There was another revelation in what she had said. Wind Flower easily identified the Crown of Dawn as a Memory... which meant that she knew about the Spell. Was its carrier, most likely.
Sunny's eyes narrowed.
'Well, of course she is.'
If she was Daeron's daughter, then she was not one of the River People. Instead, she was a challenger of this Nightmare, just like Sunny. No, not quite... only Masters could challenge the Third Nightmare. And since she was a Saint, she had either achieved Transcendence inside the Tomb of Ariel... or had come inside with her father, in order to guide the future challengers with him.
Noticing Sunny's unease, Wind Flower smiled.
"I see you are starting to get it. Indeed, I am not the real Princess Wind Flower. I am merely a copy of her, conjured by the Nightmare Spell. She... is long dead by now, I think. And yet, I remain."
Sunny's face paled.
This was the first time he had met an inhabitant of a Nightmare who was aware of their nature. He didn't quite know how to behave in front of her.
Was this Wind Flower dead or alive? Was she real or not? Was she a mere echo of a real person, or a true living being created by the Spell for the duration of the Nightmare?
Wind Flower sighed, glanced at the Crown of Twilight one more time, and walked over to the window. Gazing at the beautiful vista of this dreamy version of Aletheia's Island, she spoke:
"Back then, my father and his most loyal warriors braved the White Desert and entered the Tomb of Ariel. I was one of them. Our goal was to imprint our souls into the Great River, so that when challengers entered this Nightmare, there was someone to help them conquer it."
She sighed lightly.
"It was a gamble, of course... a desperate one, considering that our world was dying. It was already being consumed by the Dream Realm, and despite all our struggles, we had failed to rise to the challenge of the Spell. My father was the only Supreme of our people, and there was not going to be another. At least not in time to turn the tide of destruction. So... he came up with a plan to raise an army of Transcendent warriors in this unique Nightmare."
Wind Flower's shoulders fell.
"...That plan failed, as well."
Sunny was staring at her with wide eyes, his thoughts in turmoil.
'What... wait...'
Taking a step forward, he raised his hands and asked, his voice hoarse:
"Wait... you world? Being consumed by the Dream Realm? What do you mean?"
The beautiful Saint turned and looked at him in surprise. Her enchanting azure eyes were full of confusion.
Then, she smiled.
Shaking her head, Wind Flower chuckled and said, her words sending Sunny's mind reeling:
"What... did you think that yours was the only world that the Nightmare Spell infected, Sunless? Of course not. There were others. Yours is not the first..."
She lingered for a moment, then added with a hint of amusement:
"However, it will be the last."