CHAPTER 57: FANTASY

[Continuation—]

Bulb jolted upright, breath loud and desperate, sweat cold on his back like rain against dead stone. For a moment, he didn’t know where he was. His pulse was running wild, sprinting faster than thought.

The dream still clung to him— warm, golden and intoxicating. The beach. Her laughter. Her lips. Her eyes pulling him in like gravity.

But all of that shattered the moment he heard her voice.

A slow, amused clap echoed behind him.

"O...My...Gosh..." Stephanie’s voice dripped like venom. "Did I just hear right?"

Bulb turned sharply.

She stood at the entrance of his camp tent—arms folded, head tilted, a cruel smile slowly curving on her lips. Stone stood beside her, awkwardly quiet, watching with concern.

The sky outside was deep blue, night settling over Euphoria Camp like a heavy curtain. Most people were asleep. But not Bulb— he had just woken up into a nightmare.

Stephanie took a step forward, gaze sharp as a knife.

"Valkyrie?" she repeated mockingly. "Now why the fuck are you screaming Valkyrie in your sleep, Bulb? You having wet dreams about her or what? Uh...wait. You fucking her now?"

Bulb’s jaw clenched instantly.

"What— what the hell are you talking about?" he snapped.

Stone lifted a hand like he was trying to control a fire before it burned the camp down.

"Steph, relax. Chill. It’s not that deep..."

She ignored him. Eyes still locked on Bulb, her lips curled. "I didn’t stutter. Did I, Bulb?"

He glared at her. "You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about. Stay out of my business."

"Oh?" Stephanie raised an eyebrow playfully, like a cat toying with a cornered mouse. "But I heard you say her name. Loud and twice...Passionately. So tell me...why is Valkyrie in your dreams?"

"I said stay out of it, leave me alone" Bulb said darkly.

"Oh, I’m already in it," she smirked. "Actually sounds like Valkyrie is inside you."

"STEPHANIE," Stone barked.

She laughed. Not a cheerful laugh— a taunting one, sharp enough to cut through bone. "Don’t get your horns twisted. I’m just asking questions."

Bulb got to his feet slowly.

"And I’m telling you...you need to mind your damn business. Stop sneaking around me. Stop following me. Stop acting like you know everything about me."

Stephanie blinked, then grinned wider. "Oh Bulb, sweet little Bulb...I am your sister remember? No matter what you do you cannot get rid of me..." she clicked her tongue. "...And...i don’t need to know everything about you. I already know enough. You’re weak when it comes to feelings."

He didn’t respond, but she saw it— the flicker in his eyes. She smelled blood.

"And about sneaking around you?" she continued, stepping forward until distance became tension. "I don’t sneak. I protect."

"No...you stalk," Bulb shot back.

"I’m your elder sister dummy" she snapped suddenly. "Whether you like it or not. Whether you choke on it or not. Whether your little emotional breakdown makes you cry at night...I don’t care."

"I never asked you to look after me," he said coldly.

"Yeah?" She smiled wickedly. "Then go argue with destiny."

She stepped back and turned, but before leaving, she stopped and looked over her shoulder— her eyes glowing with pure chaos.

"Valkyyyyyrie... Valkyyyyyrie..." she mimicked his dream voice in a whiny, romantic tone. "Gods, Bulb. Don’t tell me you’re falling for that angel bitch, you’re about to get banished."

Her laughter followed her as she walked away, echoing through the night like a curse.

Stone watched her leave, then slowly turned to Bulb. Silence crushed the air between them. Stone finally exhaled. "Bulb..." he said cautiously. "What the hell was that?"

Bulb didn’t respond. His gaze was distant and dark.

Stone scratched the back of his head. "You wanna tell me why you’re shouting Valkyrie’s name in your dreams?"

"No," Bulb muttered.

Stone blinked. "So... it’s true then? You like her?"

"I didn’t say that."

"Then explain it."

"I was calling Valka... Valka... Valka..." Bulb’s mind searched violently. "Valka... Valka-na," he said quickly.

Stone frowned. "The hell is a Valkana?"

"A... weapon. I was dreaming of a weapon. Training. Combat shit," Bulb lied coldly.

Stone stared at him for a long moment. "You’re a terrible liar."

Bulb turned away. "Bro...just drop it."

Stone sighed. "Look, man. I’m not judging you. But she’s an angel. You’re a devil. That’s like— illegal in half the realms and blasphemy in the other half."

