Hours had slipped away unnoticed since Sora found herself within the comforts of the citadel. Her body laid curled upon the bed, her eyes shut, yet it was clear that sleep eluded her. Soft groans escaped her lips, her brows knitted, the skin on her forehead folding into tense creases. Beads of sweat glistened across her skin, leaving her damp and restless, trapped in a state between wakefulness and slumber.
Within the depths of her subconsciousness, Sora was drifted into an endless expanse of water, submerged in the vast, endless liquid, yet unbound by its natural laws that gave it an authenticity. The liquid around her, clear and weightless, should have stifled her breath, should have dragged her down into its crushing depths. Yet she moved with ease, her body unburdened, her lungs drawing air as if she stood upon solid ground.
Her gaze dropped, tracing over her own bare form that had been left devoid of clothing or any piece of garment, her skin illuminated by an unseen glow. Panic did not rise within her—no fear, no shame at all. Instead, a strange sense of familiarity settled in her mind, a clear understanding that this was not reality. She parted her lips to speak, yet there was no sound escaping from her mouth. It was as if her voice had been stolen by te depths, leaving only her thoughts to echo in the silence.
'This is another dream,' she whispered inwardly, the certainty of her words unwavering. She had been here before, in this boundless abyss of water and silence. The realization sent a chill through her, for she knew that within this dream, something—someone—was waiting.
In that fleeting moment, a brilliant golden light erupted through the watery abyss its radiance akin to the golden hue of the sun—so overwhelming that it dyed the ocean in shimmering hues of orange and gold. Sora's eyes darted upward, searching for the source of this ethereal radiance, and there, suspended high above her, was a luminous sphere, its glow cascading through the depths like liquid sunlight.
As she stared into its brilliance, a single thought echoed in her mind: 'What could that be?'
There was only one way to find out. Without hesitation, Sora propelled herself upward, the resistance of the water still adhering to the laws of physics. A sigh of relief escaped her lips as she realized she could still move freely, reaching towards the golden sphere of sunlight.
Breaking through the surface, Sora found herself emerging into what seemed or looked like an endless ocean. Though her skin was drenched, she could still feel the weight of the liquid clinging to her. But that was the least of her concerns—she had nothing to cover herself with, but atleast she didn't need it. Her attention quickly shifted to her surroundings, and there, in the distance, she spotted something ominous. A jagged spire of obsidian rock jutted violently from the waves and there—perched atop it like a crowning nightmare, stood a structure that sent ice flooding through her veins.
Her breath hitched. Forgotten memories of the most traumatic experience she had ever faced in her life came flooding back like a waterfall as she laid her eyes upon the castle—the very same one she had come across in the dream world. A cold shudder ran through her entire being as she thought, 'How… how am I back here again?'
——
Her gaze was then drawn toward the entrance of the castle, where the golden orb of light slowly drifted inside. Without wasting another second, Sora swam forward with all her might, desperation fueling her every movement. But just as she closed the distance, she felt a force tugging her backward. A cold, invisible grip dragged her away from her goal. Gritting her teeth, she flailed her arms, struggling against the pull. She needed to reach that light—she had to.
Yet, no matter how hard she fought, it felt impossible.
'What's happening to me?!' The thought screamed in her mind as her vision blurred. The liquid surrounding her seeped into her eyes, stinging and distorting her view. Her limbs weakened, exhaustion setting in, her body finally giving up on her.
Darkness swallowed her as her consciousness slipped.
She barely registered the sensation of sinking deeper when, suddenly, the golden orb of light drifted toward her. The moment it reached her, she gasped, her eyes flying open—only to find herself back in her room.
She lurched upright, struggling for breath, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Looking down, she saw her own hands wrapped tightly around her throat, her fingers pressing into her skin as if she had been strangling herself in her sleep.
Her mind reeled in with fear. 'What in the world was I doing to myself?' The though sent a huger wave of innate dread through her very core, gripping her so tightly to the extent it probably felt more tighter than the grip on her throat as tears threatened to spill from her eyes. But as the golden hue of the morning sun streamed through her window, she forced herself to steady her breath.
No matter how shaken she was, she had a mission.
She clenched her fists. The scourge's heart was something she had to obtain, and failure meant only one thing—death. There was no room for weakness. Pushing herself off the bed, she made her way to the bathroom, stripping off her damp clothing in preparation for a bath.
Just as the water began to run, the door to her room swung open. Sorelia stepped inside, her arms laden with neatly folded clothes. She hadn't bothered to knock, the sound of running water from the siegehouse echoing through the halls. Humming softly, she placed the clothing onto Sora's bed, a pleased smile gracing her lips—satisfied with what she saw as an accomplished task.
That smile quickly faded.
