Family

Feeling exhausted from all the climbing and crawling that I made. My body only stopped moving when I knew that I was far and safe from the cliff and the broken bridge. I rested for a while and calmed my heart. Sweats covered my whole body and some fell on my face. I remained in my position and listened to my heartbeat as I rest.

Once I was able to sense that my heart had already calmed down, I knew that my rate of breathing would follow and would be back to normal after several minutes. Nearly thirty minutes passed and I felt that my body already went back to normal from having an adrenaline rush.

Adrenaline rush or fight-flight response to Medical Experts is also commonly known by people as a stress response too. It is a body response wherein the body will release a hormone named epinephrine when a certain person faces a stressful, exciting, or dangerous situation. This specific hormone will send a signal to a specific area in the brain and will continue to communicate in the body via the Sympathetic Nervous System- which is known to be responsible to direct the body's rapid involuntary responses giving a sudden burst of energy, thus earlier due to this body response, it made my body heightened in senses, makes my breathing rapid dilate my pupils, increased my strength and performance, etc.

However, the body can't be in this state forever; after a few minutes, the body will activate the parasympathetic nervous system or also known as the rest and digest response of the body. The parasympathetic Nervous System will inhibit the Sympathetic Nervous System and will calm the body and will make the function goes to normal after the danger is gone. Hence, if earlier I couldn't feel any pain, right now excruciating pain can be felt in my whole body especially on both my shoulders.

After resting for a while and with my shoulders still sore and painful, I exert some force to turn my weak body around, facing the clear blue sky above.

Irritation can be seen in my face as I saw the clear blue sky. I do not know if someone is making fun of me or what. All I know is that earlier it felt like a strong storm was coming because of the fearful thunder and strong wind that came up, making the bridge sway and then broke into two. But now that I am safe the only evidence of the bad weather condition earlier is the broken bridge. Everything is now back to normal as if it didn't happen to him.

While staring at the clear blue sky, I slowly felt heaviness in my eyes. I tried to fight it, reasoning out to myself.

'I need to go to the Golden Palace.'

I instructed myself and urged my body to move several times but to no avail. My body doesn't want to cooperate. Everything just feels heavy now. Not just my eyes but also my limbs, especially my shoulders. It is telling me that it needs further rest.

' I can't move. I am tired. I want to sleep.'

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Crevalia Kingdom

"Luan! Luan! Wake up!"

A loud voice is calling my name and shaking my shoulders excessively trying to wake me up from my sleep. Anger covers my heart to whoever this person is trying to wake me up from my sleep. I just went through a life and death experience not too long ago and my body desperately needs some rest but there just really a certain someone who can't just give me the rest that I needed the most.

Infuriating.

I opened my eyes and first saw a pair of green eyes and brown hair in front of me. Prince Aster.

" ha! I am glad that you are awake now, Luan, you just don't know how worried I am. "

My brows furrowed. I can't understand what he is saying. I started to move away from his hold and noticed another person in the room. King Rupert and Butler Del. Both of them are standing beside my bed. Worried expressions are both written on their faces.

'Why are they here?' I asked myself and a thought came to my mind. I moved my eyes away from Aster and checked my surroundings. I can see familiar furniture, a familiar bed, and a familiar room. That means.

'I am back.'

"How are you feeling now Luan?" a baritone voice implored me. That made me look to whom it came from. King Rupert.

" Earlier we noticed that you were having a bad dream, that is why Aster woke you up. Are you okay n..."

'Dream' is everything just a dream?' I ask myself again not paying attention to what the King is asking me. My mind is so focused on that one word and the question of the King for me just faded in my mind.

My mind is only focused on that single word and a flashback came to me. On How I woke up in a strange place. The golden palace. The tall trees in the forest. The bridge. How I struggled to climb and crawl to save myself from danger.

Is it all a dream?

"But it feels so real," I mumbled.

"What? Are you okay, Luan?"Aster asked and shook me again.

I looked at him and automatically moved away from him. I saw how his eyes flickered from moving away from him but I just disregard it." I am fine." I said to him. I looked next to my father and asked. "Why are you here?"

The King's right eyebrow form an arch after hearing what I said.

"You are late for breakfast. I know that Butler Del here said that you are still sleeping and resting as you are tired from yesterday but too much rest will give you another headache. That is why we come here to wake you up but then you have this bad dream that is why Aster is waking you up. "

"Is that so?" I answered. Well if it's a dream. It's a nightmare.

"Yes. Is this something related to your dream yesterday?"

"What ?" My brows meet again for the nth time today after hearing King Rupert.

The king sighed and continued. "Butler Del said that you also had a dream yesterday before you went back here from the hospital. I am asking you if that dream is somehow related to your dream now."

"No...No." It's different." I said and shook my head.

"Then what is all about? You looked pained and scared earlier like you were about to die!' Aster jumped in.

"I. I can't remember anymore."

"Are you telling the truth Luan?" King Rupert asked doubting what his youngest son told them.

"Maybe you are still uncomfortable with us because you can't remember us, but Luan I want to tell you, that you can rely on us. We are a family."

Family.

My eyes flickered and I looked at King Rupert as different emotions linger in my heart.