Act I
I was standing outside our shelter, the grass was wet as the snow had already turned into puddles of mud. Spring came easily two months after we killed that great evil, everyone looked relaxed as we only needed to reach our home clan to complete our Koryos Rite and for me to go back to the waking world.
I looked back and saw the others still preparing the horses packing what we had on their backs. At first we planned to raid for more horses, but we have too few wolves now and it would be against the rite if we asked for sister Kafla to help us.
They only took a few more minutes before they joined me outside, weapons in hand while holding the bridle of the horses. We looked healthy and well rested, food wasn't a problem even with the harsh winter, especially because we actually bought too much food even if none of us died, we could have fed ourselves even without rationing.
I was the last one looking at our shelter, as the champion placed the fence on its entrance. She then looked at me giving me a nod as she followed along the group, I turned as well and started walking with them.
"It will take a few days before we reach the spring pastures. . . Champion Kafla, are you sure you want to come celebrate the end of our rite?" It was our Koreyonos who spoke, she was leading our band as we walked through the woods.
There was a long stretch of quiet as we walked, the question left unanswered. But then as we reached the rolling hills, just at the border of the woods, the champion spoke.
"Yes, I do need to speak to your chieftess Koreyonos." Her voice was less boisterous now, as she patted my sisters back. The interaction made me smile as I looked forward, and then my smile turned wider.
"Wild horses on our left!" I spoke out, making everyone look at me and then towards the place I was pointing at. Five grey and brown horses were feeding on patches of spring clovers.
Act II
"Sister Kafla, can you tell me more about your tribe?" I dugged again, I've been learning of the Fire hoof tribe and the Bear mother cult from Kafla every chance I got during the winter.
But even so I learned little of the two organizations, all I know is that the Fire hoof tribe was a lot more decentralized than I first thought. Instead of a sedentary village of clans they still practice nomadism, it was less a chiefdom and more like a bloodtied federation of clans that shares the same large territory.
While the cults act as the noble fraternities for warriors, pseudo guilds for artisans and communal churches for everyone else. But still it seems like each of the cults venerated a distinct patron's aspect rather than the actual patron.
"Let's see I've already told you about the Bear mother, but I haven't told you about her aspects didn't I?" We talked, as we traveled, each of us holding the bridle of a newly tamed horse. I didn't answer just shaking my head, which seems to have been enough.
"The Fire hoof tribe only knows three of her aspects, which are Strength, which is the one my cult venerates, Waterfalls and Foraging." She paused smiling as I thought about her words.
"I understand strength and foraging but why waterfalls?" It didn't sound like something a bear goddess should have as an aspect.
"It's simple, whenever we the children of the Bear mother get close to a waterfall, fishes would sometimes start swimming near us. It only happened to me once and I caught something that fed me for an entire day, it was some kind of fangless snake with gills and long fins." I nodded, she probably caught a large eel or something, but still why is it specifically waterfalls and not just rivers in general?
"Wait, I just thought of something. Sister, why are you here? I know you said it was part of your duty to slay evils. But why did you travel this far from the Fire hoof tribe?" I think I was a bit too focused on learning about her tribe and cult, that I never really asked anything about her, I wonder why.
There was a pause, she didn't answer as we continued to walk. Then I heard giggling as I noticed the rest was walking a little father from us, why are they giving us so much space?
"Beacuase of a rite. . . the Ursanos, it is the rite were the children of the Bear mother would travel beyond their lands to find a suitable mate." She said in a small voice as I nodded and then paused. I tried looking up at her but she didn't meet my eyes as she looked away, her olive cheeks flushing red.
Act III
"Have you thought of a name yet brother?" It was our Koreyonos who asked as we all sat around a fire, enjoying roasted fresh meat and stew heavy with smoked meat.
"Name?" I asked curious, I noticed it long ago. These people had a culture of not having names as children just nicknames, but then when I met Kafla I realized they do get names but only after they become adults or at least become considered an adult by their clans.
"I don't know, I never thought of actually getting this far sister." I told her honestly, a dream challenge caused by the Pale Fever Disease was in the top three in the most common causes of death in the waking world.
I did my best to prepare, but I only had 3 years after learning about it, and with the limited resources of being an orphan. I always thought this magical sickness would be the reason I would reincarnate again. But no, I got lucky and got a challenge that didn't kill me the moment I woke up in the dreaming world.
"Do you want me to give you a name brother?" It was Kafla who first spoke, breaking the silence that lingered after confessing my genuine thoughts. That made me look at her, the flushing maiden from earlier was still there but now it's less obvious.
