I had a dream that was pleasant, at first.
Attor, Ezephyr and I were in our rooms planning to head out. Once we were out the door, I remember looking off to one side at this little kid with these semi-transparent horns.
It was weird that I could not see his face. Yet I could tell that the kid wore a smile so wide and bright. An innocent smile filled with so much dreams and desires. But also hiding great pain. I knew how he felt. And I wanted to reassure him that he no longer had to worry about anything.
But I don't know him, even though I felt like I knew him. This boy is a stranger. A stranger I am somehow dreaming of, stuck in my memories. Stuck repeatedly in my mind, endlessly spinning like a broken record.
Soon our time together as a party of four felt like only an hour. Every monster we had slain and every citizen we helped passed by quickly. Soon the boy left to embark on his own journey. Thanking me for everything that I have done. Of course, I was tremendously saddened to see him leave, for he felt like almost like a son to me. Alas, I respected his wishes and I waved him off, watching as he walked off the opposite direction of the sun.
But it wasn't the sun.
It was a great dragon who puffed out a swarm of fire that swept across the Blue Oasis like a swarm of angry hornets. Burning all that it deemed undesirable. Yet it didn't burn my party.
We ended up engulfed by the flames instead, rendered frozen and were forced to watch the flames consume everything in sight.
I also remembered at some point turning to my side. At another member of our group: Sin. Who was watching the flames consume all with a smile on his face.
"Do you feel satisfied??!" I asked him, but he only turned to me with tears trickling down his face.
"It feels the same. Why does it feel the same?"
And I woke up immediately after. Now catching my breath and wondering what the hell that dream was. No use in wondering now what it means.
I skip out of bed, eyes falling on the bloodstains.
"Fuck..." I burry my hands in my face with a long sigh. What am I to do now? What do I want right now?
I want to find Sin and my party. I want to have Sin tell me everything and why he's doing what he's doing. And then ask him to fix everything. If it can be fixed. But, all of this happened because he craves for revenge. He craves for the attention of the silent Gods for answers and a solution. He desires to fix this world, rid all who he deems unworthy to build a new world where he can...
Ah, that's right. I don't know his plans because he's kept that part hidden from me. We shared a body and space. He took things from me and glances at secrets not meant to be seen. He took and took, never allowing me in to his world. This way I know how broken he is. He avoids sharing because of the pain. He trusts no one, not even the person he should trust to achieve what he wants.
Ignoring the thoughts, I make my way to the main area of the cottage. Rummaging through all their belongings for anything remotely useful. And food is out of the question. I don't want to devour anything by accident that turns out to be human.
"Ah!" I hold up a fancy silver razor. The type you'd always see in Victorian movies. Except the handle is of a strange wood with otherworldly engravings on it. And the blade has this odd pattern embedded into its surface that can only be seen when tilting it ever so slighlty at light. But now that I have a razor, I can shave off this musty beard killing my face.
Now that I think about it, I have shaved a lot before back on my world. Perhaps it was because relatives kept telling me I looked like my father with a beard. Which gave me the motivation to shave. Because the last thing I wanted was to be him. Despite how many times my child self admired him and dreamt to be like him.
"You're a disappointment, Sin. You'll never be a prince at this rate."
I shake my head at the gruff voice, holding my throbbing head. "Why?" I whisper. Why did Sin's memory pop up in my head? He's not with me anymore so why am I still not free?
I turn to their bathroom, which is just a large bucket full of untouched water next to a drain, and splash my face. The warmth of the water replenishing me. There's no mirror anywhere so I suppose I'll I start shaving aimlessly. And I do, while cutting myself here and there until I manage to clear everything. I feel like myself again without the mess on my face. But when I catch my reflection in the water, I deeply sigh when I find a stranger gazing back at me.
I'm so different now, yet, this body isn't too far from mine. Our ages aren't so distant and neither are our builds. The differences are the scars, the shade, and the shape. Also the size down below... Attam had more of a handsome structure and large quantity. I wonder why he had trouble in his life with a body and face like this? It almost seemed like he was once a royalty who had gone broke all in one day.
Alright, I don't plan to stay here so I do think it's time to prepare to leave this bloody place. I'll take what I found as useful and start heading for the top. And since this world is a fantasy one, perhaps I'll encounter a crazy wizard at the top who can give me a map and probably a cup of coffee or tea. Maybe he can even give me a job along with bedding and food. Ah, seems like my old mind desires nothing more than rest.
As I pack up supplies and plop on winter clothing, I take deep breaths in holes I do not come across any crazies or any brushes with death.
Lucky for me, this family had what seemed to be an ancient sword of immense power passed down from generation to generation. Or perhaps stolen from one. Either way, I'm armed and I'm ready. So with that, I slam open the door. Feeling awfully excited for the path ahead.
Until halfway up I end up face to face with a large white polar bear-demon of sorts. Snarling and growling at me as it stands on its hind legs, its bloodstained claws swiping for me. I dodge everyway I can. Stumbling over my feet and resting for mere seconds behind girthy trees. And the grasp on my sword ends up shaking like an earthquake.
Although I fear death, I somehow come to terms with it. Having been a spirit once. It brings me a sense of invincibility. I was a spirit once so I can just come back again. Or I can use the power of this new body to fight. If I am to ever face Sin under extreme circumstances, I will need the experience and strength to hold my ground.
I skip off my bag of supplies and take a deep breath. "Let's do it."
I run from the tree, eying the demonic bear as it hunches its back, ready to counter any attacks. So I stand still, a good distance across with a tight grip. I'll do what I must to ensure it never comes back. Plus, I am starving. I need to survive for the sake of my new life.
With a foot pushed back and my sword at my side, I lunge myself forward. Running and running from side to side. Avoiding the teeth and claws of the demonic bear until I am right behind it. Before it can turn around, I swing.
The sword pierces right through its flesh clean with just one swipe. The top half immediately falling to one side, dead.
"I did it!" I shout in excitement. "I fucking did it!!!"
I run toward the corpse with a proud laugh, looking for any sign of life before I dig the sword into it again to ensure a proper death. But before I can, the demonic bear gives a weak snarl.
"Beware." It huffs weakly, leaving me shocked.
"You can talk???"
"Beware...the Dragon Father. Who lies...top. On a throne of bones....for destiny...for role in the prophecy..." And with that it draws its last breath. A flash of light, or aura, dissipating from its motionless body towards the sky.
"Huh." I breathe, still shocked. "Dragon Father huh. Could it mean..."
Yes, I believe it does. It's talking about THE Dragon Father, Dalyx. A name that I knew Sin fears from within. The only thing I knew about him.