A nightmare is the mind's way of wrestling with fears.
Eternal Reverie
I stood near the large oak table in the center of the room, my eyes fixed on Crimson as he sat in a high-backed chair, his normally impassive face now etched with tension. Beside him, Rolo stood, his red mage robes flowing gracefully as he prepared to observe the curse that had long troubled Crimson.
"Are you ready, Crimson?" I asked, my voice steady. The coronation festivities had been lively, and though it was late, the weight of the evening had left me feeling unusually pensive.
Crimson's gaze was intense, though a trace of unease flickered beneath his stern exterior. "I've waited long enough."
Rolo nodded slightly, his demeanor calm but alert. "Very well. Let us proceed."
We had chosen a secluded corner of the mansion, away from the revelry of the ongoing celebration. The air was heavy with anticipation and the scent of old books.
"King Silas, you must understand," Rolo began, his voice low and measured, "that this process requires a precise and focused approach. The curse you bear is complex, and unraveling it will take all of my skill. However, I need you to sleep for the curse to manifest."
Crimson's lips tightened into a thin line, but he gave a curt nod. "I understand. I'll try to sleep."
Crimson lay back in the chair, closing his eyes and taking deep, measured breaths. The room's atmosphere grew charged with magic as Rolo began to chant softly, his hands moving in intricate patterns as he traced the air.
Crimson's posture gradually relaxed, his breathing deepening as he slipped into sleep. His body stilled, and I could feel a faint aura emanating from him.
Rolo's eyes glowed with magic as he observed the curse taking hold.
"It's as I suspected," Rolo murmured, his voice barely audible. "The curse is deeply ingrained, but it becomes visible only when he is asleep. The nightmares are vivid, almost tangible, intertwining with his reality."
The kid continued his observations, his hands moving in precise patterns to trace the curse's threads. "The origin point is becoming clearer. There's a core of malevolent energy at the heart of it, binding the nightmares to his soul."
But as the seconds ticked by, Crimson's breathing grew more erratic, and his body began to thrash. His face twisted in pain and fear, and his murmurs turned into frantic mutterings.
"Shay…" Rolo's voice wavered with concern. "Something's wrong. The curse is reacting violently."
Before I could react, Crimson's eyes snapped open, wild and unfocused. He let out a guttural scream, and a wave of dark, oppressive energy burst forth from him, throwing Rolo across the room. The kid collided with a bookshelf, books and scrolls tumbling around him as he struggled to regain his footing.
"Crimson! Snap out of it!" I shouted, rushing to Rolo's side. The air around us crackled with dark magic, and I could see shadows coalescing into grotesque shapes, the embodiment of Crimson's nightmares made real.
Rolo groaned, struggling to stand. "The curse… it's overwhelming him. It reacted... to me."
Crimson let out another guttural scream and lunged straight at Rolo. The kid barely had time to react as Crimson, now consumed by his nightmare, attacked with inhuman speed and strength.
I caught Crimson just as he was about to strike and kicked him further from Rolo.
Crimson's eyes were wild, filled with a primal rage that made my blood run cold and made the monster in me growl. "Rolo, get back! Study the curse while I hold him off!" I commanded, my voice steady despite the chaos.
Rolo scrambled to his feet. "Be careful," he called, retreating to a safer distance where he could observe.
Crimson snarled, his movements erratic and unpredictable. He swung at me again, and I barely managed to deflect the blow. "Crimson, snap out of it!" I yelled, trying to reach the man beneath the curse. But his eyes were unfocused, lost in the depths of his nightmare.
With a burst of energy, I pushed him back, using my speed to maneuver around him.
"Rolo, can you see anything useful?" I called out, my voice strained with effort.
Rolo's eyes glowed with magic as he focused intently on Crimson. "The curse is deeply rooted in his subconscious. It's feeding on his fears and turning them against him. I can see the threads of magic binding him, but they're too complex to unravel quickly."
Crimson roared, his strength increasing as the curse tightened its grip. He smashed through my defense, lunging at me with renewed fury. I dodged to the side, my mind racing for a solution.
Crimson's eyes were wild with rage, his movements a blur of primal ferocity. I needed to keep him focused on me and away from Rolo.
Crimson's claws raked the air inches from my face, and I ducked to sidestep his attacks. Each swing carried deadly intent, the power behind them capable of tearing through solid stone. I had to find a way to contain him without causing permanent harm.
"Crimson! Fight it!" I yelled, trying to reach through the haze of his nightmare. But his eyes were unfocused, lost in the depths of his torment. The curse was a living thing, feeding on his fears and twisting his reality.
He lunged again, and I barely managed to deflect the blow. His strength was overwhelming, his attacks relentless. My regeneration was working overtime to heal the cuts, bruises and broken bones, but I knew I couldn't keep this up forever. I needed a plan.
I countered his next attack, slamming him into the ground with a force that shook the room. Crimson snarled, throwing me off. He lunged at me again, his claws aimed for my throat. I caught his wrists, our strength evenly matched.
