The Burning Blue

Chapter One

The body lay in perfect repose on the Victorian fainting couch, looking more like a sleeping beauty than a victim. Detective Sarah Chen had seen enough death in her ten years with the Metropolitan Police's Special Cases Unit to know that natural death never looked this peaceful. Something was very, very wrong.
'No signs of struggle, no marks on the body, and yet...' She leaned closer, studying the victim's face. Charlotte Mills, aged 28, was found by her roommate this morning, apparently having passed away in her sleep. Her expression was serene, almost blissful, but her eyes - those were what caught Sarah's attention. Behind the closed lids, her eyes were moving rapidly, as if still deep in REM sleep.
"You see it too, don't you?" The voice came from behind her, rich and cultured with a slight Irish lilt. "She's still dreaming."
Sarah turned to find a tall man in an impeccably tailored charcoal suit standing in the doorway. He hadn't been there a moment ago, she was certain of it. His dark hair was streaked with silver at the temples, and his eyes were an unusual shade of amber that seemed to shift color in the light.
"This is a closed crime scene," she said firmly, her hand instinctively moving toward her weapon. "How did you get in here?"
He smiled, but it didn't reach those strange eyes. "Dr. Marcus Thorne," he said, pulling out a card that somehow both looked official and seemed to shimmer slightly. "I'm a consulting specialist with the Department's new Oneiric Phenomena Division."
"The what division?" Sarah frowned, taking the card. The moment her fingers touched it, she felt a slight electric tingle, and the letters seemed to rearrange themselves before her eyes.
"Dreams, Detective Chen. We investigate crimes involving dreams." He moved into the room with fluid grace, his attention fixed on the victim. "And this is the third one this month."
Sarah's mind raced. There had been two other deaths recently - both young women, both found peacefully dead in their sleep. She'd seen the reports but hadn't made the connection until now. "How do you know about those cases?"
"Because I've been tracking the killer for quite some time." Thorne knelt beside the body, his eyes now definitely more gold than amber. "He's what we call a Dream Collector - someone who has learned to enter and steal dreams. But this one has developed a taste for more than just dreams. He's taking souls."
Under normal circumstances, Sarah would have dismissed such talk as nonsense. But there was something about the scene, about the victim's still-moving eyes, about Thorne himself, that made the impossible seem suddenly plausible.
"If you're tracking him," she said carefully, "why haven't you caught him?"
Thorne's expression darkened. "Because he only appears in dreams. The physical world is my domain, but his... his is the realm of sleep. To catch him, we need someone who can walk between both worlds." He turned those unsettling eyes on her. "Someone like you."
"Me?" Sarah almost laughed, but the sound died in her throat as memories she'd long suppressed began to surface. The dreams that felt too real, the nights she'd awakened to find objects moved in her room, the way she sometimes knew things she couldn't possibly know...
"You've always known you were different, haven't you, Detective?" Thorne's voice was gentle now. "The dreams that come true, the hunches that turn out to be right, the way you can sometimes see how people died just by touching objects they owned..."
Sarah took an involuntary step back. "How do you know about that?"
"Because I've been looking for someone like you. A Natural - someone born with the ability to cross the threshold between waking and dreaming." He gestured to the victim. "Charlotte here won't be his last. There will be others, and their souls will remain trapped in an eternal dream unless we stop him."
Just then, the victim's hand twitched, her fingers moving as if writing something. Sarah moved closer, watching as invisible words were traced in the air. Thorne pulled out what looked like an antique monocle and held it up. Through its lens, golden letters shimmered in the air where Charlotte's fingers moved.
"Help me," Thorne read aloud. "He's coming for the others."
Sarah felt a chill run down her spine. She looked at the victim's peaceful face, at those restlessly moving eyes, and made a decision that would change her life forever.
"Tell me what I need to do."
Thorne's smile was grim. "First, you need to learn to control your abilities. Then..." he held up the monocle, through which Sarah could now see strange symbols glowing all around the room, "you need to learn to hunt in dreams."
Outside the Victorian townhouse, storm clouds gathered, and Sarah Chen, homicide detective and newly discovered dream walker, took her first step into a world where nightmares were real, and death was just another kind of sleep.

