[17.1] Foreign Memories

[Author's note: This is a dream]

I hid in the darkness clutching at the stone wall, digging my fingers into the concrete surface. I held my breath almost as if I was afraid to give my position away.

Are these her memories again?

A rough-looking man was escorted out of a nearby building wearing chains and rags. It was clear that he was a prisoner and that I was hiding in the darkness watching him.

A guard stood in front of the prisoner and spoke aloud, "You are charged with capital punishment for aiding demons and killing 26 innocent lives. Do you have any last words?"

The prisoner spat on the ground and laughed madly, "None of them were innocent."

I didn't even flinch as I watched the prisoner lose his life before my eyes.

The guards tossed his body onto a cart and started speaking amongst themselves. A smirk crossed my face as I pulled the wand from my sock and gave it a twirl. I tapped it on the ground and without a word, bells started ringing.

The guards sprang into action, "A prisoner's escaping at the west gate!"

After they left, I stood up with a chuckle. I went over to the cart and felt the body for any pulse. A strange grin crossed my face, "Good. You're still clinging to life. Just hold on for another moment… I could really use your help."

With my extremely small body, I struggled to pick it up and start pushing it. As I made it to the wall, I took out my wand and a thin burst of white fire came out of the end. I used it to silently cut a hole in the wall before I pushed the cart through.

Behind me, the wall repaired itself.

Using the cover of darkness, I traveled through the city sticking to the slums and less crowded alleys. The people I did see, quickly disappeared from my sight as if they were desperate not to get involved. I entered the familiar abandoned building and struggled to pull the body off of the cart.

I muttered to myself, "Maybe I should get a familiar to do my heavy lifting."

I tossed the body on the ground which had a magic circle already painted in blood. I put my hands on my hips as I stared at the sprawled out body, "Nah… This is much more satisfying when I do it myself."

I took out an old book and furrowed my brow, "This passage could either be saying blood from a saint or blood from a virgin… I don't think saints exist, so I hope virgin blood works."

I took a vial out of my pocket which contained a suspicious red liquid. I dipped a paintbrush inside of the vial before using it to paint runes around the body.

I stepped back with a maddened smile, "Now I just need my mummy and then I can-"

…

I woke up with a shout, "NO!"

I sat up abruptly in my bed gasping and drenched in sweat.

Zephyr jumped up in a panic after being woken up so suddenly, "What what what!?!?"

I ran my fingers through my hair as I struggled to control my rapid breathing, "Just a… Just a bad dream."

I glanced over to the table beside my bed and noticed the new flowers Felix had given me. I leaned over to take in a deep breath. A wave of tranquility and euphoria rushed over me as I felt my body calm down.

I really ought to thank him for these…

I laid back down in bed and closed my eyes to fall back asleep. However, no matter how hard I tried, sleep eluded me. My brain was still reeling from the dream I had. It felt so real that it was even a bit painful.

A blue ice vine crept out from under my bed and poked my face to wake me up. This was the Headmasters "brilliant" idea of waking me up every morning.

I groaned as I forcefully opened my eyes and swatted at the vine, "Ugh… Why is it morning…"

Zephyr, who was still laying at the foot of my bed in his fox form, picked his head up looking a bit exhausted. He whined, "Why are you having so many nightmares lately? It's interfering with my sleep schedule."

I ignored him and got out of bed with a groan. I shuffled to the mirror and looked at my pitiful face. I wasn't looking as beautiful as usual due to the large dark bags around my bloodshot eyes.

I rubbed my face and groaned, "Ugh… Isn't there a spell that could replace sleep?"

"How would I know?" Zephyr tilted his head as he stared at me, "But seriously, isn't this the tenth day in a row? Why do you keep having nightmares?"

I snapped, "Well I don't know! Maybe you should jump inside my brain and find out!!"

"Whoa, whoa." Zephyr changed into his human form wearing a frown, "Firstly, I don't jump inside brains. I project myself into your subconscious state. Dreams are a totally different territory and I refuse to go there."

"What could you possibly be afraid of?!"

He muttered under his breath, "If she finds me there it will be nothing but trouble…"

I raised an eyebrow, "Huh? Who?"

He cleared his throat to change the subject, "Secondly, did you forget that creepy witch living inside of you!? She nearly killed me last time!!"

My lip trembled pitifully as I cried out, "Do you not care about my health!? How can you be so selfish!"

Zephyr winced from my sudden change in mood and leaned away from me, "Why can't you just ask the snowman?"

I shook my head, "I can't."

"Why not?"

I looked away awkwardly, "Even if we ignore the fact that I'm always causing problems, I already get free room and board here. I'm not going to irritate him further by whining to him about how I can't sleep."

Zephyr raised an eyebrow, "What are you so scared about?"

"Scared?!" I flipped my hair arrogantly, "I'm not scared of anything!"

Zephyr snickered, "Except ghosts."

I frowned, "I really regret telling you that. Now shut up and let's go before that owl tries to break my window again."

We left together and met up with Cyrus and Caldwell who were waiting by the door like usual. Caldwell and Zephyr started to fight, as was tradition. However, instead of my usual confident self, I shuffled my feet feeling like I would fall over from exhaustion at any moment.

Cyrus looked at me with concern, "Are you alright? You look terrible."

I glared at him, "That's what you say to a girl?! Rude! Just rude!"

I stomped ahead, leaving behind a confused Cyrus.

Zephyr shook his head, "Just ignore her. She's just a little tired."

He scratched his cheek, "Ah, I see..."

Once we got to class, Felix was already there waiting. As I sat next to him, he smiled. "Wow. You don't look so good, Reika."

I slammed my books down and turned to him with a hiss, "Say that to me one more time."

Felix's eyes started to water, "B-But I j-just-"

I held my pen out to him threateningly, "If you even think about crying, I will shank you with my pen."

I crossed my arms in a huff while Felix bit his lip to fight back tears.

Cyrus sat down next to us, "I don't think your flowers are working, Felix."

His voice squeaked, "I-I will grow better ones."

I sighed and shook my head, "No. I'd say your flowers are the only things that actually help. They calm down my heart and soothe my mind every time I smell them."

Felix nodded while sniffling, "Then I will grow even more!"

"Great…" I yawned and felt my eyes getting heavier, "Even better…"

As the teacher started his lesson, I found my eyes getting heavier and heavier until finally, darkness covered my vision.