"Paltio... Paltio..." A soft yet firm voice echoed in his mind, like a call from a distant place. "Is this how you're going to let yourself be defeated? Calm down, boy, this is more than just a simple test before you. Come on, get up. Do it for your loved ones and for your desire to create a fairer world."
But Paltio remained paralyzed, his body heavy and his mind engulfed in darkness. "I can't move," he murmured, his voice barely a whisper drowned by pain. "I can't do anything anymore. Evil has triumphed."
"Calm down, child," the voice responded, now taking shape before him. It was a woman enveloped in a bright cloud, her ethereal figure floating like a luminous silhouette. Her presence radiated calm, but also an unyielding strength. "This isn't real. It's a place controlled by someone, and Golden knew it would be a difficult trial for you. But through this, you can reach your full potential. Come on, get up."
"How can you say that?" Paltio retorted, his voice heavy with frustration. "Everything is lost. Everyone hates me. They think I'm worthless."
"No, boy," the cloud replied sweetly, moving closer. "Those are just your negative thoughts. In truth, people expect great things from you. I see a promising future for you, full of possibilities. You just need to believe in yourself."
"And how do you know that?" Paltio asked, eyeing her suspiciously. "I can't see you clearly... I only see a cloud-like woman's silhouette in front of me."
"That's my form, boy," she responded with a gentle laugh. "You can call me Cloud in the Shape of a Woman, like a boy I know who's about your age." She paused and added, "But that story is for another time. I think you know him. Well, I'm just a herald of greater beings. Come on, stand up. You're still alive, even if mentally you feel dead. You have control over yourself. Go on, I promise this will change for the better."
At that moment, familiar voices began to resonate in Paltio's mind. They were the voices of everyone he had shared his journey with during the Scepter quest: friends, allies, even Rykaru's voice, who loved him like a father loves a son. Each one encouraged him, giving him the strength to keep moving forward.
"Don't give up, Paltio."
"You have the power to change things."
"Believe in yourself. You're stronger than you think!"
Little by little, Paltio began to rise. He adjusted his collar, straightened his back, and looked ahead with renewed determination. It was then that he heard two voices arguing with each other, as if fighting over something.
"Well done, boy," the cloud said with a warm smile. "It's time for me to go. Do your best. I can no longer intervene. I wish you the best." With those words, the cloud began to fade, leaving behind only a faint glow that dissolved into the air.
When Paltio fully awoke, he found himself in a strange, undefined space. The two voices he had heard earlier were still arguing, but now they seemed closer. As he approached, they noticed him and stopped.
"Well, well," said one of the voices, dripping with sarcasm and mockery. "Looks like you still want more."
"What are you?" Paltio asked, glancing around, trying to identify them.
"Good question, boy," replied the bitter, angry voice. "We're something like entities. And this is our domain."
The second voice, much gentler, interjected with a tone that seemed to wrap Paltio in soothing calm: "Tell us, boy... Why did you give up even in the face of adversity?"
Paltio lowered his gaze, thoughtful, as if searching for the right words to express what he had felt at that moment of weakness. Finally, he answered sincerely: "I was lost... but I decided to keep going."
"I see," said the gentle voice, its tone reflecting a mix of understanding and encouragement.
"But... who are you? I can't see your bodies," Paltio asked, looking up toward the darkness from which the voices came. His curiosity mingled with a faint fear, though he tried to hide it. He scrutinized the space before him, attempting to distinguish any shape or figure that might reveal the identity of these beings.
Suddenly, from the dark place where they stood, a shadow began to emerge, slowly taking form. The creature that appeared was strange and fascinating at the same time: a siamese humanoid being, with two heads that rotated each time they spoke. Instead of faces, they wore masks—one white with golden embroidery and a kind smile, and the other dark with silver edges, its twisted grin radiating terror. The masks shifted positions every time the voice changed its tone.
The creature had two arms with human-like hands, but instead of nails, it possessed sharp claws that seemed capable of tearing through steel as if it were butter. It wore an impeccable silver gala suit, and a long, thin tail protruded from behind, moving with a life of its own.
Paltio felt a shiver run down his spine. Though the words of the feminine cloud still echoed in his mind, giving him strength, he couldn't help but feel nervous and intimidated by the presence of this strange creature. However, he decided to maintain his composure. "Greetings, boy. I hope my appearance doesn't frighten you," said the white mask in a gentle tone.
