Arcane Dominion: The Rise of Shadows

"Confusion"

Nerina's POV-

I fell asleep again because my body was so exhausted and soon i found myself in another dream. The dream began in a haze, the edges of the world soft and blurred as i found myself in a dimly lit room, the air heavy with the scent of magic. Lyriana stood before her, a commanding yet oddly gentle presence, her piercing eyes fixed on Nerina with an intensity that made her breath hitch.

"You've come so far, Nerina," Lyriana said, her voice a velvety whisper that sent shivers down my spine. She stepped closer, her robes flowing like liquid shadow, her hand brushing a strand of hair from my face. "But you still hesitate. Why?"

I swallowed hard, her voice trembling. "I'm afraid... afraid I'll fail. Afraid I'm not enough."

Lyriana's expression softened, a rare tenderness gracing her features. "You are more than enough," she murmured, her hand lingering against my cheek. "You just have to trust yourself... and me."

The closeness was intoxicating, and i found myself leaning in without thinking. my breath mingled with Lyriana's, and when our lips met, it was like a spell had been cast-warmth flooded through me, banishing my fears and grounding me in the moment. Lyriana's touch was firm yet gentle, her kiss carrying a promise of strength and understanding.

But then, as if the dream itself rebelled, the scene shifted. The warmth of Lyriana's presence vanished, replaced by the cool glow of golden light. I blinked, disoriented, and found myself facing Solaria.

"Solaria?" I whispered, my voice barely audible. The mage stood before her, a knowing smile playing on her lips, her eyes glowing softly in the dim light.

"You look surprised," Solaria said, her tone teasing yet strangely tender. She stepped closer, her golden gaze locking onto mine. "You didn't think I'd let her have all of you, did you?"

My heart raced as Solaria closed the distance between us, her touch feather-light as she brushed her fingers against my arm. "You've always been so captivating," Solaria murmured, her voice low and magnetic. "I've wanted this... you."

Before I could form a response, Solaria leaned in, her lips claiming mine with a passion that left me breathless. Unlike Lyriana's kiss, this was fire and electricity, a connection that burned through my defenses and left me yearning for more. Solaria's hands slid to her waist, pulling meI closer, and I felt myself melting into the intensity of it all.

Yet even as my heart surged, confusion bubbled beneath the surface. Two women, so different yet equally overwhelming, had left their mark on me, and my mind spun with the impossible contradictions of desire and guilt.

The dream began to fracture, and woke with a start, my breathing uneven and my cheeks flushed. I pressed my fingers to my lips, the sensations of both kisses still lingering, and i stared at the ceiling, my heart pounding. What did it mean?

My eyes fluttered open, my body tense as the remnants of the dream clung to me, vivid and unrelenting. My chest rose and fell unevenly, the sensations of those kisses still lingering, leaving me breathless. It took a moment to orient myself, to shake the haze of sleep and the confusion it brought. The soft glow of moonlight bathed the stone walls of the chamber-a familiar sight, yet tonight they felt different. Oppressive, somehow.

As my vision sharpened, I saw Lyriana slumped in a chair near the bed. She looked... different. Her head was tilted back, her face serene, though faint lines of worry marred her otherwise perfect features. Her robes were slightly askew, and one hand rested loosely in her lap, as if she had been holding vigil until exhaustion had overtaken her. My heart twisted at the sight. Lyriana-so composed, so untouchable-looked vulnerable, almost human. It was a strange comfort and a pang of guilt all at once. How could I reconcile this tenderness with what the dream had stirred within me?

My gaze drifted further, and my breath hitched when I saw Solaria at the foot of my bed. She wasn't resting. No, she sat poised, her golden eyes half-lidded but sharp, always watching. Her chin rested on her clasped hands, her expression unreadable. The glow of her gaze softened in the dim light, almost protective, but there was tension in her shoulders-a coil wound tight, waiting for something.

"Finally awake, are we?" Solaria's voice cut through the quiet. It was soft, but there was relief there, a note of genuine concern she didn't bother to hide. She stood smoothly, her movements graceful as ever, and the faint light caught the sharp angles of her face. "You've been out for days. and when you woke up you only stayed for few minutes before passing out again."

"Solaria..." My voice came out hoarse, barely above a whisper. It scratched at my throat, and I winced at the sound.

She tilted her head, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips-brief, fleeting. Her eyes betrayed something softer, though, something she wouldn't name. "Here," she said, stepping closer. She picked up a glass of water from the bedside table and held it out. "Drink. You'll feel better."

My hands trembled as I took the glass. The cool water was a relief, soothing my throat, but it did nothing for the storm inside me. The dream's fragments flickered like ghosts in my mind, and I couldn't shake the memory of their touches, their gazes. The heat of those kisses still burned. And now they were here-both of them, too close, too real. My heart couldn't decide whether to calm or race faster.

"You were restless in your sleep," Solaria said, her voice quieter now, almost hesitant. "Dreaming of something... troubling?"

I stiffened, nearly choking on the water. Setting the glass down with shaky hands, I avoided her gaze. "I don't-I mean, I don't really remember," I stammered, the lie tumbling out too quickly.

Solaria raised an eyebrow. She didn't believe me; that much was clear. But she didn't push. Instead, she placed a hand on my knee, her touch light but electric. My heart stuttered at the contact, and I couldn't stop myself from trembling under her gaze. "Rest," she said softly, her tone soothing yet commanding, a strange mix that made my stomach twist. "You'll need your strength."

Her hand lingered for a moment before she stepped back. I thought I caught a flicker of something in her eyes-hesitation? Regret?-but it was gone before I could be sure. She turned and walked toward the door, her expression carefully neutral.

The room felt colder without her. But then my eyes fell on Lyriana, and my breath caught again. She stirred, her lashes fluttering as she woke, and when her gaze met mine, it softened with relief. Relief... and something else. Something I couldn't name.

"You're awake," she said, her voice thick with exhaustion. She leaned forward, her sharp eyes scanning my face like she needed to be certain I was truly there. "How do you feel?"

"Tired," I murmured, my voice trembling. My hands twisted in the blanket, my thoughts a chaotic mess of emotions. "I... I had strange dreams."

Lyriana tilted her head, her brows furrowing. "The Veilglass can leave remnants in your mind," she said, her tone calm and measured. "Fears, desires... they can manifest vividly in the days after."

Desires. The word struck me like a bolt of lightning. My cheeks burned as the dream's most intimate moments flashed through my mind. I clenched the blanket tighter, willing myself to keep my expression neutral, to avoid her piercing gaze.

"Perhaps it would be best to let her rest," Solaria's voice cut through the tension, cool and deliberate. She lingered in the doorway, her presence commanding even as she made to leave. "We've done enough fretting for one night."

Lyriana's gaze flicked to Solaria, sharp for just a moment, but she didn't argue. Instead, she turned back to me. Her voice softened, and I felt her hesitation in the way her hand hovered near mine. "You're safe here," she said quietly. "Call if you need anything."

I nodded, unable to form words as Solaria slipped out the door. The room felt emptier without her, yet Lyriana's lingering presence was just as overwhelming. She stayed a moment longer, watching me, before she, too, stood and left.

The silence pressed down on me as I sank back into the pillows, my heart racing. The echoes of the dream refused to fade, their touches and words tangling with the reality of their concern, their presence. Both of them pulled at me, different yet equally magnetic. How was I supposed to make sense of this? Of them?