1

The dawn pointed to the horizon, brightening the sky, and beginning to dissolve with moving slowness the dark and surprising spots of the immortal night. From the top of the White Mountain in the west, Ivyne contemplated this daily spectacle, but still as magical, full of hope and serenity. Her white dress painted with blue flowers twirled in the wind and her long silvery hair, glittering like that of the light fairies, danced around her face in a pure and astonishing oval. The deep, magical forest that laid at her feet, populated by all the unimaginable and fantastic creatures, waking up to the light of day. The young emerald-colored leaves, covered with morning drops, shimmered under the sun’s rays, while the trunks of dying trees and the golden leaves harmonized with the gilding of the sun.

Even as a stranger, Ivyne felt a distant and nostalgic echo that inexorably linked her to this vast and enchanting place, awakening a wonderful feeling in her troubled and painful soul. And this incomparable feeling was intensified even more when a delicate but firm hand slipped into hers and held her tightly.

Shocked by an unknown and new emotion, and wondering again who was able to give her such fullness that no words could ever define, the girl turned to the newcomer with light fingers, which aroused so many feelings as confused as well as striking just by his touch.

But something soon dulled her radiant joy because the stranger’s face was blurred and tormented. Despite all Ivyne’s efforts to pierce the abstract veils that hid him from her eyes and her heart, nothing could reveal him. He remained indefinitely trapped in a world of dust clouds that had isolated him from the rest of the universe.

“My world is fabulous, isn’t it Azura?”

The girl frowned. “Yes, it is”. She admitted, confused. “But you’re wrong. My name is not Azura.”

“It isn’t?” he asked only for the form.

“Yes, it isn’t.” she reinforced, stung to the heart. “I think I remember hearing you use that name before. But no matter how many times you call me that, I’m not Azura. And I never will be.”

Then the stranger made a strange sound.

“I see..." So you really have forgotten." She guessed his shrug, "I guess forgetting is as good a way as any to heal."

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. But as you said, your kingdom is fantastic.”

“As always, even for things so awful they shouldn't exist.” The unknown noted sardonically. “But it’s too bad you didn’t feel that way about me. You swore so many things to me like an everlasting love, but in the end, it all burnt.”

Ivyne shook her head, hurt.

“And I do think you should explain yourself, since apparently that's what you want to do so badly, before giving you the right to insult me like that."

"I tried to do it. I’ve done it so many times, I’ve lost the number. But you never agreed to listen."

"I didn’t hear your voice!" Ivyne defended herself, furious.

"No, you just didn’t want to!" The stranger replied in the same way. "That is a big difference. Just because you guessed that it would disturb your life."

"Maybe," Ivyne said, upset. "But now I’m here, in front of you. I have no chance of running away. Then start your story."

"That’s what I was going to do."

"But first of all, I would prefer that the judger sovereign that you are does not hide behind this veil of untearable mist. Show yourself in the light of day, and reveal what you want me to know so much."

But the sovereign, without answering, remained in darkness.

"I told you to show yourself and talk!" Ivyne insisted angrily.

"You were there when I was asked to do it," the sovereign ended up saying, “but unfortunately we were both…too powerless.”

“I certainly don’t understand any of the treacherous words that come out of your mouth.”

“Oh, really?” he sneered unbearably.

“Yes,” she replied savagely. “But finally, tell me clearly what you want! What you expect from me!”

"If it depended on my only choice, nothing."

Then Ivyne felt the hand she was holding cool and become as cold as the polar breeze.

“Oh, the time for us to be together is over again.” The stranger declared as if nothing mattered anymore.

Instinctively, Ivyne tried to restrain him, but the ruler’s hand became so blue and icy that Ivyne had to release him screaming in pain, and the clouds of dust around him became suffocating, violent, and reddened with blood.

Ivyne screamed helplessly, desperately trying to do something to save the unknown ruler. But all her attempts ended in dreadful failure. Then, just as suddenly, the earth beneath her feet shook and cracked everywhere. The blue sky became covered with black clouds and the shining sun disappeared into the darkness. The creatures, the flourishing nature cried out in agony before falling into a terrible sleep.

The kingdom that this secret stranger said he loved so much died slowly and tears filled the air. Everything had become dark, even darker than the night.

Ivyne stretched out her hands, desperate and lost, towards the imposing glowing red mass which spread strongly and became the sovereign’s envelope of ashes.

“What’s going on? What’s happening to you?” she shouted desperately to the unknown prisoner, who presented himself relentlessly as an endearing and so torn memory. “Everything dies and disappears, even you!”

“You know, if you want things to change, you have to make sure you remember. We knew each other so well. We wished that the time would never end.”

“But I’m not Azura!” she repeated in her broken voice. “How many times do I have to tell you that? I don’t know this place and I don’t know you!”

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