"What?" I asked groggily.
"You were laughing in your sleep."
"I was?"
"Yes. What were you dreaming?"
"Oh, I thought that I and Epiphany were goosegirls again. It was a nice dream." I yawned.
"Well, if you go back to sleep, try to do it without laughing."
I giggled softly. "Of course."
A moment passed.
"Are you asleep yet, Zia?"
"No."
"Zia..."
"Yes?"
"What possessed you, that made you jump into the storm?"
I sighed. "I don't know. I was just so mad, I wanted to do something..."
"But couldn't you see that the storm was dangerous?"
"But I had to fight it! It was the Dark!"
"But you didn't even think. You jumped straight into it."
"I thought that I could do something."
Roun stayed silent.
"I'm the One! Why can't you see that?!"
"I do see that."
"But-"
"I know I talked about those misguided people who thought they were the One but were not, but later I realized, you are the One. Everything points to it. The Dark and those who fight it have proclaimed you to be the One. You've been the One all along."
"Then why can't I do anything!? I'm the One! I'm supposed to have some special powers, or something to help me fight the Dark. But I can't do magic, I don't have special powers, I don't resist the Dark, and I can't fight it! No one can tell me what to do and I don't know myself!"
"Stay away from the Dark."
"But how am I supposed to fight it?"
"You can't fight it. You have no protection against it. If anything, you're especially vulnerable. And, because you are the One, the world depends on you. If you die, there is no hope for the world. By saving yourself, you save the world and save yourself a second time."
"But I have to fight the Dark!"
"But you can't!"
"I..."
"You have to think of everyone. Do you want to make sure that the Dark will take over the world? What will happen to... to your family if something happens to you?"
I scrunched up my face and hid behind my blanket.
"Epiphany acts as if she knows what's best for everyone, while she pushes you to do something that could cause a lot of harm. She may be working against you deliberately. Haven't you noticed that she appears at all of the wrong moments? How every action she takes pushes you toward that storm? Zia, she did not want me to take you out of that storm. She does not want what's best for you. You can not listen to her, however determined she is. If both you and I resist her, we will do what is best for you, for the world. Do you understand?"
"Yes. Yes, Roun."
"Think on that until morning, then."
"Good night."
"Good night, Zia."