Elizabeth awoke the next morning, well-rested and puzzled. She had dreamed so vividly that it felt more like memories — it had felt more real to her than she now did in the waking world.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYLiQIN8g3
She had dreamed of The Other Realm and the blue-eyed boy, Leon Pentagast. Most strikingly, it had been more than just snippets of a dream, for she could vividly recall every moment, every touch, every smell, every sound… as though she had stood right there and were still feeling traces of the dream, like a veil or mist hanging over her as she rose for the day.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6fgS46Z7o
Elizabeth was the last to dress and emerge into the dining room, where a breakfast of freshly made pancakes and waffles were being served. Half the girls were dressed, and half were still in their pyjamas, eagerly engulfing food and talking loudly amongst themselves — Elizabeth didn’t know how the commotion hadn’t awoken her sooner, but she had been in such a deep slumber she doubted anything short of a disaster could have roused her from her sleep.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSN9tDuJcn
Elizabeth’s eyes fell on Leon, and he held her gaze intently for a long time, as though searching her eyes for something he wasn’t sure to find. Elizabeth had dreamed of him again, but this time she didn’t feel guilty or uneasy about it. It had come as naturally to her as breathing, which confused yet excited her. She smiled warmly, and Leon shook his head, disappointed. Elizabeth couldn’t place his expressions for once, and she didn’t understand why he seemed so crestfallen to see her. She would be certain to ask him about it later.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4rTLm4NgD
“Come join us!” Holly called Elizabeth out of the doorway and drew her into the room with a playful ‘come hither’ gesture and flick of her wrist. Elizabeth took the empty seat situated beside Leon as Holly’s mother happily served her homemade cooking. Elizabeth thanked her politely and set up digging into her meal, realizing in that moment that she felt famished — as though she had spent the entire night active in her dream rather than laying motionless in a bed.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKln84J1Lzp
“How much do you remember?” Leon asked in a hushed tone, surprising Elizabeth. She didn’t comprehend his question at first. Remember about what? She wondered. Then, the memory struck her: the kiss! She had been certain that had been another dream, but had it really occurred in the middle of the night?594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrb1vkAI5pS
“Of?” Elizabeth feigned innocent, just in case he was referring to something else.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaU8jLeQZbi
“Do not play dumb; it is an unattractive quality,” he scolded. Something in his tone was darker than Elizabeth had ever heard before, and it caused her to shudder unwillingly. His mood was sour and his eyes more intense as his gaze fell back on her. He almost seemed dangerous, or angry, as opposed to the chipper, optimist Elizabeth had come to know.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZn57rbZ0yz
“Why are you being an ass?” she hissed back, clearly annoyed.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU76CYldqez
“Because I know you remember me, and I know you remember the dreams,” he explained, tone still aggressive and challenging.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJ8uCSunM1
“How do you know about my dreams?” she asked, an unspoken accusal in her words.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kkLW0A5SG
“Because they are not dreams; they are your memories,” he whispered back.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IhxOShjzo
“Memories of what?” This finally piqued her interest. She had never been allowed to speak of her dreams as though they were anything more than the subconscious mind playing tricks on her. Now Leon spoke as though he understood and knew all about them, and she allowed him to entertain the idea of it being something more.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMhBFYcOob
“Your past life. With me.” His tone had shifted again, and now Elizabeth could hear the pain choking his words.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCqtSRZonm
“What are your whispering about over there?” Holly interrupted their deep conversation and all attention turned to them. Elizabeth opened her mouth, but found she had no cover-up answer ready to go. Leon noticed her hesitation and spoke up instead.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDa6Ry8pyJh
“I was asking about the difference between customs back home and here, whether it was polite or not to request more food or should I wait until others have finished as well,” he explained with a bright, polite smile. Holly nearly laughed.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡco9qnuo6CA
“Leon, you’re such a sweetheart!” All the girls cooed and fawned over him with their eyes. “You can ask for whatever you like!” she assured him. “And Elizabeth?”594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlp54KCzrw0
“Hm?” Elizabeth finally found her voice.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6QaJukRZb
“Stop hogging his attention to yourself. People might start to talk,” Holly warned and Elizabeth blushed under the attention. Everyone but Elizabeth and Leon laughed. As attention turned back away from them, they shared a long, silent gaze.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JGmC3Pipq
“We should speak in private later,” Leon murmured under his breath and Elizabeth nodded. This was going to make for an interesting conversation. “Meet me in the garden this afternoon, when they’re planning for the spa day.” She nodded again in compliance.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPmEHLlwXw
