Emily was dreaming. She was sure of it.
She was small again. Her steps were light and uneven as she moved down a long hallway.
The place felt both familiar and distant at the same time, as if she had walked through it countless times and yet had not seen it in years.
Soft lights floated around her, small spirit-like beings that followed her movements with quiet curiosity.
They remained silent, but their presence was comforting.
She turned her head slightly as she moved forward, watching them drift along behind her. There was no fear in her expression, only a childish excitement that made her movements quicker.
"Come on. You’ll fall behind," she said, her voice bright and full of energy.
The spirits kept up with her pace.
At the end of the hallway stood a large door.
It looked taller than she remembered. Its surface was marked with patterns that seemed to shift if she focused on them too long. Even so, she did not hesitate. She reached out and pushed it open with both hands.
Inside, the office looked exactly as she remembered.
There were stacks of documents arranged neatly across a wide desk.
Shelves lined the walls, filled with scrolls and files that carried an air of importance she could not fully understand back then.
The entire room carried an imposing grandeur.
Her mother sat behind the desk, going through one document while another floated beside her, suspended by a force Emily did not question at the time.
Now, however, Emily understood.
Those were not just ordinary documents. They contained decisions, records, and plans related to the Netherworld.
They represented authority, responsibility, and power on a scale most beings could not handle.
Her mother had built something vast, something that even powerful races like Moon Dragons or Celestial Kitsune would not dismiss lightly.
Back then, none of that had mattered to her.
To her younger self, they had simply been boring papers.
"Emily, come here. Sit with mama."
Her mother’s voice was gentle, and the moment Emily stepped inside, her mother’s attention shifted. A soft smile appeared on her face, and the weight of the room seemed to ease slightly.
Emily’s expression brightened immediately.
"Yes!" she replied, running forward without hesitation.
She climbed onto her mother’s lap as if it was the most natural thing in the world. The documents continued to move, and her mother did not stop working, but one arm wrapped around Emily without delay, holding her securely.
"What were you doing?" her mother asked, glancing down at her.
"I was playing," Emily answered, leaning into her. "They followed me again."
"The spirits?" her mother asked.
Emily nodded quickly.
"They seem to like you," her mother said.
Emily made a small face. "Then they should listen to me too."
Her mother let out a quiet laugh, one that carried both amusement and affection. "They are not your servants, Emily."
"They should be," Emily pouted, though she did not sound entirely serious.
Her mother did not argue. Instead, she picked up another document and continued reading.
Emily followed her gaze for a moment, trying to understand what she was looking at.
The symbols and words meant nothing to her. The structure of the documents felt complicated, and focusing on them made her lose interest almost immediately.
Still, she stayed.
If sitting here meant being close to her mother, then she was willing to pretend she cared.
"What is that one about?" Emily asked, pointing at a page.
Her mother glanced at it briefly. "It is a dispute."
"Between who?" Emily asked.
"Two regions. They both believe the same territory belongs to them," her mother replied.
Emily frowned slightly. "Then just give it to one of them."
Her mother shook her head gently. "It is not that simple."
"Why not?"
"Because the other side would not accept it," her mother explained.
Emily thought about that for a moment. The idea seemed unfair, but she could not quite put into words why.
"Then give them both something else," she suggested after a pause.
Her mother stopped reading and looked at her properly.
"That is not a bad idea," she said.
Emily’s eyes lit up. "Really?"
"It depends on what they value," her mother added calmly.
Emily nodded as if she understood, even though she did not fully grasp what that meant. What mattered to her was that her mother had listened.
She leaned back against her, watching as the documents continued to move. Her mother occasionally spoke under her breath, making small decisions or adjustments without breaking her rhythm.
As time passed, Emily’s attention began to drift. The room was quiet, and the weight of it pressed gently against her awareness. The documents blurred together, and her interest faded.
Still, she did not leave.
She stayed where she was because this was where her mother was.
The warmth, the presence, and the quiet comfort of being held were enough.
