Aria's POV
I collapsed onto my bed, feeling the weight of exhaustion settle over me. It had been another long day at the archive, pouring over ancient texts and searching for any mention of the elder constellation, ancient ones or crystals, we had made no progress. No breakthroughs, no discoveries, no hints of where the last crystal was.
It had been a little over a week since I started helping Namarie and Lyra to search, Kael stopped by a few times to inquire about our progress and sometimes helps when his busy schedule permitted. Although I was starting to feel like we were getting nowhere. I wasn't even sure if I was the right person to ask for help. I was just a stranger in a strange land, with no knowledge of magic or the workings of this world. What could I possibly do to help?
I let out a deep sigh and rubbed my eyes, feeling the fatigue seep into my bones. I had been pushing myself too hard, trying to make sense of the complex texts and symbols that seemed to dance across the pages. But it was no use. My brain was numb, my eyes were blurry, and my body ached with tiredness.
As I lay there, I realized that I needed a break. I needed to clear my head, to get out and into the fresh air. Tomorrow, I decided, I would take a walk. I would leave the archives behind and explore the grounds. Maybe a change of scenery would help me think more clearly, or maybe it would just give me a chance to escape the feeling of failure that had been dogging me for days.
I closed my eyes, feeling the softness of the bed envelop me. I would worry about the archives tomorrow, or the next day, or whenever. For now, I just needed to rest. And so, with a sense of relief, I let myself drift off to sleep, the weight of my exhaustion slowly lifting as I slipped into a deep slumber.
I was running, my feet pounding the ground as I desperately tried to escape the hooded figure behind me. I could hear its footsteps, heavy and deliberate, and I knew it was gaining on me. I tried to run faster, but my legs felt like lead and I couldn't seem to get away.
The man was getting closer and closer, and I could feel his hot breath on the back of my neck. I was terrified, my heart racing with fear. I stumbled and fell, skinning my knee on the rough ground.
As I looked up, I saw the him looming over me, his face hidden in the shadows. He reached out and grasped my neck, his hands closing around my throat like a vice. I tried to scream, but my voice was cut off as the figure began to squeeze.
I felt my airway constricting, my vision blurring as I struggled to breathe. I was going to die, I was sure of it. His grip was too strong, and I was powerless to escape.
...….
Suddenly, I was jolted awake, my heart raced and my sheets were drenched with sweat. I gasped for air, my throat constricting with fear. As I sat up and looked around, I realized that I was in my bed, safe in my room. It was just a nightmare, I told myself. But as I reached up to touch my neck, I felt a chill run down my spine. My neck felt bruised as if someone had really been strangling me.
I threw off the covers and got out of bed, stumbling to the mirror to examine my neck. The marks were unmistakable, and I felt a wave of fear wash over me. How could I have gotten these marks? I didn't remember doing anything to hurt myself, and I certainly didn't remember anyone else being in my room.
I stood there, frozen with fear, as I tried to make sense of what had happened. It was just a nightmare, I told myself again. But the marks on my neck seemed to paint a different picture.
I turned away from the mirror, my heart still racing with fear. I couldn't believe what I had just seen. The marks on my neck looked so real, so vivid. I felt like I was going to be sick.
As I stood there, trying to calm myself down, I slowly turned back to face the mirror. I didn't want to look, but I had to know if the marks were still there.
But when I looked back, the marks were gone. My neck was smooth and unblemished, with no sign of the red and bruised marks I had seen just moments before.
I felt a wave of confusion wash over me. Had I really seen those marks, or had I just imagined them? Was it just a product of my fevered imagination, a manifestation of the stress I've been putting myself through?
I stared at my reflection again, searching for any sign of the marks. But there was nothing. Just my normal, pale skin.
I felt a shiver run down my spine as I realized that I wasn't sure what was real and what wasn't. Had I really been strangled in my sleep, or was it just a nightmare? And if it was just a nightmare, why had I seen those marks on my neck?
I didn't know what to think, or what to believe.
I tried to shake off the feeling of unease that lingered after my nightmare, and continued with my daily routine as usual. I decided to postpone my walk. I was not in the right frame of mind to enjoy it.
I didn't mention the incident to anyone, not even Elara. I was afraid that if I told them about the marks on my neck and the nightmare, they would think I was crazy. I didn't want to be seen as fragile or unstable, especially not in a place like this where I was already at a disadvantage.