Bulb didn’t respond.

"And if Stephanie suspects anything," Stone continued, "then others already do too. She doesn’t talk unless she feels safe. Meaning— she knows something. Or someone does."

"I said drop it," Bulb repeated.

Stone raised his hands and stepped back. "Fine. Whatever. Keep your secrets. But don’t expect me to clean up the mess when it explodes."

He turned slowly and began to walk away from the camp.

Halfway there, he looked back once more.

"Just... be careful, man." Then he disappeared into the night.

Bulb stood alone, staring at the ground, fists clenched, the dream was gone— but not the feeling. He exhaled shakily.

"Valkyrie...."

This time, he didn’t say her name out loud. But the problem was— his heart already had.

***********************

[Cliff Edge— The Principal’s Camp]

Night had settled over Euphoria like a quiet warning. The air carried a strange chill, and the once lively forest was now too silent and too watchful.

Inside the principal’s tent on the cliff edge, a soft lantern flickered, casting gold and shadow across old maps, scattered scrolls, and training reports. Camila stood with her arms folded, her gaze fixed on nothing and everything at once. Her thoughts were miles away.

Darren stepped in without announcing himself. Camila had sensed him approach before he even touched the curtain.

"You’re awake," Darren said, though he already knew the answer. He had barely slept himself.

Camila didn’t turn. "Something doesn’t feel right." She said.

Darren walked closer, his hair catching the lantern light. "You’ve said that about six times this week."

"And I’ll say it again," Camila replied. "We’ve been here far too long." She finally looked at him— her eyes sharp, but burdened. Darren exhaled, pulling a chair, but he didn’t sit.

"Tomorrow is the last day," he said. "We finish the final training sequence, gather the students, and return to the Academy. Then we report to the council."

Camila stepped away from the table, pacing slowly. "Report? Darren, they must be furious by now. We cut off communication. We overstayed the time duration for this event. And worst of all..." her jaw tightened, "...there’s still no sign of Venom or his shadow traces. This silence is too deliberate."

Darren nodded. "I know. The council will demand answers. Marcellus especially."

Camila frowned. "Marcellus will understand. He always..." she stopped herself. Even she wasn’t fully sure of that anymore.

Darren leaned forward slightly. "Do you regret it?"

Camila looked at him. "Bringing them here?"

"Yes."

Her answer was steady. "No.."

Darren nodded once, as if he expected that. "Exactly. This was for a greater cause Camila...so we stay calm and finish our training. We can’t give up now."

Her gaze shifted to the tent’s entrance where the night wind pressed faintly against the fabric, whispering like an unseen warning.

"If we had stayed in Galveston," she said quietly, "what do you think the outcome would’ve been?"

Darren didn’t hesitate. His voice was low, steady and laced with grim certainty.

"Venom would’ve turned the academy into a slaughterhouse. The walls would have trapped them rather than protected them. We would’ve lost half the students before sunrise— and the council would’ve buried the truth like they always do."

"They’re raw," she said. "Unfocused. But they’re growing... sometimes I just feel like this...all this is bigger than them" She paused then continued "... Darren, Something is shifting around here. The air in Euphoria isn’t natural anymore..."

Darren crossed his arms. "Ok, I get it...Which is why we wrap this up tomorrow. One last training session at dawn. Then we move."

Camila finally stopped pacing. Slowly, a different look came over her— a determined and confident one.

"We can’t return to the council with half-trained soldiers. They must be ready...truly ready. Whatever is waiting for us outside Euphoria... will not show mercy."

"SO WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN MIND?," Darren muttered.

She turned to the scattered papers and picked up a small folded document from under a map. Darren watched her unfold it—a sealed parchment marked with a sigil he recognized.

"...Tomorrow isn’t a normal training. It’s something neither one of them will expect...they must learn to work together, this battle we’re fighting? It’s bigger than us, it’s bigger than race."

"Are you sure they can handle this?" Darren asked.

Her voice was calm. "They will. Because they must." The flames of the lantern flickered violently, as if the wind had suddenly changed direction.

Darren studied her, then slowly nodded. "So... What’s the challenge?"

Camila folded the parchment again, slowly lifting her head with a suspicious smirk on her face. She didn’t answer right away— her expression was steel and her eyes unreadable. Something was already forming in her mind. But the question remains, what was she thinking?...