The moon cast a silver glow over the quiet suburban neighborhood, the stars twinkling in the clear night sky. Alex lay in his bed, his eyes heavy with exhaustion from the day's training. As sleep overcame him, he slipped into a restless dream.
In his mind, he found himself in a land he had never seen before. The sky was a deep, bruised purple, and the air was thick with smoke and the acrid scent of burning flesh. A fierce battle raged around him, with monstrous creatures clashing in a brutal, chaotic frenzy. Towering, horned beasts wielding massive weapons fought against winged demons that swooped down from the darkened sky.
Alex tried to make sense of the scene, his heart pounding in his chest. He was in the midst of a war, but the landscape was alien, the language incomprehensible. The ground beneath him was scorched and cracked, and the air was filled with the screams of the dying and the clashing of steel.
In the center of the chaos, a figure stood tall and defiant. Though Alex had never seen him before, he instinctively knew it was Bael. The figure wielded a sword that blazed with dark fire, his eyes glowing with a fierce intensity. He shouted orders in a guttural language that Alex didn't understand, his voice carrying over the din of battle.
Suddenly, a massive creature lunged at Bael, its claws aiming for his heart. Bael deflected the attack with a swift movement, his sword slicing through the beast with ease. But then, from behind, another figure emerged—a demon with a crown of thorns and eyes like burning coals. It struck Bael with a bolt of dark energy, sending him sprawling to the ground.
Alex felt Bael's pain as if it were his own. The agony was overwhelming, a burning sensation that spread through his entire being. He watched as Bael struggled to rise, only to be struck down again by the demon king. The scene blurred and shifted, the sounds of battle growing distant as darkness closed in.
Alex woke with a start, his body drenched in sweat, his heart racing. He gasped for air, the nightmare still vivid in his mind. As he tried to calm himself, he heard Bael's voice, softer and more apologetic than ever before.
"I'm sorry, Alex," Bael said. "That was my memory, not yours. I didn't mean for you to see that."
Alex took a deep breath, trying to steady his trembling hands. "What was that? Where was I?"
"That was my realm," Bael explained. "A place of constant war and betrayal. The battle you witnessed was one of many. I was betrayed by those I trusted, cast out and left for dead."
"Why show me this now?" Alex asked, his voice tinged with frustration and fear.
"I didn't mean to," Bael replied. "Sometimes, my memories bleed into your dreams. I try to keep them separate, but it's not always possible."
Alex lay back against his pillow, his mind racing with questions. "So, this is how you ended up here, in my world?"
"Yes," Bael confirmed. "I was badly injured, weakened. I sought refuge in the human realm, hoping to find a way to regain my strength. When I found you, I saw a chance for survival."
Alex sighed, his emotions a tangled mess of sympathy and distrust. "You said you seek revenge. Is that why you're still here?"
"Partly," Bael admitted. "But also because I believe we can help each other. You have a strength that I need, and I can offer you power and protection in return."
Alex nodded slowly, trying to process everything he had seen and heard. "I don't want to be part of your war, Bael. I just want to live my life."
"I understand," Bael said. "And I will do my best to respect that. But know this: my enemies are powerful and relentless. They will come for me, and by extension, for you. We must be prepared."
Alex closed his eyes, exhaustion and worry weighing heavily on him. "Alright. But remember, I won't let you hurt anyone. If we're doing this, we do it my way."
"Agreed," Bael said, his voice sincere. "Rest now, Alex. Tomorrow, we continue."
As Alex drifted back to sleep, he couldn't shake the images of the battle from his mind. He knew that his life was no longer just his own; it was intertwined with Bael's, for better or worse. And though the path ahead was uncertain, he was determined to face it head-on, with Bael by his side.