Traces of a moment lost

“My lady!”

“My lady, can you hear me?"

“Wake up!”

“My lady!”

What is it? Who is calling my name so desperately? Where am I? Right, I was somewhere riding a horse? The ducal house?

“It’s time to get up, little rat!”

Lydia?!

I bolted upright, gasping for air. My heart was beating so loudly it felt like it could burst any second. That was Lydia’s voice just now, but Lydia is dead? Was this just a dream? But why now? Why would you appear right now Lydia, wasn’t it enough that you tormented me my whole life!

“My lady, are you alright? Your hands are shaking!” the blond knight asked.

“I-I am fi-fine, what happened so suddenly there was a loud noise and then…”

“My lady, someone seemed to have prepared a trap, the moment you stepped on it, it exploded. Actually it’s a wonder that you are alive and breathing right now!” Gerard added.

“Be careful of your words! How could you say something like that to the young lady! My lady I am glad you are safe but please don’t run ahead like that ever again! That was reckless!”

“I am sorry Sir…”

“You can call me Hugo my lady and don’t be sorry we all are just glad you are alright, do you think you can get up?”

“Thank you Hugo, I am alright but do you perhaps know where Teiran and the rest are?”

“I think they will soon come out, my lady, one of our knights said that someone just put all the attendants and the young lady Mirabelle to sleep, they are all well and unharmed.”

“I am glad to hear that! So the person who wrote this message was also the one who put everyone to sleep I assume…” But why didn’t they kill anyone? If someone drugged them or even used magic it was the perfect chance to eliminate them, since the strongest knight force wasn’t at the estate during that time or perhaps?

“There is something I have to see clearly!”

“My lady?” Hugo asked.

There it is. The message said bring us the lady in the velvet dress or next time we won’t leave it at that!

Was this directed at me? Did they leave this message knowingly that I would stay at the Vermonde duchy if so, how am I supposed to find the lady in the velvet dress? Did I encounter her when I was a child? My memories of that time are blurry. I can't seem to remember everything about my childhood but why?

“My lady!” a familiar voice exclaimed from a distance.

It was Dalton. Not only him, even Teiran and Luca stepped out, all seemingly fine and alright.

I am glad, so it really was just a warning after all. Nothing happened. No one died.

It’s alright Sherya, stop shaking, nothing happened. It’s not the same as that night.

“My lady, we should take you to the physician! You hit your head pretty hard when you fell down, you should get examined. I don’t know what it was that exploded but some type of power was released and I worry that that might affect your health.”

“I am alright Hugo, it’s nothing, really!”

“My lady I also agree with Hugo, what if your condition suddenly worsens”, Gerard insisted.

“I guess I can’t say no?”

“Thank you my lady!” Hugo exclaimed and assisted me in getting back on my feet.

“My lady, are you perhaps hurt?!” Dalton gasped loudly at the sight of me getting up from the floor. They were still at a distance. I worried them again, didn't I?

“I am fine, don't worry” I yelled out. Taking a few steps forward and waving at them.

“That’s good to hear, I shall borrow you for a second!”

“Borrow?” I asked bewildered. There it appeared. Out of my shadow a dark black silhouette occurred, like thick black mud it oozed out and suddenly formed a humanly body surrounding me from behind in a deep tight hug. It was a man with long dark hair and bloody red eyes. He smirked at me and started to slowly pull me in.

“You! What are yo-” I panicked as he covered my mouth with mud.

“Don’t be scared I am just taking you out for a little conversation!”

“My lady!” Dalton screamed.

“Let go of her!” Teiran snapped. His blue ice pierced through the ground. He took out his sword and reached it at the mysterious intruder but it was too late.

“I am sorry but we don’t have time for this, We will leave for now!”

“Give her back you bastard!”

The ice pierced through the whole ground freezing it in an instant but it couldn’t reach the one he wanted to and just like that,

Sheryansha Chronum disappeared in the depths of the darkness.