Light and Shadow

Chapter 23 - A Phantom Illness

--- Hello beloved readers! Are you enjoying the story so far? Please don't hesitate to leave feedback. How do you think Xun Yu's nightmares relate to the story? Hehe, don't worry, all will be revealed in time. Thank you for reading this and for continuing to read the story! *sends hugs* ---

"Xun Yu! Wake up!" Sima Yi exclaimed as he grabbed onto the man's shoulders and gently attempted to wake him.

Xun Yu slowly sat up and jumped back with fright once he saw Sima Yi standing before him. Xun Yu was coated in sweat and squint his eyes in pain as a sliver of sunlight filtered in through a small opening in the curtains of a nearby window. Sima Yi raised an eyebrow in question.

"I'm sorry for waking you. Did you have a bad dream? It is morning and I found you asleep at the desk. Were you here all night?" Sima Yi gushed.

Xun Yu frowned and rubbed the sides of his head. He had a massive headache, one that throbbed and ached terribly. He closed his eyes and nodded.

"Yeah, I must have fell asleep, and I did have a rather strange dream." Xun Yu replied.

"What was it about?" Sima Yi asked curiously.

Xun Yu frowned slightly as he recalled the pale, ghastly woman from his nightmare.

"I would rather not say. It was... frightening." Xun Yu stated softly.

Sima Yi nodded to show that he understood and would respect the man's wish not to discuss it.

"Would you like me to walk you home? You need proper rest." Sima Yi inquired.

"No, I should be fine. I just need something to drink." Xun Yu said.

He stood up and began walking but stopped and doubled over, clutching his knees tightly with his hands as pain flooded his senses. He felt nauseous. Vomit quickly rushed into his throat, and he could not hold it in as it spewed out of his mouth and onto the floor. Sima Yi rushed over to the man, who was now gasping for breath, and placed a hand on his shoulder to comfort and support him.

"Minister, you need to rest." Sima Yi stated gently with concern in his voice.

Xun Yu shook his head 'no' as feelings of intense nausea and pain washed over him again. He frowned as vomit rushed into his mouth again and he tried to hold it in, but he was unsuccessful. It rushed out of his mouth and onto the floor, coating the same spot with the acidic and tart liquid. Xun Yu was now shaking slightly as Sima Yi did his best to help him stand.

"Can you get me some water, please?" Xun Yu said hoarsely. His throat stung from the bitterness and acidity of the vomit.

"Of course, stay right here. I'll be back shortly." Sima Yi gushed as he quickly left to fetch the man a cup of water.

Sima Yi returned a few moments later with a cup of water in hand to see Xun Yu attempting to clean up the vomit with a rag.

"Minister, you really shouldn't be doing that. Let me." Sima Yi stated as he gave Xun Yu the cup and took the rag away from him.

Sima Yi quickly cleaned up the mess and Xun Yu sat down on the ground next to him after he finished drinking the water. He sat the empty cup down beside him. His hands were still shaking slightly, and he still tasted the bitterness of vomit in his mouth. I feel awful, and I feel somewhat embarrassed. I don't know what is happening to me. Why do I feel so nauseous, and why do I keep getting sick? Surely this is not related to that dream. No, it would be impossible and unrealistic for a dream to cause some sort of sickness. Some thing else is wrong.

"Are you okay? You look pale." Sima Yi inquired as he finished wiping up the mess.

"Honestly, I don't know," Xun Yu replied meekly. "I'm sorry for making such a mess."

"Stop, don't apologize. I am seriously concerned about you. Please, get some actual rest today or I will write a letter to our Lord telling him that you are ill." Sima Yi said seriously.

Xun Yu's eyes widened with fear and apprehension, and Sima Yi instantly knew that he was not particularly fond of the idea.

"No, please, don't do that. He needs to focus on fighting against Yuan Shao. I will rest, just please do not do that." Xun Yu answered with a fretful expression on his face.

Sima Yi nodded. I guess I know an easy way to boss him around now, but wouldn't that work on others too? Meh, oh well. It's not like I plan on using this against him again unless I have to. I just want him to rest, since he is clearly unwell.

"I will walk you home." Sima Yi stated as he took the rag over to the brazier by the window.

The brazier was still lit, and he tossed the rag into its dim fire before returning to Xun Yu's side. The two then slowly proceeded to walk to Xun Yu's house. The strong light and smells outside hurt his head greatly as they attempted to walk, and he felt as though his senses were under assault. He grabbed onto Sima Yi's shoulder as nausea began to overwhelm him and he stopped to stand still for a moment. Sima Yi yelped in pain as the man's grip on his shoulder tightened, and he noticed that Xun Yu appeared to be quite pale again. Please, I hope that he doesn't throw up again. We still have quite a way to go before we reach his house. I wish that someone strong, like Xiahou Dun, was here so that we could just carry him home. Maybe that would be easier on him than walking.

Sima Yi looked around and noticed that a few of the civilians gave them weird glances as they walked by, and some even stopped to stare at the scene for a few moments before moving on.

"Yu, we're causing a scene." Sima Yi whispered.

"Are we? I'm sorry," Xun Yu replied quietly as he slowly returned to his normal standing position and released Sima Yi's shoulder. "I feel okay now."

"Are you sure?" Sima Yi asked softly with a doubtful expression, since the man was still quite pale.

Xun Yu nodded his head 'yes,' and the two resumed walking to his house. After walking for several more minutes, they made it to Xun Yu's house without incident. Xun Yu thanked the man and apologized for inconveniencing him, but Sima Yi insisted that it was okay and encouraged him to come find him if he needed anything. Xun Yu watched as Sima Yi walked away before entering his house and closing the door behind him. He sighed, feeling both relieved and anxious, as he leaned his back against the door. He tightly clutched his hands together against his chest and took in a few deep breaths to steady himself.

Sima Yi is right, there is something wrong with me and I need to rest. I feel so weak after that strange dream. What does it all mean? Xun Yu walked into his room and sat down on the edge of the bed. He gazed out of the open window, watching as a small gust of wind carried away two leaves and rustled the bare branches of the trees. Winter will be here soon. When will our Lord return? When will these nightmares end? Xun Yu then let down his hair and placed his headpiece on the nightstand next to the bed before laying down. He returned his gaze to the window, taking in the beauty of the bare trees that swayed with delight in the wind's soft embrace. As he watched the scene before him, feelings of serenity filled him and Xun Yu found himself lulled into sleep.