Waking up in the only home i can afford an inn, only to smell The heavy wet wool drying by a fireplace that smokes too much because the chimney is clogged with soot downstairs, was unpleasant.
'Gotta get to work, or maybe not... dream curse has been rampant as of late, creatures of great profanity has Reached a massive audience.'
I walked down the stairs and entered the room full of strangers drinking their fill, eventually drifting from the warmth of the home; Just seconds after I left the homely Inn.
'Maybe I'll ascend the fastest anyones ever seen within three months and place myself in a safe position so I don't die..? ... no that would never work... get into politics..? no...'
Cough Cough!
'Maybe I should just go out there and become an Explorer..? a Geographer..? maybe a Naturalist..? guess my mom was right.. I am somewhat of a Philomath... maybe If I can live long enough and learn more than enough, I can call myself a polymath.'
Cough Cough Cough!
"am I catching a cold?"
inhaling from deep within my lungs to rejuvenate only to catch glassy runniness and be reminded of my cold exterior coating my frame in what looks to be chicken skin but is obviously just goosebumps.
'Sure It was snowing obviously I'd be cold.'
...
'but I'm Awakened.. so why was the cold so afflicting...'
Yes indeed the cold wasn't dangerous in fact the cold hadn't been unnatural, or atleast most likely after all it didn't affect those inside their homes, so where had the cold gotten the strength to affect all equally?
'I Should-'
-...!
"HEY!"
Running after a thief wasn't too difficult for an awakened but this awakened but especially fast but I wonder why they had pickpocketed me anyways..?
...
Turning the corner only to find emptiness where the person should have been was quite unexpected... what was even more unexpected was the feeling of pain in the back of my head...
***
So he's the thief?
Apparently.
What do you mean Apparently..?
I mean he had some of the items that were documented as stolen so I assumed he was the thief and probably got knocked out for stealing..
well do we have time for a trial?
not really... the talks around of the possible wars kinda got even the worst of the worst spooked hunting down people and stealing from them in the broad daylight whilst ruled over by tyrants, our hands are kinda tied at the moment...
so what do you suggest we do?
lock em up duh if the stealing of that particular criminal stops then its him if not then we release him.
so we're leaving it to utter chance that we got the guy?
Like i said It's all we can do at the moment..
Sighh~
Alright then.
***
in a cold cell I wake; surprised I turn the pages of my temporarily dazed mind..
...
"I was framed, and I'm probably gonna di-"
Indeed, unfortunately so; as for fate..? fortunately so.
'Who said that..?'
Does it matter..?
'not- Yeah, Actually it kinda does..'
Rats... well, you suppose you should just identify me as the dream curse.
'what!? the mindless!?'
Calm down.. Not all end up mindless, You've probably heard my voice before think back ever heard something after someone was done speaking with you, they'd faintly whisper something, and you'd turn around and ask 'What? only to find out they never said anything at all? well thats me my voice has no command hell it wasn't ever suppose to be this loud before... till now... in truth no curse is dormant or awakened in your soul yet, Yet It will end up so, So don't try to fight it... and maybe you'll live to at least exist another day...
...
'What did I just speak with..?'
***
...
Seven Months' Before Doom.
'Days 1~10 I settled within the confines of the secluded cell with other criminals nearby in their own seclusion the only thing now was to wait apparently the voice I've been hearing is something close to a oracle... It can predict the future... kind of... it doesn't give me a lot to work with, but apparently in seven months the world will end as we know it... and it'll be called the Doom War'
'Days 11~20 The rats scratch the walls and bars with hunger anticipating one of us starving so that they may not.. I tune them out...'
'Days 21~30 I would escape these confines if it weren't for the runes keeping me here... they block my abilities swimmingly! ... have I developed a sense of humor..?'
Six Months' Before Doom.
'Days 31~40 Apparently things aren't going well outside the castle.. the Criminals are becoming less patient, the people are getting worried and the king Seems to have lost all hope as he starts being less caring... overall this was the perfect time to get arrested...'
'Days 41~45 the person who gets us food quit... so they are trying to find a replacement until then a less lenient guy was placed in their position temporarily, I might not eat for a few days..'
