Shana stared out the window as the train rolled along.
We’ve left the Library of Solitude. And we’re going…
She smiled, excitement welling up within her.
…back home.
I know we can’t stay home for long, but even so. It’s good just to know home is there.
I wonder if any of the others are back?
As she’d been making her way to board the train from the Library of Solitude, she’d hoped to find Delilah somewhere in the Library. She’d run into Maribelle, alone, on the way out, and Maribelle hadn’t looked to be at all in a good mood. But her expression brightened when she saw Shana.
“Did you find what you were looking for?” Maribelle had asked.
“Yes,” Shana had said with a smile. “But… I was also hoping to see Delilah before I left. I’m going back home, and I… don’t know when I’ll see her again.”
“She’s already back at Revue Palace by now, I’m sorry to say. There’s a great deal of research to be done — I’m on my way there to join them now. But don’t worry.” She had a thoughtful look in her eyes as she placed a hand on Shana’s shoulder. “I have a feeling you’ll see her again very soon.”
Everyone has so much to do.
And, well…
So do I.
Words from Heart and Nocta echoed in her mind, the bits and pieces they were able to tell her before her time ran out after completing the Nightmare Trial.
“Because you have overcome fear, because you have defeated Nightmares, your power is a power over fear.”
“Going home to Grimoire is the best way to understand how your full powers as the Dreamer work. And Grimoire will prove to be the stepping-stone to what comes next in your journey.”
A power over fear…
The idea of it was thrilling to Shana. After all she’d been through, after all the fears that had held her down and nearly destroyed her… to not only conquer the Nightmare Trial, but to come out of that into a new power that was specifically a power over fear…
It’s perfect.
Fear… it’s so dangerous. To all of us. It destroys us, and tears us apart.
I’ve seen enough of it firsthand. If I can be someone who fights back against fear, who guides others through their fear…
That’s perfect.
She was excited to get a proper, detailed explanation from Heart and Nocta and to be able to put her new powers to use, but she needed to sleep to talk to them again, and she wasn’t the least bit tired.
Outside the window, various Locations flickered past in stunning speed. But Shana could also see the reflections of her team and friends in the window. Shias and Ben sat side-by-side, both of them fast asleep. Shana chuckled at that.
They worked so hard, too. Whatever training they did, it paid off.
She wouldn’t ever forget the smiles on their faces when she’d reunited with them after the Nightmare Trial, or the shine of excitement in Shias’ eyes.
Rae and Kathryn were wide awake like Shana, and with them…
Was Annabelle.
“Do you mind if I come to Grimoire with you?” she’d asked.
“Is it okay for you to leave the Library of Solitude, though? Things seem so hectic here.”
“They’re gearing up for something big, but… it’s not something I can help with. I’m not a fighter. And…” The determination and earnestness in Annabelle’s eyes had won Shana over. “Please. I’m meant to go with you.”
Shana hadn’t asked what that meant. The way Annabelle said it was enough for Shana to accept her request.
And I’m so happy to have her with us.
She thought back, so long ago, to stepping into the grove and meeting Annabelle for the first time. Back then, Annabelle had been a prisoner of the Radiant King, and had been used by him to lure Shana in, to try and acquire the Dreamer’s Heart.
But she turned against that and set us free. And then I got to repay the favor and rescue her.
“Did you ever go into Grimoire, or were you only in the grove?” Shana had asked when they’d first boarded the train.
Annabelle had shaken her head. “The only steps I’ve ever taken in the Human realm were in that grove. I’ve never even seen your city, since that grove was so enclosed. I’m excited to see your home.”
Shana petted Altair, who dozed between her and Annabelle.
I left home in such a messy, discombobulated state. I’m glad I get to come back so happy and confident.
The universe wheeled on by, and when it finally started to slow, Shana’s heart leapt within her. Outside her window…
Snow!
Grimoire had been covered in snow when she’d left, but coming back to it was still so exciting.
“Wake up, lazy boys,” Kathryn said, gently shaking Shias and Ben awake.