The dream ended without warning.
Emily’s eyes opened slowly, her mind taking a moment to adjust to reality. A faint smile lingered on her lips, though she could not fully remember why.
Then a sharp pain cut through her head.
She winced and pressed her fingers against her temple. Her throat felt dry, and her body felt heavier than usual. The discomfort pulled her fully awake.
She sat up slowly, blinking a few times as her surroundings came into focus. The room was dim, illuminated only by faint light from outside. It was still late at night, and everything was quiet.
She reached for the glass on the bedside table. Her movements were slightly unsteady.
After filling it with water, she drank it quickly.
The relief was immediate.
"That feels better," she murmured.
She set the glass down and rubbed her forehead.
"Maybe I drank a bit too much," she said quietly to herself.
Even now, there was a lingering dizziness. It was not overwhelming, but it was noticeable.
Her gaze shifted to the other side of the bed.
Alice was asleep. Her breathing was slow and steady.
Emily watched her for a moment.
Ever since Isaac and Alice found about her nightmares, she never slept alone. Either Alice or Isaac stayed with her. Even then, when she slept beside Alice, she often ended up leaving midway through the night to sleep with Isaac.
"I was worried Alice or Isaac would notice, but it seems it was a needless worry," Emily said softly.
Isaac and Alice had been strict about one thing.
No alcohol.
It did not matter what the occasion was. Celebrations, achievements, or milestones did not change their stance. They did not allow her to drink.
She had a feeling it was because of something she had done before during the celebration at Calloway Estate, but she could not remember what it was.
That lack of memory only made her more curious.
Tonight, she had taken advantage of the situation.
While the city was celebrating her Lord Quest completion and both Isaac and Alice were busy, she had slipped away and tried it.
"I think I understand now why mother liked it," she said, her lips forming a faint, thoughtful smile.
It was not just about the taste.
It was about the feeling.
There was a lightness to it, a sense of freedom that made her thoughts less restrained. And it made her feel mischievous.
She let out a small laugh as she remembered Isaac’s expression.
The surprise on his face when she made ’that’ request had been obvious.
"I really said that," she murmured, half embarrassed and half amused.
She covered her mouth, trying not to make too much noise.
"Thankfully no one noticed I was drunk," she added, exhaling softly.
If they had, she would definitely have been scolded.
Alice, in particular, would not ignore something like that, no matter how much she doted for her. She was strict about things like that.
Emily drank another glass of water and then decided to go back to sleep.
Without much thought, she slipped out of bed.
Her form shifted slightly, her presence becoming faint. She moved through the wall without opening the door.
The house was silent.
She made her way through it and stopped outside Isaac’s room.
Without hesitation, she passed through the wall again.
Inside, the room was dimly lit.
Isaac and Catherine were asleep on the bed, both naked, their bodies covered by the thin sheet. Catherine was facing away, her back pressed against Isaac, his arm resting loosely around her waist.
Emily climbed onto the bed and settled behind Isaac, wrapping her arms around him.
For a moment, there was no reaction.
Then Isaac stirred slightly.
"Emily? Couldn’t sleep?" he asked in a low, sleepy voice.
She was mildly surprised how he quickly recognized her without a single word from her and woke up to check on her.
A smile appeared on her, seeing how he was worried about her as soon as he woke up.
"Were you having nightmares?" he continued, his tone soft and half-asleep.
His arm shifted, loosening from Catherine before reaching back to pat Emily’s head.
"There. There. Don’t be afraid. There is nothing to worry about."
Emily felt a warmth spread through her chest, seeing his actions.
She tightened her hold on him but remained silent.
If she spoke, he would wake up fully.
She did not want to disturb his sleep.
So she closed her eyes, pretending to fall asleep.
Isaac continued patting her head, his movements slow and natural.
After some time, he shifted slightly, turning around while still half-asleep.
Now he faced her.
His arm wrapped around her, and his hand moved to her back, continuing the same comforting motion.