"Why did you do it?" An apparition of Art asked me, his hands trembling as he stared at me.
I only glared at him the closer he came, the scent of pain and distortion becoming stronger.
"I used to be my own person. But you took that away..."
"No." I blurted out, touching my single hearted chest without a change in feeling. "We were always meant to be one. The Mad Star told me so."
Then there was this extreme fear that suddenly appeared in his tired eyes. The type of fear that made me wonder whether or not this plan was right to begin with.
"It wasn't my intention to fuse us together this early. I thought we wouldn't come across Sun until a little later."
Art dropped his gaze, holding his arm with a deep sigh. "Right." He muttered before turning to glance at the fake midnight sky looming quickly over us. Stars rushing by like meteors in a hurry. "It seems it didn't work out that well, since I am subconsciously alive and separate, stuck deep inside my-yo--OUR mind."
I gave him a small nod. Finding the situation present to be very odd. What should do or how should one react if you are face to face with the other half of yourself in some realm of subconsciousness? "Indeed." I could only reply before watching as the sun rose up. The light blinding me.
"What is this mad star I keep hearing about?"
I turned to Art with a confused brow. "Mad star? I don't recall."
But I was interrupted by a sudden boom erupting far up in the sky. And it took me a second to realize that the "sun" was actually some sort of...star that erupted into a very bright explosion. A sort of supernova that I had to block my eyes from gazing into until I felt a push.
I was then thrown to reality with a sharp inhale, hands trembling and feet cold. I took a minute to gather my blurry thoughts.
It had been centuries since I had been plagued by dreams...or rather it has for Sin. A prince, a demon belonging to a race that never dreamed--only lived. Now being the most dominant "personality" to surface ever since the combination of both souls. I had to admit, it was quite hard to be able to tell how to combine and recall both memories without separating my two cores. Am I right to consider myself by both souls, even if I was new? And since I was technically new to these dreams, did I have to worry about its significance now that I knew most of Art's dreams were connected to this world?
I sat in complete silence, drowning in my existential thoughts until--
"Ar--"
Without any hesitation, I took my spear and flung it toward the direction of the sudden voice. Listening to the blade of the spear pierce the wall with a great slam.
"Eeek!" A small voice squeaked. I traveled my eyes to the intruder who turned out to just be Sun.
"I was dreaming." I reassured as I rose to my feet.
"Dreaming?? Your majesty, I thought you never dreamed."
"Sin did not dream. But I do..." I stopped at those words. It became increasingly difficult to process who I was. What I was.
At first it was knowledge I did not hesitate to accept, but now I guess I know much more and am open to much more than Sin ever was.Then I wondered, is this the consequence of combining a real person with that of a character made up by that real person? Creator and creation? Wouldn't they just be the same person?
With a deep sigh I whispered, "If this was fiction, this would've been too much for everyone to understand with the little time I've dipped my toes into this world of fantasy." A sigh. "I know...I read and watched too much fiction."
Sun stood in utter silence before whispering to me, "Are you okay, your majesty?"
I felt an anger rise. "Would you be okay if you were me?" I barked, taking two large steps towards Sun, who stared at me with these eyes full of concern that I had never witnessed in so long. It made me want to...
I yanked my spear out of the wall and "How did we pay for this room again?" I asked, retrieving my pouch from a drawer, shaking my head in hopes of easing my sleepy state.
"As your companion, it is my sole duty to ensure that our path to wreaking havoc isn't interrupted by things such as money--"
"Just say you used stolen money." I grumbled. "Now where's the washroom?" I turned to the area across from the bed and huffed. "Just like regular inns, huh. Alright, I wash and then we head out to walk."
"Aye aye, your majesty." Sun sung with a cheeky grin.
-----
At first it was not a very impressive stroll. Aimlessly walking around, passing by nothing but vendors and playful children that did not spare a glance our way. I did not mind the silence, but it seemed that Sun did.
"What if I replace everyone's money with explosives? You think that'll be cool? Or hand everyone golden pots, only to reveal it to be disguised hive of angry Mumblebees? How about hand poison bladed swords to kids and watch their parents freak out?" She then broke into a series of laughter.
"I'd appreciate it if you would shut up instead of shout your devilish schemes like a madman without sense-" I stopped and glanced at Sun, who no longer stood by my side. Instead, she was at a vendor's stall, muttering nonsense to the vendor and buyers. I gave up on the lecture and turned to the big picture instead.
Realizing it only now that this place appeared to be rather fantasy medieval rather than the mix between high tech and medieval got from my dreams. Seemed that the various times I had played a certain video games took a large toll on the genre of this world, there's no mistaking it. But I had to be sure, so I searched for the nearest person to ask.
"Excuse me, ma'am?" I called out and a woman turned to look at me.
