The Nightmare Wizard

Consciousness returned like a distant echo, as if he had crossed an eternal tunnel and was now emerging without knowing whether he was alive or dreaming. William opened his eyes abruptly, gasping. The dim light of a golden chandelier shone from the vaulted ceiling, casting warm reflections on the red velvet curtains and the walls covered with silver-threaded tapestries.

He was lying in a massive bed, softer than any surface he had ever touched. The sheets were pure silk, cool and comforting. His body was wrapped in a black sleeping robe with blue details—elegant and subtly tailored. He sat up suddenly, heart pounding.

—"What... where...?"

The memory of the mask struck his mind like a spear. His eyes widened even more. The energy, the pressure, the pain, that cursed sound, and that figure cloaked in darkness. He screamed, as if doing so could expel the image from his mind.

—"Angel! What the hell is happening to me!?"

The feminine voice resonated immediately in his head—calm, lifeless, but offering a shred of comfort.

—"Analyzing the user's current state... No physical anomalies detected. Everything points to a panic attack caused by a nightmare."

He took his head in his hands.

—"The mask... I saw... something. I don't know. I felt like I was losing control. What the fuck happened?"

There was a brief silence before Angel responded.

—"The only abnormality was your behavior last night. You entered a trance for approximately thirty seconds. Then you started screaming as if you were being tortured. After that, you lost consciousness. Aurus called the maids and had you brought here to rest. Here's the recording."