“They’re not lazy,” Rae said, shaking her head. “They worked so hard.”
“While you guys slept,” Ben said, yelping as Kathryn elbowed him sharply in the ribs.
“We all worked hard,” Shana said with a smile. She was the first to stand up. “Come on! Let’s all go to my house first.” She held out her hand to Annabelle, and the little princess took it with a smile. Together, they left the train and stepped back into Grimoire, just outside the southern gate, looking at the main street that cut a straight north-south line through the city.
As always, Annabelle went barefoot, though she did wear a proper winter coat over her dress, and also wore blue mittens, a silver scarf, and a blue hat that covered her ears. “Do your feet really never bother you?” Kathryn asked as Annabelle tromped through the snow alongside Shana.
“Never,” Annabelle said, cocking her head to the side as she looked back at Kathryn. “Should they?”
Kathryn chuckled, shrugging. “Ah, who knows?”
It was dark out, though that was no surprise. The daylight hours were few and far between now, and Shana caught a glimpse of a clock in a shop window to find that it was only 5:30 PM. “We might be home in time for dinner,” she said, earning a chorus of excited and hopeful comments.
Walking hand-in-hand with her, Annabelle was mostly silent, constantly looking around with her big blue eyes, taking everything in. The gently falling snow caught on her hat and scarf. Whenever a stray flake landed on her nose, she rubbed it off absently.
“Here we are,” Shana said as they arrived at Greyson Manor. Annabelle gazed up at the mansion.
“This is your home?” she asked.
“What, comparing it to the size of your home?” Kathryn asked.
“It’s really big,” Annabelle said, seeming to ignore Kathryn. “Are you a princess, too?”
Shana laughed. “No, no, not a princess at all! There are other mage families with bigger manors around here.”
“She kinda is set up like a princess though, isn’t she?” Rae asked, smiling.
“You’d be a princess too, if that’s the bar you’re setting,” Kathryn said. “Shoto Manor isn’t anything to sneeze at, you know.”
“O-oh,” Rae said, her face turning red. “I… didn’t think about it like that.”
“Aw, don’t be embarrassed!” Kathryn said, throwing one arm over Rae’s shoulders and the other over Shana’s, while she grinned down at Annabelle. “It’s not every day I get to hang out with three princesses!”
“Four princesses,” Ben said softly, then flinched back when Kathryn looked at him.
“Whaddaya mean, four?” Kathryn asked. “I’m no princess.”
“I just, uh…” Ben started, then looked away. Muttering softer this time, Shana still heard him, as he added, “you’re a princess in my book.” Kathryn didn’t reply to that, but there was a slight change in her demeanor that made Shana smile.
Into Greyson Manor they went, Altair happily barking to announce their arrival, followed immediately by Shana’s cheerful, “We’re home! And we brought guests!”
Deirdre came to greet them, but there wasn’t anyone else.
“Dad’s still training, huh?” Shias asked.
“Yes, but I received a message from him saying he’s on his way home,” Deirdre said. She seemed positively glowing with joy. “Oh, you’ve missed quite a bit. Just wait until Caleb comes back.”
“Caleb’s here?” Shana and Shias asked in unison.
“Oh, yes,” Deirdre said. “And he’s been staying here, rather than his apartment. He and Chelsea are over at Addie’s house right now, but they should be back soon. Is everyone staying for dinner?”
“Yes, please!” Kathryn said. “I’ll help out, too, so don’t think I’m a freeloader!”
“Oh, I know you’re nothing of the sort,” Deirdre said with a laugh. “But I’d be very grateful for your help.” She knelt down to speak to Annabelle. “And you’re the Annabelle we’ve all heard so much about. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Thank you so much for looking after my children.”
“They’ve done so much more for me,” Annabelle said. “I’m just glad I can repay them. And thank you so much for your hospitality.”
“In times like these, the more the merrier,” Deirdre said. “Come in, make yourselves at home.”