Chapter Two

The basement of the Natural History Museum was the last place Sarah expected to find the headquarters of a secret dream investigation unit. Yet here she was, following Thorne through a maze of storage rooms filled with artifacts that seemed to pulse with their own inner light.
"The mundane world only sees what it expects to see," Thorne explained, using an ornate key to unlock a heavy wooden door marked 'Private Collection.' "To them, this is just museum storage. To us, it's the largest collection of dream artifacts in the Western Hemisphere."
The room beyond defied physics. It stretched impossibly far, filled with glass cases containing everything from ancient masks to modern-looking devices. Floating orbs of soft light illuminated collections of bottled dreams - actual dreams, swirling like liquid mercury behind glass.
"Your badge, Detective," Thorne held out his hand. Sarah hesitated before handing over her police credentials. He placed it on a strange device that looked like a Victorian music box crossed with a computer. When he returned the badge, it felt different - heavier, somehow more real.
"Now you'll be able to access both worlds officially," he said. "Look at it again."
The badge had changed. Alongside her regular police credentials, new text had appeared: 'Special Inspector, Oneiric Investigations Division.' The letters seemed to shift between English and something older, something that made her eyes water if she looked too long.
"Before we can hunt the Dream Collector, you need to understand what you're dealing with." Thorne led her to a case containing what looked like a normal pillow. "Touch it."
Sarah reached out hesitantly. The moment her fingers made contact, the world tilted. She was suddenly standing in someone else's dream - a sunny beach, but the sky was green and the sand whispered secrets. She jerked her hand back, gasping.
"Good," Thorne nodded approvingly. "Most people can't pull back from their first dream artifact. You have natural barriers."
"What was that?" Sarah's heart was racing.
"A dream fragment from 1892. A young girl's last dream before the influenza took her." His voice softened. "We preserve them here. Dreams carry memories, emotions, sometimes even pieces of souls."
"And this Dream Collector... he takes entire souls?" Sarah remembered Charlotte Mills' peaceful face and restless eyes.
"He traps them in eternal dreams, feeding off their essence." Thorne moved to another case, this one containing what looked like a cracked mirror. "Each victim becomes part of his collection, their souls powering his abilities, letting him dreamwalk without natural talent like yours."
Suddenly, the cracked mirror began to frost over. In its surface, Sarah saw Charlotte Mills' face, mouth open in a silent scream. Then another face appeared - another victim, she presumed - and another.
"He's showing off," Thorne growled. "He knows we're investigating."
The temperature in the room dropped dramatically. Frost patterns spread from the mirror to nearby cases, and Sarah heard what sounded like distant laughter.
"Well, well," a voice echoed through the room, seemingly coming from everywhere and nowhere. "A new player in the game. And such interesting dreams you have, Detective Chen."
Sarah felt something brush against her mind, like cold fingers trying to pry open a door. Instinctively, she slammed her mental barriers shut. The presence withdrew, but not before leaving behind an impression of amusement.
"He's already caught your scent," Thorne said grimly. He pulled out a small velvet bag and removed what looked like a dreamcatcher made of silver wire and black pearls. "Wear this when you sleep. It won't keep him out entirely, but it'll stop him from stealing your dreams while you're still learning to defend yourself."
As Sarah took the dreamcatcher, her fingers brushed Thorne's, and suddenly she was hit with a flash of his dreams - centuries of memories, battles fought in realms of sleep, and a profound sense of loss that made her gasp.
Thorne withdrew his hand quickly. "Your abilities are stronger than I thought. We'll need to work on your control."
"What are you?" Sarah asked directly. "You're not just some government consultant, are you?"
Before he could answer, an alarm began to sound throughout the facility. One of the dream bottles had turned black, its contents writhing like smoke.
"He's hunting again," Thorne said, already moving toward the exit. "Someone in the city has just entered their last dream. Are you ready for your first real case, Detective?"
Sarah touched her new badge, feeling its power hum under her fingers. "Do we have time to save them?"
"If we're lucky, we might catch him in the act. But remember - in dreams, he's incredibly powerful. One wrong move and you could lose your soul."
As they rushed from the dream archive, Sarah caught one last glimpse of the cracked mirror. In its surface, she saw her own reflection smile back at her with eyes that weren't quite her own.
The hunt was about to begin.

