Chapter 113: Despair
“What’s wrong?” Leona asked, leaning closer to Givia, who lay motionless, tears streaming down her face.
“It’s all my fault… My fault…” Cassandra said, pacing anxiously, her face hidden behind her scarf. “My appearance must have triggered those horrible memories…”
Givia seemed to have fallen into a state of utter despair, unresponsive to their words, her eyes vacant, her voice a broken whisper. “We’ve lost… We’ve lost…”
“Let me guess,” Abyss said, his voice calm and analytical. “Now that Cassandra has told us the truth, it’s not difficult to deduce why Givia collapsed, and what she saw in her dream.”
Rebecca, sensing his train of thought, continued, “After that accident, young Givia, traumatized, subconsciously suppressed those memories. That’s why she didn’t recognize Haina’s mother as the maid who sacrificed her arm and her beauty to save her. Cassandra left the palace, allowing Givia to live a relatively peaceful life. But seeing Cassandra’s face triggered those repressed memories, causing a severe mental shock. Combined with the stress of her responsibilities, it led to her collapse.”
Cassandra, sitting nearby, clutched her head, her voice filled with regret. “It’s all my fault! Why did I come here? I should have asked someone else to deliver the message…”
“No, Mrs. Cassandra, it’s not your fault. The information you brought—the fact that Kevin isn’t alive—is too dangerous to be shared with ordinary people. Everyone’s memories have been tampered with. Even Givia, with her strong will, and Haina, a trained mage, experienced severe headaches when those memories resurfaced. Imagine the impact on ordinary people,” Abyss said, standing up.
They were currently inside Rebecca’s alchemy laboratory. After Givia collapsed, Haina had rushed to the guesthouse, seeking Flora’s help. Flora and Leona had been learning needlework together. Hearing about Givia’s condition, they immediately summoned Abyss and Rebecca from the laboratory. They had rushed to the inn, and Abyss had carried Givia into Rebecca’s Anywhere Door.
He wasn’t concerned about his secret being revealed. They all trusted each other. And even if someone accidentally stumbled upon them, they wouldn’t understand what was happening. He and Flora could simply erase their memories. The slower time flow within the laboratory gave them ample time to deal with any unexpected situations.
Flora used a simple healing spell to repair a stomach ulcer that was on the verge of perforation—the result of Givia’s stress, her irregular eating habits, and the cause of her vomiting blood.
She then cast an awakening spell, pulling Givia out of the nightmare induced by the Lord of Nightmares.
“Givia must have encountered the Lord of Nightmares in her dream. He must have used some trick to frighten her,” Abyss said, standing beside Givia, observing her vacant eyes. “So that’s how he’s been tormenting her. Not with Shadowlings, not with his divine power, but by exploiting Cassandra’s loyalty and her sense of responsibility… It’s unexpected, and despicable.”
“Givia, tell us what happened. We can help you. You can’t give up hope,” Flora said, gently taking Givia’s hand, her voice soothing, its inherent calming effect, combined with her genuine concern, finally reaching Givia. Her eyes regained their focus, her voice a weak whisper. “Flora… It’s you…”
“It’s me. We’re here to help you. You’re safe now,” Flora said, smiling warmly.
“Yes, Givia, tell us what’s troubling you. We’re here for you,” Leona said, her voice casual, but her tone reassuring.
“I…” Givia said, a flicker of hope returning to her eyes. She was a strong woman, not easily defeated. “I saw the Lord of Nightmares in my dream… He told me I wasn’t worthy of being a princess, that I had wronged Cassandra, and that it was unforgivable… He said he would reveal the truth to everyone in Ossi, amplifying their disappointment, turning them against me… I don’t remember everything clearly…”
“Relax. Allow me to read a portion of your memories,” Flora said, her voice soft and calming, like a mother soothing her child.
Givia looked at Flora’s beautiful golden eyes, hesitated for a moment, then nodded. She didn’t question how a healer mage could read memories. She simply trusted this gentle girl. She desperately needed help. The Lord of Nightmares’ attack had been devastating, pushing her to the brink of a mental breakdown. She couldn’t see a way out.
Flora cast her Divine Art, extracting a fragment of Givia’s memory, a fleeting dream that would soon fade if not preserved.
She then shared this memory with Abyss through their necromantic link, allowing the others to witness Givia’s nightmare.
“As I suspected… As I suspected…” Abyss muttered, stroking his chin, his expression thoughtful.
“If people learn about this, Givia’s reputation will be ruined, especially with the Lord of Nightmares manipulating their perceptions,” Rebecca said, frowning.
Givia, hearing their concern, her eyes, which had briefly brightened, dimmed again.
“Givia, don’t despair,” Abyss said, his voice firm. “Only by facing your despair with courage can you overcome it. Rise, Princess of Ossi. Your people need you. You must be strong, give them a reason to believe.”
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