'Days 46~50 Sweet second person quit as well... what the hell is going on even the spider in the corner of my room left this resort...'
'Days 51~60 Okay finally! someone is here to feed us!! Most of the unawakened criminals did die only this extremely determined little one made it.. maybe not even criminals after all I was framed... so are they most likely same..?'
Five Months' Before Doom.
'Days 61~70 The little one started speaking to me, the voice Started calling her 'One with Ambitions and or 'little rat Apparently to him she's the worst thing I could have encountered in this prison and that I should kill her but Like i said before my abilities are sealed, plus why would I listen to the voice.'
'Days 71~80 Supply is low we didn't get much food these past few months the voice laughed at the supposed one with ambitions so I gave her some food to spite it.'
'Days 81~90 The voice started having some authority over my body it said to stop feeding the rat, and my body halted for just a few seconds... Its strange really I want with all my power to go against the voice but what exactly IS the voice..'
Four Months' Before Doom.
'Days 91~100 I noticed the little one was acting strange asking me all kinds of questions that someone of her age should have known, regardless I better not let her get aware of the upcoming doom that may or may not show up, I asked what she was doing and why she was here in the first place... She had told me she needed to resolve something... I questioned it but regardless I didn't press her about it... its the end of the world after all'
'Days 101~110 I Heard some news... apparently there will be an army recruit service for criminals to lessen their sentences or completely resolve of it... Of course im framed So I wont partake but the rat is adamant In participating, gods is she mad..? Has she succumb to the Dream curse just as I supposedly have..? what an unfortunate fate... I told her about myself and how if the runes up above that seals my abilities were to be destroyed I should be able to set us free... but again... she demanded that I had Not do anything that may involve her... spouting that I may be the cause of her demise or its ascension... she looks terrified, Poor girl.'
'Days 111~120 I decided that if she wants to escape this hell and into another that I will vow to protect her, much to the dismay of the voice it sounds so loud now and If i don't focus it can control my micro movements surprisingly well...'
Three Months' Before Doom.
'Days 121~130 We signed up to enter the war effort but for some reason we were declined something about not being strong enough... what kind of war demands that someone be at least a master even if it's simple reconnaissance or Medical assistants... I heard some whispers about the war... people are indeed calling it the doom war... Looks like the voice was right..'
'Days 131~140 I recently Heard some people fighting then an all out brawl started with obviously the victors being the awakened, No one ended up In cells... the civil in civilization is over... but if i tell the rat that she might lose all hope of survival I can't comprehend how she can stay stable in all this.. its like as soon as she leaves the cell she wont have to deal with the doom war that there is little to no chance her parents are dead... I'll strive to have such solace one day, maybe If i live long enough.'
'Days 141~150 a bunch of the dream cursed had been spotted and quickly dealt with by the weaker awakened... savages using even the strong of the weak as meat shields... luckily the cells aren't going to last much long without maintenance and I can escape with the rat.'
Two Months' Before Doom.
'Days 151~160 A nightmare creature attacked us in the middle of the night it obviously went after the more viscous soul; mine... or should have... but for some reason I was forced awake with a Blood curdling Scream stabbing my ears; the girl was being attacked... and my abilities were sealed... she was as good as dead, But she ducked and rolled beneath a strike; my Hope suddenly rose high up maybe, just maybe.. can she destroy the rune on the ceiling..?
no.. Its too high up plus it was crafted by a Master.. there's no way... but much to my surprise she suddenly appeared armed with a small little dagger... one too perfect in this situation to deal with the runes of shockingly small durability much to my surprise at its formation as of late was not maintained and if it was good fate enough she had a dagger particular to destroying essence filled intricate structures! Where did she pull that out of!? ... No matter I had one goal now, Easily slay the beast.'
'Days 161~170 We escaped the prison... the cold winds somehow felt even colder then the last time I went outside the world is truly ending and its ending fast... Murder... In the middle of broad... its night... but, still that doesn't excuse the shocking revelation... mostly everyone went mad..? and- OH MY GOD!? that man... a dragon!? that man was killed by a dragon! what is going on!?'