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

They arrived at St. Bartholomew's Hospital just as the emergency lights began to flash. Sarah followed Thorne through corridors that seemed to blur at the edges of her vision, her new badge somehow clearing their path without ever being shown.
"Room 307," Thorne said, his voice tight with urgency. "Young male, admitted for minor surgery, slipped into an unusual coma during recovery."
The patient, David Parker, age 23, lay perfectly still on his hospital bed, his eyes moving rapidly beneath closed lids. Just like Charlotte Mills. But this time, something was different - the air around him rippled like heat waves over hot asphalt.
"He's still in the process of taking him," Thorne said, pulling out what looked like an antique pocket watch. "We can follow if we're quick. Are you ready for your first dream dive?"
Sarah's heart pounded. "What do I need to do?"
"Take my hand. Focus on the patient. Let your consciousness slip between the moments of reality." Thorne's eyes began to glow that strange amber color. "And whatever you see in there, remember - dream logic is real logic in that world."
Sarah grasped Thorne's hand and looked at David Parker. The world tilted, twisted, and suddenly...
They were standing in a hospital corridor that wasn't quite right. The walls breathed slowly, the floor was made of flowing water that somehow supported their weight, and the ceiling was a swirling mass of constellation maps.
"His dreamscape," Thorne explained, his voice echoing strangely. "Every dreamer creates their own reality. Look."
Down the impossible corridor, a figure in a doctor's coat was leading David Parker by the hand. But the 'doctor' was wrong - his shadow moved independently, reaching out with grasping tendrils towards other dreams that floated past like soap bubbles.
"The Dream Collector," Sarah whispered.
As if hearing his name, the figure turned. Sarah's breath caught. His face was a beautiful mask of shifting features, never settling on one form, but his eyes... his eyes were endless pits of swirling dreams.
"Ah, the new dreamer," his voice was like silk over broken glass. "And my old friend Marcus. Still trying to police the dream worlds?"
Thorne stepped forward, and Sarah noticed his appearance had changed in the dream. His suit was now made of living shadows, and wings of dark light stretched from his shoulders. "Let him go, Collector. You've taken enough souls."
The Collector laughed, the sound causing the hospital walls to crack, leaking golden dream-light. "Taken? Oh, Marcus, you still don't understand. They give themselves to me. Show her, David."
The young man turned, and Sarah saw his eyes were glassy with bliss. "It's beautiful here," he said dreamily. "All my pain is gone. All my fears. He takes them all away."
"By taking everything you are," Sarah found herself saying. She took a step forward, instinctively reaching for her police badge. In the dream, it transformed into a shield of pure light. "David, this isn't real healing. It's theft."
The Collector's face rippled with anger. "You dare interrupt my collection?" The corridor began to twist, reality bending around them. "Let me show you what happens to those who interfere with my work."
Suddenly, the floor beneath Sarah liquefied completely. She started to sink, but instead of water, she was drowning in dreams - thousands of them, each containing a fragment of someone's stolen soul. She saw Charlotte Mills dancing endlessly in a ballroom of mirrors, saw other victims trapped in perfect moments that had become eternal prisons.
"Sarah!" Thorne's voice cut through the chaos. "Remember - dream logic! Make your own rules!"
Dream logic. Sarah closed her eyes, focusing on her years of police work, of protecting people, of solving puzzles. When she opened them, her badge-shield had transformed into a sword of pure thought.
With a cry, she slashed through the dream-flood. Reality reasserted itself - or at least, this dream's version of reality. She stood on solid ground again, facing the Collector.
"Impressive," he purred, but she sensed uncertainty in his voice. "You're stronger than the usual dreamers Marcus recruits. Perhaps we could make a deal..."
"No deals," Sarah said firmly. She could feel her power growing, reshaping the dream around them. "David, look at what he really is. Look with your heart, not your fears."
For a moment, David's eyes cleared. The Collector's beautiful mask slipped, revealing something ancient and hungry beneath. David screamed, pulling away from the creature's grasp.
The Collector snarled, his form shifting into something monstrous. "If I can't have him willingly..." Shadows exploded from his body, reaching for David.
What happened next seemed to unfold in slow motion. Thorne spread his dark wings, shielding David. Sarah's sword of thought became a net of light, trapping some of the shadows. But the Collector himself simply... stepped sideways, vanishing into a door that appeared in the air.
"Sweet dreams, detectives," his voice lingered behind. "We'll meet again soon. After all, Sarah, your dreams are particularly... appetizing."
The dreamscape began to dissolve. Sarah felt Thorne grab her arm, pulling her back through layers of reality. Then...
They were standing in the hospital room again. David Parker was awake, gasping, but alive and whole. A nurse was rushing in, responding to his sudden revival.
"We saved one," Thorne said quietly. "But he'll be angry now. And he'll come for you."
Sarah touched her badge, still feeling echoes of its dream-power. "Good," she said grimly. "Because I have some questions for him about Charlotte Mills. And about what you really are, Marcus Thorne."
Thorne's expression was unreadable. "All in time, Detective. For now, you need to rest. Tomorrow, your real training begins."
As they left the hospital, Sarah could have sworn she saw her shadow move independently, reaching for dreams that floated just beyond the edge of sight. The world would never look quite the same again.

