Chapter XIII - My Request, The Sealed Beings Part 2

Warning: Graphic Depiction of Violence, please do not read the DREAM part if uncomfortable.

The soft chirping of birds greeted Noah from his dream, it was a pleasant but odd kind of dream but it turned into a nightmare. He dreamt of walking through a lush forest under the gaze of the moon while singing a familiar tune, his body felt weightless as if he was floating but his feet grazed the grass. He seemed to be singing a song of longing, one that calls to another person as he saw a large rock surrounded by tall trees and is only illuminated by the moon.

He heard a howl but he didn't flinch, instead he sat down on the rock with his arms wrapped around his legs as he burrowed his head on his knees. He waited and waited, only the sound of the wind lull him.

But the peace did not last, he heard an ear piercing scream broke through the silence as wails of agony soon followed. He could hear the ripping of flesh and growl of hunger as he quickly flew towards the sound, his whole body felt heavy with dread and worry.

But, before he could see where he was headed. His head was bashed with something that rendered him immobile and soon enough, unconscious.

And as the birds greeted him this morning and his heavy gasped for air, it was truly a terrifying dream.

"Iris? Are you okay?" Vincent asked as he walked into the room, worry and panic are written in his face as he grasped Noah's cheeks and guided him how to calm his breathing. His eyes were wide but seemed to calm down when Noah could finally breathe normally, but the fear in his eyes did not left.

"I will go get some calming tea, wai-" Noah cut off Vincent as he clasped his sleeves.

"No, stay. Stay, I'll tell a spirit to bring it. But stay." Noah said, still quite shaken by the dream. This was not the first time he dreamed of such a thing, but it stopped after he turned fifteen. He thought it was gone after plaguing his mind for thirteen years, starting when he was just two years old.

"Ok, I will stay. Calm down Iris, do you want to tell me?" Vincent asked carefully, like he was walking on thin ice that when cracked will drown him in the cold depths.

"I...It was a dream, or I like to call it a dream but to others it will be a nightmare." Noah said, uncertainty in his voice as he looked away from Vincent's eyes.

"At first it was a beautiful dream, but it began to turn violent and scary." Noah explained as he suppressed a shiver, he never forgot how the painful sounds in his dream were haunting him in his wake.

After he reassured Vincent, a mid-high wind spirit and cotton sheep came by the door. Noah smiled at the sight of his favorite playmate he had, the cotton sheep was his friend after Vincent.

The Wind Spirit was pushing a cart with a tea set and two trays of breakfast below, he was dressed in a very light blue flowing fabric with mint leaves and flowers cascading down his long teal hair. With a pale complexion and rosy lips, his eyes are always closed that brings attention to his long teal lashes.

Noah knows what is behind that ever calm smile and closed eyes, he was granted access to see what is beneath that mysterious wind spirit. A Spirit named Evelyn, and although it is considered as a female given name it suits him quite well as he also cherishes his name very dearly.

"Good morning, young master." Evelyn greeted with a smile as the spirit twirled in the wind with excitement. Evelyn chuckled at the tiny spirit before serving tea.

"Her majesty requested that you are served with calming tea, I sensed that you are again plagued with that nightmare you had so often before." He said after handing two cups of tea and began assembling the pancakes he bought in the tray.

Noah smiled tiredly as he remembers the dream or perhaps a nightmare he got, It was vivid and seems to give him a clue about something. But he, for now doesn't know what it symbolize and why did it start again?

"It seems like it will not affect me that much, but I will try not to be bothered by It, It will do me no good after all." He answered with an optimistic tone but the sense of wondering still tickled his mind.

"Should we postpone our trip?" Vincent asked, Noah only shakes his head and sat up with the help of Vincent. "We should go today, I feel fine." Noah said with finality to which Vincent only reluctantly nod.

After Noah kicked Vincent out nicely and got dressed rather quickly to his liking , he went out towards the open air garden Aelfdene made for his wife, Elianor.

"Still as doting and obsessive forever, Teacher." Noah commented as his eyes landed on a very weird picture of Aelfdene serving his wife. He makes it seems his wife is completely immobile and is not capable of holding even the lightest of silk.

"You have no right to say that to me, dear student." Aelfdene said with a mocking tone but it changed to a different degree when his wife scolded him. "Do not tease him Dear, you two are almost the same." Elianor said with a pout and mock rage.

"Aunt, I don't know whether or not I will take it as a complement or an insult." Noah answered with a forced smile as the other guest finally navigated their way towards the garden. Elianor looked at him in concern, "My dear child, what has gotten you tired up like this?" She asked, her tone is very worried.

"My nightmare's resurfaced again Aunt." Noah said, his voice tiny and his figure hunched as if he wants to look smaller. Elianor clasped his hand and made him kneel gently in the small grass.

"Noah, while I do not know the reason it resurfaced. Please know that we are here for you. You are safe in this place dear." She said with a reassuring smile to which Noah took gladly.

"Now, if it helps you. Come closer, put your hand on my stomach." She said as she guided Noah's hand towards her swollen stomach. "I think she is very excited to meet you, she even responded to your voice earlier." She said with a knowing laugh and smile.

"Perhaps she sensed you distress and was trying to cheer you up. So listen and feel her, maybe you both are going to be satisfied." Noah nodded and felt a hand caress his hair as he felt the subtle movements of the life inside his Aunt.

"May your journey be safe, Noah. I do not know the lands of Calsithea, so I cannot tell what's going to happen to you. But rest assured, I will try to expand my reach towards that Continent. You know fully well how I can't stand by while not knowing what is happening to you." She said in a very overprotective way as her Husband, Aelfdene sighed in fondness.

"Eli, our little Noah has grown up. Although I can argue that he doesn't need your protection, please just think for your health first." He said which earned him a glare from Elianor. "I will protect him forever, just like how I protected my forest up until now." She announced with a huff to which Noah laughed.

"And you, young man. Are you fully capable of protecting him?" She said with a hint of coldness towards Vincent, to which he took without batting an eye.

"I will protect him with all my life." He said without breaking eye contact with Elianor until she hummed in satisfaction.

"Now Noah, you must not wait any longer. For that journey will be quite eventful, that I can tell. Please do not disregard your health and make sure you are always safe." She nagged again to which Noah fondly nodded and smiled.

"Your request was sent out earlier, do not worry. Your family will know and be alerted when something strange happens near or your brother, you have my word." Aelfdene said as Noah stood up, Vincent appearing behind him.

"Thank you, Uncle." Noah said with a smile and bowed with Vincent before leaving with him. He even heard a small "You've grown much, child." behind him, hinted with a prideful but sad tone.

"Well then, Are you ready? Honored guest." They both nodded and flew towards the open rift in the barrier.

"Your first journey will start, but first we must meet 'her'." Sebastien said as Aurelius looked towards a direction, The South.