It was already morning.

A cold wind was seeping in through the open window. I was sitting on the edge of my bed, staring at my bare feet dangling down. There was a lump in my throat, and my heart was heavy in a way I couldn't describe. Even though the wind was making my back shiver and I knew it was there, it felt like there wasn't enough air in the room. I was suffocating. Shrinking. I couldn't even lift my head to look at the walls to see the faces watching me, spewing blood.

The weight of a nightmare was crushing me.

I was afraid of what I'd seen, and what it could mean.

My heart started to pound in my chest. I didn't dare to move as if the silence around me would somehow protect me. What I had seen last night was not just an ordinary nightmare. It was a jumble of vague images in my mind now, but the feelings it brought up were still there. I had seen, touched, felt, loved, and lost things that I didn't even know what they were. It felt real.

Ascula always told me that I didn't have "The Sacred Gift", and that I couldn't see prophetic dreams, but this morning, a voice inside me said otherwise.

What if this was a prophetic dream?

What if my destiny was to be lost in all this pain and sorrow?

What if the lump in my throat would stay with me all my life?

I didn't want to get up. I didn't want to face this day. So I just sat there, listening to the silence, trying not to cry. Even though I didn't move, I felt like the thousands of eyes on the walls were staring back at me.

"Fiera?"

I looked up in surprise.

My mother was standing at the door in her nightgown, looking at me with concern.

"Sweetie, are you okay? You look so pale."

A fire started burning inside me at that moment. I tried to take a deep breath to suppress my fear and anxiety.

"Yes, Mom," I replied, but my voice betrayed me with a slight tremble.

My mother looked at me skeptically.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, just a nightmare."

My mother's worried expression softened.

Her eyebrows furrowed, her lips curled, and she walked toward my bed with a compassionate look. As she placed her hand on my back and stroked it, the world suddenly returned to its former self; the wind blowing in through the window was warm, the light seeping in was bright, and the walls of my room were empty. I was myself. There was just a pair of eyes in the room other than mine, but they were filled with motherly affection instead of hate and judgment. I felt the blood flowing through my veins again, and the lump in my throat disappeared.

"Do you have a fever, child? You are warm." She kissed my forehead. "What did you see, honey?"

"I don't know, can't remember." I sat up straight, looking at my mother with sleepy eyes. "What time is it?"

"It's past noon, Fiera," my mother replied as if she remembered something, her voice tinged with worry. "You were so late last night that I ended up dozing off on the chair at the entrance. I didn't hear you come in, and you didn't even bother to wake me up."

I felt a pang of guilt in my chest. I didn't even remember arriving home. Perhaps in the darkness of the night, I had thrown myself into bed without seeing my mother at the entrance?

"I'm sorry, Mama," I said, reaching out to take her hand. "I didn't mean to worry you. I'll be more careful in the future."

My mother nodded, still looking concerned. "And what about work? Are you still planning on going to the cottage today? Can't you take a rest?"

I nodded, trying to push away the grogginess in my mind. "Yes, I have to. Ascula went to attend a birth, remember? She left me in charge while she's gone."

My mother sighed. "I know, but I worry about you going out alone so often. Especially when you're not feeling well-rested."

"I'll be fine, Mama," I said, forcing myself to smile. "I promise I'll be careful."

My mother didn't look convinced, but she didn't argue further. Instead, she stood up and brushed off her skirts. "Well, I'll leave you to get ready then. Just promise me you'll be back before nightfall, okay?"

I nodded again. "I will, Mama. I'll be back as soon as I can."

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With that, my mother left the room, leaving me alone.

I sat on the bed and yawned, stretching my arms above my head. The soft fabric of my nightgown slid down my arms as I reached for the brush on the bedside table. I ran the comb through my auburn hair, feeling the gentle tug of the bristles as they untangled the knots. After finishing with my hair, I reached for a small jar of rose oil and dabbed it on my wrists and neck.

I stood up, feeling my bare feet touch the cool wooden floorboards. I walked over to the trunk at the foot of the bed and lifted the lid. I chose a simple linen dress in a muted green that I knew wouldn't clash with the healer's robes I would be wearing for work. As I pulled on my clothes and gathered my things, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease in my gut. What had happened last night? And why couldn't I remember? If I was so exhausted that I couldn't remember what I did or how I made it home, how was I able to walk from Ascula's cabin to here? It didn't make sense.

I retrieved my healer's robes from the peg by the door, careful not to make a sound. I tied my hair back with a simple ribbon, slipped on my worn leather shoes, and grabbed my satchel. I also packed some bread and a small canteen of water.

Before leaving the house, I peeked into my mother's room to say goodbye. I saw her sleeping on the bed, with my little niece Misceria hugging her. I leaned over and planted a small kiss on both of their foreheads. My mom herself hadn't been feeling well lately and she was always tired, still worrying about me. Maybe I should've brought something for her from Ascula's cabin.