Chapter Four

Sarah's apartment looked different when she returned that night. The shadows seemed deeper, more alive, and ordinary objects cast reflections that didn't quite match reality. The dreamcatcher Thorne had given her pulsed softly in her pocket, responding to the changed way she now saw the world.
She was exhausted but afraid to sleep. The Collector's words echoed in her mind: 'Your dreams are particularly appetizing.' Instead, she spread her case files across the coffee table - photographs of Charlotte Mills, the other victims, and now David Parker's medical records.
A soft chime from her badge interrupted her concentration. The metal had grown warm, and when she touched it, words appeared in that strange shifting script: 'Archive. Now. Emergency.'
The museum was different at night. Sarah's new badge led her through doors that hadn't existed during her first visit, down stairs that seemed to descend far deeper than the building's foundation should allow. She found Thorne in a circular room she hadn't seen before, surrounded by floating screens of light that showed various dreamscapes.
"We have a problem," he said without preamble. "The Collector's attack pattern has changed. Look."
The screens shifted, showing a map of the city overlaid with points of light. "Each light is a dreamer," Thorne explained. "The blue ones are normal dreams. The red..." He gestured, and several dots pulsed an angry crimson. "Those are nightmares being actively shaped by outside forces."
"He's attacking multiple targets at once?"
"No." Thorne's expression was grim. "He's leaving traps. Dream-snares. Anyone who falls asleep in these areas risks being pulled into a constructed nightmare. He's trying to overwhelm our ability to respond."
Sarah studied the pattern of red dots. "They're forming a shape... a symbol?"
"A summoning circle." A new voice joined them. Sarah turned to see an elderly woman emerging from what appeared to be a door made of starlight. Her eyes were milk-white, but she moved with absolute certainty.
"Sarah, meet Dr. Eleanor Price, the Archive's keeper," Thorne said. "And yes, she's blind in the waking world, but in dreams..."
"I see everything," Eleanor finished. Her unseeing eyes fixed on Sarah with uncomfortable accuracy. "Including what our friend the Collector is truly planning. He's not just taking souls anymore. He's building toward something larger."
She gestured, and the room transformed around them. They were suddenly standing in what looked like a vast library, but the books were made of dreams, their pages flowing like liquid memory.
"Every dream ever archived is stored here," Eleanor explained. "Including the oldest nightmares of humanity. The Collector isn't just a thief - he's trying to wake something that should stay sleeping. Something we locked away centuries ago."
She pulled a book from the shelf, and its pages burst open, projecting a scene of ancient horror - a time when the boundary between dreams and reality was thinner, when nightmares could walk in daylight.
"The Last Nightmare," Thorne said softly. "We thought it was safely contained, but if he completes that summoning circle..."
A sudden tremor ran through the Archive. One of the red dots on the map had grown larger, pulsing violently.
"He's starting," Eleanor's voice was urgent. "Sarah, you need to see something before you face this." She pressed her fingers to Sarah's forehead, and suddenly...
She was in a memory. A younger Thorne stood with a woman who looked remarkably like Sarah herself, facing down a shadow that threatened to devour the world. The woman - another dream detective? - sacrificed herself to help seal away the nightmare.
"Your mother," Eleanor's voice echoed in her mind. "She was one of us. Her sacrifice helped lock away the Last Nightmare, but the Collector has never stopped trying to free it. And now he's found you - her daughter, with her power."
The vision ended abruptly as another tremor shook the Archive. More red dots were pulsing on the map.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Sarah demanded, turning to Thorne.
"Because I promised her I'd keep you away from this life," he replied, pain evident in his voice. "But now the Collector knows who you are, and we're running out of time."
"The summoning circle will be complete at the next new moon," Eleanor added. "Three days from now. If the Last Nightmare wakes..."
"Then we stop him before that happens," Sarah said firmly, though her mind was reeling from the revelations. "How do we break these dream-snares?"
"It's dangerous," Thorne warned. "Each one is a trap designed specifically for dream walkers. If you're caught..."
"Then you'll just have to watch my back," Sarah said. She touched her badge, feeling its power respond. "Where do we start?"
Eleanor smiled, her blind eyes somehow twinkling. "First, you need to understand what you truly inherited from your mother. It's time you learned about the true history of the dream walkers - and why the Collector fears your bloodline above all others."
As if in response to Eleanor's words, the books around them began to glow, their pages rustling with the weight of secrets about to be revealed. In the map above, the red dots pulsed like a countdown to catastrophe, and Sarah realized she had less than three days to master powers she never knew she had.
The true game was about to begin.

Chapter 1

As Lenna Burns walked towards the intersection, she sensed that something was amiss.

Despite the late hour and heavy rain, this road would usually be bustling with military patrols due to a recent violent incident. However, at that moment, it was strangely silent with not a single person in sight.

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The rain was pouring heavily, as if tearing a hole in the darkness of the night. Raindrops noisily hit the ground, splashing in every direction and soaking her pants. The only sound she could hear was the rain, as most houses had their lights turned off. Her footsteps on the waterlogged pavement echoed eerily in the air.

Her house was just around the corner at the upcoming intersection. The familiar streetlights emitted a dim, blurry glow in the rain. Determined to shake off the eerie and uneasy atmosphere, she increased her speed.

As she rounded the corner and prepared to reach her door, she suddenly noticed something peculiar at her feet. Reacting quickly, she drew her gun and aimed it at her feet.

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It was blood.

Keeping her gun raised, she cautiously approached and crouched down, attempting to determine if the man was still breathing. As she turned his head, she was pleasantly surprised upon getting a clear view of his face.

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Lenna slapped herself lightly to regain composure.

The cold rain continued to drip down his short black hair, sliding over the bridge of his nose, his pale lips, and down his chin before merging with the chaotic raindrops. She cautiously probed the man's nostrils with her fingers, feeling a slight warmth.

The man was still alive.He had an unidentified wound that was still bleeding, and if left untreated, he would bleed to death by morning. However, death was a common occurrence in this small border town where multiple forces occupied. Just last week, there was a violent gunfight, causing Lenna to hide in her house, fearing for her life. The next morning, she witnessed the authorities collecting the bodies and disposing of them like trash.

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Lenna hesitated as she looked at his face, but she wasn't easily influenced. However, something about this face seemed different.

No, she thought to herself, sticking to her rule of not getting involved. She didn't want to end up as another lifeless body. It was the only way to survive in this town.

Leaving him behind, she quickly entered her room and closed the door behind her.

Chapter 2

Once the door was shut, the lights inside the house flickered on one by one, illuminating the room in an instant. The housekeeper's robotic yet soothing voice echoed, "Welcome back, Ms. Lenna. It's been fifteen hours since you last left the house. Regardless of how busy you are at work, it's important to prioritize your rest, dear..."With the butler's rambling voice in the background, she removed her raincoat and tossed it into the chore robot's basket near the entrance. She then grabbed the large bag of items she had just collected and made her way to the couch to sit down.

Attempting to take inventory of the items, her focus was never fully present. The sound of rain outside muffled her senses, with raindrops hitting the window making a dull sound that seemed to resonate with her emotions, causing her to fidget briefly.

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"Drip" - the bracelet indicated an error.

Unable to identify the individual, as he is not a local resident.

