A Starlit Promise

The Morning After

As Rylla sat up, the familiar surroundings of the inn gradually came into focus - the worn wooden walls, the musty smell of old linens, and the soft flicker of the single candle that had nearly burned itself out. 

She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to calm her mind. It had been days since the last dream, and she had started to believe that it was over. But now, the strange man had returned, bringing with him even more questions. What veil? What key? Why now? 

Rylla pressed her hands to her temples, trying to shake the fog from her mind. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't grasp what it all meant. But the unease lingered, like a shadow on the edge of her thoughts. 

She turned to look at Kaelith, who was lying beside her, his chest rising and falling in steady rhythm. Her cheeks and core heated at the memory of what they shared the night before, their bodies intertwined in a way that had both comforted and excited her. She shifted carefully, trying not to disturb him. She slipped out of bed and crossed the room to the bathing room where she found another window. She pushed it open and inhaled deeply, letting the crisp early morning air cool her clammy skin. The city of Alaris was quiet now, the rowdy tavern-goers long since retired for the night. The darkened streets before her were empty, save for the occasional stray cat slinking between the shadows. 

The veil... you are the key. 

Her fingers curled around the windowsill as she stared out into the distance. A memory tugged at the edge of her consciousness - something her dream man had said. He spoke of shadows creeping closer, and how the veil that separated their world from something darker was thinning. Was that what she had seen? Had she somehow glimpsed into that other world through her dreams? And why had she been chosen to stop it? 

As she stood there, she became aware of a faint buzzing in the back of her mind - a subtle, almost imperceptible hum, like the resonance of some faraway force. She had felt it before, in the dream, and now it lingered with her even in the waking world. It wasn't threatening, but it was persistent. A reminder, perhaps, of the power that was beginning to stir within her. 

She closed the window and turned to return to the bed. She found Kaelith stirring lightly, his eyes fluttering open. Seeing her troubled expression, he pushed himself up on one elbow, the blanket barely covering his hips, his gaze filled with concern. Rylla approached the bed, her steps hesitant. As she slid in, she pulled the blanket around her for warmth. Kaelith's eyes tracked her with a mix of curiosity, concern, and admiration as she sat down beside him. She took a deep breath, trying to find the right words to convey the urgency and confusion of her dreams. 

"Kaelith," she began, her voice slightly timid. 

"What ails you, love." He said, placing a hand on her thigh.

"I've been having these dreams. Well, I've had them for as long as I can remember, but lately, they've not been like any in the past. The last time I dreamt like this was the night Elderglen was attacked, and then nothing for a week. But now, they're back, and they're different."

Kaelith's brow furrowed as he shifted to face her more fully. "Different how?"

"They're becoming more vivid," Rylla said, her eyes searching his face for understanding. "And there's this... man - I've seen him before, though never clearly. Last night, he spoke to me for the first time, and in riddles at that. He talks about something called 'the veil.' He says it's weakening, and that I'm somehow connected to it, that I'm some key." 

Kaelith's expression grew more serious as he listened, his posture straightening a bit. "What else did he say," he pried. 

Rylla hesitated, trying to piece together the fragmented memories of her dreams. "He mentioned shadows creeping closer, and a world that's darker. It's like... he's warning me of something that's coming. But I don't understand why I'm involved or what this veil actually is." 

Kaelith sat up fully now, his demeanor focused and attentive. "This veil you're talking about - it sounds like it could be the barrier or a boundary between worlds or realms. I've heard whispers of such things, old legends about the boundaries between our world and others." Rylla flopped onto her back on the bed, "My grandmother used to tell me stories of such things, but I always thought they were just stories to entertain me. Do you think it's real?" she looked at him again, "Do you think there's something to it?"

Kaelith nodded slowly. "There are old tales of a thinning veil, a weakening of the barriers that keep dark forces at bay. If what you're dreaming is connected to that, then it could mean that something big is coming. And if you're the key..." his focus drifted. He pondered for a moment, lost in his own thoughts. "If the veil is weakening," he said again, "then it could mean that dark forces are finding ways to breach through. This would explain the shadows and the sense of growing darkness you're describing. The veil's weakening could be connected to the war between the fae and humans."

Rylla's heart skipped a beat. "The war? But I thought that was a conflict of power, not something that involved mystical barriers or realms." Kaelith sighed, looking away for a moment as if grappling with his own thoughts. "The war itself was started by betrayal, far before our time, but it's intertwined with the magic that binds our worlds. The fae sealed away as much of their power as they could behind their veil to protect it. The weakening veil could mean that the fae's hold on that power is faltering, and if it falls entirely, it could mean chaos for both sides."

Rylla's mind raced, "And you think that I - being some key - have something to do with it?"

Kaelith nodded, his gaze returning to her. "It's possible. If you're the key, then you might have a role in mending the veil or restoring balance. But that also means you're in great danger. The dark forces might be seeking to exploit this situation for their own gain."

Rylla's thoughts turned to Kaelith's earlier actions and words. "And what about you, Kaelith? Why are you helping me with this?"

Kaelith hesitated for a moment, his expression conflicted. "I'm here to protect you and ensure that the veil is repaired. But the truth is, there's much more at stake than you realize. I've been tasked with ensuring that the balance is maintained, and that might involve... difficult choices."

Rylla felt a chill. "Difficult choices? What do you mean?"

Kaelith's eyes darkened. "Sometimes, what's needed to restore balance isn't easy or clear. There are factions and powers at play that have their own agendas. I need to be sure you're prepared for what's to come."

Rylla's heart pounded. "And what if I'm not?"

Kaelith's hand gently squeezed hers. "You are more capable than you know. I believe in you, even if I can't reveal everything just yet."

Rylla's thoughts churned, grappling with the complexity of their situation. She sensed that Kaelith's true motives were still shrouded in mystery, and his enigmatic demeanor only deepened her unease. But despite her doubts, she couldn't deny the pull of the connection she felt with him.

As the morning light began to filter into the room, Kaelith's expression softened. "Rest now. We have much to prepare for."

Rylla nodded, her mind heavy with questions but also with a budding sense of resolve. She had to understand the true nature of her dreams and the role she was meant to play. And she had to uncover the real reasons behind Kaelith's actions and the shadowy forces at work.

As she lay back down beside him, the faint hum she had felt earlier seemed to resonate deeper within her, mingling with the echoes of her dreams. She closed her eyes, trying to focus on the path ahead, knowing that her journey was only beginning.