Bonded by shadow

Inside nightmare trial

Immediately Lyra fell unconscious, there was this heavy gush of wind among the trees and whispering of shadows. Some soldiers that couldn't contend the magic fell dead leaving fear in their hearts. The commander insisted they dropped Lyra but Mara and Regaleone were adamant.

They found a safe abode around the woods in a small camping ground. Lyra was shivering, her body became tensed and pale. Mara was already in tears

"Sir Regaleone please save Lyra" she clung on his shirt. For hours she was on the mattress at their tent . It was already dark now, they lit a fire and roasted some marshmallows. Mara stayed behind with Lyra, has she begin drying her with a piece of cold cloth and water, she was shivering and chanting strange things in her sleep which was starting to worry Mara.

"Lyra please stop, it's only been three days and now you're unconscious. What am I going to do with you?" Tears ooze off her eyes, she put off her corset and shirt leaving her only in her inner wear. She was burning hot.

"Can I come in?" Princess Lunaria called from outside the tent,

"Sure your highness" Mara sat up to receive the herbs from her highness. They both sat down her looking at her whispering and chanting inaudible things.

"What clan is she from?" Lunaria asked,

"Clan?" Mara asked" am sorry your highness I have no idea of what you're saying". She lied and bowed.

Lunaria sighed and pressed her lips together, she began feeding Lyra the herbs.

"What is your name?" Lunaria asked

"Mara your highness" she bowed

"And your sister?"

"Lyra she's my only family, she's a friend and a sister to me" her head still was hung low

"You can raise your head"

"Pardon" Mara sat still avoiding eye contact with Princess Lunaria

"Mara you can be free with me, they's no need to be so uncomfortable". Mara slowly raised her eyes to meet that of Princess Lunaria, she is so beautiful, her small wide lips were red like cherry. She had a beautiful mole under her right eye. Her blonde hair is so long and designed with beautiful and expensive ornaments.

"The hairpin she has, it's similar to mine" she pointed at the hairpin on Lyra's hair. Mara calculated where Lyra got that

"Her father go her that for her".

"It's so similar tho...." She trailed off and sighed,

"When she's awake you can send her to my quarters I'd like to meet her".

"Yes your highness " Mara bowed and nudged Lyra

"You hear that her highness what's to see you, so stand up quickly". She pouted and sat next to her caressing her long red hair. She plaited some remembering the first time she met her.

It was a faithful summer time, when planting and selling of herbs, flowers and plants became a living in Medieval. Most farmers like Lyra's dad took it has a business, so therefore Lyra and Mara met at the farm. Since then they've been inseparable until they say they lost their families.

"Uhm, Lady Mara is Lady Lyra awake, if you'd excuse me I'd like to see her". Regaleone called from outside the tent. Mara quicked pulled a cloth around Lyra to cover her exposed skin.

"You can". Regaleone came in looking a little worried. He handed her some herbs again

"Your highness visited and gave me some herbs too".

"Lyra knows magic, she's magic herself but her body is so fragile to contain the magic in her, if she tries further to explore her abilities, she might end up unleashing f*******n magic and corrupt herself". He explained, Mara was well aware of Lyra's magic except that it would harm her

"Sir, have seen her do magic, she wasn't hurt it was amazing". She exaggerated, Regaleone frowned a little

"It is amazing, she has to get away from here, the magic here is too powerful for her she might end up..."

"Sir..., (Mara interrupted), thiers no beginning and end here and am well aware of the consequences which is the main reason I agreed to go with her. (She began to fidget on her cloth). I also want to protect and hide her from the corrupt Shadows. But how do you know about this?"

"I also studied herbs and magic so I have magic in me too, but I hide it it's of no use again since the darkness is against our magic".

"Guardian of love and hope?, you're apart of the clan?" . Regaleone creased his brow

"How did you?, I mean you can't let anyone know about this, they are into extinct many years ago, every bit of them is a threat to the government of Mideveil".

"Yes which is why I have the both of you covered" she winked.

"What clan are you from?" He asked

"Well, (she pouting) I'm just a mere descendant of the guardian of air".

He smiled, "we are different clans it's better we should keep it between ourselves or else they might hunt us down".

He turned to Lyra's sleeping body, her temperature already went back to normal. Mara beamed wiping her forehead. Suddenly she opened her eyes trying to seat up, when suddenly the clothes covering her fell down, leaving her in her inner corset. Regaleone's eyes nearly popped out has he immediately faced sideways, Lyra immediately crossed her chest with her arm

"Sir Regaleone" her soft voice called.

"Uhm, I apologize to you Lady Lyra I didn't mean to.." he trailed off and stood up.

"Uhmm... I'll leave you eat" he walked sideways out of her tent and Alexa walked in with food.

"Pest you have to tell us why you swooned" Alexa called Lyra by her nickname, she sat next to Mara and gave them their portion of food.

Lyra had a trance , although it was unclear to her but she knew they was something beyond plain magic and she'll like to know more.

"Magic, intense magic" she muttered.

"Wait do you mean you can sense magic" Alexa asked looking interested

"This is the Nightmare Trial realm filled with beast of different centuries, different beings handsome gods" she widen her eyes crawling like she was possessed

"Wait handsome gods?" Alexa asked

"Yes handsome gods and deities. Especially spooky men and warriors with no heads but body that can kill and fight better than does with eyes" she was adding more to scare them. They actually fell for her prank and they both began screaming. Lyra bust out laughing.

"You are so gullible" she snorted and they went silent

"Lyra did you just freaking snorted?" Alex asked on the verge of laughing

"Lyra snorts sometimes in her laugh" Mara said and they bust out laughing together.

"Argggghhhhhh my stomach hurts"

They grunted, and fell flat on the mattress.

"So we're in the Nightmare Trial then?"

"Yes we are".

"Wait I think we're the only one talking" Mara whispered

They went silent realizing they were the only ones talking.

"Good night". Alexa whispered going to her tent.

"Lyra her Highness asked for you"

"Really?"

"Yes"

"Then I'll go to her quarters". Mara held unto her dress

"I reckon it's too late, remember you said you sensed intense magic".

"I do, it still doesn't mean I should disobey her highness".

"Fine I'll wait for you".

She left her tent to her Princess Lunaria's tent.

"I Lyra has arrived to see her highness" she announced her presences

"Be gone Her Highness is fast asleep". A court maid answered.

She sighed and held her dress going back to her tent when she suddenly felt another presence.

She pulled her dress following the smell of magic. She soon found herself in the thick trees and bushes. Her curiosity and inquisitiveness got the better of her she began using her simple magic to remove branches and roots until she discovered a small pond.

The moonlight shined on the water alluring and pulling her closer, she began moving closer and closer until she was very close to the shore.

"Wow" she marveled, dipping her hands inside the ocean. The beauty of the ocean pulled her closer until she was in the midst of the ocean aiming for the poppy plant inside it ,not realizing she was away from the shore

She's not a good swimmer but the magic from the water made her forget herself, she pulled the poppy plant out and smiled at herself

"Gat ya"

When suddenly she realized she was drowning, she never learnt how to swim.

"Help". She tried calling for help almost drowning, kicking her way out of the water

TBC