I awoke in this world in cries and pain. From a tight cave, I slipped and slid. I crawled and was pulled. Until light fell upon my skin and enlightened my eyes. I came in cries-cries of an infant.
I saw the world with new eyes. As they slowly opened, I saw a broad figure with a glimmering light leaning against him.
Then, a woman with something in her eyes that dropped to my skin. My world shifted as I felt cold breeze brush against me and then I was settled in a warm nest.
Where am I? What has happened to me? I reached out my hands trying to stand up but I couldn't. I tried to speak but only cries came out my throat.
Then I saw my small, slimy hands, it clicked. Have I been... reborn?
Before my mind could process further a soothing tune played. It's melody was familiar yet unknown.
A wave of warmth and comfort showered my body as my nerves calmed down. My cries anguished and the world seemed to have cleared.
Then I saw what the world really looked like.
My roof looked like a white worn down tent while the cloth that covered me was a thick fur coat.
Then I saw the nest that held me, but seeing clearly now, it wasn't a nest. It was a woman.
She held me tight in her arms while humming the tune.
Could she be my mother? So... I have truly been reborn.
Then I looked over my shoulder and saw the figure more clearly. It was a man that was covered in steel armour as his broad sword leaned against him. His features were sharp though his blade looked ragged. He must be my father. But something in his gaze made me feel indifferent. He looked fierce and rough. His body emitted an aura of flames and power. Yet, his eyes looked dull and empty. He had the face of a guilty man.
The woman finished her tune as she looked down at me and gave a gentle smile. Then shifted her gaze at the man. Her body suddenly tensed as she slowly parted her grey-ish red lips then whispered, "Name this child."
So he is my father.
Moments passed as even with the woman's request. The man still stood in complete silence. He looked looked at his broad sword that somewhat towered him, and gave it a look of distain.
"Name this child, now" her voice trembled.
But still, silence.
"He is your son, a young boy. He is as blood related to you than the last." She continued.
"Dixon" his voice vibrated
Suddenly a blue digital window hovered above my head which read.
[ DIXON Lvl: 0 ]
The woman paused as she heard that name. Her hold on me softened and her body eased. "Dixon" she whispered.
Dixon, my new name. In this new world that seemed to run on its own rules. What was that blue window? and this man, is he really my father?
I looked at him as he never has once glanced at me. His roughened armour that was lined with grey fur. His face that was covered in scars that his features seemed undistinguishable.
The man sheathed his sword and put on his helmet. He licked his teeth then walked a couple paces towards the thick cloth that hung above the entrance. But stopped Infront of it as he sighed, "I will return in a year, raise him well"
Then he disappeared.
Many days have pass since he left.
Though I've only spent them inside my cradle. Being fed small portions of food by the hour. It seemed that my body grew abnormally fast as every passing hour felt like my insides enlarge.
The food that my mother fed me was a mixture of broths of goat and lamb. It smelt awful and tasted worse, but it was enough to quench my hunger. I usually throw up the broth but my mother never raised her voice nor did she get angry. She only wiped my cheeks and then offered me another scoop.
I felt pity for her as so I stomached the disgust and ate the broth. After each spoon full I swallow, she would always give me a smile. Her eyes were shallow and her hair a mess. But even with all that, she still looked over me with nothing but kindness.
But as for my absent father. I've learnt more about him. From passing villagers that would whisper his name, Forg Hilton.
They spoke of him in great honour, like a hero of sorts. But to me he was different. He didn't seem like a hero to me. Because what type of hero would leave his sick wife and newly born child? but forget him as there were more interesting rumours that I heard.
"He will save us."
A muffled voice outside the tent whispered.
Save us? from whom? From what? And who do they mean? Why the hell are people talking in riddles in this place? I spent hours pondering those words yet I still couldn't put my finger on it.
I wanted to know more. As maybe it was the key to understand why I'm here and what that blue window was. But those were the only words I managed to hear as the next passing hours were nothing but me laying in bed.
More days passed and I haven't learned much about this place. Though, My mother would always come home when the sun hides behind the mountains, or so I think. I don't know if it's a mountain as I can only see the world through a small hole in the tent.
The smell of charcoal and roasted lamb crept through the hole. Its smell was devine and mouthwatering that my body leaned to it. I wanted to stand up and run through my tent and snag a piece like a feral creature.
But sadly, I couldn't, as I'm trapped here. In this Damn cradle. Cramped and soffacating, I cant handle this anymore. With determination and a strong craving for meat as a motivator.
I rolled over and pushed up my body with all my strength. My arms wobbled and sweat raced down from the top of my head. But I was determined. Though the second the aroma disappeared, so did my strength. And so I dropped breathless as I cried in mouthwatering crave.
My mother saw me and fed me that broth again, and so I was forced to stomach the disgust. It was like torture. But I cant talk badly to her as I pity her to much. She went home last night bruised again.
What type of work does she even do? And where is my supposedly great father? Isn't he supposed to be a hero? I'm slowly growing to dislike my father.
But finally, after a couple more days I've managed to push my body up. Though that is what I only managed to do, it is still improvement.
I sat up and crossed my arms. My mother saw me and giggled. I'm impressed by her. As even with everything she is still able to smile. She fnished feeding me then kissed my forehead. Even though I know this woman is my mother, I couldn't help but blush as being kissed by a pretty woman.
