A group of seven humans moved cautiously through rugged terrain, with their boots scrapping against the ground. Wind howled around them, carrying the scent of dry earth and distant storms, and even further ahead the chain of mountains loomed, eventually breaking into a forest, where a citadel would hopefully be awaiting them.
Anvil stayed near the back, wearing light, black armour with a small throwing dagger hovering just above his shoulder, Galahad was also next to him, holding onto a long red staff with the head of a gold dragon on each end.
Epsilon was in the middle, wearing black leather armour, but he appeared to be limping as he had a hand made splint tied around his right leg. He was currently being supported by a boring looking boy with blonde hair and freckles. He had similar armour, and no weapons.
Standing in front, was Sylas who was armed with a sword that had a serrated edge, as well as Smile Of Heaven and Ki song who were also armed with their own gear.
They all looked exhausted, and extremely battered too, but they had to keep pushing, they were almost at the end.
This Journey would soon be over.
They nearly finished passing through the chain of mountains, but now, one last unexpected obstacle blocked them. Noticing it immediately, the three swordsmen in the front raised their guard.
Sylas quickly glanced at Gracia,
"Didn't you scout this area already? You said that there was nothing up ahead?"
"I did...?"
It was very clearly a Nightmare Creature, but it was incredibly humanoid. It stood at around 6 feet tall, and it was covered in a jet black carapace with what looked like insect wings protruding from its back.
"...m..oth..er."
They all shivered.
The Nightmare creature could speak, and not just that, but its voice was familiar too.
"Look...a..t..me."
The creature slowly turned around, but then it quickly disappeared from sight, leaving behind a black blur in its wake. In the next moment, it suddenly appeared near Anvil.
Sylas turned around, as he called out,
"VALE!"
But it was far too fast. By the time Sylas gave his warning and Anvil noticed it was there, the creatures left fist shielded in its black armour, was already smashing into Anvils right side. His armour easily bent, his bones and ribcage fractured, as he was swept of his feet and sent flying into a nearby cliff face.
Galahad immediately moved, thrusting his staff right at the creatures head. But it raised its right hand, and caught it without too much effort.
The creature moved in to finish him off, but a puff of white smoke exploded above Galahads head, and emerging from the cloud was his clone.
It smashed down its own copy of his staff against the creatures head, but it snapped upon contact with its supremely hard carapace.
The creature seemed to hiss, as it crushed the staff it caught with just its sheer grip, before moving in towards the original Galahad, and throwing its left hand forward. Its sharp claws easily tore straight through his neck, killing him on the spot.
And yet the clone persisted, it was smiling even.
The creature was just about to kill the clone too, but a blast of a strange white energy slammed against its skull, exploding and stunning it for a brief moment.
Smile Of Heaven, Sylas, and Ki Song, all moved in to attack, while the boy and Cassius desperately tried to escape. One was far too weak, and Epsilon was injured, how could they help them?
They all couldn't run, the creature had already spotted them all, and just one of them wasn't enough to hold it back. Not everyone could survive, sacrifices needed to be made.
But as Epsilons eyes laid upon the creature, he peered deeper into it than the others, as he saw beneath its armour, flesh, blood and bones, and gazed upon the very centre of its being. Its soul.
And there he saw, five swirling orbs of darkness. He screamed,
"IT'S A FALLEN TYRANT!"
**
Epsilon laid down in the cool grass, his arms folded beneath his head as he gazed up at the vast, star-speckled sky.
The night air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of dew as the gentle light breeze brushed past his skin. His eyes reflected the celestial glow of stars, caught in their wonder.
This was the last night he would experience in peace, because tomorrow, he and every sleeper across the world would be sent to the dream realm.
He'd like to relax, if possible.
Just then, the silhouette of a human looked down on him from up above. It was a girl with pale black hair, icy white kin and onyx black eyes. She was smiling.
"Earth to Epsilon?"
"Emma."
She gradually kneeled next to him, before asking,
"Are you worried about tomorrow?"
He didn't respond immediately. He had prepared quite a bit, now being armed with decent knowledge about the dream realm as well as his training with Sylas and Smile Of Heaven. He wasn't a complete noob with the sword anymore, and thanks to Orum, most bladed weapons weren't foreign in his hands.
"It will be fine."
She breathed a sigh of relief.
"I am unsure... I don't think I'll be able to survive by myself. You know about my Aspect already, and the only memory I have is an armour. I put all my time into the survival class since my talent for combat was atrocious. If a Nightmare creature finds me first before I can find you guys, then I'm dead."
Epsilon replied,
"I'll find you before that happens."
A faint smiled appeared on her lips.
"You're so hopeful."
Thinking about it now he had no memories at all aside from Seras's despair which he had yet to consume, and it was of no help in combat. Meaning that meant once he entered the dream realm, not only would he have no weapons, but he would also be...
'...Oh.'
The two said nothing for a while. They just admired the stary sky, while keeping sure to not look at the moon. They couldn't quite explain why, but they were suddenly overcome with a bad feeling every time they did. Almost like they were being watched from a distance by someone unnerving... or something.
Either way, Epsilon enjoyed spending his time together with her like this. It was quiet, without a need for conversation. They didn't need to talk, as their emotions were already in sync.
It was then, Epsilon said,
"I love you."
Then, without warning, the first flakes of snow began to fall. Soft, weightless specks of cold, drifted from the darkness above, catching the glow of streetlights, swirling like tiny, frozen fireflies before settling silently on the ground.
The world, once wrapped in shadow, began to soften under a slow, whispering snowfall. Each flake vanished into the cold earth, but soon, a thin ghostly veil began to form.
Time started to slow, and so she replied in her sweet, soothing voice,
"I know. I love you too."