance and fell in his embrace. “Whoa there…”

    Scarlett felt her face flushed bright red and quickly pushed him away slowly. Her eye caught the empty floor of the Arcane Sanctuary. “Where’s everyone?”

    “Back in the fields. Preparing for an attack.”

    “But…”

    “You cured all of them remember?”

    “I did that?”

    Elard didn’t reply with words but with a nod. Slowly he held her and they walked out the Arcane Sanctuary. The ray of sunlight blinded her vision for a moment as the step outside to the dirty soil and red withered leaves.

    They stood there for a moment and Scarlett turned her gaze to Elard, realizing he is staring at her. “What?”

    “Nothing.”

    “How long did I passed out?” She watches the soldiers were busy with cleaning their sword, sharpening their arrows; mend to their broken armor and other activities. "A Ray or so.” Scarlett turned her questioned gaze toward Elard, not understanding the meaning of Ray.

    "A what?” Elard’s eyebrows knitted together. “What?”

    “Urghh. Never mind.” Scarlet turned her head away and yawn. Arguing can gave her severe headache and she hates it. For a moment she ignores the new phrase and focused on the thought about the landscape that is in full regalia.

    “Since you’re awake, I’ll go get Priest Kuranda. He told me to find him when you’re awake. Wait here okay?” Scarlett nodded and watch him left her, he was running slowly.