In the middle of the night, Eldric had succumbed to his fatigue and fallen asleep, leaving Ravena to stand guard. As the forest's eerie silence deepened, the figure from earlier emerged from the shadows, slowly approaching Ravena. She sensed something was amiss but couldn't react quickly enough.

A strange sensation overtook her—a sudden and overwhelming sense of paralysis. Her mind and eyes were active, yet her body felt as though it were bound by invisible chains. Panic rose as she struggled to move, to speak, but it was as if an immense weight pressed down on her, rendering her immobile. Her breath quickened, shallow and erratic, and her hands felt numb, trembling uncontrollably.

As she scanned the area with wide, frightened eyes, she saw the figure nearing her. Desperately, she tried to scream, but no sound escaped her lips, as if her voice was trapped within her. The figure loomed over her, a dark, indistinct presence, and then it reached out, placing a cold, shadowy hand on her forehead.

At that moment, Ravena's vision blurred, and she felt as though her spirit was being pulled away from her body. The oppressive weight intensified, and her surroundings dissolved into a series of disjointed, vivid scenes—her hallucinations had begun.

She found herself in a place filled with warmth and tenderness, a stark contrast to the chilling fear she had just experienced. A soft touch on her cheek, a pair of lips brushing against hers—she felt love, but the person remained faceless. Her heart raced with both joy and confusion. The moment felt surreal, and as she tried to grasp it, the vision shattered like glass, pulling her into another scene.

Now surrounded by shadowy figures, Ravena sensed a strong bond with them. They moved and spoke as a cohesive unit, but their words were indistinct, their identities unclear. She felt a surge of purpose, as if these were comrades she would come to rely on. Yet, as she reached out to them, the shadows dissolved into darkness, and she felt herself falling once more.

Ravena landed in a grand hall, filled with people. Flags and banners fluttered, but their symbols were unrecognizable. The air buzzed with discussions of an alliance, though she couldn't discern the participants or their purpose. The scene felt urgent, important, yet veiled in an impenetrable fog. As she tried to listen more closely, the fog thickened, and she was abruptly yanked away.

The final vision was the most unsettling. She stood in a dimly lit room, facing a familiar figure—Sylas. There was a sense of finality, of confrontation. She saw herself raise a weapon, and then Sylas was falling, a look of shock on his face. The room spun, and she felt the sensation of falling, not just physically, but deeper into herself, into the realization of what she had seen.

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Ravena found herself soaring through the fragmented scenes of her hallucinations, each one blurring into the next. A distant light grew brighter, and she heard a voice calling her name, "Ravena." The call grew more urgent as she was pulled toward the light, faster and faster, until—

"Ravena-sama!" Eldric's voice broke through the haze, pulling her back to reality. She gasped for air, her eyes snapping open. Seeing Eldric's concerned face, she slowly calmed down, her breathing steadying as she placed a trembling hand on her forehead.

Realizing she was drenched in sweat, Ravena sat up, trying to gather her thoughts and shake off the lingering dread of her vivid hallucinations.

Ravena blinked at the sunlight streaming through the trees, indicating morning had arrived. She stretched, trying to recall her dream, but it slipped away like sand through her fingers.

She caught the scent of a delicious curry and turned to see Eldric already preparing breakfast, and him ever prepared, also handed her a spare towel and some fresh clothes.

"Ravena-sama, you had a dream, didn't you?" he inquired as she dried off.

"Thanks. How did you know?" she responded, puzzled.

Eldric hesitated before explaining, "While I was cooking, I heard you mumbling in your sleep. When you started to get more restless, I thought it best to wake you." he then turned to his horse, offering it a portion of fresh hay, gently patting its side as the animal ate.

“Thank you. It was a weird dream, to be honest,” Ravena said as she changed clothes behind a tree.

“What was your dream, Ravena-sama?” Eldric asked.

“I don’t know. I’ve already forgotten it,” she replied as she sat down beside him.

“That’s normal. I forget many dreams myself. Maybe you’ll dream about it again if given the chance,” Eldric said as he prepared their breakfast.

The two of them enjoyed their breakfast together, the warm curry and fresh bread offering a comforting start to the day. After finishing their meal, Eldric packed away the cooking supplies and secured the carriage.

Ravena, feeling more refreshed, joined Eldric at the carriage. With everything prepared, they set out once more, continuing their journey through the forest as the sun climbed higher in the sky.