He broke free and swung at me again. I ducked under his arm and delivered a swift punch to his midsection, but it barely fazed him. His attacks were becoming more brutal, each one aimed with deadly precision.
I dodged another swipe, feeling the wind from his claws brush past my face. I tackled Crimson to the ground, pinning him with my body. He roared, thrashing violently. I tightened my grip, refusing to let go.
Crimson's attacks grew more desperate, his claws rending my flesh and his fangs snapping at my throat. Blood poured from my wounds, but my regeneration kept me in the fight.
With a violent surge of power, Crimson broke free from my grasp and lunged at Rolo. The kid barely had time to react as Crimson's claws sliced through the air, aimed straight at his heart.
"Rolo, move!" I roared, diving between them and catching Crimson's arm just in time.
The force of the blow sent shockwaves through my body. Ugh. Fucking hurt.
Crimson's eyes were wild, lost in the nightmare's grip. His claws dug into my flesh, tearing through muscle and sinew. I gritted my teeth against the pain and used my other hand to support the one holding his.
That was the moment Crimson attacked my heart. His claws reached and penetrated my skin. I let go of his other hand and stopped him just in time before he could reach my heart.
"You'll need a bit more effort to get my heart, handsome," I growled, feeling the blood trickle down my chin.
My blood made Crimson more ferocious. But he was not the only one on the verge of losing all control.
I laughed. "Hah, I'm starting to enjoy this way too much."
The beast within me stirred, its primal hunger and raw power surging to the surface. My vision sharpened, focusing on every movement Crimson made. My muscles tensed, ready to unleash the full extent of my strength.
Crimson lunged again, his fangs bared and eyes blazing with bloodlust. I met his attack head-on, my own claws ripping through the air. The impact was thunderous, and the ground beneath us trembled from the force of our collision.
I could feel the monster within me reveling in the violence, a dark pleasure coursing through my veins with each clash. My regeneration kept me in the fight, closing the wounds Crimson inflicted almost as quickly as they were made.
With a snarl, I threw Crimson off me, sending him crashing into the wall. He rebounded immediately, faster than a normal vampire, but I was ready. I anticipated his movements. As he came at me again, I sidestepped and delivered a bone-crushing punch to his ribs. The satisfying crack of breaking bones echoed in the room.
Crimson howled in pain, but it only seemed to fuel his rage. He was back on his feet in an instant, a whirlwind of claws and fangs. I matched him blow for blow, our movements a blur of savage intensity.
The monster inside me was fully awake now, its instincts taking over. I moved with a fluid grace, a lethal dance of death that kept me one step ahead of Crimson's frenzied attacks. My laughter echoed through the room, a chilling sound that only seemed to drive Crimson further into his madness.
"You want my heart?" I taunted, dodging another swipe of his claws. "Come and get it!"
Crimson roared, his eyes blazing with an unholy fire. He lunged again, and this time, I let him get close. At the last second, I twisted, grabbing his arm and using his own momentum to flip him over my shoulder. He hit the ground hard, the air rushing out of his lungs with a gasp.
I didn't give him a chance to recover. I was on him in an instant, my claws sinking into his shoulders, pinning him to the ground. He thrashed beneath me, but I held him down.
Rolo stumbled back, his eyes wide with a mix of fear and determination.
Crimson kicked me away and lunged at me again, his strength seemingly endless. I blocked his swipe, feeling the bones in my arm break under the pressure. Each of his attacks was more brutal than the last, driven by a desperation that only deepened his madness. I had to end this before he hurt Rolo.
"Crimson!" I bellowed, driving a fist into his midsection with all my might. He doubled over, but only for a moment before he retaliated with a vicious slash across my chest. Blood sprayed from the wound, but I didn't let it slow me down. I had to keep him focused on me.
Another clawed hand came at my face. I ducked under it and countered with a powerful uppercut that sent him staggering back. But he recovered almost instantly, launching himself at me with terrifying speed. His claws found my shoulder, digging deep and wrenching me to the side.
"Crimson, wake up!" I growled, slamming him into the ground. The impact left a crater in the floor, but it barely slowed him. He thrashed and kicked, his strength undiminished by the brutal combat.
My mind raced for a solution. How could I wake him from this cursed nightmare? I needed to break through the curse's hold, I needed to shock him back to reality. There was only one way I could think of: beat him to a pulp until he snapped out of it.
I launched myself at Crimson, fists flying. Each punch was precise and aimed to inflict the most pain without killing him. I hammered at him relentlessly, each blow accompanied by a shouted command.
"Wake up!" I yelled, delivering a powerful hook to his jaw.
"Snap out of it!" A knee to his ribs.
"Fight it!" A backhand across his face.
He roared in fury, his claws slashing wildly, but I didn't let up. I drove him back with sheer force, using every ounce of my strength to subdue him. His eyes flickered with momentary clarity, but the curse's grip was strong, pulling him back into the nightmare.
