Chapter 22: Nightmare Invasion
458words
In her dream, she returned once again to that night at the Training Camp. But this time, the scene became distorted and chaotic. Rayne's face overlapped with Karen's, friends turned into enemies, and enemies pretended to be friends. She didn't know who to trust, could only keep running in the darkness, until she fell into a bottomless abyss...
"Lyra! Lyra, wake up!"
Rayne's anxious voice pulled her back to reality. Lyra's eyes snapped open, gasping for air, as if she had just been rescued from underwater.
"Another nightmare?" Rayne asked worriedly, gently wiping away the tears on her face.
Lyra nodded, her body still trembling slightly: "More real than ever before... and chaotic. As if someone was stirring my memories."
Rayne's expression turned serious: "Dark Moon Stone. Karen must have started using it."
Lyra sat up, trying to calm her breathing: "He's testing me, wanting to confirm if I remember my past life."
"This means he has suspicions about you." Rayne pondered, "We must be more careful."
Lyra suddenly grabbed Rayne's hand: "There were some images in my dream... I'm not sure if they're real memories or interference from the Dark Moon Stone. I saw you and Karen standing together, saying the same things to me. I couldn't tell which one was really you."
Rayne gripped her hand tightly: "That's exactly the effect Karen wants. He wants to shake your trust in me, making you fall into confusion again."
Lyra closed her eyes, remembering the Silver Fern essence Mira gave her: "I need that potion."
Rayne quickly retrieved a small bottle from the bedside table, pouring a few drops of silvery liquid into Lyra's palm. She applied the liquid to her temples, immediately feeling a cooling sensation, and her thoughts gradually becoming clearer.
"Are you feeling better?" Rayne asked softly.
Lyra nodded: "Yes, but it's only temporary. Karen won't give up easily."
Rayne pulled her into his embrace: "Then we need to make the most of our time. Tomorrow, we'll go see Aldrich and ask for more information about the Dark Moon Stone."
Lyra nestled against his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat: "Rayne, if the Dark Moon Stone can truly distort memories and perceptions... how do we know what's real?"
Rayne gently stroked her hair: "Remember our spiritual resonance. That connection is real, no magic can forge it. Whatever happens, trust in that feeling."
Lyra nodded, but the unease in her heart hadn't completely dissipated. Karen's attack had already begun, and the trial at Moon Shadow Valley was only two weeks away. Time was pressing, and their enemies were more dangerous than they had imagined.