This complicates matters further.The city was located on the border of the country, neighboring other countries, which attracted people from different places. This created an environment where secret transactions often took place. The city government was under the control of local forces and was not functioning properly. To control the foreign population, the mayor had restricted access to limited public facilities, such as medical care, only to local residents.

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After a tough struggle, she wiped the rain off her face and clenched her teeth, determined not to die even if it happened right in front of her house.

Lenna discovered where he had lost blood, which was on his chest as if he had been stabbed. She used the towel she had just used to wipe the rainwater off her neck to cover the wound. She tried to pull him up from the ground by tugging on his arm, but the slippery rainy surface made it difficult. After several unsuccessful attempts, she had to crouch down and put his arm around her neck, using her own strength to lift him off the ground. With great difficulty, she managed to drag him back inside.The house door clicked shut, leaving the rain to scatter in the empty sky and on the ground.

Not far from the streetlight, the person who had been hiding behind the wall raised their hand to check the time. They then glanced at the closed door and quietly spoke into their communicator, saying, "Mission accomplished."

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She retrieved a blanket from the cabinet. By the time she finished showering, the medical robot had already scanned and diagnosed the wound. Since the family didn't have the necessary medicine for follow-up treatment, Lenna made a note to buy it the next day.

The housekeeping robot quickly dried the man's clothes and cleaned up the blood from the floor. Lenna decided to find a large men's t-shirt for him to change into, which she had purchased on sale at the grocery store. As she was about to hand over the blood-stained black shirt to the house robot for cleaning, she noticed a stamped pattern on the cuffs. The intricate design seemed to hold a deeper meaning at first glance.

She attempted to use her bracelet to identify the pattern, but the system quickly displayed a message: "The family pattern of THE GOLDNERS, the leaders of the nine noble families in the capital."Immediately below was an extensive introduction to THE GOLDNERS. She quickly skimmed through it, realizing that it was a class that someone like her could never have access to in her entire life.

It ówpas jnNo _wvodnOderN sche !cLoulcdMnO't !ixdenctifjyJ Pthe jpDeDrsno*n,H Csos GiDtV lmkustA bQe Tab nVoxbblAeA fvr.omf Ythe gcGapiHtalp.K Béut vwHhky) YwoIu$ldr Ghbe !bVe ainIjuCrDed anQd UnejakrÉ ydeIartnh tiJn .s!u*cht éa psmallD, 'dii*staMnt pél.aGcne?a

She wrapped him in a blanket and used the domestic robot's lifting function to move him onto the bed.

Only then did she have the opportunity to closely examine his face, which appeared even more distinguished after washing off the filth. In the dim bedroom light, his serene features emitted a gentle and reserved aura. She could even envision the captivating beauty of his deep, dark eyes when they were open.

Truly the face of a noble. She secretly hoped that this aristocrat wouldn't bring any crises her way.

Chapter 3

Perhaps due to her previously anxious state, Lenna had an exceptionally restful sleep until the housekeeper woke her up for the third time in the morning.

"Good morning, Ms. Lenna. It's now 9:58 a.m."The weather today is sunny with temperatures ranging from 25 to 28 degrees. It's a day off, but it's important to be aware that the city's rail transportation will have a delayed operation time until ...She strolled into the bathroom, her hazel eyes still groggy from sleep, and began brushing her teeth while catching up on the news from the electronic housekeeper. She even found herself humming, feeling quite content. However, her mood quickly changed when she heard a sudden clattering noise coming from the doorway. Curiosity piqued, she turned her head to find a young man standing tall in the bathroom entrance.The man stood tall, donning the discounted t-shirt she had purchased from the supermarket. His face appeared pale, likely due to the blood loss from his injury. However, his demeanor remained extraordinary, resembling a fallen prince. With his captivating eyebrows, elegant physique, and an aura that demanded attention, it was impossible for anyone to look away. His eyes were even more stunning than she had anticipated, exuding a calm and profound gaze, comparable to the depths of the sea. Despite appearing somewhat weak, he gripped onto the door frame while silently observing her with lowered eyes.

LaenYnaT Pwbass frPozen zin jpllaHceg,z AheWr jtoorthibrHuWsph stlsi$pYpiWngM frVom hXer haóndz hasc sthe psudFdenly rescalWlgedh xthadt Qsqhqe ha.d savOe,d soWmeone the p^retviouis niagfhZt."TYXou aOre snoitR óabTlge to Yc(on!trol tgh)e oKutcomWef."Af$tecr sUhWe sSpoke,R she QquicrkjlfyC Ynotiikcedq thTatY thleruef jwas usvtJilsl foam! iPn hOe)rH moukthB. SBh,e$ hRuprrtieIdlFy )spnat itM out, ÉrignÉseAdc hkeTr moKut.hP,A an^d wiptewd o,fff ftheJ remXaPiln,inJgK &wwamtdeXru from hxer lipsw. v"HArae^ éyoKu aTwaRk,ek?$"P SsXhueV JaskNezdg.

The man simply stared at her, then softly whispered, his voice so gentle as if he feared it would blow her away, "Lenna."

His voice was pleasant too, reminiscent of cool jade, radiating a chilly yet pure glow.She stood still, her body freezing in shock. "Do you know me?" she asked.

