IAVAGVH Chapter 22

Chapter 22

 

 

Daphne had been unconscious for three days, so she wondered if she could sleep anymore. But before she knew it, she fell into a deep sleep again.

She wasn’t sure how much time had passed when she slowly opened her eyes, feeling the wind brush against her skin.

“Where is this…?”

Daphne looked around in confusion.

A vast blue field stretched endlessly before her, and she stood on a hill overlooking the breathtaking scenery. Even before she could fully grasp the situation, she instinctively knew—this wasn’t just a normal dream.

It felt just like the dream she had last time, the one where she saw a man who looked exactly like Duke Theophanes.

She wiggled her fingers slightly. At least this time, she could move them. But just like before, the rest of her body remained frozen. Was she gaining more freedom little by little with each dream?

As she was trying to move more, a sudden, unfamiliar hand wrapped around her waist.

“Prina.”

A deep voice came from above her head.

Before she could even react, her body turned against her will once again.

“Ber?”

“What are you doing here?”

“Just looking around.”

Ber—that was the name of the man who looked like Theophanes in her previous dream.

It was them again. But unlike before, when the atmosphere was tense and filled with blood, this time, everything felt peaceful.

The two looked like an ordinary couple in love.

The man rubbed his face affectionately against Prina’s shoulder before leaning forward with a pout.

“You love humans too much.”

His voice sounded like that of a sulky child who wasn’t getting enough attention.

As Daphne struggled to understand what was happening, the body she was inside—Prina—moved on her own.

She placed her hand over Ber’s, which was wrapped around her waist, and spoke in a voice full of warmth.

“I love you too.”

Prina’s words were completely sincere.

Daphne could feel it.

She could sense the genuine emotion behind her words, the way she looked at him with affection.

“Liar.”

“How can I prove it to you, hmm?”

Ber wasn’t truly doubting her, and Prina knew that. But she still wanted to ease his feelings, even if just a little.

“We were apart for days, yet instead of coming to see me first, you came here.”

“If I waited here, I knew you would come looking for me, Ber. And if I went back to the mansion, we wouldn’t be alone.”

“Damn kids.”

“Ber, I told you not to say that about them.”

Prina’s firm tone made Ber press his lips together tightly. Then, he buried his face in her shoulder, clearly unwilling to continue the conversation.

Prina, knowing him well, reached out and gently stroked his hair.

“But I don’t like kids. They cry all the time and make too much noise.”

“You were probably like that too when you were little.”

“Maybe not. I don’t remember my childhood, but I feel like I was always like this.”

Prina chuckled at his stubbornness and slowly turned her body.

Ber, noticing her movement, lifted his head slightly to make it easier for her.

“You were probably adorable.”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

Prina cupped his cheek, trying to suppress her laughter.

“You’re imagining something weird again.”

“I can’t help it! I can picture little you with a grumpy face saying, ‘I don’t like kids.’ It would’ve been so cute.”

“You enjoy teasing me, don’t you?”

Ber turned his head away in mock annoyance.

Prina, trying to appease him, gently turned his face back toward her and stood on her tiptoes, placing small kisses all over his face.

Of course, it wasn’t like she could reach him just by standing on her toes. Ber had leaned down to meet her halfway.

“How can I make it up to you?”

“Let’s watch the stars together tonight. Maybe even stay until dawn.”

“Alright, let’s spend tonight just the two of us.”

Their whispered conversation felt so intimate, like something Daphne wasn’t meant to see.

She felt like an intruder watching a private moment.

For a while, the two of them simply stared at each other, speaking without words.

The way they gazed at each other, their expressions, the way they held hands—it was all a silent conversation between them.

As the wind softly blew between them, Daphne suddenly felt herself being pulled away from Prina’s body.

She looked down at her own now-transparent hands, moving them experimentally before turning back toward the couple.

Just as their lips were about to meet, the ground beneath her suddenly gave way.

Daphne had no control as she fell into the abyss.

As she plummeted, her heart pounded wildly, and for some reason, Theophanes’ face kept flashing in her mind.

Was it just because Ber looked like him?

Was she feeling this way because Prina’s emotions were influencing her?

It didn’t make sense.

She didn’t love Theophanes.

This had to be Prina’s emotions affecting her.

As soon as her body stopped falling, Daphne opened her eyes.

“Huh?”

She was still in a dream.

“Daphne Himonas.”

Her body, which had been floating in mid air, slowly descended at the sound of someone calling her name.

Even though the surroundings were completely dark, she could somehow feel solid ground beneath her feet.

“Who’s there?”

“It’s me.”

A figure slowly emerged from the darkness.

“Prina.”

“Yes.”

For the first time, Daphne spoke that name aloud.

Then, without hesitation, she asked the question that had been burning inside her.

“You’re the one making me have these dreams, aren’t you? Why are you doing this?”

“Do you think this is just a dream?”

“What?”

“Do you believe this is only a dream?”

“Then what else would it be…?”

Prina’s words made Daphne stop mid-sentence.

Was she saying this was real?

“That depends on how much you know about Transcendents.”

“They are beings who received the power of the World Tree, those who can fight against evil. That’s about all I know.”

Daphne only knew the information she had been taught—things like the powers each Transcendent had and why they existed.

Prina listened to her answer before falling into deep thought.

Then, suddenly, her body flickered.

“It looks like my time is almost up.”

She glanced at her hands, clenching and unclenching them as if trying to feel something.

“Dreaming will help you recover your memories.”

“I never lost my memories. And dreams don’t happen just because I want them to.”

Daphne snapped in frustration.

What memories was Prina talking about?

Even in the original story, there was never any mention of Daphne losing her memories.

“Don’t worry. The more time you spend with the duke, the more you’ll see.”

Prina sighed before stepping closer.

“I can’t tell you much. You have to discover it on your own.”

“One question—does this have anything to do with why I remember my past life?”

“If I said it was because the time had come, would that be an answer?”

“What does that even mean…?”

“I told you—I can’t say much.”

Daphne felt even more confused.

She had so many questions, but would Prina even be able to answer them?

“It’s time for me to go now.”

As Daphne hesitated, Prina placed a hand on her shoulder.

“You won’t be able to talk to me again. I need to save my strength for what’s to come.”

“Wait, I still have more to ask—!”

“The only thing I can tell you is that you must find your memories on your own. And…”

Prina hesitated, looking as if she was struggling to say something.

But then, as if making up her mind, she pushed Daphne back.

Daphne’s body tipped backward, and once again, the ground beneath her collapsed.

As she fell, Prina’s body flickered and disappeared, leaving only her final words behind.

“Him…”