Kert and Zerath exchanged a surprised glance when they saw Hinata suddenly burst into tears.
They had almost never seen her in such a state.
Usually, she was the one who kept calm when everything seemed to be falling apart around them.
Kert was the first to break the silence.
— You were breathing very heavily in your sleep... and you were sweating a lot.
His tone was unusually serious.
Zerath knelt in front of her.
— Hinata... what's going on?
But Hinata kept crying.
Seeing that she was struggling to catch her breath, Kert stood up and quickly rummaged through his bag made of leaves. He took out a small bamboo flask filled with water before returning to her.
— Drink a little.
Hinata nodded gently.
— Thank you...
She took the flask with her trembling hands and drank a few sips before stopping.
Silence returned for a few seconds.
Then Zerath spoke again.
— So? Do you want to explain?
Hinata took a deep breath.
She wiped away a few tears with the back of her sleeve before answering.
— Actually... it all comes from the same dream.
Kert frowned.
— The same dream?
— Yes...
Her voice was weak.
— Every time, I see the same boy.
She lowered her gaze.
— And every time, he repeats exactly the same sentence.
— Which one? asked Kert.
Hinata slowly raised her head.
— "We need to talk."
The fire crackled softly between them.
— That's all he says...
She pressed her hands against her knees.
— At first it was strange... but now the dreams are becoming more and more violent.
Her voice trembled.
— I feel like they're becoming real.
She looked away.
— And that scares me.
Zerath remained attentive.
Hinata continued with difficulty.
— This time...
She swallowed.
— This time, I was with both of you.
The two boys exchanged a glance.
— Everything was normal... then your bodies started to rot.
Kert's face froze.
So did Zerath's.
— What?
Hinata nodded slowly.
— I don't understand what's happening.
Her eyes filled with tears again.
— I'm afraid it's a sign.
— Hinata...
— I'm afraid that something is trying to kill me.
Her voice broke.
— Or to take me away from the world of mortals...
She lowered her head.
— And I'm afraid that if I resist it... it will go after you.
Silence fell again.
No one knew what to say.
The fire cast shifting shadows across their faces.
Zerath observed Hinata for a long time.
She seemed exhausted.
These nightmares had clearly been eating away at her for a long time.
Finally, he spoke.
— Hinata...
She raised her eyes.
— You need to try to rest more.
He hesitated for a moment.
— But tell me... have you ever tried talking to him?
— Talking to him?
— Yes. The boy.
Hinata frowned.
— Not really.
She shook her head.
— Every time, everything becomes chaotic around me.
Her gaze drifted into the flames.
— There are those things in the sky...
She shuddered.
— I don't even know what they are.
— Monsters?
— Maybe.
She clenched her teeth.
— But just looking at them hurts me.
— What do you mean?
— I feel like my head is going to explode.
Kert grimaced.
— Too bad we can't come protect you in your dreams.
Hinata and Zerath immediately turned their eyes toward him.
Kert crossed his arms.
— What?
Then his expression became more serious.
— Hinata... you're probably the strongest person I know.
She remained silent.
— So if something is capable of making you cry like this...
He shook his head.
— That's clearly not normal.
Hinata lowered her eyes sadly.
Zerath was still thinking.
Then something seemed to come to his mind.
— Wait...
The two others turned their heads toward him.
— What if all this is connected to the forest?
Kert blinked.
— The forest?
Hinata seemed to reflect.
— You think?
Zerath shrugged.
— I can't say for sure.
He looked at the dark trees surrounding the camp.
— But after everything we've seen here, nothing surprises me anymore.
He pointed at Hinata.
— You're the only one among us who can use magic.
— Yes...
— So maybe this forest is trying to communicate with you.
Kert opened his eyes wide.
— Some kind of riddle?
— Maybe.
Zerath nodded.
— Or a message.
Hinata remained thoughtful.
— You might not be wrong...
Kert clenched his fists.
Then he showed a determined smile.
— Then the next time this dream comes back...
Hinata raised her eyes toward him.
— Be strong.
— ...
