Chapter 18: 🌸 Chapter 17

In Dunira's Home, Tharavine

The three of them—Dunira, Kaelric, and Sansa—sat cross-legged on the floor of Dunira’s room, a soft mattress beneath them. In the center lay the amethyst crystal, faintly glinting under the warm lantern light. The window was shut tight, curtains drawn. The door, too, had been closed to seal the world out.

Sansa broke the silence first, her voice thoughtful. “I keep wondering... how do we even use this thing?”

Kaelric raised a brow, smirking slightly. “You brought it and didn’t figure that part out?”

Sansa huffed. “Hey, I thought we’d figure it out together.”

Dunira’s gaze softened as she reached for the crystal. “My nanny used to keep a bunch of magical stones like this. She said they could show truths... or bring answers. But she never explained how she used them.” Her fingers curled gently around the amethyst. “Still... maybe we should try.”

She closed her eyes and held the crystal in her palm, whispering under her breath, “Amethyst… I command you to guide us.”

Kaelric and Sansa exchanged a quick glance—half confused, half amused. But then, something changed.

The crystal began to shimmer, faint at first, then blooming into a soft purple and pink glow. The air stirred around it. A soft, whispering wind seemed to form from nowhere. The amethyst rose slowly into the air, hovering before Dunira—alive, pulsing like it had a heartbeat of its own.

Sansa gasped, eyes wide. “Whoa… how did you do that?”

Dunira opened her eyes slowly, the glow reflecting in them. “My nanny… she used to talk to her crystals like they were old friends. I just… did the same.”

Kaelric leaned in, voice steady but curious. “Alright then. Ask it—what’s inside the Green Lake?”

Dunira nodded and brought her hand near the floating crystal again. She whispered, “Take me to the Green Lake. Show me what lies within.”

Her lashes fluttered closed. At first, there was only blackness behind her eyes… then, a flicker. A pulse of light—purple, then red, then a deep green. The air shifted, heavier now. She could feel her breath slow as if the world around her had thickened.

Suddenly, she wasn’t in her room anymore.

She looked up—and realized the Green Lake was above her. The trees, the sky, all reversed, shimmering through the translucent water above her head. She was inside the lake. Inside the portal.

The world here was murky and damp, a strange heaviness settling in her chest. She scanned the space around her. The ground was littered with… remains. Rotting flesh of animals, bones half-buried in the soil. Her stomach twisted in disgust.

Then, a voice echoed inside her mind. It bounced through her like sound in an empty hall.

“Dunira, you okay?” Kaelric’s voice—distant, distorted, but still him.

“Yes… I’m fine,” she whispered, more to ground herself than anything. “I’m inside the Green Lake. It’s… horrible in here. Rotten. Dark.”

She moved forward, barefoot on the strange terrain, tracing invisible threads of energy with every step. She wasn’t there physically—her body still sat in Tharavine—but her spirit, her subconscious, had crossed the boundary.

“I’m going deeper,” she whispered. “Trying to find Lira…”

And with every step, the air grew colder.

.

Inside the Green Lake – Dunira’s Vision

As Dunira moved deeper into the eerie space within the lake, a new horror unfolded before her eyes.

All around her stood students—familiar faces from Valethir Academy—frozen like statues. Their eyes were completely white, lifeless. Motionless. As if their souls had been drained, leaving behind only breathing shells.

Her heart pounded as she stepped toward one of them, a boy she recognized from Fire class. “Hey… can you hear me?” she whispered, touching his arm gently. “Wake up. Come back to your senses…”

But he didn’t flinch. Not a blink. Not even a breath that showed recognition.

Dunira’s throat tightened. They’re hypnotized… controlled, she realized. Those shadow men… they’ve taken over their minds.

But Lira wasn’t among them.

She looked around, eyes darting, breath shallow. Where is she…? Her feet began to move again, slower now, every step heavier with fear.

Then—

A low growl.

Right at her ear.

Dunira froze.

Her head turned slowly to the right. And there, half-hidden in the shadows, stood a massive wolf. Its fur was thick with snowy and grey streaks, eyes glowing with a hostile gleam. Saliva dripped from its bared teeth as it stared directly at her with something more than hunger—rage.

Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!

Her chest tightened. It can see me… It’s sensing me, she thought in alarm. The wolf tilted its head, sniffing the air, scanning side to side as if tracking her exact location. Then, it began to walk toward her—slowly, deliberately.

Dunira stepped back, her heartbeat racing like a war drum.

The creature stopped just a few steps ahead… and then rose on its hind legs, towering above her.

Panic overwhelmed her. Her breath hitched. She turned—

And ran.

The wolf snarled and lunged after her, chasing with terrifying speed. She ran blindly through the murky path, the echo of its growls thundering behind her. She could feel it—closer, closing in.

---

Meanwhile, in Tharavine – Dunira’s Room

Back in the real world, Dunira’s body trembled violently.

Sweat clung to her skin, her hands twitching uncontrollably.

Kaelric leaned forward, gripping her shoulders. “Dunira!” he shouted, shaking her gently. “Wake up, come on!”

Sansa’s voice cracked with panic. “What the heck is happening?! Dunira, say something! Please!”

But there was no response.

---

Back Inside the Vision

Dunira’s lungs burned. She could hear Kaelric and Sansa faintly—muffled echoes somewhere beyond the veil—but fear held her voice captive.

Suddenly, she stumbled.

Her body slammed against the muddy ground, air knocked out of her lungs. Before she could react, the wolf pounced.

It was on top of her now.

She could see its snarl. Smell its breath. Its teeth were inches from her throat.

This is it, she thought. This is how I die.