And so they did, gathering in the living room with a cozy fire crackling in the fireplace. Altair was quite taken with Annabelle, licking her face and wagging his tail as she laughed and petted him. Kathryn helped Deirdre with preparing dinner, and while Shana, Shias, Rae, and Ben tried to help as well, they got kicked out. “Having too many cooks in the kitchen makes a mess of things,” Deirdre had said, though with a smile on her face. She and Kathryn were having a ton of fun.
When the front door opened, Shana and Shias were off their feet almost immediately, racing to the entrance hall. There they found Caleb, Chelsea, Addie, Lorelei, Gwen, and Will. The six of them were laughing, in a great mood as they arrived, and Shana’s heart sang when Caleb’s face lit up at the sight of his siblings.
“Twins!” Caleb cried, wrapping the pair up in a huge hug. “You guys are back!”
“And so are you!” Shana said.
“It’s good to see you,” Shias said.
A moment later, Addie had joined the hug, but then she was pulling on Shana’s sleeve.
“Shana, Shana, Shana!” the girl said, her voice overflowing with joy.
“What, what, what?” Shana asked, pulling away from Caleb and looking at Addie, who was bouncing the balls of her feet.
“Look at Chelsea’s hand, look at it!” Addie said, pointing.
Shana’s eyes widened before she even looked. If Addie was saying it that way…
Chelsea was beaming and she held out her left hand, showing off a dazzling diamond ring. Shana stared, and stared, and stared…
“You okay there, sis?” Caleb asked.
“Y-yeah…” Shana said slowly. She walked up to Chelsea and wrapped her up in a tight hug.
“Hey,” Chelsea said, hugging Shana back. “Um…”
“We’re gonna be sisters,” Shana said softly, smiling.
Chelsea laughed. “Yeah, we are.”
“And I’m —” Addie started, whatever else she was going to say coming muffled.
“Give her a chance to breathe, kiddo,” Caleb said, laughing. “One piece of excitement at a time, okay?”
“Yeah, okay,” Addie said.
But Shana’s curiosity was piqued, and she turned around to eye Addie inquisitively. Addie was looking at her with such excitement, barely containing herself.
And then Shana’s eyes widened.
Oh…
She laughed, shaking her head.
Yeah. I get it.
“Congratulations, you two,” Shias said, positively beaming. Addie made a face, and he laughed. “You three.”
Everyone moved into the living room, where Addie was finally allowed to spill the beans about her upcoming adoption. Congratulations went all around, but it didn’t take Caleb long to start trying to calm people down.
“We’ve gotta save at least some of this energy for when Dad gets back,” he said, laughing. “We can’t be burnt out when he finally gets to hear the news.”
“As if we’d get burnt out on this!” Shana said. She was sitting between Chelsea and Addie, beaming as she looked around the room.
My family’s getting bigger. And everyone’s so happy.
They had dinner together with all these wonderful guests, and the conversation was so wild and disjointed, with different conversations springing up between different groups, cutting off, crossing over, and melding together. Shana loved it, just taking it all in. But though she was happy…
We really need Dad to be here. And Delilah, and Fae. Alice, too!
There’s so much love right here, but… it’s not complete.
I can’t wait until it is.
And as she thought on that, she realized that her whole family hadn’t been together in far too long.
Last Christmas, nearly a year ago.
And now… there’s so much more of us. I’ve been able to see everyone on my journey, but never everyone together.
Will we get to be together as a complete family before this journey’s over? Or do we have to wait until we’ve stopped the Endless Night?
By the time night was rolling in, Shana was properly exhausted. She’d been wide awake when she’d arrived at home, but all of the excitement was tiring her out in the best way. Slowly, guests started filing out, and Shana, Shias, Caleb, Annabelle, and Deirdre saw them off one by one. Chelsea, Addie, and Gwen were the last to go. While Addie had her own house, she was spending the nights at Reiner Manor with Chelsea and Gwen, so the trio left together.
“Annabelle, just make yourself at home,” Deirdre said when all the guests had left and Annabelle was the only non-Greyson remaining.
