Silence filled the sinister room. Blood boiling in the body as the emperor announced the verdict.
A ruler and his daughter. A world made for both. A foreigner who acts as a mediator between two worlds.
"You will be our bridge to your renowned realm. You won't have to worry about anything, just take my daughter with you and she will prepare all."
The world seems to move to his will; however, the world is ruled solely by him. That is the role of a sovereign.
The king is his subjects, and his subjects are his kingdom. His domain. The king is the law, and the law is absolute in this domain. However, outside his domain this power is diminished, weakened.
To expand one's domain a kingdom would have to invade, to colonize the other nations. And eventually become an empire.
The fair lady beside The Lord brings forth a goblet.
Golden as the sun and decorated with red gems as wine.
Placing the cup before The Lord, a knife found its place across the bare skin of the king's wrist.
Blood gushing out before coming to a sudden stop along with the saturation of the cup.
"Drink it. I don't expect you to show loyalty, I don't expect you to comply, however, I won't stand opposition."
The command was absolute. Without the will to resist, the foreigner drank the cup.
'The Nightmare Spell' The lord thought inwardly.
A way to get power quickly could prove useful. He must get his hands on it, no matter what.
"And one more thing…" he announced the foreigner.
"I want you to guide my daughter through the ways of The Nightmare Spell. The creation of Weaver."
And thus came the declaration to a halt.
A leader must find a compromission with nations to benefit from. However, a king must rule. He is not meant to please anyone but his own kind.
And thus, the daughter of The Lord was escorted by the envoy.
***
Through the same passage as before, I was able to return to the cemetery in the middle of the wasteland, however, this time Alticia accompanies me.
The unassuming occupied territory of Emperor Helios lacked a gateway, resorting to travelling across the Dream Realm to find one.
"We have food and water reserves for three days. Let's hope we'll find something before the situation would turn dire." Alticia said, taking the lead.
Walking up front, I glared daggers at her. My eyes are fixed on her figure as she walks casually. I follow.
The emotions in my mind, my heart, are rumbling in chaotic order. The anger is brewing, the sadness is growing, the denial is opposing. I don't know if I can make it through this journey with her without breaking down.
Alticia is not addressing last night, and neither am I. It is the tension between us that won't cease or ease and we're bound to suffer from miscommunication sooner or later.
We occasionally stop for short breaks; our luggage is burden but also keeps us alive. As minutes turn to hours, fatigue catches up more easily each time.
The time moves on uneventfully, leaving me with my thoughts. Reflecting on past actions. Not just Alticia, but also Lin and Lyney.
The memories floating to the surface of my mind. Making me remember the actions. Not just mine, but also theirs.
'Come to think of it, I don't even know if it's normal to trust other people so easily.'
Losing my memories made me lose a lot of common sense, too. I naturally come to believe behavior and words people show on the surface, but in some cases kindness of people is derived for their own benefits and theirs alone.
But I can't believe that. It's not true. The fact stands that some people could be kind or at least don't hold ill intentions.
Lyney's motives are unknown, but Lin has always been nice to me. That's being said, maybe the problem is with me.
First impressions seem to be a big manufacture in all of this.
'Maybe I should change my demeanor, as well.'
Reflecting on past events, I stared distantly at the endless fog enveloping the world. Nothing is alive, not even bushes.
By the end of the first day, we prepared to set a camp and sleep in shifts. However, before we could settle on who sleeps first, we heard screeching sounds.
Jumping to our feet, I took out my memory while Alticia unsheathed a great sword she carried on her back.
The sword itself is of an azure crystal engraved with runic sorcery. The handle is made of gold and wrapped with dark leather to get a firm grip.
As we prepare for the worst, we could make out movement in the thick fog. As it came closer, the Nightmare Creatures became clearer. A horde, all black humanoid creatures with thin stick-like arms and legs.
They all ran towards us in unison, as if running away from a bigger predator. We took a fighting stance, preparing for a clash.
Most of the nightmare creatures were awakened beasts while some were dormant.
In an instant we were already surrounded, attacked by dozens of stick figures charged at once.
I slashed through their thin flesh while Alticia slammed the broad blade on the ground, shattering the earth beneath and making them lose balance before bringing the blade down.
Alticia heavy armor indicates she's more focused on heavy attacks and tanking enemies. While I was the exact opposite.
None of the nightmare creatures had any regret. No surprise there, but that also means I couldn't use my aspect.
However, my sword was an awakened memory of the second tier and the dark curse imbued to the blade made it even deadlier.
That's being said, the agility and endurance of a dormant human like me was still at great disadvantage.
And so, I had to slash faster than the claws of the enemies.
The weapon of Alticia seems to be of a higher rank, crafted and enchanted by her father. While I could barely hold my ground.
Taking a sidestep, just in time to dodge a clash with an enemy's claw, I slashed through several more.
[You have slain a Dormant Monster.]
[You have slain an Awakened Beast.]
[You have slain an Awakened Beast.]
I couldn't hold on for much longer, however, Alticia seems to do just fine, making me wonder what her rank is, exactly.
At some point in our fight, I could almost swear I saw a sign of green beyond the swarm of nightmare creatures. Sooner, more green appeared and the swarm of nightmare creatures receded, revealing the entire land filled with grass.
The figures scattered across the green landscape, making the place return to its original wasteland dry color.