— Hold on.
His gaze was surprisingly sincere.
— Even if it's terrifying.
He pointed a finger at her.
— Try to stay standing.
— ...
— Try to resist.
The fire crackled softly.
And for the first time since waking up, Hinata felt her fear decrease slightly.
Because she was no longer alone facing this nightmare.
Hinata eventually lay down near the fire.
Zerath's words still echoed in her mind. He was right: she needed rest. Yet for several days, sleeping had become an ordeal. Every time she closed her eyes, those dreams returned. Always the same. Always more real.
Seeing her state, Zerath and Kert had made a decision.
They would stay awake.
At least until sunrise.
If something was truly lurking around Hinata during her sleep, they would see it. And even if nothing abnormal happened, they could wake her immediately at the slightest worrying sign.
It would certainly not be a pleasant night for them.
But neither of them was ready to take the risk of letting Hinata face this alone.
Kert let out a long yawn as he stretched.
— Are we really going to sit here until morning?
Zerath kept his eyes fixed on the flames.
— We have to. We can't take the risk of something happening to her.
Kert crossed his arms.
— I'm doing this only for her. Not for you.
Zerath rolled his eyes before sighing.
— Whatever. If you're tired, go to sleep. I can watch over her alone.
— Huh?
Kert immediately straightened up.
— Who do you think I am? Of course I'm going to stay awake! But only for Hinata. And I certainly don't need you for that.
— Keep telling yourself that.
— Shut up.
— No.
— Shut up.
— No.
The two boys continued their ridiculous argument in low voices while the flames crackled softly in the night.
Meanwhile...
In Hinata's dream, everything was different.
She stood alone in the middle of a thick fog.
An oppressive silence reigned everywhere.
Then...
CRAAK.
A massive sound tore through space.
Hinata abruptly opened her eyes.
Her heart tightened.
Around her, in the mist, enormous circular shapes gradually appeared.
Eyes.
Immense eyes.
They floated in the fog like living moons.
They were watching her.
All of them.
Without exception.
Hinata swallowed with difficulty.
The fear was still there.
But this time, she forced herself to remain standing.
She clenched her fists.
— Are you the one who wants to talk to me?
Her voice trembled slightly.
— Then show yourself!
The fog slowly parted.
A silhouette appeared.
The young man with long white hair emerged from the mist calmly.
The gigantic eyes continued to watch them from the darkness.
The boy gave a slight smile.
— You've finally made up your mind.
Hinata did not waste time.
— Who are you?
Then she raised her eyes toward the monstrous shapes multiplying in the fog.
Her breathing quickened.
— And more importantly... what are those things?
The young man did not even give them a glance.
As if he had long grown accustomed to their presence.
— They are what you call the Outergods.
Hinata's blood seemed to freeze.
— The... what?
The boy stepped forward slowly.
Each step seemed to make the mist itself vibrate.
— They are watching me.
His gaze drifted into the void for a moment.
— Everywhere I go.
Hinata instinctively stepped back.
— I... I don't understand anything...
The young man slightly tilted his head.
— I heard your conversation with your friends.
His red gaze settled directly on her.
— I am not a riddle of this forest.
A heavy silence followed.
Then he continued:
— I am Bivisu.
Hinata's eyes widened.
— Bivisu?
— The former unique avatar of the Original Gods.
His voice remained calm.
Almost melancholic.
— Or at least... what remains of it.
The gigantic eyes in the mist seemed to stir.
As if they too were listening.
Bivisu slowly raised his head.
— I am only a fragment.
His gaze returned to Hinata.
— A fragment still trying to escape the domain where it was sealed.
A shiver ran through the girl's entire body.
The stories she was hearing were no longer anything like a simple nightmare.
For the first time...
She had the impression of standing before something truly ancient.
Something that existed long before her.
Perhaps even before the world she knew.
— Unique avatar of the Original Gods...
she murmured.
— What exactly does that mean?
Around them, the eyes of the Outergods continued to accumulate in the mist, countless, silent, patient.
As if they too were waiting for the answer.