As Rijin's eyes opened slowly there was an endless black void that laid out before him. Grogginess filled his mind. As he looked around everything seemed to blur together creating a seamless field of view before him. Rijin took a step forward, and found that his foot caught on the blackness but he could not actually feel anything beneath him.
"What is this?" Rijin said, yet he could not hear his voice in the void. The last thing Rijin remembered was going down to Thalassa's beard. He was going to head back to his room but got pulled into a drink with Garus. After that the rest was a blur until he ended up here. Rijin walked around, examining his surroundings, seeing if there was anything more to the space but there was nothing he could find.
Rijin held his hand to his side, trying to summon his trident, but the trident never appeared. He closed his eyes and called upon Thalassa but no wind came. This is what scared him the most. Wherever he was was a place that even his patron could not control. He continued to walk and ponder. It was more of the same for a while until out of the darkness Rijin saw a shimmer in the distance, if he could even call it the distance. Rijin narrowed his eyes, squinting his eyes to try and see exactly what the shimmer was. The shimmer began to morph, changing from a formless instance into a figure. A figure that was walking towards Rijin. Rijin could not tell how far away the figure was bit it was definitely coming closer to him. He stood tall, adjusting his spine, focusing on being as big and intimidating as possible. He may not have his trident or his patron's magic but Rijin was still a 9 foot tall goliath, his physique alone was enough to scare off most.
The figure got closer, and closer, until it was standing right before him confusing Rijin all the more. The being before Rijin had no form, it was an ethereal mess, a conglomeration of the void making Rijin wonder if the creature was bending the void around itself or if it was the void. The two stared at each other, or at least Rijin thought it was staring at him even though it did not have eyes, like they were waiting for the other to make a move.
"What are you…" Rijin asked. Again he was unable to hear his own voice but the creature seemed to understand what he was saying. The creature seemed to just float there but after Rijin spoke its form changed. It began to have more humanoid features, had a little more of a suave-ness to it. The figure put its hands on its hips.
"So we are speaking the common tongue. It has been a while since I spoke common," the figure said, "well then, who are you?"
"What do you mean?" Rijin asked, "you brought me here and you ask who I am?"
The figure looked confused, "I did? Interesting. That is good to know." The figures speech confused Rijin, maybe it was the grogginess, maybe it was the dream state he was in, but Rijin felt like he could not get a grasp of anything going on.
"Where are we?" Rijin asked.
The figure looked around, "That is a good question…I feel like I have been here before but I don't remember where exactly we are either. I will have to talk to Necronica about this…"
Whoever or whatever this was it clearly knew as much about wherever they were as much as Rijin did, which made the situation even worse. Rijin took a deep breath and centered himself. Instead of going to the worst extremes he decided to remain as level headed as he could. Anxiety was not going to get him out of this place nor was it going to make it any better. The first thing Rijin had to do was establish contact and a baseline of understanding.
"Well since you seem to be as lost as me, I am Rijin," Rijin put his hand out to the figure.
A line appeared across the figure's face that turned into a smile, "I had a name long ago but for now you can call me Nomad." The figure reached out and shook Rijin's. The figure's hand was small in Rijin's palm and unlike anything Rijin had ever felt. It felt like he was holding nothing, but the nothingness was slimy and oozing.
"I take it you are not from Hize?" Rijin asked.
"Originally yes but not anymore. I dabble here and there. Never really sticking to one place. I think that is how I ended up here, my travels must have led me to a place even I have trouble finding." Nomad answered.
"You mentioned Necronica. Do you know the goddess of death?" Rijin asked.
"She is an old friend. Haven't really talked to her in a while. She is dreadfully boring. What about you?" Nomad took a big sniff, "you smell like the sea. I guess Thalassa got her tentacles on you."
Rijin stepped back a little disgusted, "Yes…I am her champion."
Nomad nodded, "I could tell. Gosh she leaves the smell of the ocean everywhere, its sickening. She used to actually smell pretty good but now I can't stand the stench," Nomad made a fake throwing up noise.
Rijin huffed a little, "You have ties with Necronica and you know Thalassa…Are you trying to claim to be a deity of some kind?" Rijin spoke with caution. He had only encountered one deity, his patron, but he had heard tales of the way others tended to interact with humans; it was not always pleasant.
"Diety, god, patron, victim, all these different words have been used over the years. I have found enjoyment exploration, I do not want any words tying me down," Nomad said. Again Rijin felt as if he could not get a clear grasp of the figures speech. Rijin could understand the words, but his brain felt like it was reaching out for a ledge that always slipped through his fingers.
"You are a fun guy. Wanna join me?" Nomad asked.
"Excuse me?" Rijin said, a little befuddled.
"Come on! I am way more fun than the sea witch," Nomad leaned in close, "I don't even require celibacy." Nomad grinned as they said this.
