Three days had passed since the first night of nightmares. Three nights during which Miria would wake with a start, soaked in sweat, her body shaken by tremors. Each time, Asher was there, taking her in his arms, murmuring soft words until her breathing calmed.
"It's the stress…" she always said in a trembling voice. "Knowing we're going to face Vareck…"
Asher knew she was lying. He knew her too well. But he never forced her. He preferred to give her time to confide on her own.
Unfortunately, Miria's emotional instability had consequences. Every night, during her nightmares, her powers would go wild without her realizing it. The lamps flickered violently. Furniture started levitating. Objects flew from one room to another. By early morning, the house was often turned upside down.
Asher would get up discreetly and put everything back in order before Miria woke up. But the others had eventually noticed these strange phenomena.
"Asher, the chairs in the living room were floating again this morning," Eiden had murmured one day.
"It's the protection spell glitching," Asher invented.
No one really believed it. Everyone knew something was fishy. But no one dared push further.
---
The day of departure finally arrived. The travel bags were ready. Miria planted herself in front of the manor's large door and traced complex runes in the air. A golden light enveloped the residence.
"There. No one will be able to enter as long as we haven't returned."
Asher nodded.
"Let's go."
The group set off. Thanks to their supernatural speed (except for Katrina, whom Klaus carried on his back without complaining), the journey to the Mistmoon Forest took only a few hours. According to the plan, they would sleep there that night, pass through Ashenford the next day, and arrive at the Valley of Ashes on the third day.
At nightfall, they set up camp in a clearing. A large campfire was already crackling in the center. Laughter and conversations flew from all sides.
"I swear if Bryan does his 'I know a shortcut' thing again, I'll turn him into a toad," Alix said, laughing.
"Hey! It was an excellent shortcut!" Bryan defended himself. "We just… narrowly avoided death three times, that's all."
Gale burst out laughing.
"Three times? I counted five."
"You're bad at counting," Bryan retorted.
Klaus, lying near the fire, was nibbling on a piece of bread.
"Anyway, if we survive Vareck, I propose we hold a contest: who came closest to dying the most during this trip."
"Easy," Ray interjected. "It's me. I still have the mark from last time."
Isabella gave him a shove with her shoulder.
"Stop bragging, it's not a trophy."
Diana shook her head, amused.
"You're all crazy."
"And that's why we get along so well," Kira added, raising her flask.
Marlie, next to her, giggled.
"Especially when Bryan opens his mouth."
"Hey hey! I'm right here, you know!"
Asher, sitting a little apart with Axel, smiled as he observed the group. Even Eiden, usually more reserved, was laughing out loud. Katrina, sitting near Klaus, had pink cheeks from laughing.
Miria, for her part, watched the scene in silence. The faces of her friends briefly overlapped with other faces… from another time. A wave of painful nostalgia tightened her throat. She stood up discreetly and walked away into the forest.
Asher saw her leave.