Aelyne watches over little Ilinae, an infant with sparkling eyes.
Every day, the bond between the Trykette and the little girl grows stronger,
providing a soothing anchor in reality.
As she gently lulls the young child to sleep, an ominous thud suddenly echoes in the hallway.
Heart pounding, Aelyne rises hastily to her feet, clutching the child close to her.
She approaches the door, each step echoing ominously in her mind.
Just as she crossed the threshold, an icy draught slammed the door behind her,
the latch locks with a sinister click that sounds like a sentence.
Memories of his imprisonment with the slavers and the abuse he suffered at Ore Altae resurface with devastating intensity.
His breathing became jerky, his heart pounding in his chest with unheard-of violence.
The walls of the corridor closed in on her, and the air became heavy and oppressive, almost unbreathable.
In her distress, protective, she clutches Ilinae to her chest.
The infant, sensing her nurse's agitation, begins to cry, her cries piercing the oppressive silence of the corridor like an alarm siren.
She realizes that her panic is affecting the child and desperately tries to regain control.
She leans against the wall, closes her eyes, and concentrates on the feel of the warm little body against hers.
Inhaling deeply, she murmurs soothing words, as much to herself as to Ilinae.
But every shadow, every creak in the floor seems to amplify his terror.
Liosta appears, his face marked by deep concern.
Seeing Aelyne in distress, she quickly approaches; her gaze, oscillating between Aelyne and Ilinae, betrays her own anguish.
She places a comforting hand on Aelyne's shoulder, extending the other towards Ilinae, as if to assure herself that her daughter is safe and sound.
- Aelyne, everything's fine.
Here I am...
She murmurs in a soft but firm voice, trying to mask her anguish.
At these words, Aelyne bursts into tears, finally giving free rein to her emotion.
Between hiccups, she stammers out incoherent sentences:
- No! ...Don't take Ilinae from me...
I won't let you hurt her...
You're not real... It's another trap... I have to protect her...
Liosta embraces Aelyne and her daughter, without making the slightest move to try and take the child back.
Ilinae, feeling her mother close to her, calms down in Aelyne's arms.
- Aelyne, look,
Ilinae is fine, she's fine...
You hold her and she's happy in your arms...
You're safe in my arms just as Ilinae is in yours.
Aelyne, listen to me, look around you, everything's fine, everything's fine
...After an interminable moment, Aelyne calmed down in her turn.
She raises her head, her eyes still misty with tears, still clutching the little girl fiercely to her.
- Grytt Ny-Liosta... Y gan Lor... Niwshe manages to articulate.
Ilinae's mother smiled benevolently at Aelyne.
She tightened her embrace, as much to soothe Aelyne as to ward off her own fears about the future and the consequences of her choice.
Every day, the bond between the Trykette and the little girl grows stronger,
providing a soothing anchor in reality.
As she gently lulls the young child to sleep, an ominous thud suddenly echoes in the hallway.
Heart pounding, Aelyne rises hastily to her feet, clutching the child close to her.
She approaches the door, each step echoing ominously in her mind.
Just as she crossed the threshold, an icy draught slammed the door behind her,
the latch locks with a sinister click that sounds like a sentence.
Instantly, a wave of panic swept over Aelyne.
Memories of his imprisonment with the slavers and the abuse he suffered at Ore Altae resurface with devastating intensity.
His breathing became jerky, his heart pounding in his chest with unheard-of violence.
The walls of the corridor closed in on her, and the air became heavy and oppressive, almost unbreathable.
In her distress, protective, she clutches Ilinae to her chest.
The infant, sensing her nurse's agitation, begins to cry, her cries piercing the oppressive silence of the corridor like an alarm siren.
Ilinae's cries bring Aelyne back to the present moment.
She realizes that her panic is affecting the child and desperately tries to regain control.
She leans against the wall, closes her eyes, and concentrates on the feel of the warm little body against hers.
Inhaling deeply, she murmurs soothing words, as much to herself as to Ilinae.
But every shadow, every creak in the floor seems to amplify his terror.
Hurried footsteps echo down the corridor.
Liosta appears, his face marked by deep concern.
Seeing Aelyne in distress, she quickly approaches; her gaze, oscillating between Aelyne and Ilinae, betrays her own anguish.
She places a comforting hand on Aelyne's shoulder, extending the other towards Ilinae, as if to assure herself that her daughter is safe and sound.
- Aelyne, everything's fine.
Here I am...
She murmurs in a soft but firm voice, trying to mask her anguish.
At these words, Aelyne bursts into tears, finally giving free rein to her emotion.
Between hiccups, she stammers out incoherent sentences:
- No! ...Don't take Ilinae from me...
I won't let you hurt her...
You're not real... It's another trap... I have to protect her...
Liosta embraces Aelyne and her daughter, without making the slightest move to try and take the child back.
Ilinae, feeling her mother close to her, calms down in Aelyne's arms.
- Aelyne, look,
Ilinae is fine, she's fine...
You hold her and she's happy in your arms...
Nothing can happen to him.
You're safe in my arms just as Ilinae is in yours.
Aelyne, listen to me, look around you, everything's fine, everything's fine
...After an interminable moment, Aelyne calmed down in her turn.
She raises her head, her eyes still misty with tears, still clutching the little girl fiercely to her.
- Grytt Ny-Liosta... Y gan Lor... Niwshe manages to articulate.
Ilinae's mother smiled benevolently at Aelyne.
She tightened her embrace, as much to soothe Aelyne as to ward off her own fears about the future and the consequences of her choice.