Lex's body suddenly stiffened as a chilling sensation ran down his spine.
He could feel blood in the air, but he couldn't determine if it was human or monster blood.
He kept his eyes focused on the cathedral, scanning it for any signs of movement. This was the first time he had seen any human activity since meeting Hanz, another first-time dreamer.
The cathedral was an imposing structure, towering high above him. It was a Victorian-style building, old but still retaining its artistic beauty.
Despite its grandeur, there was an eerie feeling that permeated the air. Lex had seen too many horror movies where this type of building was a setting for terrible things.
As he observed the cathedral's intricate patterns and architecture, he couldn't help but admire the creativity and skill of the person who had designed it.
The building was a work of genius, with every detail crafted to perfection.
The architect was likely long gone. Perhaps old age; perhaps not.
Despite the beauty of the cathedral, Lex had to decide if he would go inside. It seemed like the perfect place to make into a home, a safer place than his current cave or Hanz's. He finally made up his mind and decided to enter the building, but he had to be cautious.
He sneaked into the cathedral, holding his Dao in his right hand, augmented with blood. Each step was carefully calculated, and he was ready to face any potential dangers. Suddenly, he noticed something strange on the altar, and he wondered if it was a trap.
Slowly, he progressed through the structure, noticing something strange on the alter.
What was it? A trap? Possibly.
He cautiously approached the altar, his Dao at the ready in case he needed to defend himself. As he got closer, he could make out the object's shape more clearly. It appeared to be a small box, intricately designed with ornate carvings on every side. The box was made of a dark, glossy material, and he couldn't tell if it was made of wood, stone, or some other material entirely.
Despite his curiosity, he hesitated to touch it. He had a feeling that something about it was not quite right. Perhaps it was the way the shadows seemed to cling to it, as if unwilling to let it go. Or maybe it was the way his blood sense had spiked when he had first laid eyes on it.
As he stared at it, a small distance away, he found himself unable to truly see what lay on the alter. It was almost a though his brain could not process it. Almost as though it was greater than anything a human could understand. Even the descendant of a God.
Suddenly, his blood sense went haywire. Someone - or something - was close. Too clo-
Thud...
"Ran...stop..."
"What are you blabbering about?"
Lex jumped.
Suddenly, before him was a beautiful girl with long white hair and bewitching purple eyes. She rested on the walls of the cathedral with a stark expression.
As Lex watched, her eye twitched, and she spoke again.
"Why are you here?"
Lex sighed.
"This is my first slumber. I was looking for food...monsters I mean. And I just stumbled upon what I'm gonna assume is your home?"
The stunning girl nodded.
"I see. I suppose I can believe you. This is my first slumber as well, you know"
Lex's expression was neutral.
She continued:
"This is an unexplored region"
Lex looked at her, unamused.
"Well here I am exploring it"
The girl shook her head.
"A lot of people come and explore this place every year. What I am saying is none of them ever make it back"
Lex's expression turned dark.
"So they die, you mean. Are you trying to convince me to kill myself? Because it's working, don't worry"
"How long have you been here?"
She asked.
"Almost three weeks...I think"
"Ah...so you're new. Have you ever been to the forest of dreams?"
Lex thought for a moment.
"Never heard of it. I did however spawn in the dark forest"
She squinted her eyes.
"Is it west?"
Lex nodded.
The girl seemed taken aback.
"You got out?"
Lex nodded.
"I bit a chunk out of my arm but yeah. I mean, I would have died if it weren't for Hanz but..."
"Who is Hanz?"
Lex paled.
"He is...was my companion"
Her face grew dark.
"What did you do?"
"I tried to save him. I couldn't"
'I didn't kill him for fuck's sake'
She stared with suspicion.
'Apparently escaping the dark forest is quite the accomplishment. I guess it was in fairness. Like I said, if it wasn't for Hanz...I wouldn't be here'
"What's up with the dark forest?"
Her expression darkened again.
"Everything. The snow, the darkness, the creatures blood. They all drive you crazy"
Another question appeared in Lex's head.
"How do you know?"
Suddenly, her expression changed abruptly. Her eyes seemed to gaze into the distance, as if she was looking at something that only she could see. It was as if a wave of memories had just hit her, triggering a flood of emotions and thoughts.
Her face grew somber as she recalled something.
Lex could see that the girl was lost in her own thoughts.
He remained silent.
"I spawned there, as well. It was...hell, to say the least"