On the morning of the day that precedes the Marriage of the Firstborn Virgin, the squares were bustling with activity and preparations, as everyone was getting ready for the grand celebration.
Colorful flags fluttered in the air, flowers decorated the streets, and the sounds of drums and traditional music echoed throughout the area. The residents moved about with excitement, exchanging conversations about the long-awaited event.
Amid this lively atmosphere, Ateen stood on the balcony of her room, watching the distant horizon with steady eyes, her hands clasped behind her back as she waited for Riya to return. She had sent her to search for those people Novich had spoken about, and her thoughts had not calmed for even a moment.
When she finally spotted Riya approaching, she turned toward her and asked,
"Did you find any trace that indicates their presence?"
Riya replied in a tired voice, the exhaustion clearly visible on her face,
"I searched all night, and I found nothing that indicates their presence."
Ateen looked at Riya with focus, her eyes examining her in silence, then said,
"Where is the necklace you always wore?"
Riya stepped back slightly, then quickly replied, trying to control her tension,
"I lost it during the search last night. It probably fell without me noticing."
Ateen gave a faint smile, then said calmly,
"Alright, go and rest now. We need you at your full strength before sunset."
When Riya left, Ateen stood watching her with a silent gaze. Then one of the female guards entered and informed her that Grandmother Asil was waiting for her at the residence.
Ateen left the palace and headed toward the Estrason Tree, where the family home stood among the high branches.
In Basil's room, the curtains moved slowly with the morning breeze, and the faint light slipped through the window, casting dancing shadows on the walls. Basil was lying on his bed, his face slightly pale, and sweat was dripping from him.
Hamza approached him and gently patted his shoulder, trying to wake him. When Basil finally woke up, Hamza looked at him with concern and said,
"You were shouting and laughing in your sleep all night. What were you dreaming about?"
Basil sat up on the bed and wiped his face with his hands, as if trying to drive away the remnants of the dream.
He remained silent for a moment before saying in a low voice,
"It was a nightmare… strange and terrifying. I was in a dark place… filled with deformed corpses. They were moving toward me, their eyes full of hatred."
Then he continued, as if he could still see the scene before him,
"They were chasing me and surrounding me, and whenever I tried to move away, their numbers increased, and they kept saying… that I was the reason for their death and their doom."
Basil looked at his hands as if the remnants of darkness were still clinging to them. He took a deep breath and continued,
"I tried to run away, but the ground was turning into a swamp, pulling me downward."
He looked at Hamza with confused eyes and then said,
"And suddenly, a strong light appeared… it was very bright, and from within it emerged a woman…"
He paused for a moment, as if the image of the woman still filled his mind. Then he said,
"She was beautiful… her hair was glowing, and her eyes shone with a faint light. She was wearing a long golden dress, and she was holding something like a flame in her hands. She walked toward me, took my hand, and pulled me out from among those corpses that were chasing me."
Hamza asked curiously,
"And who is this woman?"
Basil looked at him for a moment, then said,
"I don't know who she is… but… let's think about breakfast now, because I feel hungry."
Hamza was surprised by Basil's reaction and felt that there was something he was hiding. He moved a little closer and said in a calm tone,
"Basil… sometimes nightmares are not just passing dreams. If you want to talk, I'm here."
Then he added as he walked toward the door,
"I'll ask them to bring breakfast." Then he left the room, leaving Basil alone with his thoughts.
Basil sat on the edge of the bed once again, his eyes wandering toward the open window. The wind moved the curtains gently, while the sunlight began to spread across the horizon.
Strange feelings washed over him, and he recalled in his mind the details of the dream, and that woman who had saved him from the darkness. It was not an ordinary dream… it was something deeper, something that was still chasing him from the past.