In the middle of the garden that once overflowed with colors and beauty, everything suddenly turned into pitch-black darkness, as if the world’s light had been snuffed out in an instant. I stood frozen, searching for anything to anchor me, to stop myself from falling into the abyss of shock.

That strange woman reappeared, but this time she was nothing like the comforting figure I had seen before. She pulled herself away from my arms, her features twisting into a sinister smile as she spoke in a voice laced with deceit:

"You said you loved me, didn’t you? Hahaha… I am your false hope!"

Her laughter echoed through the void, morphing into a haunting sound that seemed to stretch endlessly. Then, from the darkness, a familiar figure emerged. It was that man—the one who claimed to be my mind. This time, he wasn’t alone. He had EILAF with him, gripping her harshly. Her eyes, filled with fear and tears, locked onto mine.

The man’s mocking voice cut through the heavy silence:

"You saw it, didn’t you? Hahaha…"

The room filled with laughter from his followers, their voices reverberating through the suffocating darkness. Without a moment of hesitation, I charged toward EILAF. My body moved instinctively, driven by sheer determination. I tore her away from his grasp, swept her into my arms, and ran as fast as I could.

I didn’t think. I couldn’t think. I just ran, clutching her tightly, ignoring her attempts to speak, until we found a secluded corner shrouded in shadow. There, I set her down gently, struggling to catch my breath.

I looked into her tear-streaked face, and with a voice trembling yet unwavering, I said:

"I will never betray you… no matter what. That will never happen."

She gazed at me, her eyes still glistening with tears. Then, she smiled softly, her voice filled with a warmth that cut through the darkness:

"I know. I trust you. And I know everything you’ve done for me. I know you came to save me… and I will never, ever doubt you."

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In that moment, time seemed to halt. The crushing darkness around us faded before the strength of those words. In that moment, her trust was the only weapon I needed to keep going.

From within the pitch-black darkness, his irritating voice echoed like a thunderbolt piercing the silence:

"Where are you? You’ve missed my axe… haven’t you?"

The deafening sound of a brutal impact shattered the air, as if the ground itself trembled under its force. He continued, his voice dripping with arrogance and madness:

"I’m the one who’ll split her apart for you! You’ll never be stronger than me, no matter what!"

As his words reverberated, that woman appeared once more, her features twisted with malice and disdain. She sneered, her voice mocking and sharp:

"Didn’t you say I was your beloved? Didn’t you say you were in my arms? Hah… how can she trust you now?"

Her words cut deep, but then she let out a scream—an earth-shattering, bone-chilling cry that reverberated through every corner of the space. It was a scream like no other, shaking the ground and the very air we breathed, as if the world itself was amplifying her rage and malevolence.

Amidst the chaos, I clung to EILAF with every ounce of strength I had, pulling her tightly into my arms as if shielding her from all the evil trying to reach her. My heart pounded violently, but my voice emerged firm, resolute, and unwavering:

"You will never be lost to me again. No matter what it takes… you will never be lost to me!"

She trembled in my arms, afraid but trusting, and I stood, defying every voice, every force, and every shadow that sought to shake my resolve.

In the moment when darkness engulfed us, their voices drew closer, rising like an unrelenting storm. There was no escape, no corner to hide in. Everything around us felt like it was caving in, as though we were trapped in an endless void.

Eilaf clung to me, her fingers gripping my arm tightly. Her calm voice, amidst the chaos, felt like a lifeline:

"Focus… I’m here. I won’t leave you… just focus."

I tried to steady my breath. Their voices grew louder, nearer, shaking the very ground beneath us. Each step they took was like a hammer striking my nerves, a harbinger of impending doom.

At that moment, like a spark of hope igniting within me, I turned to her and said, my voice trembling but determined:

"Put your hands on my head… like you used to. Come on, Eilaf, there’s no time!"

She hesitated for a moment, and their footsteps closed in, the sound of their rage echoing like thunder. Desperation gripped me.

"Now, Eilaf! Do it now!"

Slowly, she raised her hands and placed them gently on my forehead. In an instant, it was as if the entire universe shifted. Light broke through the suffocating darkness with a brilliance so pure it was blinding. The white radiance engulfed us, washing away every fear and shadow.

When I opened my eyes within this overwhelming light, I saw her. Eilaf—a bride clad in white, glowing like a full moon. Her laughter filled the air, a melody of life itself, chasing away every shadow. She was laughing, and her laughter alone shattered all fears, filling the space with warmth and serenity.

Then, as if an invisible hand cut through the dream, the light dimmed, and the scene transformed abruptly. I found myself back in my room—the familiar room that had sheltered me and my writing. My desk, scattered papers, and the pen lying beside them… everything was exactly as I remembered.

But what struck me most was what I saw next.

I was there. I saw myself, slumped over an open book, asleep, motionless, as though I had been in a deep slumber.

Eilaf was standing beside me, silent and still, her hand resting gently on my shoulder. She looked at me with her calm eyes, saying nothing. Yet in her silence, a thousand words were spoken.