We quickly fled back inside the Dungeon... and Then I finally realized it... the voice it was... my self conscious, Or more rather it was an identical profane kind of it.
'Days 171~180 before my awakening that my parents forced me into I had be given an abundance of demands they gave me... carry a ball of thorns before killing the helpless Dream Cursed Creature... I thought it might've been to give me a lesson on equality and to speak at a level we both were at so that their execution could be justified... but they were monsters I had thought but now... Maybe Not so much as I will become them sooner or later...'
30 Days' Before Doom.
The Girl handed me a totem... wherever she gathered it from I am unsure or really don't care.. it was suppose to suppress the voices of the Dream curse she had told me... I knew it couldn't be that simple and I was right It did suppress it so long as they were holding it... and if they let it go..? the Curse would exponentially apply itself onto the bearer of the Curse of Dreams she said the totem was called, Suppressive Ephialtes and should be able to cure me... either she is betraying me or doesn't know that it merely bides time.
'Days 181~190 The girl started... interrogating me.. on the nature of the castle itself and my condition and all sorts of subjects.. eventually she wondered off and whispered under her breath the opposite of what dragons represent.'
'Days 191~200 Eventually around A half of the week she sat down by a chair and asked something of me..'
"Will you stay here and hold that totem forever..?" she asked of me
eventually after a short pause I responded to her
"why if it is your will maybe we've grown awfully close But what About me..? Hell what about you? the world is ending miss... don't you know that..? I won't be here standing to hold the totem.."
After a minute she spoke
"it doesn't matter Just so long as you are determined to hold the totem even if I die in front of your eyes.. don't drop it carries my and your life, in your hands hold it for as long as possible or until I stop existing here... if the light goes out.. drop it, or don't.. it becomes worthless to me... okay..? please dont drop it while the totem has the light shining!"
'Days 201~210 She died, or logically should've; the dragon looked directly at her ferociously but in reverie the dragon gazed seen nothing of pride or strength; only wisdom and shame and let her pass through as if she were a harmless plant that sat awaiting and begged for the suns return.'
"What Just happened!?" I Invoked; after I turned my back and lost track of her... she left and... she- she left a note! the... opposite of a Dragon, is a Phoenix... The opposite of a thorn is a Blessing the opposite of Briar is ugly but safe... the opposite of the barbs..? why it's simple, Benevolence, Freedom and Contentment.
the voice in my head spoke louder than ever Before..! the girl is mad, shes- ... Listen to the girl she is right! she is there to save you..! she is here to free you, she is the kindness in this fake world! in the fake castle! in the fake war! in this fake, FAKE, FAKE!
I dropped the totem. I had one job.. and failed, the voice realized Where I lost it gained I was thinking too simply to go against following what it was going to say so it said what I should've known... I am dead. or rather I don't exist... I am but a figment of imagination... I am somebody else's Nightmare... and because I couldn't hold the totem before she woke up... She will die... all because she wanted to be kind to me something that doesn't even exist.
...
During the trial a young girl was charged with crimes she would never commit, and later patronized by those who'd commit the exact crimes with smiles she was terrified of being accused of, later she met and learned from a Cursed Nihilist with the same fate of the creatures she'd wish of greater fate for.. Later she realized that the purpose and reason for his nihilism... during a nightmare The girl thought with great wisdom.. A being of pride? maybe they would not kill those who filled their hearts and souls with shame and weakness.. But could she abandon the Cursed fellow? maybe the effort could lighten his heart before he died she cried out with abandon, even though she knew his fate was sealed after all he had already died, it had already happened and yet she made a Choice, a Grave Choice She mistakenly Gave her Grace or life into the hands of a cursed mad man A being who's Mind is filled with voices that Speak louder in his head then He does out of his own mouth, and she fell second handedly Victim to their lies and deceit since he had; only seven steps away from escaping her own Cursed Dream in the hellish castle where it is known Only for its Reflection, crumbles Her Lost grace taken hold of her mind and Soul abandoned A Dying Light In cold Baston...
Your final appraisal is.. Horrid