I was about to do my usual ritual of counting the seconds again as suddenly something caught my ear.
"Dixon, the name of their child? How unforgiving they are"
"Isn't that the name of that other one?"
What? Unforgiving? Other one?
I leaned forward wanting to hear more but their voices slowly started to fade.
No! They can't walk away now, I need to know more.
I reached for the top of my cradle and pulled as hard as I could. But weirdly it was quite easy for me. Damn well easier than what I've been trying to do these past days.
Looking at my home in full view. I could see a messy bed and unwashed clothing in buckets. Have I been reborn as a commoner? How unlucky.
But back to what I was supposed to do. I leaned forward trying to make out what they were gossiping about. I heard muffled sounds of the villagers but couldn't make out a word. I got to the side but I overestimated my body, as my legs suddenly startled to wobble and i was sent to a panic.
Damn it, I'm going to fall! I tried to fall back into my cradle but it had other plans as it tilted me off. My heart skipped a beat. Am I going to die?
Then I slammed, crashed, rolled, and hit something. I slowly opened my eyes and saw everything as white. I've died it seems. Well atleast I'll be free from that broth. But the white smoke slowly faded as it revealed, broken glass that was over my shoulders, and white powder that covered my entire body.
I'm not dead? God! My body dropped as relief runs through my body, escaping a breath.
But as I calmed a sudden Ssharp stinging pain pierced my leg. I looked at where it came from but couldn't as the white powder covered it.
Have I been stabbed? I felt cold wind brush against my skin but my entire body steamed. Then not a second later I burst into tears.
I thought I got stabbed by that glass or something, as I haven't experienced this type of pain since... Since when? I couldn't remember as my body shivered from the pain.
I frantically raise my hands, waving it mindlessly until the white powder swept away.
I saw where the pain came from. It was my knee. I expected a broken bone or wound even. But it was only a scrap, a bruise. Only a mere bruise. Damn it, then why does it hurt so much?
Footsteps rushed as my mother popped out of the door. She was covered in layers of thick cloth that was lined with fur on its hood.
"Heavens!" Her voice screeched, dropping her coat hurriedly she ran to my aid.
The cold wind bursted through the cloth that served as the door or the tent. I saw a glimpse of the world. White and cold it looked. With piles of snow covering each yard and a group of villagers that surrounded our tent.
She walked to the door and clipped it shut. She moved to a chair which faced a furnace. It's fire crackled as it's heat coated me like a blanket that felt like early sun on fresh skin.
"Thank the Gods." she said as she placed her hand on my bruised knee.
I could hear her heart beat by the minute, weak and slow. Then she hummed that tune again. The one I heard when I awoke in this world. This feeling, it soothed my pain and sent waves of comfort just like it did before. It seemed like magic.
When she finished, tears suddenly started to trace down her cheeks.
Why is she crying?
Seeing her face my hand instinctively reached out for her. Her pupils seemed to shake but she closed them as she lowered her head. My hands held her face and wiped her tears.
She kissed my hand then pressed it against her cheek. Though her lips looked crusty and dry, they felt like soft feathers that touched my bare skin.
Slowly raised her head and opened her eyes. Then a bright shine relit in her eyes. As if she saw something that revived her soul.
As he gave me a smile. A smile only a mother could give to her child. A smile so pure, it could rival the sun's warmth.
She stood up and slowly lowered me into my cradle. She descended her finger down and boped my nose.
"Grow strong, Dixion" she said as she turned away and left. My body felt heavy as the warmth of her comfort lingered. The strange energy still coursed through me.
Though I wanted to know more of this world, more of what this energy is, what it all meant. I couldn't as sleepiness slowly started to creep in. Each blink I took made my eyes grow heavier with sleep. As I slowly descended to slumber with her tune still vivid in my mind that everything else sounded like muffled noise.
Even with the barking of dogs and harsh winds outside. The world seemed to have gone silent. A peaceful aura to it all. Even the clunking of pots and spoons sounded soothing to my ears. Then I fell asleep.
It was a peaceful day.
My thoughts lingered on something but slowly faded as I dreamt of a place.
Purely covered in thick cold snow. It's violent winds screamed through my ears and rattled my bones. I knew it was a dream. Yet, it felt so real. As if I was reliving a memory of sorts.
The glazing snow showered down my body, or I think this is my body. I looked down at my hands as they looked like they've been sucked out of all flesh, with only the skin sticking onto the bone. It's tips were charcoal black and nails were elongated.
Then a faint whisper called out my name. A voice that pierced through my skull. Like an attack, this body dodged and flew itself aside.
This wasn't my body. It had a mind of it's own. I tried to stand but the body didn't listen.
It did though stood itself as then i saw that blue digital window again. It looked like how it did when I was named.
It's entirety was coloured in dark blue as its edges were a tinted black. I read through the words that were painted. My mind traced back to my father and why he had that look on him when he named me. And why... why was that name so familiar?
[Dixon Lvl:0]
Looking deeper into the window, I saw a figure. Cloaked in shadow. Like a reversed reflection, it mimicked my moves, but it faced the opposite way. My black tipped fingers reached for the window as I tried to call out for it. But then—it looked back. And I awoke.