Drawing on every bit of strength I had left, I delivered a flurry of devastating blows to Crimson's midsection. With a final, earth-shattering punch, I struck his stomach. For a moment, time seemed to stand still. Then, with a gasp, he collapsed to the ground.
I dropped to my knees beside him, panting heavily. "Crimson… are you with me?"
His eyes fluttered open, the wildness gone, replaced by confusion and pain. "What the...fuck have you done to me? My body aches all over."
I wiped the sweat from my brow and looked at him with a tired grin. "If you ever need another wake-up call, just let me know. I've got plenty more where that came from."
Crimson's confusion shifted to a pained smile. Despite the aches and the throbbing pain, he couldn't help but let out a strained chuckle. "This is one heck of a way to wake someone up."
We shared a brief, understanding look, the tension from the earlier confrontation fading away. Crimson took a deep breath, visibly regaining his composure.
"So," I said, "let's get you sorted out. We've got some work ahead, but at least you're back in the real world now."
Crimson nodded.
As I caught my breath, Rolo moved over to Crimson, his face a blend of concern and focus. Crimson lay on the floor, clearly battered from the earlier confrontation, his breathing ragged and his expression pained.
"Did you see anything about the curse while you were watching? Can you tell me what you observed?" he asked.
Rolo, pulling a first aid kit from thin air, began to examine Crimson's injuries. "Yes, I saw a lot," he said, his hands deftly working to clean and bandage the wounds. "The curse, Eternal Reverie, is quite complex. It's designed to ensnare its victim in a perpetual state of nightmare, blending their dreams with reality."
Crimson winced as Rolo applied an antiseptic to a deep cut on his arm.
"The curse heightens your aggression and distorts your perception of reality," Rolo explained, carefully wrapping a bandage around Crimson's torso. "While it's active, you experience intense, vivid dreams that feel as real as anything. These nightmares can make you lash out at anything and anyone, as you're unable to distinguish friend from foe."
Crimson's eyes narrowed in pain and concentration.
"The more you struggle against it, the more intense the hallucinations become. It's a twisted psychological trap. You're fighting not just against physical threats but against the nightmare's influence, which makes everything seem hostile."
Crimson's gaze was troubled as he took in Rolo's explanation. "Is there a way to break free from it, or at least to manage it better?"
Rolo set aside the bandages and looked at Crimson with a solemn expression. "I am not sure. The curse made you attack me because it perceived me as a threat."
"I see," Crimson said as if he could have predicted Rolo's words.
He closed his eyes, trying to ease into a more comfortable position.
(...)
I sank into a plush armchair, still feeling the strain from the recent battle. Rolo took a seat across from me, his eyes reflecting the intensity of our discussion.
"So," I said, leaning forward, "what's the core of this curse? What makes it so insidious?"
Rolo pulled out a small notebook, flipping through the pages of his observations. "It seems to operate on a combination of intense psychological manipulation and magical energy. This is unique and pretty unheard of."
He paused, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "The spell likely involves a complex weave of dream magic and emotional triggers. The idea is to make the victim's internal fears and anxieties manifest physically and mentally, creating a constant state of dread and confusion."
I nodded, absorbing the details. "So, essentially, it's not just about controlling someone's mind but also distorting their entire perception of reality. That's why Crimson was so volatile."
Rolo gave a confirming nod. "Exactly. The spell's strength comes from its ability to intertwine with the victim's own subconscious, making it incredibly difficult to break. Conventional methods of dispelling curses might not work because the curse is so deeply rooted in the victim's psyche."
I leaned back, mulling over the information. "We need a solution that targets the curse at its core. What are our options?"
Rolo's expression grew serious. "There are a few potential approaches. We could attempt to unravel the spell's layers using high-level magic, but that requires an expert in both dream magic and curses. Alternatively, if we can identify the source of the curse's power or its emotional triggers, we might be able to neutralize it."
I thought for a moment, considering our options. "What if there's another way? What if... the only way to break the curse is to distrupt its conditions?"
Rolo's eyes narrowed as he concentrated. "Let me think about the curse's specifics. If it's meant to keep Crimson trapped in perpetual nightmares, the spell's wording might be something along the lines of… 'You will never find solace in the night, for your dreams shall torment you endlessly.'"
I raised an eyebrow, impressed. "That's a good guess. It fits with what we've seen. The curse seems to make any form of peace or rest an impossibility, always intertwining nightmares with reality."
Rolo continued, more to himself than to me, "Or perhaps it could be something like… 'In your slumber, you shall be forever bound, for each dream shall mirror your deepest fears, and no escape shall be found.'"
I nodded thoughtfully. "They embody the essence of the curse perfectly—trapping Crimson in an unending cycle of fear and torment."
Rolo looked up with determination. "If we can identify the exact wording, we might be able to find a way to counteract it. The spell's intent and its core message could hold the key to breaking it."
I stood up, feeling the weight of our task ahead. "Agreed."