Arin didn't say anything. He just stood to one side and allowed the two girls to enter the dimly lit room.
Elara looked at Siel, lying supine for a moment, then turned to glance at Arin.
Arin shrugged. 'A light nap can help people… think things through better. Come up with answers…' he shrugged again.
He then glanced at Lana, who nodded. Clearly, she'd already heard from Elara about Siel's talent being knowledge magic.
But what else had Elara told her?
…
'Everything.'
'I've made Lana aware of our plans to discuss… the celebration we'll be holding in your honor,' Elara said in a low voice. 'My dear friend has also been informed of… what is appropriate to say, and what isn't. We must honor our reputations in public, after all.'
'Especially so, since we're otherwise eccentric enough to meet up and offer tea at such an unconventional hour,' added Lana softly, placing the small tray she'd been holding down on a table nearby.
Arin nodded in thanks. Since they would be waiting for who-knows-how-long for Siel to awaken, he wondered if he ought to offer refreshments in turn. On second thought, however, the contents of Rin's bag were all he had. And having just revisited said contents up-close, doing that might end up offending the girls instead.
…But he really should figure out what to do with those crumpled paper bags sometime soon.
He offered them a seat, which Lana took without further prompting. Elara, however, remained standing to one side, biting her lip.
'I… I attempted to involve my father in our discussions,' she said after a moment. 'I thought he might – he might be… interested in learning of, and participating in, our plans. Since – since he's been ever so excited about getting to host a celebration, of course! But no matter what I try, it seems he cannot… he cannot…'
Lana reached out and pulled Elara down to sit next to her. 'Sir Grif likes doing things his own way,' she continued for her friend. 'And happens to be far more stubborn than he first seems.'
'It is nothing for you to trouble yourself about, lady Elara,' she added, holding Elara's hand. 'He will surely see what we're doing in due time, and be delighted for it.'
The two girls exchanged small smiles.
Arin, however, wasn't too sure.
Elara had mentioned not remembering anything about whatever had happened prior to her falling into this dream. And if Lana knew anything from before she did… surely, she'd have mentioned something so important by now.
And so, he knew that he was probably the only one in this room – Siel included – who'd managed to remember almost everything from before falling asleep. He'd remembered sir Veylor saying that Elara had been the first to fall asleep, more than a month before everyone else had. Her father had apparently been publicly and frantically searching for solutions at the time.
Arin knew what he'd said about the sleep having spread to other members of the headman's estate over the next few weeks, before ultimately drawing in the whole of Silvershade.
However, he also remembered what madam Seren had told them; of how Elara had lived the past few years depressed and withdrawn, to the point of refusing to even show her face outside.
But what if… what if it wasn't because she'd become a recluse? What if, all this time, Elara had actually been… asleep?
What if two months ago wasn't the beginning of this whole thing, and it had all started years ago?
What if sir Grif… had only panicked when things had finally started spiraling so out of control, when multiple people in Elara's vicinity had also started getting drawn into the dream?
…
Arin didn't blame the man; he didn't even know if any of his conjectures were true at all. Besides, the sir Grif he'd met within the dream probably really knew nothing, thanks to the dream's manipulations.
Here, he was just a man who'd awoken to find his village miraculously saved, discovered that the cause of all their troubles had been some random cursed object that had nothing to do with his beloved daughter, and was spending his days working hard to restore normal functions while happily planning celebrations.
But if he really had known more about all this in the real world, and there were things he'd wanted to keep hidden and safe…
…perhaps those subconscious intentions made it easier for the dream to exploit his mind. That was why he couldn't seem to understand or remember any time Elara tried to involve him.
After all, wasn't this dream everything the village head had probably hoped would happen?
…
Presently, Arin simply remained standing where he was. He didn't voice any of his thoughts.
Whatever it was, they'd know for sure once they made it back to the real world.
With the dim lamplight casting lightly wavering shadows across the room, the three of them simply sat in silence for a while.
Arin had just been wondering whether he ought to break the silence, when Lana spoke first.
'Lady Elara is… very beloved by the people of our village,' she said softly. 'Many will show up to the celebrations only because she will also be attending. So, I was wondering what would happen if she chooses to leave first. Would… would the other people follow?'
Would everyone else also wake up once Elara left the dream?
Arin shook his head. 'I can't say,' he murmured. 'I'm afraid I don't know the people here, after all. However, when even one person leaves such an event, it makes it easier for others to follow.'
Even if the other villagers didn't wake up with them, they'd still have a better chance at figuring things out after themselves making it out to the real world.
Lana nodded, before reaching out towards the tray she'd brought and pouring out some tea. Arin thanked her, while Elara simply sighed and shook her head, refusing the cup she was offered. She sat, somewhat hunched over, with her fingers lightly drumming on her lap.
It was clear to see that the girl was getting anxious.
Thankfully, it was then that Siel suddenly stirred.