Barbaric realms

"Shai?"

Shai turned away from the person, not wanting to open her eyes, Shai felt a hand on her forehead, Shai huffed, pushing the hand away, mumbling,

"I don't want to be in the world of the awake... I need more sleep,"

The person shook her, trying to wake her, Shai turned to them and opened her eyes but couldn't see the person, Shai rubbed her eyes before staring at them,

"What are you doing?"

Claire gave. She smiled and pulled the blanket away from her, Shai reached out for the blanket but fell short, ending up falling back into the pillows,

"It's morning, you can't stay with your bed all day, you need to eat," Claire told her,

"I can it just takes commitment," Shai muttered

Claire lets out a chuckle and pushes her shoulder, then walks over to the door,

"Get up,"

Shai sat up and turned to Claire, noticing her gaze. She was concerned for some reason.

"I'm surprised it's not Eurus," Shai let out

"He's making breakfast," Claire said

Shai set her feet down, feeling that her legs were weak. She noticed Claire walking back, standing by her. Shai started to wonder. What happened before she went to sleep? How did she get to bed? All she can recall is talking to the figures and Zeus. Shai got off the bed, feeling her legs start to give out on her, Shai placed her hand back on the bed,

"Shai, please take your time," Claire said

"I think you might be right,"

Shai looked at her uncertainly and tried to stand again. This time, she was able to stand, She had a little trouble with her right leg, and Claire moved to her, placing a hand on Shai's arm,

"Do you remember what happened in Judy's office?"

"I don't remember that,"

Claire pressed her lip. She already thought Shai might not remember, but now it is certain.

"You fainted, Shai,"

"I fainted?"

Shai touched her head and felt a headache starting. Shai started to recall what had happened before. The figures needed to be separated for a while.

"Did you remember something,"

Shai glanced at her, Claire looked at her, worried lased in her eyes. Shai gave her a small node,

"Yeah, I have..."

Shai stopped feeling a familiar presence in the room. She turned to look behind them and made Claire stare at her, confused,

"Shai? What's wr..."

"Figuer show yourself,"

Claire saw that her defense system went off. Looked behind them and saw a black figure staring down at them,

"Sorry to interrupt your morning, dear."

The figure recognized the stare Shai was giving him, tell me now or leave me be.

"But an urgent matter has happened," the figure explained

Shai let go of Claire and walked to the figure having a little trouble, Claire watched Shai walk towards him and thought to scan the figure, only for it to come out with nothing, Claire looked through the footage from when the figure first appeared,

"What happened this time?"

"The Senate is looking into the AI it will have great effects on this realm," the figure told her,

"It should have anyway. It has affected this realm before. What changed?" Shai inquired

"It has caught the attention of this realm. Their eyes have been placed on it. I'm not sure how bad it will get, but with the escalation that has happened from it, it'll be a matter of time."

The figure glanced at Claire, seeing her eyes glow. He felt a grin on his face, so they had him on footage from last time. At least she didn't have the same feeling as Herman,

"I just came to warn you. It seems like it will only get worse before it gets better,"

The figure turned his gaze back to Shai, she asked him,

"I already know about the Senate, I don't have to watch the news, right?"

"You don't have to. Be cautious for this realm is about to be in more turmoil," the figure responded

"If this is my job, I might quit soon,"

"I would quit as well,"

The figure touched her hand and placed a kiss on it, then slowly disappeared and said,

"I must leave, but I will see you soon, Shai,"

Shai moved to look at Claire and saw Claire glaring at where the figure stood. Shai noticed that her eyes had some video playing in them, but before she could get a better look, Claire exited out of it,

"That figure was the one guiding you out of the house," Claire uttered

"That's him," Shai huffed

"Shai, can I ask you something,"

Shai noticed that Claire looked more nervous, Shai walked to the dresser to find some clothes,

"Go ahead,"

"In your dreams, you were communicating with them,"

"Sort of. I thought it was an out-of-body experience but a dream... it would be! Weird one," Shai

Shai pulled out a shirt with a phrase on it.

