When Dawn meets Dusk

Chapter 4 - Dreams of Peace

The morning mist clung to the grounds of the Memorial Palace, shrouding the Imperial Feathers’ headquarters in a blanket of cool, dense fog. Lily walked silently through the grand hallways, her thoughts heavy and distant. Beside her floated Medousa, her jellyfish companion, a soft glow emanating from its transparent form. The serene aura Medousa gave off was a comfort to Lily, a contrast to the weight of responsibility she bore daily.

The walls of the Memorial Palace were adorned with portraits and statues of past warriors—men and women who had given their lives for the cause of the Imperial Feathers. As Lily passed each one, she couldn’t help but wonder about the sacrifices made for this seemingly endless war. Her footsteps echoed softly, the sound a lonely reminder of how empty the palace felt in moments like these.

She sighed, glancing at Medousa, who swayed gently beside her. "Do you think this war will ever end, Medousa?" she whispered, her voice barely above a murmur.

Medousa’s tendrils shimmered slightly in response, though, as always, the creature remained silent. Lily smiled faintly at the gesture, finding solace in the small glow of her companion. The war had taken so much from everyone—time, energy, hope. Sometimes she wondered if she had anything left to give.

In the quiet of the palace halls, Lily’s mind wandered to a distant dream, one she had rarely allowed herself to indulge in. A life without war. A life where she didn’t have to wake up every morning wondering if today would be the day her comrades fell in battle. A life where she could walk through the city without seeing the faces of fallen soldiers etched into every corner.

She longed for simplicity—perhaps a small cottage in the countryside, far from the conflict. Maybe she’d grow flowers, or work in a library, surrounded by books and peace. A normal life, one where the weight of leadership and war didn’t rest on her shoulders. But as quickly as the dream formed, it faded, replaced by the stark reality she lived in.

For now, there was no escaping her duty. The Imperial Feathers needed her, and Hebe trusted her implicitly. There was no room for hesitation or doubt. Still, the dream of peace lingered, like a quiet promise on the horizon.

Back at Obumbratio, the Abyss Seekers' fortress, Ezyati lay curled up in her room, her small sea dragon form nestled against the cold stone floor. She was lost in thought, her tiny body wrapped in her wings as if trying to shield herself from the outside world. Cheryl had been out for most of the day, and while Ezyati always felt safe in the fortress, there was a quiet loneliness that crept in whenever her "mama" wasn’t around.

Her mind wandered to the same question that had been bothering her for days now—what if the war ended? What would happen then? Would she and Cheryl be able to live a normal life, free from the conflict that surrounded them? It was hard to imagine a world without the tension of battle and the looming threat of the Imperial Feathers.

Ezyati thought about what a normal life with Cheryl might be like. They could live somewhere quiet, away from the chaos of war and the cold stone walls of Obumbratio. Maybe they could go to a place by the sea, where Ezyati could swim and play in her true form without fear. She imagined the two of them walking along the shore, the sun setting behind them, and for once, they wouldn’t have to worry about anything.

A soft sigh escaped her lips as she stretched out, her wings fluttering gently. The thought of a peaceful life felt so distant, so unattainable, but it was a dream she held onto. More than anything, Ezyati wanted to be with Cheryl, to live as they did now but without the constant shadow of the Abyss Seekers and the war they were entangled in.

But deep down, Ezyati knew that such a life was far from reach. The Abyss Seekers had raised her, and Cheryl was still bound to the war. Even if the conflict ended, would they ever truly be free? Would Brendan allow Cheryl to walk away? And what of the Imperial Feathers—would they ever forgive or forget what the Abyss Seekers had done?

A soft sigh escaped her lips as she stretched out, her wings fluttering gently. The thought of a peaceful life felt so distant, so unattainable, but it was a dream she held onto. More than anything, Ezyati wanted to be with Cheryl, to live as they did now but without the constant shadow of the Abyss Seekers and the war they were entangled in.

But deep down, Ezyati knew that such a life was far from reach. The Abyss Seekers had raised her, and Cheryl was still bound to the war. Even if the conflict ended, would they ever truly be free? Would Brendan allow Cheryl to walk away? And what of the Imperial Feathers—would they ever forgive or forget what the Abyss Seekers had done?

These questions swirled in Ezyati’s mind, making her feel small and helpless. She didn’t understand the full scope of the war, but she could feel its weight in the way Cheryl carried herself. There was always a tension, a quiet fear that lingered beneath the surface. Ezyati wished she could make it all go away, that she could somehow protect Cheryl the way Cheryl protected her.

The young sea bunny disguised as a dragon shifted restlessly. She loved Cheryl more than anything, but she wished she could do more for her. Maybe, one day, when the war was over, they could find that peace together. But until then, all she could do was stay close to Cheryl and hope that the world would change for the better.

In the Memorial Palace, Lily paused at the large windows overlooking the courtyard. The fog had lifted slightly, revealing the stone paths below. Her mind still lingered on the thought of a peaceful future. She wondered what Hebe might think if she knew about these dreams. Would Hebe call her weak for wanting a life beyond the war? Or would she understand? Hebe had always been strong, a beacon of leadership for the Imperial Feathers, but surely even she had moments where she longed for something more.

As Medousa drifted closer to her, Lily allowed herself a brief moment of vulnerability, leaning against the cold stone window frame. "I just want to be free of this, Medousa. I want to live. Really live."

Medousa pulsed softly, its glowing tendrils brushing against Lily’s arm in a gentle gesture of comfort.

Lily’s gaze drifted out toward the courtyard, watching as soldiers trained and moved about. She admired their strength, their dedication, but at times like these, she wished she could be like them—someone who found purpose in the fight, someone who didn’t question what came after.

The reality, though, was that she couldn’t stop thinking about it. The end of the war. What would it even look like? Could there ever be peace between the Imperial Feathers and the Abyss Seekers, or was this conflict doomed to stretch on forever, leaving nothing but ruins in its wake?

Back in Obumbratio, Ezyati stared at the ceiling, imagining what it would be like to live with Cheryl in a world that wasn’t at war. Her dreams took her to places she’d never seen—lush forests, sparkling oceans, peaceful cities. She wanted to believe in that world, to believe that one day they could escape the darkness of the Abyss Seekers and just be together.

But until that day came, both Lily and Ezyati would remain trapped in their respective worlds, dreaming of a future that seemed just out of reach. The war loomed over them, a constant reminder that peace, no matter how deeply they desired it, was still a distant hope.