The grass was gone with the rest of the swarm chasing it all away. The fog returned and the dead silence fell over the land once again.
"We have to keep moving before the swarm can catch up with us again!" I said, emphasizing the urgency in my voice.
Nodding quickly, Alticia started running behind me, leaving the luggage behind to avoid falling behind.
As we marched, a trial of green could be seen catching up to us, the swarm will be here soon.
We ran for our lives, the chill of the mist dissipated, and heat filled the air of our lungs. Drops of sweat dripped down from my face, landing on the dry soil ground just to sprout a field of grass and flowers.
The crackling sound of the swarm could be heard louder and louder with the view of green already below our feet.
However, the dread had just begun. At the brown soil we aim to reach is a green peek, as well.
Beyond that peek of green, is a dark cloud approaching, identical to the one chasing us from behind.
"There are more than one hives!" the shout filled the atmosphere.
Without the mist covering the view, however, we could see a destination. A different landscape, a new biome awaiting us beyond this frightful scene.
The land in the distance is our only hope. A hope to escape this hellhole.
"Charge through!" Alticia shouts, drawing her weapon ready with fury of desperation and fumes of adrenaline, infecting me as well.
With faith in my equipment, I draw out my blade as well. And as both swarms collided, we found ourselves amidst a clash of clans of those monstrosities.
And utter chaos as both clans battled each-other, fight for territory, while we killed anything in sight, a fight for survival.
Alticia swings her blade in wild motion, catching as many enemies as possible while tanking most of the attacks.
Her enchanted armor bends and crack, her skin is getting damaged as well.
Even with powerful armor, her equipment receives pierces anywhere on her body-clad armor and blunt blows on left and right, leaving her bruised even through the solid material.
Meanwhile, I depend mostly on fast maneuvering and blocking some blows, making me fare a bit better. However, it was barely enough.
No matter how much we killed, the number never seemed to diminish. The scene of utter chaos lingered continuously for what seemed like eternity, wearing us out and gradually making us lose the hope we linger for.
Side stepping, I cut through two more abominations.
[You have slain a Dormant Beast.]
[You have slain an Awakened Beast.]
[You have gained a Memory.]
Ignoring the voices in my head, I barely moved out of the way of a slash just to get stabbed at the shoulder by another.
Blood gushed out but I paid it no mind. I pierced the beast in front me and slashed my blade one hundred and eighty degrees to slice off the vile monster that pierced my shoulder.
My instincts made me dodge my head just in time to avoid getting my brain spilled on the ground. I leaped forward, catching distance from the slender figure.
The fight seems endless and infuriating. Anxiety and despair rush through my mind. The number of new sleepers dying each week is not little. In fact, few even make it through the first nightmare.
'What are the odds a guy who was reborn half a year ago could make it out alive?
I thought I was lucky for a moment at the tomb. Hoping to get patronage from a big shot, someone who could emit an influence big enough to take over an entire kingdom, possibly a continent.
However, reality is different. The dark flood of monsters separated me from the only help I could get, leaving me defending myself with all I've got.
However, my pleas did not go unanswered. The clans of unidentified creatures parted ways, eating away the green all around us until the next time they meet.
The fog returns leaving me tattered, bruised and drenched in blood.
Looking around, I could see Alticia. She lied on the ground, as if she's on the verge of death.
She couldn't possibly survive for long; she is barely breathing and deeply unconscious.
I could leave her here. Abandon Lord Helios and live normally.
I have a choice to forget all that happened and start over once again.
So why…
Why am I carrying her.
I'm walking through the distance of the foggy wasteland. Why couldn't I desert her.
So simple, yet it's impossible.
Nothing remained of her armor besides a pile of disfigured trinkets of expensive metal. The enchantments were ruined so it cannot even be used and each joint of Alticia body was stained in blood.
All she wore was a bodysuit made of thin layer of cloth soaked of blood.
My legs were injured; one arm is broken and all I could do is drag her on my back. A pitiful sight to behold.
Dragging one foot on the ground, I could do nothing but keep my consciousness intact.
I got a Memory at least. A charm.
The runes read:
Memory: [Lonesome Rose].
Memory Rank: Awaken.
Memory Tier: I.
Memory Type: Charm.
[Lonesome Rose: A gloomy garden, withered from life, all is dead but a single rose. A single dot in a sea of darkness].
The flower is almost as pitiful as my situation. Huh.
In act of desperation, I pulled out the charm, not feeling any change. It did not heal, nor did it give me any energy, strength or improved my situation in any way.
***
Finally, the hope is finally at sight. I could make out the scenery for once.
The place was massive, look like an archipelago in the middle of the air. Massive chains bind them all together. The entire thing was floating above an enormous chasm.
However, happiness has short-lived when grass sneaked behind me as I admired the scenery. The screeching sound got close and enveloped my view.
The paleness of darkness blocked my view once more. the last thing I could make out, were two massive figures, clashing together on the nearest island. One was a glorified bird of prey colored in white and a black onyx serpentine emitting shock waves causing me to rattle the air around me.
A tear slipped on my cheek. Total despair fills me whole. As the veil of darkness creatures surrounded me again.
"No. That place is even worse."
And with life slipping through my breath, I passed out of pain, fear, shock, but most of all, despair.
A familiar whisper fell to my ears in my sleep.
"Your nightmare is over." It said.