It made me smile, that a lady as pretty as her was actually attracted to me. That never happened in my previous life, and even in the waking world of my current life, not a single girl had boldly confessed. Of course I got a few valentines cards and chocolates once a year when I started my primary education but they were all from my classmates trying to be friendly.
"I'm flattered, but no, It'll come to me tomorrow." With that I shook my head and continued with my stew, as I remembered this was a dream and that tomorrow I'll be waking up.
I wonder if I can forget about them, I'm still not sure how so many heroes can keep challenging these dreams. This was only my first but why did it feel so heavy? Why do I care about them, I wouldn't even be able to know their names but still I care.
They were not human, they felt human but everyone in the waking world seemed to think that they were nothing more than illusions, things that forces real people challenging the dream to fail because of their emotions. . .
"I'm happy, I'm happy that we came so far, thank you all for everything." I told them, making them smile and some even laugh as they flushed red from embarrassment, from how sincere I spoke my words.
Act IV
[Congratulations you have completed the challenge of the Dreaming.]
I opened my eyes, moments ago I was drowning in mead and familial love. Now I was waking up on a grassy hill, everything was pale with a hint of blue as I looked up as the words both showed infront of me and whispered into my ears.
[You are now an Iron ranked soul]
My smile was bitter sweet, I had such a good dream yet it ended before I could enjoy the best part. I wasn't even able to say goodbye to anyone, I wonder if that was part of the challenge, being able to let go.
[Calculating rewards for completing - Valley of evil - Dream challenge difficulty Gold rank. Completion rating S.]
I looked at the words, confused why was everything so high? The strongest thing I fought was a Bronze rank Horror. Why was the difficulty ranked gold? Also an S rating? I thought the highest you could get was an A+ and the lowest was F-.
[With power comes responsibility, this is your virtue]
I read the words of the dream as I tried to listen to her soft whispers.
[Virtue - Mercy: You cannot murder]
"I never wanted to. . ." I spoke out as I saw my virtue and its description. A virtue was commonly seen as a weakness by most Heroes, some even called it a sin or flaw but I always saw it as the Dreaming giving us something to keep ourselves humble, as we try to become better than the angels, legendary heroes and gods of old.
[Dream name given, you are now. The Merciful Sun: You are a child of mercy, blessed with the mark of the Lightbringer.]
A dream name, from what I know it was rare for someone to get a dream name from their first dream challenge. I guess I'm part of those rare few, I wonder who this Lightbringer was. Maybe a dream patron like the Bear Mother, Huntress of the Forest and Wolf Father, I wonder what the Dreaming means by mark.
[Dream name ability: Fire of Mercy, a cleansing fire to purify the soul of the defeated. Souls purified 4/100]
Something stirred inside me, as those words appeared. Then I felt searing pain in my chest. AHHH* I screamed in pain, my throat straining as I felt myself scratching at my burning chest, I looked down and then saw that it was actually smoking! a single runic character branded near my heart.
[Arcana changed, from the deeds done in the challenge your Arcana of the Traveller - Silver Rank, had evolved into the Arcana of the Crusader - Gold Rank.]
I was barely able to read and hear anything as the pain was still there, and then before I could scream another time as the pain became worse, the pale world started fading all around me. As my chest was still smoking the smell of barbeque striking my senses.
[Wake up Merciful Sun, your dream has ended.]
Act V
"Ha. . . Haa. . Haaa." I opened my eyes, my breathing uneven as I looked around and then tried going for my chest Thuk* but something stopped my hands.
That was when I was forced to stop, as I realized the searing pain was gone, but then curiously I looked at my hands and then my feet. Thuck* Thuck* They were both well strapped on my bed? I looked around and saw I was in a glass box.
The floor was made of polish black stone and there were people celebrating outside the box. Punching the air or hugging each other, especially those with guns some of them were even crying.
"Hello? Can one of you untie me? I think I can break free but I don't want to break anything." I spoke out, and then heard my voice echo in a mechanical speaker. Most of those celebrating paused as they heard this and then I heard a muffled voice, they're words made everyone start leaving the room outside the glass box.
As everyone left I saw a woman wearing a business suit staying behind, sitting a few meters away from the glass box. Then when she was the only person left in the room she stood up, and pressed a button. Tuck* Tuck* My arms and legs were free, I sat up from the bed as I stretched my wrists and feet.
"Iron ranker Daniel Dawn, welcome to the waking world. Congratulations on surviving your first dream." She spoke as I heard her voice echo from the speaker at my sides. Her voice made me freeze and then I relaxed, as I saw her white hair tainted by greens and her pale eyes barely hinting of how emerald they used to be.
"Thank you, it's good to be back." With that I smiled as I stood up and started walking out of the glass box.