"Yes?" She replied in a soft voice. She was young, but not 20s young, with her long brain hair tied in a ponytail, wearing a lower class medieval dress and staring at me attentively with her big doe eyes. I wanted to wait and see if anything strange would happen. Maybe like a window would pop up like from my dreams inspired by those online video game comics, but that would make me look crazy in the eyes of this innocent passerby. Because just imagine a stranger stopping you out of nowhere only to stare at you, as if there was a huge bug on your face? I doubt it's comforting so I pretended to hum in thought, as if I had forgotten the reason for me stopping her. Fortunately, she took the bait as she nervously, yet patiently, smiled at me, awaiting my answer. "Did you need something?" The reply sounded automated. She appeared to be the classic NPC, or maybe a regular person without a conscious. Odd to think that the game theme was something that was decided to be added into this world from my dreams.
I really should have stopped playing so many RPGs.
As soon as I realized that a window won't pop up, I relaxed myself to ask a question instead. "Who is the most famous person across the entire region?" Perhaps a question like this will get me more of a grasp on what to expect from now on. Not just a perspective of the situation, however, more of a confirmation on whether or not this world truly materialized from my dreams. If true, I expect the hero to be called Alborn Sinclair. The world's main protagonist, different from Desiric for he was a man of true goodness and humanity. But Alborn did have his niches, after all he had the most edgy name and the most edgy backstory of all characters here, as expected from the hero of the world itself.
"Why, that's Sir Esmeralda, the warrior mage of the fire element."
I immediately furrowed my brows.
"She saved us from entering war against the water demon, King Alborn Sinclair, and prevented the twin shadow Cyclops from destroying the Five Great Nations."
I then dropped my gaze. It seemed that a lot of things remained the same, yet changed at the same time. "I thought that Alborn Sinclair was a hero and that Esmeralda was the demon Queen who lost her husband?" In my dreams, Esmeralda del Torre was once a water demon Queen full of hate and bloodlust after losing her husband to humans. And Alborn Sinclair was the warrior mage of the fire element.
"That is a common misconception. Esmeralda is a demon and did lose her husband. Such things would've made a path to hate but her teacher, Rowan Torch -may he rest in peace- kept her on the path of light."
"Interesting...the fire element doesn't seem to be feared. Rather, it seems to be seen as holy, whereas the water element is the most dangerous there is." I whispered under my breath. "Kind of logical but why not make it so that this world was identical to my dream...?" I then snapped my finger in realization, Of course! The tear--the portal Sin looked into never belonged to this world and the one name I kept hearing seems to be quite out of proportion. As if it were forbidden. A banned word, even. But why? I poked my forehead in thought. "I need information. Ma'am, do you know where there's a library?"
The woman gave me an unsure nod. "That stuff is ancient. We have a public database. Just keep going forward three blocks until you reach a melon stand. There you take a right and continue for five blocks until you see this large building with--"
"That thing?" I interrupted, pointing my finger at an old, large citadel sitting in the distance about 10 minutes away. It was like looking at a pastel version of the famous Cologne Cathedral back on Earth. Except this one stood at a mere 100 meters, give or take.
"Why yes. That very one. The Palace of Knowledge and Magic, quite sacred to this little town of ours. Constructed by the Highest Council to ensure education and preserve history. All types of scholars from all around the world visit it. Many say the library's founder roams its halls in search of a successor to pass down his infinite knowledge."
"I see... Thank you." I said and turned to look for Sun, who was stuffing tiny rolls of bread into her mouth. I did not dare even question her actions. I just waved for her to come and she obediently followed. "I want you to stand back a good distance while I go to the Palace of Knowledge and Magic. I feel that anything of this Highest Council won't be safe."
"Oh. OK!" Sun squeaked, giving me quick salute before watching me leave.
It's been a great deal of time ever since my escape from their grasp. So if I'm correct, the council has already spread word of my disappearance after failing to capture me themselves. Obviously as was seen by the wanted posters decorating the cities and towns. This was their way of warning me. Not to give chase but trap through strategic means instead of force. They cared about their image, if so. Of course this was based on my limited knowledge, for I have not even the slight recollection of who they were as Sin and differed from my dreams as Art. Only knew that they enforce justice.
But what would they do if they trapped me in a city? This city has a large flow of people. Most being vendors, citizens, scholars, and various parties of passing adventurers. They wouldn't risk their image by attacking me in a busy street spreading chaos, now would they? It was only a matter of investigating their history. So when I walked down the path as instructed, a great shadow passed over me. When I looked up, there was the Palace of Knowledge and Magic, its magnificent pale structure fully in my sight. The only thing I could say was,
"Hard security." As an observation to the large dome of this pinkish orange mana that surrounded the entire building.