Music to my Ears [(Y/n) x Venti]

Chapter 32

Night bathed everything in darkness. It was rather tiresome. My eyes weren't made for the dark; they were made for the warm glare of the sun.

Every time I thought I found a trace of her, the dark had tricked me yet again. I still couldn't sense the girl- Morax said it had something to do with a charm he gave her, and that only she could remove it. I tried not to feel jealous of the fact he gave her something instead of me. Jealousy was a whole new pit of confusion and questions that I wasn't ready to jump into.

I stopped. It was so incredibly still that I could feel the blood pulsing through my veins. But up ahead, clouds of smoke rose to meet with the sky.

A fire!

  I ran toward it with long strides and the wind pushing me from behind. Relief washed over me, until...

  There was no one there. A fire burned and crackled, eating away at twigs and leaves, but no one was tending to it. As satchel lay open by the fire, its contents spilled out. As if there was a struggle.

  "(Y/n)?" I called, alarm rising in my throat.
  Nothing but my echo responded.

  I looked at the satchel. It's hers. Two bruised sunsettias lay on the earth, collecting ants. A thin shawl and small change of clothes lay in a heap on the floor. Envelopes spilled out, precariously close to the fire.

Envelopes. I remembered the one I had found this morning. The one she had trampled. The one with the Abyss Order's sigil.

  I hated myself for this, but I tore it open without a second thought. My eyes scanned the elegantly penned letter, reading it as fast as I could.

       Dear (Y/n),

  I thought you were smarter than this. To tell someone all the secrets between us forces my hand. I've been waiting too long anyway. Make your choice by tonight, or I'll make it for you, darling.

  I'm surprised you still keep that bard around. He has heavier secrets than you ever could. Maybe you should reconsider your trust. You're too naive, dear.

  I want what's best for you. For all of Khaenr'iah. I weep for what been taken from us. Let us meet soon, my mage.

                                          
                                                       ~The One

  My heart stopped as I looked up to see the ominous glow of a waypoint. Of the one she was dragged through. Of the warning she had all along, right at her fingertips.

-
-
-

  My head felt light, as of it were detached from my body. My eyelids fluttered, but I couldn't open my eyes. I felt a presence near me, but I couldn't acknowledge it. My eyebrows furrowed in frustration.

    "Sleep, my mage. You need to rest." A voice hushed, lulling me back to sleep. I felt the soft touch of a hand on my cheek, and velvet lips on my forehead. For some reason, that seemed to kill any protest I had left in me. My mind went back to sleep.

  My eyes fluttered open. This time, I was alone. This time, it was cold and icy. I shivered under silk blankets.

I was in a bed. A canopy stretched over me, enclosing me in a protective cocoon. Curtains shielded me from the outside world, a deep shade of sapphire. They bristled as a cool draft flew in.

I sat up, my heart pounding. Confusion fogged my head and panic rose in my stomach. All I remembered was the sharp crackle of the fire and the moon and stars above me. And the struggle.

I woke up from the pull of sickly sweet dreams and high emotions. Gingerly, I sat up and stretched. Fear coated my bones and made them rigid. A million eyes seemed to watch me.

"I shouldn't have stopped." I mumbled to myself, pulling a pocket watch out of my satchel. Two in the morning. I had lost three hours.

I absentmindedly chucked another twig into the fire and cold seeped into my bones. It was so comfortable and easy to stay here, but any sleep I once had was far gone now. Nervousness kept me on high alert. The dream made me shiver.

I heard a crack. Whizzing around, my wide eyes scanned the bushes. A few feet away, a small little statue glowed cobalt. A waypoint.
Warily, I slung my satchel over my shoulder. I had stayed too long anyway. I needed to get to Kaeya.

I gasped as a hand covered my mouth from behind and another wrapped around my waist. I thrashed and kicked but their grip was steel. I screamed into their hand but it was too muffled. My lungs burned and my heart pelted in my chest. Slowly, I felt myself being dragged towards a blue glow. The waypoint. My feet dragged across the floor, trying to slow me down. My limbs burned but still I fought with my captive's grip around me.

Suddenly, they stopped. A figure emerged before me, unsettling because it was familiar. Nostalgic even. Golden eyes set themselves on me. I expected his silken voice before he even spoke.

"Why is it that the only time you fight with so much vigor is when a life is at stake?" He began, stepping forward. "You have so much potential you don't even know of. Use it for the right thing."

I let out a ragged breath as he touched my face. I knew this touch. It had been in my dream. He was my dream. And I had no idea what he wanted of me.

"Sleep now, my mage." He whispered, and all of a sudden, I felt all too light. All too unaware. All too safe.