Her eyes landed on the sheets, now drenched in sweat. Her brows furrowed, concern creeping into her expression. She reached out, pressing her hand against the damp fabric, her mind running through the possibilities.
"What could this be now?" she muttered to herself, unease stirring within her.
A part of her wanted to question it further, but she quickly shook off the thought. It wasn't her problem. With a small sigh, she turned on her heel and left, shutting the door behind her.
The sound of the door being closed shut reached Sora's ears as her body jerked, being broken from a trance. She turned to the water that had been overflowing, turning off the water system before stepping into the bath. As she washed herself, a nagging feeling of unease lingered. Her eyes remained wide open as her fingers traced over a bruise on her neck—one left behind by her own hand in her sleep.
Then suddenly, the system appeared.
A message flickered before her eyes, blinking with brilliant orange glow. As she read through it, an icy chill ran down her spine.
[Crafter Has Been Affected By Temporary Paralysis]
•Reason: Failure to complete daily training
•Time: 1:00:00
Sora's body froze.
A pulse of red energy flickered across her skin, and an overwhelming sense of dread settled in.
'Damn it—no!' Her mind screamed in panic. 'I can't move!'
No matter the struggle and the attempts she tried taking to escape, she remained locked in place, her body refusing to obey her. A silent scream echoed in her mind, but off course nobody heard her, leaving her helpless against the force that had taken a hold of her.
The System's punishment had lasted for what felt like an eternity—an hour of unrelenting paralysis, her body locked in agonizing stillness while her mind screamed for release. When the timer finally expired, Sora stumbled out of the siegehouse like a corpse reanimated, her limbs trembling with the ghost of enforced inertia. Her skin was pallid, her muscles weak as water. One faltering step. Then another.
Her knees gave way.
The wooden floor rushed up to meet her, its cold surface biting into her cheek as she collapsed. Each breath was a struggle, her lungs burning as her vision dimmed at the edges. The last thing she registered before unconsciousness took her was the distant creak of a door swinging open.
---
Consciousness returned in a slow, syrupy trickle. Sora's eyelids fluttered open, her body strangely weightless, as if the torment of before had never happened. She bolted upright, fingers clutching at the sheets—only to freeze when she realized she was dressed, her clothes crisp and clean.
'What the—?'
"Ah, welcome back, my dear Sora."
The voice was honeyed, lilting. Sora turned her head to see Sorelia standing motionless beside the bed, her lips curved in that ever-present smile. The woman tilted her head, birdlike, her gaze unblinking.
Sora's frown deepened. "How long have you been standing there?"
Sorelia exhaled a laugh, light and airy. "My, my. Is that any way to greet the person who nursed you back from the brink?" She tsked, though her amusement was plain. "Most would lead with 'thank you.'"
Sora ignored the jab, flexing her hands. No stiffness. No pain. "I feel… fine." More than fine—renewed, as if her body had been reset. The realization sent a prickle of unease down her spine.
Then, like a spark catching tinder, her mission flooded back.
She threw off the covers in one sharp motion, swinging her legs over the edge of the bed.
Sorelia's eyebrow arched. "And just where do you think you're off to in such a hurry?"
Sora shot her a look. "What does it look like?"
A sigh. Sorelia's teeth gritted, her patience thinning. "You need rest. This isn't up for debate." The words carried the weight of a command, maternal and unyielding.
Sora didn't flinch. "With all due respect," she said, voice steady, "I don't recall asking for permission."
The air between them sharpened. Sorelia's smile turned razor-edged, her eyes glinting with something dangerous. "Oh? So you'd defy me, then?" A challenge, wrapped in velvet.
Sora met her gaze head-on, her own eyes blazing like twin suns. "My mother taught me that knights don't stand by while others suffer." She held Sorelia's stare, unshaken. "You made me a knight. So tell me—what kind of knight would I be if I stayed here?"
For a heartbeat, Sorelia was silent. Then, like ice melting, her expression softened. A chuckle escaped her. "You've grown bold," she murmured, shaking her head. "Fine. Go. I won't stop you."
Sora nodded once and turned toward the door.
"Wait."
Sorelia's hand lifted, energy crackling at her fingertips. A ripple passed through the air—and suddenly, a hooded cape settled over Sora's shoulders, its fabric rich and sturdy. Embroidered on the back was an emblem: a blade piercing a ring, its threads gleaming.
Sora traced the symbol with her fingers, reverence in the gesture.
"That mark grants you passage to cities under the the lead organization of knight's protection," Sorelia explained. "Consider it both armor and key." She paused, then added, "Oh, and Father prepared a stallion for you. And weapons. And a guard awaits you with those necessities, but try not to get your ride killed."
Sora's lips quirked. "I'll do my best."
With a final nod, she stepped out into the light, her mind already fixed on the horizon. The Scourge's heart awaited.
And this time, she would not falter.