Rijin began to feel uncomfortable but also knew that the wrong move in upsetting a deity could be the end for him. "I am already a champion. I cannot serve another."
Nomad slumped back, exaggerating their sadness, "I see. Man it would be fun to have a champion." Nomad forlornly looked off into the distance. Not even a few seconds later they perked up again.
"I know! I can just ask your sister! She seems like she would be a good champion." Nomad said. Rijin's mind finally focused, he was still groggy but the mention of his sister helped to cut through the noise.
"What do you mean my sister, have you seen her?" Rijin said in an intense manner.
Nomad backed up a little and arched themself backwards in an exaggerated manner, "whoa hey umm…yeah I have…her and her boyfriend seem to be doing really well?" Nomad answered.
"Boyfriend???" Rijin was incredibly confused at this point, "what do you mean boyfriend??"
"She is staying with her boyfriend. Some guy who owns a tavern in Midoku. They seem happy for the most part," Nomad said, still wary of Rijin.
"Where in Midoku!" Rijin started to get more fervent. His father, the thestrals, and half of the country had been looking for his sister since she disappeared a year ago and no one had been able to find her. Suddenly, in this weird dream place, a deity came forth and told him he knew where his sister was: right under their noses. Rijin could not believe it.
Nomad scratched their chin, "hmmm…" they said pondering. "I could show you if it would help you calm down a little."
"Please, I would give anything!" Rijin said.
"I don't know if there is anything I want you to give…but there is something I would like for you to give up," Nomad said with a smile. The aura of the void shifted. The mere presence of Nomad made the void feel more unstable, as if it was being swayed by their emotions. Rijin felt fear, uncertainty, a wave of negative emotions flooded over him. He was scared, but he did not know why. His hands shook a little.
"You clearly have loyalty for you to be the champion of Thalassa. That loyalty could be useful to me," Nomad held out their hand. In their palm laid a swirling ball of energy. The energy was shifting and sporadic, ever changing in the figure's hand. It gave hits of blue, then red, but had an overarching expression of black. It was almost hard to define. The pulsations of power were like nothing Rijin had ever felt before. A power that both enticed and terrified Rijin's mind with its wonders and potential. He did not know how to explain it, but Rijin felt like if he took the energy he would be able to do things he never imagined before, a new level of magic.
Rijin began to reach out for a second, but then his hand hesitated. He felt as if he was moments away from power and answers, something inside him just could not take it. It felt as if it was too much. Rijin put his hand back at his side.
"I have a feeling that if I take that it will be more than I bargained for…" Rijin said.
Nomad began to laugh. At first it was small, with their head low. Then it began to grow louder, and louder, and louder, until they fully tilted their head back and let our a roarous laugh. The void responded to their laughter. Out of the blackness formed words that spelled out:
HA
Over and over again, numerous throughout the void. The void was responding to Nomad's will.
"Could be honestly, but I sense that you know if you take my hand…you will find your sister," Nomad said still with a smile, "would you like a taste?"
Nomad snapped their fingers and the void responded. It was like someone got rid of a veil over the entire space. The void rippled like a curtain and then opened revealing a brilliant bright light. Rijin shielded himself to prevent being overcome by it. Dots appeared in his vision and everything went black. Rijin thought someone had made it dark but then flickers of light started to appear in his vision. His eyes dilated and he got used to the world around him. He was in a low lit room, there were chairs and tables all around the room as well as a bar along the far wall with all manner drinks behind it. There were a couple of people going here and there around the room getting things ready for the day. One person was sweeping, another was putting chairs down, and a large dragonoid Nivind was wiping tankards down behind the bar. In the shuffle of everything going on Rijin noticed a new figure walk into the room. A tall woman with ashen gray skin and long braided black hair walked into the bar. She carried five large crates filled with various bottles and produce in one hand, and held a large sack of potatoes in the other. Rijin smiled as he saw her and could not help but tear up, it was the first time he had seen his sister in over a year. Rijin began to walk towards her, calling out to her.
"Racquel…" Rijin reached out to grab her hand but almost as if he was ethereal, he went right through her. "This must be some sort of Scrying," Rijin said, realizing he was not actually there. He observed the scene with content, joyous just to know his sister truly is alive. However, there was something different about her. Feature wise she looked the same, her demeanor had not changed, but Rijin noticed her eyes. Her eyes had always been grey like his but now looking at them they were a bright yellow. This was the first sign that made Rijin realize something was awry.
Footsteps echoed through the room as someone was coming down the stairs. Rijin looked towards them and saw a tall, skinny, elvish man with long blonde hair and an angular face walking down. He had a suaveness to his step and a heavier tread then would be expected of an elf who were traditionally known for their light tread. He also had the bright yellow eyes that he noticed on his sister. The man came down the stairs and saw Raquel carrying all of the crates and potatoes. He ran over to her with concern.
