Happily ever after? | RAYLLUM |

Part 9~ Invitation To The Unknown

The shadows twisted and turned around her as Rayla found herself in yet another dream. This time, it was darker and more sinister than before. The hooded figure known as the Shadow Weaver stood before her, his bright orange eyes glowing like embers in the darkness. "You are the key, Rayla," his voice echoed, chilling her to the bone. "Unlock the power that lies within you, and you shall know the truth."

Rayla felt the weight of his words press down on her, suffocating her with fear and uncertainty. Images flashed in her mind-her parents, Tiadrin and Lain, battling alongside the Dragon Guard, the chaos of the battle against Viren, and the overwhelming sense of betrayal that enveloped the hooded figure. With a gasp, she shot up in bed, her heart racing.

As her eyes adjusted to the soft morning light, she turned to see Callum sleeping peacefully beside her, his expression serene. Relief washed over her momentarily, but the urgency of her dreams clawed at her mind. She needed answers.

With a determined huff, Rayla swung her legs out of bed, her bare feet hitting the cool floor. Callum's office was strictly off-limits to her, but the longing for knowledge outweighed her hesitation. She glanced around the room, searching for the key that would unlock the secrets hidden within his office.

Frantically, she rifled through the drawers of the nightstand, but it was nowhere to be found. As the morning light crept into the room, illuminating the space with warmth, Callum began to stir. Panic surged through her; she quickly jumped back into bed, pulling the covers over her as he opened his eyes.

"Rayla?" Callum mumbled, blinking against the light. He smiled sleepily, his hair tousled and messy. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing!" she replied too quickly, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. She felt a surge of guilt as she tried to mask the urgency she felt inside.

"Okay," he said slowly, sensing something was off. "Just a weird dream again?"

Rayla nodded, biting her lip. As much as she wanted to confide in him, she couldn't risk alarming him. Not yet. Not when she was so close to uncovering the truth about the Shadow Weaver.

As they exchanged playful banter, Rayla's mind raced with thoughts of what she needed to do next. She would find a way into Callum's office, even if it meant searching for the key when he was busy with his duties as High Mage. The answers awaited her, and she couldn't afford to let fear hold her back any longer.

As Rayla tried to brush off her unease, she could sense Callum's attentive eyes on her. He asked with gentle concern, "What's bothering you?" His tone, laced with familiarity and worry, almost unraveled her resolve. Rayla felt the urge to tell him everything, to let him share the burden, but the thought of worrying him more or admitting she needed answers from dark magic sources made her keep silent. Callum had been working tirelessly to find solutions without dipping into the dangerous artifacts his office held. The last thing she wanted was to add more to his stress.

While getting ready, Callum struggled to fold his scarf, the soft fabric slipping through his fingers with every attempt. Rayla couldn't help but smirk at the sight of him fumbling, the scarf refusing to obey his careful, almost clumsy hands. "Need some help, Mr. Mage?" she teased, stepping forward.

She took over, quickly folding it into place, her fingers moving with practiced ease. The scarf was smooth and cool against her fingertips, contrasting with the warmth of Callum's collar where her hand lingered. Unable to resist, she playfully brushed through his messy hair, the strands still holding faint remnants of the braids she had done the day before.

"You really should get this cut," she reminded, her voice light and teasing, though a part of her wished things were as simple as nagging him about his hair. The memory of their past play fight over this came to mind, and for a moment, she considered teasing him like before, but her mood wasn't light enough for that. Behind her playful reminder lingered a storm she tried desperately to keep contained.