Zerrei didn't fall asleep that night.
Not truly.
His body rested—
but his mind drifted through a fog of wavering runes, fractured memories, and a lingering terror he could not name.
He curled against Lyra like a child clutching a lifeline, carved fingers woven into the fabric over her ribs. Every time a branch snapped in the forest, he tensed. Every time Lyra shifted slightly, he whimpered and pressed closer.
"…Lyra…"
Lyra stroked his back, humming softly.
"I'm here."
"…don't let… them take Zerrei…"
"They won't."
"…don't let… Lyra leave…"
"I won't."
He relaxed again.
But his glow flickered with distress—faint pulses of gold trembling beneath the cracks.
He wasn't just afraid.
He was remembering.
THE NIGHTMARE MEMORY
A sudden pulse of mana jolted through Zerrei's chest.
Lyra gasped softly as his whole body spasmed—
his arms tightening painfully around her.
"Zerrei—?"
His eyes snapped open—
glowing brighter than usual.
But he wasn't seeing her.
His voice cracked.
"…don't—don't put me back—don't—don't—"
Lyra froze.
Oh no.
He wasn't awake.
He was dreaming.
A memory.
Oren and Arden shot to their feet instantly.
Oren hissed, "Lyra, keep holding him—don't let go—he's reliving something."
Arden swore under his breath.
"What do we do?!"
"Nothing," Oren said tightly.
"Only Lyra can stabilize him."
Zerrei trembled violently, panting.
"…don't… lock Zerrei… don't break… don't break—"
His glow flared dangerously bright.
Lyra immediately cupped his face.
"No—Zerrei, hey—look at me—listen to me—"
His eyes flickered rapidly.
"…don't… hurt Lyra… please… don't hurt…"
"You're dreaming!" she cried softly. "Come back to me!"
Oren leaned close, chanting a soft containment spell around them to keep Zerrei from accidentally releasing a resonance burst.
"Lyra!" he warned.
"If he resonates inside a dream, he could shatter the entire camp!"
Arden muttered, "Fantastic news! Great! No pressure!"
Zerrei writhed in panic—
"…please… please… don't take Lyra… please…"
Lyra's heart cracked open.
She pressed his cheeks between her palms, tears falling onto his carved face.
"Zerrei.
It's me.
I'm here."
His eyes snapped toward her voice.
"…Lyra…?"
"Yes!" She sobbed. "Come back—come back to me—"
He gasped sharply.
Light flickered—
then dimmed—
then steadied.
"…Lyra…"
"…Lyra… warm…"
He collapsed into her arms, shaking violently.
Arden wiped sweat from his forehead.
"That was—THAT—okay—what the hell was that?!"
Oren exhaled deeply.
"A memory."
Arden paled.
"A bad memory?"
"The worst kind," Oren murmured.
"One imprinted into his core."
Lyra held Zerrei's head tight against her neck as he slowly calmed—each breath a soft, trembling hum.
"…Lyra…"
"What did you see?" she whispered gently.
He hesitated.
Then, in a soft, terrified voice:
"…chains…"
Lyra froze.
"…dark…"
Oren's expression tightened.
"…cold…"
Zerrei shook.
"…and the Master's voice…"
Lyra's heart stopped.
Zerrei clung to her desperately.
"…he said Zerrei… must obey…"
Lyra hugged him so tightly her arms shook.
"You don't obey him anymore," she whispered fiercely.
"You're free. You're mine."
He pressed his forehead to hers, trembling.
"…Lyra… mine…"
"Yes."
"…not his…"
"Never."
He breathed out—
A tiny, shaky exhale—
And finally, finally relaxed in her arms.
OREN'S ANALYSIS OF THE DREAM
Oren snapped his fingers, dismissing the containment runes.
"That confirms it," he said quietly.
Arden blinked.
"Confirms what exactly?"
Oren adjusted his spectacles.
"The Creator didn't only craft vessels with magic.
He implanted commands.
Conditioning."
Arden looked horrified.
"Like… brainwashing?"
"Yes."
Oren's voice was grim.
"But Zerrei's ability to defy him proves something important."
Lyra looked up.
"What?"
Oren pointed at Zerrei—still shaking in her arms.
"He isn't just evolving physically.
He's evolving mentally."
Oren paused.
"Emotionally."
Arden blinked.
"Emotionally evolving.
Like puberty except—magical."
Lyra smacked his arm.
"This isn't funny!"
Arden held his hands up.
"I KNOW—it's terrifying!"
But Oren nodded.
"Arden is accidentally correct."
Arden lit up.
"HA! Acci—wait, what?"
Oren continued:
"Zerrei's emotional capacity is growing faster than his core can handle.
Which is why he's having memory surges."
Lyra gently stroked Zerrei's cheek.
"So he was reliving his creation?"
"No," Oren said.
"That was not creation.
That was punishment."
Zerrei tensed in her arms.
Lyra hugged him protectively.
"Don't think about it," she whispered.
"You're safe."
He buried his face into her neck.
"…Lyra…"
THE DREAM SHIFTS — AN UNEXPECTED MEMORY
Just when they thought Zerrei would rest—
He lifted his head slowly.
Eyes distant.
Soft.
Somewhere far away.
"…Lyra…"
"Yes?"
"…Zerrei… dream… something else…"
Lyra stroked his cheek.
"What did you dream?"
He hesitated.
Then whispered:
"…light…
…warm…
…someone held me…"
Lyra blinked.
Arden sat up straighter.
Oren froze.
Zerrei continued:
"…not the Creator…
not—dark…"
His glow warmed faintly.
"…someone gentle…"
Lyra whispered:
"A woman?"
Zerrei frowned.
"…don't know… not see face…
but… warm…
like Lyra…"
Oren slowly reached for his notebook.
"This is new."
Arden whispered:
"Someone besides the Creator… saw him?"
Lyra frowned.
"Zerrei… do you feel afraid when you think of that person?"
He shook his head gently.
"…no…"
He pressed a hand over his chest.
"…feel… safe…"
Lyra's breath caught.
Oren spoke softly:
"This is not the Creator.
This is not a vessel command.
This is something older."
Arden blinked.
"Older? Like—what? His grandma?"
Lyra glared.
"Arden—!"
But Oren wasn't joking.
He turned a page.
"There is a theory," Oren murmured.
"That maybe… just maybe… the Creator wasn't the first to touch Zerrei's soul."
Lyra's eyes widened.
Zerrei blinked softly.
"…not first…?"
Oren nodded slowly.
"Someone else may have… awakened him.
Before the Creator sealed him into a puppet."
Zerrei stared blankly.
"…someone… loved Zerrei…?"
The air went silent.
Lyra placed both hands over his.
"I think… someone did."
Zerrei trembled.
Not in pain.
Not in fear.
But in something like…
Hope.
"…warm…"
He rested his head gently in Lyra's lap.
"…Zerrei… want… remember…"
Lyra brushed his hair.
"We'll help you."
His voice softened.
"…together…?"
"Yes."
She smiled warmly.
"Together."