“You can sleep in my room,” Shana said with a smile. Slowly, everyone started to wind down. Even Caleb, who wasn’t staying up late for Hunter duties.
“Chelsea and I are on temporary leave,” he explained. “We’re under orders to rest and recover. We’ll be back in action soon, though… well, we’ll probably be leaving Grimoire shortly after we’re recovered.”
“Leaving again?” Shana asked.
“There’s a lot to do to stop the Endless Night,” Caleb said. “And we leave so we can keep Grimoire safe. Although… well, it seems like things keep getting worse around here.”
“What do you mean?” Shias asked.
“Hollow Hour’s extended,” Caleb said. “And it keeps getting longer. But not just that. I haven’t seen them yet, but Lorelei and other Hunters have talked about some new kinds of monsters. They’re not Hollows, and they don’t even always appear exclusively during Hollow Hour. Sometimes they start showing up earlier, and sometimes they stay long after. They’re not sure what to call them, just going with ‘New Hollows’ for now, but, well… the Hunters are pretty overtaxed.”
“All the Guilds are,” Deirdre said. “The Guardian Guild especially. They’ve been filling in for a lot of gaps in the Hunters’ ranks, along with exploring ways to try and properly defend Grimoire. The old city barrier won’t work, that kind of Guardian Magic is too big and difficult to maintain, but we’re trying to take more proactive approaches to keep the city safe rather than relying solely on the Hunters. Everyone has their hands full.”
The conversation eventually turned towards happier topics, which was a good way to send them off to bed. But Shana felt a strange sensation when she thought about the new monsters plaguing Grimoire. Why did they seem so important to her?
“Hey,” Shana said, stopping Shias as he was heading off to his room, right next to hers. He looked at her questioningly, and then Shana wrapped him in a tight embrace. “Thanks for stopping me from going to the Library without you.”
“You’re welcome,” Shias said, and Shana laughed.
“You guys got some good training in, huh?” she asked.
“Oh, yeah. Ben and I are better than ever.”
Shana beamed with pride. “Good. I’m counting on you guys.”
“And we’ll be there for you. Every step of the way.”
“I know.” Shana sighed, just enjoying this closeness with her twin. “Sleep well, okay?”
“You too,” Shias said. When Shana finally let him go, he was smiling. With another good night, they headed off to their bedrooms.
“How do you feel?” she asked Annabelle. The girl was wearing pajamas that Shana had worn in elementary school, a cute flannel set with the face of Reginald Feline Meowmont III stitched onto the shirt pocket.
“They’re very cozy,” Annabelle said, smiling. She and Shana tucked themselves into bed, and Altair snuggled up between them. “Are you going to go back to Dreamworld?”
“I was hoping to,” Shana said, holding Annabelle’s hand. “Will you come with me?”
“Yes, please,” Annabelle said, an earnest look in her eyes. Shana smiled, closing her eyes and relaxing, letting sleep take her.
Sleep came faster than she’d expected, but when she arrived in Dreamworld, she was still holding Annabelle’s hand. The pair stood atop the usual starting spire of rock, but Shana was amazed at the sights now. With the magenta clouds much thinner and more dispersed, she could finally see so much of Dreamworld from her starting position, and it took her breath away to see just how vast and wondrous this world was.
And then she was more amazed, as a blue form leapt up, floating in the air in front of her, then leaning in to give her a wet kiss on the nose. “Altair!” Shana cried in shock, staring at the little blue dog. “You’re here, too!”
“Of course he is,” came the voice of Heart. She floated down from above to hover in front of the girls and the dog, smiling. “You’ll understand soon. Come with me. I know the right place to explain your new powers to you.”
And so Shana and Annabelle flew, hand-in-hand. Altair needed no assistance from Shana to fly, soaring alongside her, and he kept barking with joy, doing little flips and spins and zooming around with glee.
Heart brought them down to the large castle, where she alighted atop the highest tower. Shana and Annabelle landed, and when Altair did he started running all around the tower, looking out at Dreamworld from every direction, wagging his little tail.