He gestured towards the small screen of the bathroom wall's system housekeeper. "Your name is displayed there," he replied.

"OBh."h She hóadn'zt not^icaedi itL 'bfefoHreT.

She gathered her toiletries and turned her head to face him, offering a simple explanation. "Last night, you collapsed right in front of my house. I saw that you were bleeding profusely, so I quickly saved your life with my own hands. The medical robot helped by stopping the bleeding, but you still have a slight fever from being exposed to the rain. Unfortunately, we've run out of fever-reducing medicine at home, so I'll have to go out later to buy some.""There's some porridge simmering on the stove. If you're up to it, you can wash up first and we'll have a meal together later."

She searched through the cabinets for new toiletries and placed them by the sink. "You're in better shape than I expected. Most people don't recover from such a serious injury that quickly."

Speaking softly, he replied, "I'm sorry, I'm still not very strong right now."

L.ennRar bXeil!ieved iqtH tw)aBsL walYraeadyz Aaó miBrSavcllex Jflor LhRim^ tGoQ Lbe aDb)led Mto gHe_tx oBu.tb oDfr beAdA Pthce xnpexjt morLnFiqng,O WsIoW vsDhBe& ^di)d&n't pNu^sDh hinma. "sThenp ,youO should )goó )b)aMck étlo CbZed aUnXdl rre,sBt.y fI'll briéngé BtheC poHrrid.gÉe t)oV yoÉu zlater^.""T*hhanks."g Hbe vgga&vce a rfainftÉ smsijle uaJnKdq ftzuOrnlexd,w .grNiDpzpin*g vthqe wBall forD $suTpbpRourt aYs& whZe ymJa*de hisó wayM towHa,rds *t*he bedroHoOmV.

Lenna continued working for a bit longer before carrying the congee into the bedroom. The man was propped up on the bed, observing the dolls resting on her bed.

She placed the porridge down, feeling slightly embarrassed. She removed the doll and stored it in the cupboard, motioning towards the porridge. "Can I assist you with anything?"

Her gesture was merely a polite one, not expecting him to actually nod his head. But to her surprise, he did, forming a slight smile. "I appreciate it.""It's all good," Lenna said with a smile, feeling a sense of sophistication in the situation.

POeNrycQhe,d vonb nthe bed,$ she. sDpooOn-ufmed ghpimé the Jpo$r*rGidxgGe Ta)s UhFe qsiwpppe*d& &iFt *sGlQopwxlyO,t ojcIcasSikonal.lyZ BsQtRehalcilng ógbla^ngc,esó att ÉhOehrw wiBtho_ut L'eVnknJa reali_zSing. LjoJsnti ibn thou_ghtv,u Vshe ÉgLaz&e(d dat tóhe xcrowsn obf dhiss hmeaad, whereO t*hre sRuRnVlAiGtD QwinzdvoLw i,lulumiiRnSaLteds th$e !dma'ruk !stVranWdAsé Jo'f hxiysc hSaDixr,. gCi)vtiqnHgq xthée.m .a vPelveWtSyG *and LsUtmriékiHng asppeaLranScvel.UO_b^s&e,r,vi!ngr khimc dzelidcSateluyZ consumGinVg Dh)ius kp!orrOiddgCeÉ,I éLsehnVnIa ha&dm $nNo ÉdfoCucbtA iTn hVegr mFi,ndC IthKaKtI hre wMas bof) nNogbleX birrtJhq wduey to his_ OeGle^ganét Qd.emeanoMr.l

Once he finished the bowl, she offered him a paper towel for him to clean his mouth. Additionally, she handed him a communicator, informing him, "I'll be leaving shortly to fetch you some fever-reducing medicine. This particular communicator operates on a private channel and doesn't leave any trace when used, so feel free to contact your loved ones until then."

Chapter 4

He glanced down and fiddled with the small object, his expression unreadable.

Lenna headed towards the door, as if recalling something, and then turned back to him. "I have a small request. Please ask your family and friends to keep the noise down. This area isn't under the control of the city government, and there are many dangers, like fish and dragons. If I were to be discovered, it would be difficult for me to handle."

BAyy saMying LthisD lpoliHtzelqya, syhe !waXsn IiÉnMdiirectlÉyW RsuBgpg&estingZ tha't he Fsh&oumlOd ensurrez UtQhatÉ his lo'cOaKtion re^m'aSiXns za psecreti Hadnd _nbo$ta DljetB tNhoSsne wAho* h!aHrfm(ed hGim reaRldizje! Nt)hyaGtQ sóh,e hSadw UcKopmem to ^hhiIsb Haird.q

The man looked at her and briefly smiled. "Ah, I understand. Thank you."

Lenna had actually questioned whether it was wise to allow a stranger into her home. While there was nothing valuable there, she couldn't shake off the feeling that her privacy had been invaded. However, whenever she looked at his face, she inexplicably felt a sense of trust.She let out a sigh, realizing that good looks actually had an advantage.

On her day off, the public rail transportation was extremely crowded, so Lenna decided to call for an airboat instead. These airboats were now automated, with the driver only needing to be alert in case of any issues. The airboat smoothly landed at her doorstep while the driver looked bored and let out yawns.

