That night, Miria sank into a restless sleep.
She saw herself chained. A man with short blue hair stood a few meters away from her, a cruel smile on his lips.
"Please… no… Don't do this… I beg you…" she whimpered, tears in her eyes.
The man approached slowly.
"Shhh, my love… Don't worry. Just let me do this… Once I obtain your powers, I will be the master of this world."
Miria was crying hot tears.
"No… no, please, no… Kil, I beg you… don't do this… don't do this…"
Kil raised his hand. A black aura escaped from it and penetrated her. Miria screamed in pain.
"STOP… STOP… STOP IT… PLEASE… STOP… AAAAH!"
She resisted with all her strength, but she was weakening. Then, suddenly, another force took over. Her eyes turned completely white. The chains holding her broke with a sound of twisted metal. A devastating shockwave burst from her.
Miria woke with a start, out of breath, her entire body soaked and trembling. Asher was already holding her in his arms, murmuring soothing words.
"Shh… it's okay… it's over… you're safe… everything's fine…"
Outside, the racket that had been going on — noises of furniture, slamming doors, vibrating glass — stopped at once.
Miria, still lost, asked in a trembling voice:
"What… what happened?"
"You had a nightmare," Asher answered, stroking her hair.
"But… what's that noise?"
Asher frowned, perplexed.
"I don't know… Try to go back to sleep. I'll go check."
He placed a soft kiss on her forehead, got up, and left the room.
Barely in the hallway, he found himself face to face with Eiden, Bryan, Alix, Kira, Ray, Isabella, Axel, Marlie, Klaus, Katrina, Gale, and Diana, all in their nightclothes, looking alarmed.
"Asher, what's going on?" Eiden asked.
"The lamps had started flickering on their own!" Bryan exclaimed.
"And the furniture in the living room started levitating!" Katrina added.
"Yes, and some doors were opening and closing by themselves!" Isabella confirmed.
Axel clenched his fists.
"Asher… are we under attack?"
"Or maybe the manor's protection spell has a problem?" Klaus suggested.
Gale scratched his head.
"Maybe you should talk to Miria about it… maybe she—"
"NO!" Asher shouted, panicked.
His brutal reaction surprised everyone. He quickly recovered, forcing an awkward smile.
"I meant… no. Miria is… let's say… uh…"
He scratched his head, desperately searching for an excuse.
Gale displayed a knowing smirk full of innuendo.
"Asher… don't tell me that you…"
"What?" Asher asked, not understanding.
Klaus crossed his arms, amused.
"Alright, fine. We'll leave it for tonight. Since your… physical exercises… must have exhausted you."
Asher's eyes widened as he finally understood the misunderstanding.
"No… no… it's… it's not that!"
Kira giggled.
"Asher, it's not worth explaining. After all, you're adults and a couple. It's normal, this kind of… pastime between lovers."
Asher, red up to his ears and completely defeated, raised his hands in surrender.
"Fine… alright. I promise that tomorrow we'll look into the problem. For tonight… good night."
"Good night!" they all answered in unison, with smiles and teasing laughs.
Asher returned to the room, closed the door, and lay down on the bed, looking ashamed. Miria turned toward him, still a bit groggy.
"So?"
"Nothing special… just some misunderstandings."
"And why are you all red?"
Asher hid his face under the covers.
"Better… not to know…"
Miria smiled, amused. She slipped under the covers, placed a soft kiss on his cheek, and murmured:
"Good night, my love."
She fell asleep quickly, exhausted. As soon as she was deep in sleep, Asher gently sat up. He stayed for a long moment watching her, his face illuminated by the moonlight. He tenderly stroked her face, his heart tight.
Asher's thought: *Miria… what is happening to you? What is this secret you're hiding… and that even prevents you from sleeping?*