[ And as ash fell from the shadows of the Grey Emperor who stood proudly in the sky, the realm became a mirror under the three suns, its cracks seeped with souls and dying lands.

Gods fell from their thrones and Demon empires rose to

conquer. The hero's faded into nothing when the last sword struck.

And the Dark Ages began once again

- Epilogue, The Reign of Shadows, last of the trilogy ]

• ( ) • ( ) • ( ) • ( ) • ( ) • ( ) •

HOT.

My head was scorching hot as if I laid under the sun for a day, pounding like a drum, and my vision was as wonky as my cousins sexuality. Had I really gone to far last night? I only had three shots - each name as deranged as the other.

Makeup brands and beverages were becoming more outrageously named as the years passed by and people became more open minded.

Though I was quite open, downing a shot name Big D**k Lover made me cringe while partying with my younger colleagues.

I wasn't a prude, but such language was avoided when I was a child.

You could imagine my shock when I went to university. A door of rainbows, fairy dust and glitter had been opened.

I groaned, rolling over, rubbing my forehead. I used my hand to feel my cotton sheets, searching for my phone to call my sister/flatmate. Though drunk, I always left it near me - sober me always appreciated it.

Instead of grabbing something small and metal, I grabbed something large and warm.

My eyes widened as my hearing cleared. A deep groan and movement sounded besides me. Something warm and strong encircled my waist.

A man's muscular arm. I froze.

I turned my head, opening my eyes to squint. Thankfully, in an instant, my vision and head cleared. My headache disappearing in a poof.

Sadly, I saw a man who definitely wasn't my ex boyfriend laying there, with eyes closed, breathing deeply.

We were close, lips and nose nearly touching. It was incredibly intimate and I couldn't move my body to run.

In my mind, there was a strange man in my bed. Had I hooked up with someone?!

His head rested on a feather pillow, with a cluster of curls decorating a face that looked like it was carved in jade and sculpted by a master artisan. Long lashes, thick strong brows and lips. He had a large tattoo

of red lines, snakes and demonic creatures stretching across his neck, down his pecks and ending above his navel. Scars decorated his muscular body like a clash of soldiers at war. 

He was too handsome to be in my bed. Was my game last night really that strong?!

His eyes flew open, meeting mine directly. They were cold and heavy, like a blacksmith smashing down on a blade heavily. Fiercely blue with golden flecks.

I gulped.

The coldness from his eyes disappeared instantly, a softness seeping in.

He lifted a finger and caressed my lips, smiling and he softly whispered, "Casadia, awake so soon?"

My mind blanked out.

Casadia? That's not my name. Had I role played? Had I lied to him? Given a fake identity to avoid entanglements?

Why would I though? I definitely would entangle with this man again if I could.

Instead of reacting crazily, I muttered with all elegance I could muster, "Good morning."

He smiled, bringing his face closer and pecking his lips on mine gently. I trembled slightly, making him laugh.

He stretched his body and sat up lazily, voice a deep as thunder ringing out. "I'll be off now."

He winked down at me. "The boss is calling."

In an instant, like a grandfather clock striking twelve, he vanished into thin air with a chime. Vanished.

Vanished into thin air.

What the fuck?! Fuck, language?! Wait, where did he go?! Had I slept with a magician?! Was an audience going to pop out an applaud? What the hell?

I opened my mouth to scream, my heart beat spiking. "Why Sedra?!"

My eyes darted around the room as I tried to calm my mind.

This was a dream. I'm dreaming. Of course a man like him wouldn't sleep with someone like me. On a scale of one to 10, I was a solid 7 and half. The man was at least a solid 100, his beauty not assessable by the worlds beauty standard. I've heard about these type of self fulfilling dreams, where you can control them.

I began to imagine the man coming back.

He didn't appear.

I imagined my body floating.

It didn't float.

I imagined I suddenly appeared in the sky

I didn't appear in the sky.

I was still in a bed. A suspiciously large bed. A comfortable one. One that didn't feel like my own.

My eyes twitched.

Okay, okay, maybe this dream didn't have that much freedom. I moved my body to sit up, the blanket falling off me and cascading into my lap.

I stood up from the bed, soft rug cushioning my feet. Eyeing

the room suspiciously, wandering around.

I was hella rich in this dream! It was five times larger than my own, with soft beige rugs covering the floor and a large circular bed positioned against an arched window. Gorgeous medieval-style paintings and tapestries adorned the walls, with pots of plants neatly lined beneath them like a painter's careful outline. To my left stood a set of large twin doors, their golden handles reminiscent of something you'd see in a historical drama. Above my bed, a chandelier of crystal and glass hung, glowing brightly—though it was off for the moment.

Dream me saved on electricity!

Instead warm light encased me from the morning sun behind me.

I muttered, "Wow."

I looked down at my body, blinking. Wait. Something was smaller then it should be.

I frowned, trying to will a mirror in front of me. It didn't work obviously.

Damn lousy dream.

I moved to a open doorway close to the doors. As expected, I

found a bathroom.

It was just as grand as my bedroom. I moved to a mirror.

And froze.

The woman in front of me wasn't me. Dressed in silk pyjamas with a heroic beauty, tan skin and long brown hair, hazel eyes stared back at

me. This wasn't me.

I didn't look like this.

"Naturally, you do not," a deep voice snorted.

I turned my head slowly.

A man stood a couple of paces away from me, arms crossed in some strange get up leaning on my dream shower glass walls.

He was as beautiful as the last guy, with blond hair tied at the back of his neck, piercing purple eyes and scar stretching from his thin lips to his muscular shoulders. He stared at me coldly.

As if he was looking down at me. Like I was the scum between his toes. That's the feeling I got. Disgust. Distaste. Arrogance.

"You are not dreaming, Kana Yos," the man grunted, striding over to me like a leopard approaching its prey. Disgust heavy in his voice, he groused as he gazed down at me with eyes as piercing as my late fathers, "This is now your unfortunate reality."

My body automatically reacted. Trembling. In fear. I backed up, my hands gripping the sink behind me.

"You are now Casadia Von Opalu."

He moved his face closer to mine, anger in his gaze.

"And your disgraceful soul has answered my call."