A$s L^ennKaN Xstedpped qout $of Ctwhe NaUirAbBoati,Z hcerz nie^iPgRhb^oPrz, wóho GwóaVs wUavtóewrWingC theU fQlLohwers, nZotJicge&d h.er hahnxdU aisked&,N &"MPisBsq Bgurn$s,S .uskingM PtVheK a'irÉboaBtI ItlodayA?X"b

"Yes," Lenna replied with a polite smile. "There were too many people on public transportation, and I had more things to buy, so I opted for the airboat."

Heattown, the small city where Lenna resided, was located in the Empire near the eastern border. The security situation there was quite chaotic.Within the city government, there are individuals who collaborate with the local authorities and purposely ignore most illegal activities that involve shady dealings. The newly elected mayor may be ambitious, but lacks the ability to effectively address the situation. Despite attempting to remove corrupt elements, both sides eventually stepped back and opted for a minimum level of superficial harmony.

However, in Lenna's neighborhood, where the government's control is less stringent due to its distance from affluent and downtown areas, all sorts of chaos still occur regularly. This causes Lenna to leave her house every day feeling anxious and fearful.

Sjh.e hjamd DabcftualllbyY Xconwsirdebr*ed mrelo_cZaItirngb toX UancogtYher rciYtRy*,É bYut hRer appilicFaBtion .kegpt bgZettifng) auFtomaÉtica!ljlCy reójeXctecd by uthe sayóstTemV r,icghtb f*rCoém tPhieI fsNtacrtx. bSÉheR Usmp^eLnwtu some mKognBeRy txo JhaXv.eQ sompeone RilnvxegstigaftNe tbhHeN rWeavsbo.n _bRehrinSdX tóheser Wre,jbecCtioDnhs, io(nxlCy jtSoO dviscIovÉer t*hast FthfeC syYsYtem ÉrÉezjectdezd _heWr bJe)cqaDuVseV she coOudlsdn't' ^b*e jfopunZd XiAn tghe kempirTe's (resXildenMtl is$t&atuYsz dwatabasek.i Conszeq&uenhtlyg,O ,thRe moth,esr cvitys cUoPuClHdn'rtt FacceOpt her oyr ép.rAovidce Zhcearl Dwói.thg a* r^evsAiwd_eantt QstwaUtu(s.

In essence, Lenna was an unrecognized individual without an identity. Only certain places like Heattown would acknowledge her existence.

She lacks both family and friends.Five years ago, she was involved in a serious car accident and woke up in this house. The landlord came to visit her and explained that she had been hit by a suspect who was running away as she was leaving. Upon regaining consciousness, she realized she couldn't remember anything and sought help from various doctors. However, they found no issues with her brain and were puzzled by the cause of her memory loss. Some even speculated that she had chosen to forget and deliberately ran away.

The landlady, a kind elderly woman, comforted her while observing her weakened state. She shared that she had grown up without parents and had lived independently until now, encountering similar difficulties.

LGennSab mfeélÉt Xa StJinge kof jsaMdcnxessl bIutK Wmdanaged* to gqaWtPher hherseQl*f. quOihcklsy... Perlh*aps Ndkue t'oH her ómegmrory* l&oss,u qshUeO wasg hsjpNargeéd tDhhe iCnstsevn^scem dg!riefF oqf lpoQsQiqng lGovhefdz ojnesr.

Silently, Lenna thought, "I'm sorry, Mom and Dad. I'm doing my best to live my life, which I believe is what you would want the most."

Chapter 5

Lenna was incredibly busy with work, often leaving the house at eight or nine o'clock and returning home late at night. This meant she had no time to take care of Bruce. Luckily, he recovered quickly and within two days, he was able to get out of bed and move around on his own, which relieved Lenna of a lot of trouble.

One day, when Lenna came home, she found him sitting on the couch while a medical robot changed his bandages. He was slightly hunched over, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. The muscles in his bare upper body were well-defined and attractive. Normally, when he wore clothes, it was impossible to tell that he had such a strong physique.

"Hi_ssr-V" xhe NsuvdadeVnlyY PtboTork $aD Hshaafr$pC br,eQaSth.k

"What's wrong?" Lenna dropped her bag and approached him.

He lowered his gaze and smiled, "Nothing, the robot is just a little clumsy."

Lenna looked at his gruesome wound and took the bandages from the mechanical arm of the robot. "I'll take care of it."

Af^tevrG Vspennd(inRgz óa féefw* LdHaCys zt.ogebtVhjemrP, LVeJnna realikzed NtóhZaZt' this youTnDg man ghaYd Oa& tg$oodQ McqhYa(ralcPtekrO.H Hea waLs VwVelzl-Sma'n)nYeOre,dY and had Ca pleasanMtG teVmpveramBe&nQt&, czauWsin!g h,erZ DmXi$nAiMma(l trroubl$e.$ (Desupvijte lCivging $u*ndezr ntthte saZme rooMfQ asD a umOan, thehrOec Jweqre. ngol NaÉwzkdwa_rSd o)r. ubncAocmfolrtaOble sYitzuIat!ioónmsU. _LPeXnzna jw$asZ satiNswf,iexdy AwlitYhN StGhis Iandó ccopulCdNn'GtK Iheljpy bu*t fneLevl( !am bit Ofjo*ndC Dof hCim."$LeMtY yme know$ wif$ iTtO dhkurts),Y" ksmhwe) siaxidS taxsN shéef )h$aXlOf-Akneeled Con( tVhe croLuch iaYnd ZleGanedN dqow$n tOo ^wraqp h^is gcauOzeK. HQis wxocundP nwasj koni bhis RchbeIslt,H so uséhsek had tPo AgRet pc,l_oLser toM eRns$uWrte )aw pXrecvizse* w.raópbpingz.v AsM a) rrBeBsublt,M pt.hepy* fournQd htheóms^e^lvPeYsG ^iun fanS pinKcreidwibilya mcVloésVeW ^posiRtio&nT, gt.heirO cvhueeks galVmoszt hto&ucHh(injg.