"Raquel!" he said, grabbing the sack of potatoes, "did you carry these all the way from the market?"
"Heathers you don't have to worry," Raquel said smiling, "I can take care of myself. It was not that much." She patted him on the back.
Heathers sighed, "I know that you are a Goliath but this seems like too much of a strain…"
"I am fine," Raquel interrupted, "I am barely a few weeks along. You have nothing to worry about." Raquel rubbed her stomach as she said this, she then leant down a bit and kissed Heathers on the forehead. Rijin was baffled. His sister had always been strong and fierce without any concern for romance. She had dedicated herself wholeheartedly to becoming the next sentinel of Midoku and had struggled with the idea of having to be with someone romantically some day. It was one of the biggest struggles her and their father had. Their father was known for caring about relationships a little too much, but it seemed that Raquel did not care enough for the role she would be taking. Seeing her being affectionate with someone, kissing their head, and even going so far as to have their child was more than Rijin could comprehend.
"I am going to start getting some things done in the kitchen to set up for opening," Raquel said, "You finish up here on the floor." Raquel gently caressed his face and began to walk towards the kitchen with the crates. She picked up the sack of potatoes out of Heather's hand as she left. Heathers opened his mouth looking to object but the words didn't come, he just sighed and let her walk away.
"Well?" Nomad spoke up from behind Rijin, "not what you expected is it?"
"Is this real? My sister is…pregnant…and in love…" Rijin asked.
Nomad chuckled to himself a little, covering his mouth with his fist. "Wow you really have little brother syndrome. Can't handle seeing your sister with someone that is adorable Rijin."
"It isn't that. I would have accepted whoever she wanted to be with but that never seemed like a real concern. Why would she go so far as to…runaway for love? That does not make sense," Rijin could not accept what he was seeing. There had been no signs. She had never accepted different or distant, she had never changed her demeanor, one morning they woke up and she was simply gone. This didn't add up.
"Maybe you did not know your sister as well as you thought you did," Nomad said. They patted Rijin on the back, "maybe I was wrong, you don't need my power. It looks like your sister is happy, well I guess we can just head on home."
"But why wouldn't she tell me? She never kept things like this from me, so why now? This really does not make sense. This has to be an illusion of some sort," Rijin said.
A loud sigh came from the man called Heathers, "you really cannot seem to accept your sister's happiness." He turned and looked towards Rijin and Nomad. Rijin was stunned.
"You can…" Rijin started.
"Yes," Heathers interrupted, "I know you are there. How could I not with how loud the two of you are being." His footsteps echoed as he walked over to the two of them, Rijin was astonished at how loud his tread was.
"Why did my sister not tell me about you?" Rijin asked. He was desperately scrounging for any answers he could, but something felt off to him.
"Why can't you just accept the truth, your sister wants me," Heathers answered. "And she wants me bad let me tell you." A look of delight went across his face, "I have to tell you. Your sister knows her way around the bedroom. She was so sweet and innocent but when that warrior instinct came out it became really interesting."
Rijin huffed, his heart began to beat quickly, he felt heat rising in his chest, "these are not things for me to hear."
"Oh and when she screams!" Heathers said in elation, "music to my ears. It has to be the sweetest sound on Hize let me tell you."
"Sir, I respect that you are with my sister but this is an unbecoming speech. You dishonor my sister with the way you talk," Rijin balled his fist as he talked.
"Oh and her strength! I thought it would be too much but it only makes things better, I like it rough and she loves to…"
"ENOUGH!" Rijin slammed his fist against the ground, figuring it was the only thing he could hit. The thud resonated and caused a ripple in the image. When the tavern came back there was a hole in the ground where Rijin had hit.
"And it makes it even sweeter…" Heathers began, he talked slower than before, "that she doesn't have a choice in the matter."
Rijin lifted his head slowly towards Heathers. On the elves face was a large grin, filled with malice and glee, the main thing Rijin noticed about him was the way his eyes glowed bright yellow. In an instant, Rijin came up from the ground going for an uppercut on the man; but his fist was caught by Heathers just before it could connect with his chin. Rijin noticed on the man's arm was the number 5, tattooed into his skin. Rijin could not believe he was able to stop his fist, the elf had immense power. The tavern darkened and the void returned. The only thing left of the previous scene was the glowing eyes of Heathers that hung there dauntingly. Rijin could feel the pressure of them like a weight laying on his chest, he felt like he couldn't move, he was stuck kneeling on the ground.
Nomad came over to Rijin and whispered in his ear, "Maybe you need my power after all." Rijin sat up in his bed, a cold sweat laid over his face. The dream was over.