Drakonis

Reality

My body jolted from the bed as I sat up, sweat dripping down my face and neck. My breath came in ragged gasps, each inhale feeling shallow and uneven. The remnants of the nightmare clung to me like a suffocating fog, and I looked around the dark room, my heart pounding against my ribs.

The room was dimly lit by the flickering light of a single candle. Shadows danced on the walls, creating eerie shapes that seemed to shift and move in the corners of my vision. The remnants of my nightmare lingered like a heavy weight, each image still vivid and haunting. I could almost feel the heat of the flames and hear the screams that had echoed in my dreams.

I turned to the side, trying to ground myself in reality. Nymara was moving around the bed, her silhouette bathed in the soft glow of the candlelight. Her presence was a comforting anchor in the midst of my turmoil. She had been asleep beside me, but now she was sitting up, her eyes filled with concern as she noticed my distress.

"Loran?" Her voice was gentle but edged with worry. She reached out, her hand resting on my shoulder with a reassuring warmth. "Are you alright?"

I shook my head, trying to clear the remnants of the nightmare. "No... I— I can't... I can't shake it off," I stammered, my voice trembling as I tried to steady my breathing. "It felt so real."

Nymara moved closer, her touch soothing as she placed a hand on my cheek, her thumb brushing away the sweat. "It's okay. It was just a dream. You're safe here," she said softly, her voice a balm to my frayed nerves.

I looked into her eyes, finding a moment of solace in her unwavering gaze. Despite the fear and confusion swirling in my mind, Nymara's presence was a grounding force, a reminder that I was not alone in this darkness.

"It was... so intense," I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper. "The flames, the chaos. It felt like I was right there, fighting... fighting against something I couldn't control."

Nymara nodded, her expression one of deep empathy. "Nightmares can be very real and very frightening. But remember, they're just that—nightmares. They can't hurt you here." She gently guided me to lean back against the headboard, her movements tender and careful.

I took a shuddering breath, trying to calm the rapid beating of my heart. Nymara's hand remained on mine, a steady, comforting presence as I fought to bring myself back to the present. The darkness of the nightmare began to recede, replaced by the soothing cadence of her voice and the warmth of her touch.

"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked softly, her concern evident in her voice.

"It was just fire... that's all I saw" I told her as she nodded.

Nymara gently guided me back down onto the bed, her touch tender as she helped arrange the blankets around us. She settled beside me, her warmth and closeness a balm to my lingering unease. The bed felt inviting, a small island of safety amidst the chaos of the past moments. I shifted slightly, finding a comfortable position, and Nymara nestled close, her presence a reassuring comfort.

The candlelight flickered softly, casting a gentle glow that created a cocoon of warmth and tranquility around us. Nymara's hand remained in mine, her fingers lightly tracing calming patterns over my palm. I closed my eyes, allowing myself to focus on the steady rhythm of her breathing and the soft rustle of the sheets as we settled in.

"Just focus on now," Nymara whispered, her voice a soothing melody that helped chase away the remnants of the nightmare. "We're safe. Everything is okay."

I nodded, though my eyes were still closed. The sense of security her words offered was a lifeline, pulling me away from the lingering shadows of the dream. I could feel the tension in my body melting away, replaced by a growing sense of calm as I allowed myself to sink back into the bed.