"Have you seen them more?" Claire asked

Shai walked to the bathroom when Claire asked. She placed the clothes on the counter and turned to her,

"More than four but not twenty-five,"

Shai smiled at Claire, hoping she would get it, but Claire only looked at her bewildered,

"I need to change, I'm covered in sweat,"

"This isn't the right way, Sonya,"

Leif walking next to Sonya just gotten off work, Sonya huffed, putting away her phone before turning to him,

"Then why haven't you told me before we started walking this way?"

Leif blankly stared at her, not sure what to say. A silence came over them both as a chilling wind blew past them,

"I'm not sure, I thought we were heading in the right direction," Leif giggled

Sonya stared at him and shook her head, Leif walked past her, glanced at her, and said,

"I know the way follow me,"

He walked down the corner with Sonya jogging up to him. She huffed in thought, "Why did I have to agree with this?"

Leif looked around, the town with the lamp post shining down on them, the town started to put the lights up for the upcoming holidays, Leif huffed, remembering walking down this sidewalk with Shai right before she got the job. Leif looked to his side, feeling a hand grab his arm,

"I will be fine, Pops."

"I know you will, Shai,"

Shai stared at him with a small smile, Leif smiled back at her, but it wasn't real. Sonya has a hold on his arm, stopping him. She stares at him before saying,

"Slowed down,"

Sonya waited for a response. She didn't get one, Sonya saw the look on his face. It's hope... was he seeing something that she didn't? Sonya shakes his arm, trying to get his attention,

"Leif?"

Leif stopped and looked at her; he turned away in a hurry. Leif then walked down the sidewalk,

"We must get to the library. It will close soon,"

Sonya stood there for a moment, wondering what happened but then went after him,

"What happened to Leif? Did he remember something?"

Leif stood in front of the library, reading the sign written in Greek. He almost fell because Sonya ran into him, Leif caught her, looking down at her seeing Sonya was frustrated,

"You ok?"

"I'm fine," Sonya muttered

Sonya pulled away from Leif and looked at the library, She walked up to the door to open it,

"I should go in first,"

Sonya saw the uneasy he was and moved aside,

"That would make sense. You know her more than I would," Sonya told him,

Leif tried to knock on the door; it was opened by a middle-aged woman with red hair, her eyes shone a dark hazel, and her face looked concerned.

"Leif, nice to see you again,"

"You too, Art," Leif muttered

Art looked over at Sonya and noticed the police uniform. Art leans on the door with a shine in her eye,

"What are you doing here late at night, Leif? With a woman nonetheless," Art inquired

"I will answer your question inside. If you don't mind Art," Leif told

Art looked at the two before letting them in, Leif thanked her, and Sonya walked into the library, she scanned the front desk, green carving swirling on the edges of the desk with a word in Greek, from what she could recognize, Pistis. With the librarian's name on a piece of wood, Artemis.

"It's only the front desk,"

Sonya flinched, turning to Art, she's watching Sonya intensely, Sonya pointed at the name and then asked her,

"Is that your name?"

"That's my name, but I prefer if you would call me Art," Art told her,

Art saw the awe in Sonya. It was only a little, but it will do for what she will hear and witness. Art felt a hand on her shoulder and looked at who it was, but she saw no one.

"Art,"

Art turned to Leif,

"She wants to know," Leif muttered

"Are you sure she can handle it?" Art inquired

Leif glanced back at Sonya and knew that she was listening to them but tried to make herself look like she wasn't, Sonya touched the carved wood, and the word intrigued her.

"I remember taking Greek, but... I don't recall what it means," Sonya thought

"She can," Leif told her,

"Then I will get the books. Give me some time," Art said

Leif was stopped from walking over to her by Art saying,

"Tell her what that word means,"

Leif went to look back at her. She was gone. Leif let out a huff, walking over to Sonya, She was thinking still of what the word meant,

"I know it means something, maybe Believe... "

"It means Faith,"

Sonya looked over her shoulder and saw Leif leaning over it, Leif smiled at her, saying again,

"It means Faith. That's what you were wondering, right?"

"I was. How do you know that?" Sonya asked

"I didn't know when I first went into the library, and Art gave me a challenge,"

Leif walked around the desk, Sonya watched him lean on the desk,

"If I could figure out what that meant by the end of the month, I would be able to come in when I want,"

"You didn't make it, did you?"

Leif chuckled,

"It appears that way, doesn't it,"