I stepped out into the cool air, taking a deep breath and feeling the wind. My mind was filled with thoughts of last night, the nightmares I had experienced, and the lingering feelings that remained in my chest as I made my way toward the Ascula's cottage. The path ahead dappled with sunlight filtering through the leaves, casting a warm glow on my face. I closed my eyes, feeling every inch of it.

I wondered if I should tell Ascula about these nightmares and the faces I had seen on the wall. What if they were the work of an evil spirit? It was possible after all. My whole day and night were spent taking care of sick people. An evil spirit that made people sick could have haunted me too. I searched my body for any signs or bruises. I listened to myself for any signs of negative energy, but the only thing I could feel was a dull ache in my heart.

Perhaps I was overthinking things. If there was something to worry about, Ascula would surely sense it as soon as she saw me. I needed to stay calm and composed now and decide if I should tell her about the nightmares later.

The well-worn forest path fell beneath my feet in a steady rhythm, the morning birdsong filling my ears and the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze a soothing background to my thoughts. I let a sense of peace wash over me. It was a nice day to be fair. The gentle rustle of leaves, the chirping of birds, the soft crunch of leaves underfoot - it was as if the whole forest was alive, and I was a part of it. The way the sunlight filtered through the trees, dappling the forest floor with light and shadow was a sight to behold. I loved the forest. It's where I felt most alive, most connected to the world around me. I loved the paths that led to my home, Ascula's hut, nearby villages, people, friends, and even the paths to the Grand Castle that I had never been to. Nothing was strong enough to stain this peace.

As I approached the cottage, I felt a sense of familiarity and comfort. The small wooden structure was nestled amongst a grove of tall trees, their leaves rustling gently in the breeze. The thatched roof was a patchwork of different shades of straw, and small clusters of colorful flowers grew haphazardly around the perimeter. The windows were slightly crooked as if they had been haphazardly installed, but they were open and allowed the fresh forest air to flow inside. Overall, it was a charming and peaceful sight, one that always put me at ease. One day I was going to build myself a cottage just like this and take care of the sick.

I entered the cottage. There was a group of other apprentices gathered near the entrance, preparing to head out to the forest to collect some plants. They greeted me with a smile and asked how I was feeling. I replied with a smile of my own.

"Do you want to join us, Fiera? We were about to leave now."

"No, thank you," I smiled again. "I need to do some work in the cottage."

"Ah, too bad," Nadea said with a shrug. "Well, if you change your mind, we'll be out in the forest for a few hours."

The other apprentices nodded in understanding and started to gather their baskets and supplies. As they were leaving, Nadea turned to me. "Don't work too hard, Fiera. Make sure you take some time to enjoy the forest."

"Did you read my mother's mind?" I chuckled. "Thanks, I will."

I watched as they disappeared into the trees, then turned my attention to the task at hand, tidying up the cottage and preparing some common potions for Ascula's next patients.

I looked around the cottage, taking note of the various herbs and plants that hung from the ceiling and lined the shelves. Ascula was meticulous about keeping her workspace organized and tidy. This was going to be a looong day. I started my work by grabbing the broom and sweeping the first floor. I moved the various herbs and plants out of the way, sweeping under them before returning them to their proper place. With each sweep, I could feel the stress of the day melting away.

Next, I moved on to cleaning the equipment. I picked up the pestle and mortar and gave them a good wash, making sure they were free of any lingering residue. I then moved on to the various jars and bottles lined on the shelves, carefully wiping them down with a damp cloth.

After the cleaning was done, I began to prepare the ingredients for the potions. I measured the various herbs and roots, carefully crushing them into a fine powder with the pestle and mortar. As I worked, I could feel a sense of purpose and fulfillment. As I mixed the powders together, I made sure to follow Ascula's precise measurements. Each potion was designed to help a specific ailment, and I knew that even the slightest deviation could make a big difference. I worked methodically, carefully measuring and mixing the powders until each potion was complete. Some days, I couldn't help but wonder if I was capable of more than what I was currently doing. Maybe there's something more I could be doing to help those in need.

I paused, staring at the various herbs and plants that surrounded me. The answer, I knew, was somewhere within them. Perhaps there was a new remedy to be discovered, a new potion to be brewed?

Now I was getting greedy. I smiled, almost hearing Ascula's words, "There is a time for everything."

When I finished my tasks upstairs, I grabbed the dust cloth and broom and headed towards the door that led to the basement. I pushed it open and was greeted by darkness.

The stairs leading down were steep and the room below was shrouded in shadows. Carefully, I walked down the stairs, trying my best to not slip and fall.

When I descended and looked up, there was no trace of the nightmares that plagued the night in my mind. I didn't remember faces on the walls. The burning sensation in my hands, the dryness of my lips, and the throbbing pain in my heart were all gone.

In the center of the room, I saw a pile of used candles and half-finished parchments.

Then, it all came back to me.