"No, not at all," Paltio replied, though his words came out strained, revealing his discomfort. A few minutes passed before he gathered the courage to ask a question. "Could you tell me your name?"
"Of course! Where are my manners?" said the creature. The white mask spoke first: "My name is Desire." Then, the creature turned its body, allowing the black mask to face him. "And I am Nightmare," the latter continued in a blood-chilling voice. "Let me do the talking," Desire interrupted, reclaiming the primary position. "As you wish," Nightmare replied indifferently.
"But we are more commonly known as Desirnight, a combination of our names," Desire explained with a smile on its mask. "It's a pleasure. My name is Paltio."
"Delighted," Desire responded courteously. "Although we already know who you are by observing your desires and nightmares, little boy." Then, with an elegant gesture, it conjured a screen in the air, showing Toco-Toco buried under piles of bones, desperately struggling to free himself.
"Toco-Toco, no!" Paltio exclaimed, his heart tightening as he saw his friend in that situation. "I must save him."
"You can't," Nightmare said coldly, its voice sharp as a blade.
"Why?" Paltio asked, confused and frustrated.
"Because only those who confront their own inner demons can escape our reality," Desire explained calmly.
"I see... But he's suffering," Paltio murmured, anguished.
"He will continue to suffer until he resolves his issue," Nightmare declared bluntly, without an ounce of compassion.
"Damn it... I can't do anything for Toco-Toco," Paltio lamented, clenching his fists in frustration.
Returning to what I was going to ask you, Desire interjected again: "Shall we continue? Why are you in this place?"
"Yes, well... Golden gave me a golden key to complete my training, but I didn't think it would lead to your domain. I apologize for entering without permission," Paltio responded sincerely.
"I see... At least you're polite. That must be because you're of royal blood," Desire commented in a kind tone.
"So that golden brat kept us here, and now he wants you to train because there's an imminent conflict. Plus, they've captured that fool, Avocios," Nightmare added sarcastically.
"How do you know that if I didn't tell you anything?" Paltio asked, surprised.
"Foolish boy, I can read your mind and thoughts since I was present during your worst desires and nightmares, as I call them," Nightmare replied with a mocking laugh.
"I see," Paltio said, trying to process the situation he was in. His mind raced, attempting to understand how these beings operated and what they expected from him.
"What my brother is trying to tell you, young prince, is that while he instills fear to test whether people are worthy of his twisted game, I dedicate myself to fulfilling the deepest desires that beat within the hearts of others," Desire explained, her white mask radiating an almost hypnotic calm.
"But I can't leave Toco-Toco in that place... I have to rescue him," Paltio interjected, carefully choosing his words. He maintained a polite and respectful tone, unsure how these entities might react to any sign of defiance or frustration. He feared that any hint of confrontation could send him spiraling back into that endless cycle of desires and nightmares.
"No, you can't," Nightmare responded coldly, closing off as if the mere idea of freeing Toco-Toco was absurd. "Hey, boy, didn't you come here to train? You could train with us... though I don't understand how you managed to escape our power."
Paltio felt a pang of nervousness at that question. He knew he couldn't mention the cloud-like woman; doing so might endanger the one who had guided him this far. Instead, he opted for a carefully measured response. "It's because my conviction is strong... And that's why I can't be trained by you while a friend is in trouble."
Desire tilted her mask slightly, as if weighing Paltio's words. "I see... So, would you do anything to free him?" she asked, her tone seemingly testing the young prince's determination.
"Yes, I would do it without hesitation," Paltio responded firmly, his voice heavy with seriousness.
Both faces of the Siamese creature turned simultaneously, and a strange laugh echoed in the air, blending the opposing tones of Desire and Nightmare. "Well then, it's decided. I, Desire—not us (Desirnight)—will let you save the cat... But you'll have to do something for us."
"Something like what?" Paltio asked, sensing that the weight of the conversation was about to take an unexpected turn.
"You must get us out of this place," both voices responded in unison, distorted and resonant, like echoes intertwining in an unsettling melody. The creature's tail moved with agitation, reflecting the intensity of the moment.
"What will you do, boy?" Desirnight asked, its dark mask leaning forward, as if trying to read beyond Paltio's words.