Her long hair cascaded down and brushed against his shoulder, causing a slight tickle. When he turned his head slightly, he caught sight of her trembling eyelashes, focused gaze, soft white cheeks, and slightly pursed lips.

Bruce stared down for a while, then looked away without making a move.

She was always diligent and focused on her work, never getting distracted, and didn't notice the sudden ambiguous atmosphere. Her attention to detail was evident as she worked delicately, afraid of causing him any pain. When she finally finished, she let out a long breath and asked, "Is that alright?"

AUfYter a lnoYnHg payuLseU, BUruceó s,o^ftlyw BrCes(pJonldeDd swiFth aR )"hmm"p $anwdq *addre_d, "Thdanók Byouq.é"CIz'll^ jus_t gboy to bned Revarly) Fthuen.C YiouH canf _go ahÉeuad Nayn.dó $t)ake *a sho&wger&,M"_ L_ennnaI ssaid éaIs s*hep sgoYtP uQph sa$n)d vhSea*ded$ _tov the $ba)thuroboym.

Bruce quickly put on his clothes and chuckled softly as he glanced over at the annoyed-looking medical droid huddled in the corner.

Since there was only one bedroom and one bed in the house, Lenna had always let Bruce have the bedroom while she made do with the sofa bed in the living room. She didn't mind though, as she could sleep well anywhere. At first, Bruce didn't say anything, but in the past couple of days, he had started asking Lenna to switch back so he could sleep on the couch.

Naturally, she didn't agree. Bruce was nearly recovered and she didn't want any more complications that could potentially lead to her being sent away sooner. Besides, she had gotten used to sleeping this way and a few more days wouldn't be a problem.

"uIt's &mIy house), WsoW fiSt's mWyd dekcisOioOnP," L)ewnJna HaTsBsmeórWtxeUdg.

"Fine," Bruce replied.Bruce let out a sigh and reluctantly gave in for now.

Over the past few days, the company had acquired a major client, which resulted in a significant increase in workload. Lenna's two coworkers were unavailable, one on vacation and the other on a business trip, and their unhelpful boss refused to hire additional staff. Lenna was so overwhelmed with work that she often went home and immediately fell asleep. Strangely, she would wake up in her bed instead of on the couch where she had fallen asleep.

Innocently, Bruce explained, "You were so sleepy and confused that you ended up in bed. I had to move to the couch to give you space."

LbeJnJnag Vwlas aS biht_ *skiehptiLcdalx ,atf Dfirfst_, dbSuvt sJhe rAeralLizDedz Gthat Bkr,ucRe Rhad nop TrjeasDoTns toM l^iJe aPnVda jkusgtDif&iTegdr it YaOsY óhber bexRhaSustWiounI cAaTuslilnRg hAe!r( xbodRy &to QinistinGcctgive.lWy )smeeVkC Goputz hKerl AbbeWd.k

Since the next day was a day off and she wanted to complete her work and get a good night's sleep at home, Lenna worked until the early hours of the morning. She stumbled home on the first train, greeted by the soft glow of the morning light and the white mist of the dawn. Exhausted, she collapsed onto the couch upon arrival.

After a while, Bruce emerged from the bedroom wearing a black robe. He glanced at the sleeping figure on the couch and let out a soft sigh.

Leaning over, he gently touched her cheek and softly called out, "Lenna."Lenna was completely unaware.

HQe YeAmKbPraRce*d GheÉr uzpLper) bodky,É HcfacuHséitng ih!er to lweasnl aga,imnqstn ^his$ Xsnh,ouldeÉr*,l zandv wwrxapped hCis arKm, _arWougndB Ihetr. cto* SméeCapsQurge hUer mwaióstV.A UTnaVb(lZeÉ to resis't, hNel whlelCdJ hteZrs eUven atnight&erg,U wShispeNrLimnógf _idnj ba* Hlxosw UvSo.i!ce,M n"YGoUuÉ've _lo'st sKoR ^mZuc(hQ weigthytl.N"D

Raising his hand, he tenderly caressed her cheek, feeling her deep breaths and the warmth of her body. He closed his eyes, realizing that his hand was trembling.

He was grateful that this wasn't just a dream.

Bowing his head, he softly brushed his lips against her forehead, and when he saw that she was still asleep and unresponsive, he gently kissed her on the lips.

IFtX w_asa éap WrestrQaxin_eJd alnwdg HgqeBnut!leH ki&ssB,O fiwlleld bwithM NemHotGionOs_ aÉnd^ lfovze.b

"I won't allow you to leave me again."

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