“Nocta will join us soon,” Heart said, smiling as Altair came up to her, gazing up at her. She cocked her head to the side, and he mimicked the movement, and then stood up on his back legs, pawing at her with his front paws. Heart looked shocked for a moment, and then looked at Shana.
“He wants you to pick him up, if it’s okay with you,” Shana said, laughing. “He’d like to say hello.”
“I see,” Heart said. She scooped up Altair, who licked her twice on the nose and then stared at her. Heart laughed softly, stroking Altair’s back. “It’s very nice to meet you, little one.” She set Altair back down, and he went back to racing around the tower, looking out at Dreamworld from every direction.
“You said I have power over fear,” Shana said. “But… what does that mean? Is it something I do here, or in the Waking World?”
“You can use these powers in both worlds,” Heart said. “Others spoke to you today of new monsters running rampant in your city. These creatures are not Hollows, and are not related to Hollows. They are what we call Nightmyrn.”
“Nightmyrn…” Shana said, testing out the word. “Are they related to Nightmares?”
“That is correct,” came Nocta’s voice. A shadow covered the tower, and then followed Nocta as she came to a landing, looming over the rest of the group. Altair trotted over and stared up at her, wagging his tail. The great owl bowed elegantly. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Altair. Thank you for always looking after Shana.” Altair barked happily, spinning in a circle once.
“Nightmares,” Nocta continued, “are manifestations of people’s fears. Not just their deepest or unconscious fears, but all fears they hold. Though the most powerful nightmares are born of the deepest, most powerful, and most unconscious fears. Nightmares are intended as a test, a trial, for the one who dreams them.”
“It’s important for everyone to face their fears, rather than run from them,” Heart said.
“But if a nightmare, the manifestation of one’s fears, goes unchallenged for too long,” Nocta said, “or if the person in question’s fears are so potent that they overwhelm the person at all hours, such that they cannot escape, their fears won’t just manifest as nightmares in their own Dreamworld. Their nightmares will manifest in the Waking World… as Nightmyrn.”
“So the new monsters are being born from people’s fears?” Shana asked.
Heart nodded. “Correct. A Nightmyr — that’s the singular form — only exists as long as the person they’re born from is sleeping, which is why they are only appearing at night, seeming to coincide with Hollow Hour, but not fitting in those same restrictions as exactly as the Hollows.”
“What about the person they’re born from?” Annabelle asked.
“The person whose fears birth the Nightmyr remains as they are,” Nocta said. “Though their nightmares grow more fearful, more potent.”
“You’re the Nightmare Queen, though,” Shana said. “I just… don’t really get why this is happening, if you’re in charge of Nightmares.”
“Being Nightmare Queen does not give me full control over all Nightmares. If someone’s fear is too potent, if they fail to challenge their fears for too long, those fears overwhelm them. A Nightmare is a trial, a test. If one fails that test too frequently, if their failure consumes them even in their waking hours, then that fear is out of my control. Such a fate almost befell you, Shana. Thankfully, your friends, family, and the Light balanced your fears enough, and you had some scattered victories, small and large, before your greatest victory over the Nightmare Trial. The battle that fear waged over your heart was ongoing and undecided, so no Nightmyrn spawned from you.”
Shana shuddered at that. And she’d never even known!
“It seems as if the Hunters are fighting the Nightmyrn, though,” Annabelle said. “What more is there to do?”
“They’re going to keep coming back, aren’t they?” Shana asked, looking from Nocta to Heart. “Because it’s not about them. It’s about the person whose fears manifested as the Nightmyrn, right?”
“That’s right,” Heart said. “The people who are the source of the Nightmyrn are still suffering. Only the Dreamer can save them. And you, Shana, are particularly suited to this task.”
“A Nightmyr cannot be destroyed, not permanently,” Nocta said. “The only thing that ends a Nightmyr’s fear-inspired rampage is what is called purification. A Nightmyr can be purified directly. That serves as a temporary soothing of the person’s fears. But you will still want to find each Nightmyr’s source.”
