[Vanessa’s POV]

’A dream. I saw that dream again.’

As her consciousness drifted through the hazy remnants of sleep, Vanessa found herself returning to a place she had not truly seen in years.

In that dream, she was no longer Violet — the identity the world had come to know. The guarded girl hidden beneath countless layers of caution and carefully crafted lies no longer existed there.

Instead, she was Vanessa Eldrienne once more, reverted back to five years old.

The second daughter of House Eldrienne, born into a family whose name still stood tall and untarnished. A child untouched by consequence was dreaming in a place where time had not yet taken anything from her.

The sun spilt softly across the white-stone courtyard of the Eldrienne manor. The garden walls, high and ivy-kissed, held in the laughter of that morning.

Vanessa was walking with her tiny bare feet. The silk of her colourful dress dragged behind her, far too long for her small frame, tied in a lopsided knot by her servant.

Her hair — darker than it would become in later years — bounced behind her in loose, flowing waves. Under most angles, it appeared as a rich shade of midnight violet, but whenever the sunlight touched it just right, brighter shades of amethyst and lavender shimmered across its surface.

Then laughter echoed through the courtyard once more.

"Too slow, Nessa! You’ll never catch me like that!"

Her older sister, Anastelle Eldrienne shouted.

She was three years older than Vanessa, infinitely more graceful, and in Vanessa’s eyes, the most beautiful person in the entire world.

With a bright laugh, Anastelle darted between the marble columns, her movements were maddeningly light and effortless as she made her escape toward the garden.

"Wait!" Vanessa protested, immediately breaking into a clumsy chase.

Just before disappearing behind a curtain of ivy, Anastelle glanced over her shoulder. For only a short moment, sunlight caught her brilliant and radiant amethyst eyes.

They sparkled beneath the morning sun, carrying a playful mischief that made them seem almost magical.

Vanessa slowed for a second.

Completely captivated.

Her small mouth parted slightly as she stared.

’Pretty...’

The simple thought drifted through her young mind without hesitation.

"Not fair, Anna! You said no magic!"

"I didn’t cast anything," Anastelle replied with a grin that only made her look more guilty.

Vanessa pouted and hurried after her sister, determined not to lose.

Not far away, their mother observed the scene from the shaded terrace of the manor.

Vivienne Eldrienne sat gracefully upon a cushioned bench beneath the flowing silk curtains. Even dressed casually, there was an undeniable elegance about her.

A glass of chilled fruit juice rested in one hand, while the other held a book she had not turned a page of for quite some time.

Her attention had drifted away from the words long ago, captured instead by the familiar sight of her daughters turning the garden into their personal playground.

The corners of her lips curved upward.

"Damien..."

Her voice carried lightly through the terrace as she glanced toward the far hallway. A tall man was approaching from within the manor.

"Your daughters are destroying the garden again."

Lord Damien Eldrienne emerged from the manor with an easy smile upon his face.

Broad-shouldered and imposing, he possessed the sort of presence that could silence an entire room without effort. Yet around his family, that authority seemed to melt away.

A faint scar near his brow creased slightly as he chuckled, his expression softening at the sight of his daughters racing across the garden.

"Haha, let them be."

His deep voice carried a reassuring steadiness.

Crossing the courtyard, Damien stepped onto the grass just as Vanessa finally exhausted herself. Her tiny legs gave out beneath her, and she collapsed into a fit of breathless giggles.

Without hesitation, he knelt beside her.

Vanessa immediately threw herself forward and buried her face against his chest, wrapping both arms around him as tightly as she could.

"She’s cheating, Papa. It’s not fair," she complained through an exaggerated pout.

Damien listened with utmost seriousness.

Then he slowly nodded.

"She’s cheating?"

Vanessa nodded earnestly.

"In that case, we shall simply have to teach you how to cheat better."

For a moment, the little girl froze.

Then her eyes widened in pure disbelief.

"No!"

She pulled back and stared at him as though he had uttered the greatest nonsense in the world.

"That’s very wrong!"

The declaration only made the adults laugh harder.

Even Anastelle, who had been hiding nearby, burst into laughter before finally wandering over and dropping dramatically onto the grass beside them.

"I gave up," she groaned. "The mighty Vanessa had caught me."

"No fair! I’m not done yet."

Another wave of laughter followed.

From the terrace, Vivienne watched her family with gentle eyes, the book in her lap long forgotten.

It was such an ordinary moment.

Yet it was one Vanessa remembered more clearly than almost anything else.

The warmth of the sunlight.

The fragrance of her mother’s roses drifting through the summer air. The rough texture of her father’s tunic beneath her fingertips as he held her close. The comforting certainty that as long as Anastelle was nearby, everything would somehow be alright.

Back then, the world had felt complete, safe and whole...

The dream was always vivid.

