Chapter 106 - Let's Celebrate

A foggy forest with trees that stood taller than the sky, a familiar feeling that felt like a nightmare, once again Irene was standing in the middle of that vast forest facing her unknown enemy that jumps out of nowhere.

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"This.....Am I dreaming again?...*Pinches herself* Ouch! I felt the pain but still, I didn't wake up....so does that mean this is real?" Irene talked to herself as she looked around and as soon as she did that, a hand came out of nowhere and pulled her into the dark.

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"Ahhh!!" Irene shouted as she opened her eyes and she was back to her room.

"Hah...Hah...*Heavy breathing* That dream felt too real..." Irene said as she touched her face and felt something there she rose from her bed and looked into the mirror.

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"This...Blood...." Irene said as she shivered from head to toe and right then the mirror cracked and a hand came out of it with lots of cuts and blood flowing from it. 

"You can't run..." That voice said as it forcefully pulled Irene inside that mirror whereas, Irene on the other hand kept crying to break a few from its clutches.

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"Leave me!! Please!!" Irene screamed inside as tears broke from her eyes. And the whole ground started shaking.

"My lady! My Lady!!" Hana said as she shook Irene who was mumbling in her sleep and had a fearful expression on her face.

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"Haah!!" Irene opened her eyes and gasped for air. Her eyes were red and her lips were dry with sweat coming from her forehead.

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"My Lady, What's wrong? Did you have another nightmare?" Hana asked as she looked at Irene who was still blank and looking around like an insane person.

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"My Lady! My Lady! come back to your senses!!" Hana shouted as she violently shook her.

And as she did that, Irene stopped at then looked at Hana, her eyes were back to normal and her body stopped shivering.

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"My Lady...Are you back?" 

"Hana...Am I going mad?" Irene asked in a calm voice as a tear rolled down her left eye.

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"Of course not my lady! You are just having some nightmares and they will go away soon." Hana said as she held Irene's cold hands.

Irene didn't reply to her but instead, she just smiled at her.

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"I will believe your words...It's late go back to your room and rest well." Irene said as she rose from her bed and then pushed Hana out of her room softly.

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"Okay, I will do so...but please call me if you need anything," Hana said as she looked at Irene's face till the door completely closed.

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"My Lady....Are you really fine?" Hana thought as she prayed to God and then walked towards her room.

"Hana is right they are just nightmares and according to my body and age this is normal but....*walks toward the mirror and then looks and then pulls up her sleeves.*....do nightmares also leave such deep marks., Irene said a she looked at the deep marks left on her hands which was red and burning from pain.

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"Isn't this too much for just a nightmare?" Hana said to herself as she applied for some medicine in it and then went back to the bed.

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"And today I dreamt inside a dream which never occurred to me before and it was....too scary to even imagine again. *Sigh* no matter what happens I must visit the temple soon....or else I might really become insane." Irene said as laid on her bed and closed her eyes.

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1and half-hour later,

Irene was still tossing and turning around being unable to fall asleep. "Ugh!! So annoying! I can't sleep anymore and it's just 3 in the morning!" Irene shouted in frustration.

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Not having anything to do, she woke to from her bed and walked in the hallways, as she walked she came across Ashton's room which was open so, Irene peeked inside but Ash wasn't there.

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"Huh? Where is he? I saw him at dinner yesterday. Don't tell me did he leave without notifying me again!" Irene said as she ran touched the bed and it was still warm which meant that it hasn't been long since he left the bed.

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"Maybe he is still in the mansion. Should I go downstairs and check?" Irene murmured as she turned around to leave but suddenly her eyes landed on the sword kept on the table and the gem that was on its handle.

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"This..." 

Meanwhile with Ash,

"Haah! Haah it has just been a day that I didn't practice and I am already this slow. Hah, I need to work harder!" Ash said as he touched his waist and felt as if he was missing something.

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"Huh? My sword? *Sigh* I must have left it in the room...." Ash said as he turned around and saw Irene standing there with his sword.

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"Sister!" Ashton said with a smile on his face. 

"Sister, how are you here? And isn't that my sword?" Ashton asked as he looked at Irene and that at the sword.

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"I just woke up early and I saw your sword in your room. So I thought of bringing it to you since you are practising." Irene said as she handed him his sword.

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Ashton thanked her and also noticed the bags under her eyes and her pale face.

"Is she sick?" Ashton thought as he grabbed his sword and opened its cover.

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"By the way, Ash that thing on your sword....isn't it the broach that I gave you?" Irene asked as she looked at his sword's have where a green chrysanthemums flower was set beautifully.

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"Yes, it indeed is. I told uncle Leal to use this as a symbol of my sword with this I will have both your and grandfather's blessings. And I will always be safe and sound." Ash said as she touched the sword handle and then smiled.

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Irene stood there without even a single word and walked silently towards his direction and as soon as she was face to face with ash, she embraced him gently and the warmth of their body melted all the hard feelings they had for each their and the frozen flower of Rose once again bloomed in their heart.

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"I am glad for your return....Ash, I missed you...please don't ever leave again." Irene said as her grip tightened and something warm liquid fell on Ash's shoulders. And that sensation made his whole body tickle, 

"She is crying..." 

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"Sister....I missed you too...." Ash said as tears ran down his eyes. And just like that, the morning started for the winter siblings.

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"Hmm, Did something good happen behind my back because the dishes today are even grander than yesterday's." Raymond who was clueless about what was happening asked as he looked at the food which looked more like Art that one could worship.

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"Of course, it is a matter of celebration so this much food isn't a big deal." Leal who was joining them in today's breakfast said as he smiled at his clueless older brother.

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" What do you mean?" Raymond asked as he looked at both Ash and Irene who entered the dining hall together with a pleased look on their faces.

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"First, it's because of Ash return after 3 years and second of course because Ash will apply for the royal academy and as his guardian, for the last years I can guarantee it that he will pass the exam easily," Leal said as she clapped his hands.

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"You are right but won't this much of celebration be too cheap. How about throwing a party?" Raymond said making everyone in the room look at him weirdly.

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"Brother are you drunk?" Leal asked as he waved his hands infront of Raymond's face.

"Or maybe you aren't awake yet?" He continued until Raymond held his hand and pushed it down.

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"I am fully sober and awake!" Raymond said as he glared at Leal who was just smiling.

"Then Father were you serious about the celebration?" Irene asked as she looked at Raymond who was still fuming in anger.

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"Yes, I am serious." He said as he sighed.

"But Father won't it be weird...to celebrate my return..." Ash asked as he looked at Raymond with an *I am not so sure about it* look on his face.

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"Don't think so much, we will indeed be celebrating Ash return but it would be a family program as for the people outside it will be a celebration of the completion of 15 years of our family business," Raymond said as he ate a slice of red velvet tart.

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"That's a good idea, anniversary for others and reunion for us," Irene said as she smiled and then looked at Ash who looked happy too.

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"And Leal make sure you are present at the party this time, after all, it was thanks to you Ash was safe all this time," Raymond said as he looked at Leal who probably already planned to leave quietly.