“You purify people’s fears through hope,” Heart said. “Provide hope and love to those who are suffering with fear. Purify their fears, and they can sleep peacefully.”
It sounds wonderful…
“But… how do I do that?” Shana asked.
“You will need some assistance, when confronting Nightmyrn directly,” Heart said. She held up her hands, and a flute appeared in them. Holding the flute to her lips, she played a pleasant, dreamlike melody. As she played, lights appeared in the distance, like motes of starlight, and began flying towards the tower. When they came to the tower itself, and Shana could see what they were…
She and Annabelle both smiled in delight. Each mote of light turned out to be a different creature, gleaming like a Summon with their own color, though they often had multiple colors to their bodies, unlike Summons. Many of them were like fairies — small humanoid beings of various shapes and sizes with butterfly-like wings — but there were so many others. A dolphin with a horn like a unicorn swam through the sky. Little, cuddly-cute dragons bobbed through the air, their little wings beating so hard to support their comparatively large bodies. Not a single one of the creatures was larger than a volleyball, and all were so bright, so cheerful, and so adorable.
Heart lowered her flute, ending the song, and smiled. “These are the Dream Sprites. They are denizens of Dreamworld, but with your new powers, Shana, they can cross over to the Waking World and purify the Nightmyrn.”
“They and the Nightmyrn are alike in many ways,” Nocta said. “And the Dream Sprites dearly wish to see Nightmyrn leave behind their fear and rage, to join them in pleasant, joyful dreams.”
“I can take them into the Waking World?” Shana asked, giggling as a Sprite that looked like a blue panda with a long, curly tail nuzzled against her cheek.
“Only for the purposes of purifying Nightmyrn, unfortunately,” Heart said, laughing. “But yes. And you can always visit them here, as well as every Nightmyr you and them purify.”
“They’re so wonderful,” Annabelle said, holding her hand out, palm up, for a little fairy girl to come to stand atop it. The two stared at each other, smiling.
“You won’t be calling and commanding the Dream Sprites alone, either,” Heart said, smiling down at Altair, who was happily leaping about, playing with the Sprites.
“Altair gets to help?” Shana asked, smiling wide.
“Oh, yes,” Heart said. “It isn’t necessarily required for commanding the Dream Sprites, but having a Dream Conductor is highly advantageous, and will make the process of your training incredibly fast. We should be able to get you and Altair prepared by the end of this session in Dreamworld.”
“So I can start purifying Nightmyrn and the people who are spawning them tomorrow night,” Shana said. Heart nodded, and Shana knelt down, wrapping up Altair in a hug. “We can start tomorrow. I’m not in this alone.”
“And you should never try to be,” Nocta said. “Your friends and family have helped you come so far.”
“And you’ll need protection from the Hollows when you go out there,” Annabelle said. “I know I can’t help with that, but…”
“You can learn all the ins and outs of this with me and Altair,” Shana said, taking Annabelle’s hand and smiling at her. “You’re going to train with us! You’ll be like a… um… not a ‘sidekick,’ but, like… hmm…” She wracked her brain, trying to find the best word.
“Apprentice,” Heart said. Shana and Annabelle looked at her, and she smiled. “That is what the role is called. It’s uncommon for a Dreamer to take an Apprentice, for there are so few with an effective aptitude. And there are too many Dreamers who… have tried to bear their burdens alone. But Annabelle, you and Shana have a connection that runs deep. You could be her Apprentice, and work with her to purify the Nightmyrn and the fears of so many, if you wish it.”
“I do,” Annabelle said, a breathless eagerness in her voice. “Please.” She looked at Shana, gripping her hand tightly. “Please?”
“Of course!” Shana said. “We’re in this together.”
Annabelle beamed, coming close to hug Shana. The pair embraced, with Altair happily clambering up and licking their cheeks, and the Dream Sprites flying all about them.
The Dreamer.
It seemed like… such a heavy burden. It came with so much pain, and so many trials. And I know the hardship isn’t over. But…
I get it, now.
This is where I’m meant to be. And I finally…
…feel like I belong here.