CHAPTER 2: DREAM

The heavy silence of the graveyard was suddenly shattered by a voice echoing from above, ethereal and hauntingly melodic.

​"Did my Ashen call for me?"

​Ashen froze. The faint sound reached his ears like a lifeline in the dark, and a sudden spark of hope ignited within his chest. Desperation took over as he shouted into the cold, rainy void. "Who’s there? Is someone there? Please... someone save me!"

​In that instant, a girl stepped out of the shadows. She was breathtaking. Her eyes were a piercing, icy blue, and her hair—white and soft as fallen snow—seemed to glow against the gloom, enhancing a beauty that felt truly otherworldly. She wore flowing, divine white garments, looking less like a stranger in a storm and more like a celestial being stepping off a high-fashion runway.

​Lightning continued to crackle across the sky, illuminating her divine silhouette against the tombstones.

She was no ordinary human; she was the Goddess Alfreya.

​With a graceful flick of her wrist, Alfreya snapped her fingers. In the blink of an eye, the space around them warped.

Ashen felt a sudden, violent pull, and before he could process the magic, he was teleported out of the suffocating confines of the coffin, standing free on the solid ground once more.

​The torrential downpour had begun to subside, transitioning into a light, rhythmic drizzle. The air around the graveyard had grown biting and cold, yet strangely, in the small space shared by Alfreya and Ashen, the chill didn't touch them.

A faint, comforting warmth radiated from the Goddess, acting as a shield against the elements.

​Ashen cleared his throat, still trying to find his footing. "So... it was really you? You’re the one who saved me?

​Alfreya’s expression softened into a gentle, radiant smile. "You called for me with such love and sincerity," she replied, her voice like a soothing melody. "How could I not come to your side?"

​A pang of anxiety hit Ashen. The miracle felt too fleeting. "Are you... are you leaving now?"

​Alfreya didn't answer immediately. Instead, she gave him a look filled with deep, unspoken emotion—a smile that felt both ancient and incredibly kind. "Whenever you truly want me, I will appear by your side again. Do you understand, Ashen?"

​"I understand," Ashen whispered, returning a small, hesitant smile.

​"Then, I must go for now!" Alfreya declared. Before he could say another word, her form began to shimmer and fade, dissolving into the air until she had completely disappeared.

​As soon as she vanished, the rain stopped entirely. The silence of the night returned, though the weight of what had just happened pressed heavily on Ashen.

He turned toward home, walking through the damp streets for nearly half an hour. When he finally reached his door, drenched and shivering in his soaked clothes, he reached out with a trembling hand to turn the handle.

Page 4: The Silent Homecoming

​Inside the house, Jinha sat huddled alone, her face stained with tears. The weight of her brother's disappearance had become unbearable—until the door finally clicked open. Her eyes snapped toward the entrance, and there stood Ashen.

​Without a word, Jinha lunged forward, throwing her arms around her brother’s neck. Her sobs broke out afresh, muffled against his damp shoulder. "Bhai! Where did you go?" she cried, her voice trembling with a mix of relief and anger. "You could have at least told me!"

​Ashen stood frozen, his mind a whirlwind of divine encounters and graveyard shadows. He struggled to find words that wouldn't sound insane. Finally, he managed a shaky reply. "I... I was at a friend's house. I just stayed there a bit longer than I planned."

​Jinha pulled back, her eyes searching his. She didn't quite believe him—something felt different, something she couldn't put her finger on—but seeing the small, reassuring smile on Ashen’s face, she let out a long breath and decided to let it go.

"Fine," she whispered, wiping her eyes.

"Should I set the table? Are you hungry?"

​"I'm not hungry right now," Ashen said, his voice quiet. "My stomach feels full."

​Jinha’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"Huh? Really? Well... alright then," she said, her tone filled with confusion.

​"I'm going to sleep now. Good night, Jinha," Ashen added, heading toward his room.

​Jinha watched him go, her expression a mask of pure bewilderment. He was acting strange, but he was home. "Good night... Bhai," she called out, still trying to process his sudden, quiet return.

​Ashen retreated into the sanctuary of his room. He quickly peeled off his damp layers, wiped himself dry, and pulled on a fresh T-shirt and shorts. He collapsed onto his bed, but sleep felt miles away.

His mind was a chaotic loop, replaying every second of the encounter in the graveyard. Strangely, despite being caught in the freezing rain for so long, he didn't feel that lingering, icy sting on his skin.

​A sharp ping echoed in the quiet room. He reached for his phone—a weather notification: “Heavy rainfall expected tonight.”

​He stared at the screen, his brow furrowed. The more he thought about it, the more it felt like a fever dream.

How could a Goddess truly descend to save him? He looked over at his discarded school uniform and froze.

He crawled to the edge of the bed to inspect it. It was damp, yes, but there wasn't a single drop of blood on it. No stains, no tears—nothing to suggest the horror he had just survived.

​It had to be a dream, he told himself, desperate for logic. He wanted to forget it, to bury the memory along with the fear.

​The air in the room was stagnant; he had kept the fan off because of the sudden drop in temperature. In the next room, the house had gone silent—Jinha had finally fallen asleep.

​Suddenly, the sky broke open again. A heavy downpour began to lash against his window, but the violent thunder and lightning from before had vanished.

The world outside was just rain and shadows. Exhaustion finally overtook his racing thoughts, and as the rhythm of the storm filled the room, Ashen drifted into a deep, heavy sleep.

CHAPTER ENDED HERE!

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