Painfully vivid.

And every time she found herself here again, a small part of her wished she could remain within it for just a little while longer.

’Ah, this dream again... I really can’t forget it...’

By then, the sky had softened into warmer hues.

Afternoon was slowly surrendering to evening, drifting toward that golden, tranquil hour. The garden remained vibrant with color and life.

Then, around her, the petals began to move.

Little Vanessa, seated cross-legged beneath the great blossom tree at the center of the garden, blinked in surprise.

The air above her rippled faintly.

A gentle current passed through the garden, though there was no wind to be felt. One by one, fallen magenta petals lifted from the grass and stone pathways, drawn upward by magic.

They floated into the air in slow, graceful spirals like tiny stars suspended in orbit, catching the golden sunlight.

Vanessa could only stare.

At the center of the orbiting petals stood Anastelle.

Her arms were raised slightly, fingers spread apart as though she were guiding an orchestra. Petals answered her movement, dancing intricately.

There was no strain upon her face.

Only a serene smile, as though magic itself came naturally to her.

"Anna..."

The whisper escaped Vanessa’s lips before she realized it.

Wonder filled her voice.

She felt warm within her chest — the familiar sensation she always felt whenever her sister cast a spell.

Hearing her name, Anastelle glanced toward her little sister with a smile. Then, she moved her fingers, and sent the swirling petals rushing toward Vanessa.

The little girl gasped.

Hundreds of blossoms gathered above her head, spinning together into a beautiful crown of magenta and white; they drifted through her hair, and brushed against her cheeks.

Vanessa giggled.

In that moment, watching her little sister bathed in golden light and surrounded by dancing petals, Anastelle felt an overwhelming tenderness, cherishment and fondness bloom within her chest — a fierce, almost instinctive desire to shield that innocent smile.

"You’re so pretty when you use magic..."

Vanessa murmured, her eyes shining with undisguised wonder.

Anastelle blinked before letting out a soft laugh.

"Really?"

She walked over and settled beside her little sister beneath the blossom tree, folding her legs with practiced grace.

"Then I suppose all that training wasn’t for nothing."

Vanessa immediately shook her head.

"No, that’s not what I mean."

Her small fingers reached out and clutched the edge of Anastelle’s sleeve.

"You’re really pretty. Like one of the fairies from my storybooks."

She lowered her gaze shyly.

"I like watching you cast magic. Every time you do, it always feels special."

Anastelle simply stared at her.

Then a smile slowly spread across her face.

The genuine kind.

Vanessa looked down at the violet petals resting in her palms.

"Will I..." she began hesitantly. "Will I be able to use magic like you one day?"

Anastelle leaned back against the tree trunk, gazing up through the canopy above.

"Of course you will, Nessa. You’re my little sister, I’ll teach you everything I know."

Vanessa brightened at first.

Then her expression gradually faltered.

"But..."

The excitement drained from her voice as she lowered her head.

"...I’m scared."

Anastelle glanced at her and saw that Vanessa’s eyes remained fixed on the petals in her hands.

"Doesn’t being a mage hurt?"

The question came out quietly.

"You always come home with bruises." Her voice grew smaller. "Sometimes you’re so tired you fall asleep before dinner."

"I... I don’t want that."

Her fingers curled tighter.

"I don’t want to get hurt..."

The breeze continued to sway the blossoms overhead. For several seconds, Anastelle said nothing.

Then she turned fully toward her little sister.

"Vanessa," she said softly. "You don’t have to be afraid of magic. You can learn at your own pace. Slowly. As slowly as you want."

Her hand lingered atop Vanessa’s head.

"And while you’re learning, I’ll be right there beside you."

A smile touched her lips.

"So you won’t have to face anything alone."

The fear in Vanessa’s eyes wavered.

"I’ll guide you through everything. That’s what big sisters are for." Then she gently tapped Vanessa’s forehead.

"So whenever you need me, I’ll be there, Nessa."

Vanessa stared into those familiar amethyst eyes. For a moment, all the fears she had been carrying seemed to melt away beneath that gaze.

Slowly, she nodded.

Her tiny fingers remained wrapped around Anastelle’s sleeve, holding on as though it were the safest thing in the world.

Then, after a moment of thought, she extended her pinky.

"You pinky-promise?"

The seriousness of her expression almost made Anastelle laugh.

And so, she leaned forward.

Hooking her pinky around Vanessa’s, she sealed the promise before pressing a gentle kiss against her forehead.

"Pinky-promise, Nessa."

The words drifted through the afternoon air like a lullaby. For a while longer, the two sisters remained beneath the blossom tree.

The world felt warm.

It was a memory Vanessa carried with her for years afterward.

A moment she never wanted to forget.

Then, as always, that was where her dream ended.

And nightmare followed.

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[Chapter 195: I Saw a Dream]