For the past few weeks, Jax had been living what seemed like a whirlwind life, caught between his world of palace politics, strange encounters, and the mysterious humility lesson he'd been tasked with teaching King Azgar. Yet, something felt off, as if he was only half-present in his own life. Each night, when he closed his eyes, it was as though his mind was transported somewhere far beyond the world he knew.
The dreams always began the same way, in a world of vivid colors and grandiose events, where Jax was no longer himself but someone else entirely — someone of great importance, with powers beyond comprehension. He would wake up every morning with a sense of dread and confusion, unsure of where the dream had ended and his real life began. The memories of the dreams would linger, as if they were something significant, yet unattainable. A shadow of something important.
In the waking world, Jax's life was far from grand. He lived in a humble, run-down apartment with his younger sister, Elira. His parents, who had mysteriously disappeared when he was very young, had left him with nothing but questions. No one knew what had happened to them, and there was no one to turn to but Elira. His sister was his sole source of support, his anchor in a sea of uncertainty.
Each day was a struggle. Jax worked long hours as a laborer, barely scraping by to make ends meet. He had little energy or motivation left after the long shifts, and though he loved Elira dearly, he often found himself disconnected from the world around him. His dreams, though strange and transcendental, were a brief escape from the grinding reality of his existence.
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One morning, after another exhausting night of sleep, Jax awoke with a pounding headache, a nauseating dizziness, and a sense of malnourishment that clung to him like a weight. He sat up, clutching his head, and tried to piece together the fragmented memories of his dream. It felt different this time, more intense. He had been in a palace, a place of grandeur, surrounded by gods, and he had been something—something powerful—something more than just a mere mortal. But the details eluded him.
Shaking his head, Jax rose slowly and prepared for another day of work. His movements were sluggish, and he felt as though his body was fighting him at every turn. Still, he had no choice but to push through the fatigue. As he left the apartment, he caught a glimpse of Elira in the kitchen, preparing breakfast. Her presence was always a comfort, but Jax couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something in his life—something important—was slipping through his fingers.
Work was a blur. His hands ached, his back protested with every movement, but the hours passed, and the pay remained meager. He kept his mind focused on the task at hand, but it was hard to ignore the strange sense of displacement he felt—like he wasn't truly in his own life. When his shift ended, he returned to his apartment, hoping for a brief respite before sleep came again. But as the night drew near and exhaustion took hold, something changed. This time, the dream felt more like a summons than an escape.
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