Chapter FIFTY-THREE: Almost Awake-TALIA

...

Now early dawn, signs of daybreak coming through every horizon of the land...

The Dreamer's knees almost caved into the powerful tide of the water now pulling at her legs. Talia happened arrived closer to Thais this time. She looked behind her seeing a large carriage in flames being dragged out to sea by the choppy tide. The strong scent of salt water filled the air and a light warm rain started to fall.

"The land is spoiled now," she said to herself, realizing it would be impossible for anyone who might remain to grow anything again on most of the newly formed island.

Saddened ever so much, recollecting the beautiful old trees with tan and red bark, the creaky old wooden bridges, and clear blue springs that once flowed through the same path she walked. Talia moved forth trying her best to remain calm and trying to force herself to not wake up. She tried blessing the land as she went, but it was no use. The land was still tainted from whatever ghastly dark magic Ahriman had spread upon it.

As she continued, she ran into more bodies of citizens who had tried to escape. She felt tired, crushed. The world seemed to be turning into a nightmare with every step. Her heart sank to a near stop, not finding a single soul alive—still looking for the familiar blue-hair amongst them—hoping he was just off to the side of the road somewhere hurt, but alive.

Terror ran through her as she began seeing signs of intense fires—piles of ash she was sure were those that had died—their dust now rested against the edges of her path. She would never know if the King was among them.

She stood still for a moment as she watched more embers extinguished from the warm raindrops.

Walking this path was her only hope of finding Devin and now she was just outside kingdom's gates with no more path left. Her search now was mostly over, unless he had somehow managed to make it back to the castle on his own.

When she finally reached Thais' gates, in the distance, she spotted knights marching, men and women, carrying large red and blue treasure chests—coming out of the what remained of the eastern Burgeon Forest, with them what appeared to be a pair of royal officials as well as some royal staff. She peered at them for a moment, but saw no battle worn blue-haired king with them. Not wanting to explain herself, she continued moving through the front gates, looking at every face she could find laying on the ground.

..

The scenery remained much unchanged as she hurried throughout the mostly abandoned kingdom still looking for Devin. However, only finding more dead in sight as she went.

Suddenly, feeling as though she was being watched, Talia looked over at the window of a nearby manor. A young girl staring wide-eyed at her, peeking through the glass. Her eyes full of panicked terror. Her small fists pounding at the window glass. The Dreamer blinked, and behind the girl was now a nightmarish creature, lurking, and haunting the young girl. Talia blinked again and the girl and the creature were gone.

Breathing harder, and now deeply troubled over what was going on in the Dreamworld, she knew she would need to try to find the girl's nightmare later.

Once more as before, strong illusions of snow cover blanketing the city rubble and dead; and when Talia opened her eyes she was back in the demolished kingdom. She was waking up and there was no longer any time left to wander through the streets of Thais.

..

When she finally got to the castle walls, tears flowed from Talia's eyes. She did not find him, she thought remorsefully for not coming in time. Devin was gone for forever.

She went ahead, inside the palace, thinking perhaps he would go to his wife and be by her side in these times.

"DEVIN?!" Talia hollered frantically, but only heard her own high pitched echo within the castle high ceilings. "DEVIN, PLEASE BE HERE!" she yelled. Nothing.

Her chest beat fast from the growing anguish. Tailor had warned Alicia was still on the ground within the throne room. She had to keep going as this was the only parent she could possibly help now. Perhaps, there was still something she could do for the young princess' mother before she had to go back to the Dream.

The Dreamer was certain now she only had moments left as she saw the first lights starting to break through the opaque sky behind her, semi-lighting the dark throne room.

Right in the middle of the room, Queen Alicia lay motionless. Talia looked at her thinking her alive and rushed to her side. The Queen did not even have a scratch on her; she looked as though she were unconscious, but healthy. Talia kneeled before her, watching to see if she was still breathing.

"Please get up, Alicia!...It's Talia..." Talia demanded as tears sprang from her eyes, finding no breaths from her and no heartbeat. The Dreamer's arms felt heavy. She felt sleepy as she spoke. "Please...get up! You must! Your child lives!"

Talia attempted a revival spell, careful not to use a strong one as her magic was very much unpredictable. More tears sprang from her eyes. She regretted coming here upon realizing her rescue plans for the king and queen were all in vain. Now wanting and determined to go back to the Chosen One and to take the child somewhere where she would be protected from harm, and far away from an ill-fate just as her parents—from her own prophecy—from Ahriman's Prophecy.

Once more, a deep grey snow seemed to be covering the room. This time, snowfall gently landing on everything in the room, including the deceased queen.

Behind her she could hear the low blast of someone apparating and could make out a bright flash lighting the open room, making the snowflakes disappear; but she could not move as her body relaxed to a standstill. The cover of 'snow' remained in sight.

"My love," she heard the deep familiar voice of Aydan, but continued to weep for the dear ones she lost.

"...I am waking...Please try to revive her with your sun magic! Please, Aydan! " Talia pleaded as he went to stand beside her. He helped pull her up. She broke down on his shoulder and he securely embraced her trying his best to console and provide a magical anchoring to keep her from waking. The 'snow' disappeared again and the room became ordinary again.

"I'm sorry, my love...I already tried my best resurrection and revival spells. I only healed her wounds...She has gone to the gods," Aydan said to her, profoundly saddened, but still very much enraged and vengeful.

Her presence was starting to fade again. He managed to grab Talia as she faded, and spoke a spell to keep her from waking in the Dreamworld—to buy them some time.

..

After a short while of tearful mourning, Talia reached for the few glowberries that remained in her robes. She lay them across Alicia's chest. She thought her beautiful, even while departed. She straightened her lovely wavy hair and whispered a farewell prayer.

"Aydan, I must stay here...I am not done yet," Talia said firmly letting him go as he tried tugging at her to leave at once.

"Tal, you need to go back to the Dreamworld...There is not much else we can do here," he said while letting her continue to mourn. Talia looked at him, realizing he had been in Thais longer than just a few moments ago.

"Did you find the king...did you find Devin?" she asked, hopeful that perhaps he had found at least a clue of Devin's whereabouts.

"No, I am sorry...I have not been here long, my love," he lied.

Talia looked deep into his dark grey eyes, thinking she saw a flicker of sunlight in them. Before she could say more about the king, she began to fade again before his very sight.

"Aydan...please...I cannot go back yet...We mustn't go...You need to stay here and—" Talia begged, but soon could not stand. The world went dark.

The Sun Priest frantically opened a portal to the Dreamworld, trying everything possible to keep her from waking.