Then—

“Stop.”

A calm, mocking voice echoed from the shadows.

The wolf froze.

“You’re not supposed to kill her.”

A tall man emerged from the darkness. His face was bruised and weathered, merciless in its cold expression. One eye had been crushed, as if torn out in battle—left exposed and horrifying. Yet the man didn’t cover it. He walked like someone who had seen too many wars and survived them all.

The wolf backed off, stepping away from Dunira.

Then, right before her stunned eyes, the beast began to change. Bones twisted, fur sank into skin, and within moments—the creature had taken human form. A werewolf. Standing tall beside the man.“he tilted his head… then cracked his neck slowly, as if curious what her bones would sound like.”

Werewolf…? Dunira’s mind raced. I thought they didn’t survive the war…

Noctherra… That used to be their home too.

The man stepped closer, his ruined eye gleaming with cruel knowledge.

“I knew you would come,” he said, voice low and eerily calm.

Dunira scrambled back slightly. “Who are you?” she demanded. “How… how can you see me?!”

He gave her a chilling smile. “It’s not the first time we’re meeting, Dunira.”

Her breath caught. Confusion twisted through her mind. What does he mean?

Who is he…?

---

Back in the Room – Reality

“Oh Gods, please wake up!” Sansa cried, on the verge of tears.

Kaelric was still holding Dunira’s shoulders, but this time, her body had gone completely still. Not shaking—just… frozen. Her lips were pale. Her eyes unmoving.

“She’s not responding,” Kaelric said darkly. “We’re losing her.”

“What do we do?” Sansa choked out.

Kaelric looked at the glowing amethyst floating in the air.

“We have to destroy the crystal,” he said, voice firm. “Now.”

They both turned to it—still pulsing with energy, as if it had a heartbeat of its own.

Inside the Green Lake — The Truth Unveils

“I’ve met you before?” Dunira said, trying to stand up despite her trembling legs. Her eyes stayed locked on the man before her.

The stranger smirked. “I think you convinced yourself it was just a dream. But these aren’t dreams, Dunira. You don’t need the amethyst. You have the power to travel—subconsciously—anywhere you want. You just haven’t realized it yet.”

His words struck something deep inside her.

Her breath caught. The dream… she thought. The one where I saw Lira... and those red-eyed figures... He’s talking about that.

Her throat tightened. “Are you… Noctherian?” she asked, her voice barely steady. “Why are you doing all this?”

The man's eyes gleamed with something wicked and old—like he had lived through lifetimes of hatred. “Because this is destiny,” he said flatly. “Tell me, are you truly happy in that world of yours? Surrounded by lies, fake smiles, false names?”

He stepped aside and pointed to the right.

Dunira turned her head—and the air shimmered.

A vision opened before her eyes: flames of war, clans clashing, hatred spilling like poison. People from different dominions arguing, fighting, claiming, “I’m better!” “We are the strongest!” Words spoken with pride, but poisoned by ego. Crystals cracked. Banners burned. Unity, an illusion.

“See?” he said bitterly. “No matter how hard they try to paint peace, it’s all pretense. They talk of love, but crave power. Every clan—every leader—wants to stand higher than the rest.”

Dunira turned to him, her voice strained. “What are you trying to do then? Burn it all down?”

He tilted his head slowly, then smiled. “I want peace, Dunira. Real peace. But peace... always comes with a price. And they—they must pay it.”

Her eyes widened. Her throat felt dry.

“Do you mean to say…” she whispered, afraid of the answer.

The man took a step closer. “Once they’re all gone—every single one—then a new world can rise. A pure world. Where only one clan remains.”

He paused. “Noctherra.”

Dunira’s breath left her in a stunned exhale.

“Peace?” she whispered. Then louder—angrier—“Peace?! You call that brutality peace?! You want to wipe us all out for your twisted version of balance?!”

Lucian, the werewolf, began advancing toward her.

“Stop, Lucian,” the man ordered without even looking back.

Dunira blinked. Lucian… so that’s his name.

The two locked eyes—Dunira and the wolf-turned-man. Tension crackled between them.

Then the man spoke again, low and clear, “Not you, Dunira.”

She stepped back, heart pounding. “Why not me? Don’t try to trick me—I’m not one of you.”

He didn’t flinch.

“You are,” he said. Calm. Certain.

“What?” Her voice cracked.

“You are one of us,” he said. Now he was too close, and there was no humor in his expression. “I have no reason to lie. That’s why I want you to join me. You belong on this side, Dunira. With us.”

The ground felt like it shifted under her feet.

Her knees nearly gave way as a chilling tremble rippled through her. His words echoed in her skull. I’m one of them? Her mind screamed no—but her heart… it shuddered. What if it was true? What if he wasn’t lying?

Could that explain the dreams? The visions? Her locked powers?

She steadied herself. Swallowed the fear. And then, slowly, raised her head to meet his gaze—eye to eye.

“No,” she said, voice sharp with defiance. I am not one of you And even if I was…” her lips curled in revulsion, “I would never stand beside a monster like you.”

The man’s jaw clenched. His eyes, once calm, flared with red fury.

“Then face the consequences,” he hissed.

At once, black, wire-like shadows erupted from the ground like smoke forged in darkness, surging toward her. Before she could react—before she could even think—a blinding light burst from within her chest.

The colors shifted wildly—green, then red, then a deep, radiant purple.

The vision shattered.

---

Back in Dunira’s Room

Dunira gasped, jerking upright.

Her eyes flew open.

Kaelric and Sansa fell back in relief, both of them stunned and breathless. The amethyst crystal fell to the floor with a faint thud—now dull,

She was back.

But her world had just changed forever.