The waking dreamer

This morning when I woke up, I had a weird feeling in my gut. Like I was about to start something that could potentially end my life. I mean, I do that kind of job in almost daily basis, but this felt different.

We ate breakfast and went to Lex's tower. There we saw Lex doing something and Morty came from out of nowhere and started speaking.

- While we wait for Relse, let's keep the practice of bettering your soul's resistance to illusions.

We did that for couple of hours and then Relse came. Then Morty started to talk.

- As you three now, Delir's powers were partially sealed by Creation, Magic and Time. That seal is what makes his abilities bit restricted but not nullifying them. Are we still on the same page?

- I think I get it.

Relse says.

- I also know of this. What does that has to do with anything?

- You see, me and Lex here have come into consensus. It's basically that, should the original power of destruction, meaning you Relse, and original power of soul, meaning you Nor, to use your powers from the origin to further seal Delir's power, it would drastically lessen the reach of Delir's powers.

- So you know of our powers. But yes, that sounds something that would work. I was on a rampage back then, so I didn't care what Delir did to others. Now is a good time to make amends from that time.

- Great that you are on board. What about you Nor?

I think for a second.

- Would it really work?

- It might not seal Delir's powers entirely, but it will make them much less far reaching.

- Can we actually get to that seal?

- His seal is a place where fingers are created. He wouldn't care if we would come close. However, he would become curious of our intentions, but should she find out them, she would probably just think that it will not work. However, once it starts and she realizes that it is supressing his powers, he will take immediate action to prevent it from happening.

- If there is a chance to make that monster lessen his games, then I think it would be worth it.

- Excellent. Now that we are in agreement, let's start the preparations. I hope you are ready for some rigorous training.

- What do you mean?

- Of course we first must make you able to resist my illusions in entirety. Then we can start preparing the container that will protect me for the most part.

Low asks.

- What about me?

- What about you? You aren't joining in this mission.

- What?! But I'm always there!

- You are dangerous existance to be brought next to the seal of Delirus. If she manages to take control over you, then it's all over.

- But...

I say.

- He is right.

- Nor.

- I think you should sit this one out. Don't worry, we will be fine.

- But...

I pat her head.

- Trust me.

- Understood.

Morty then says.

- Now that that's out of the way, let's beging the training.

He grabs me and bring me to his laboratory.

- Now then, let us beging.

So I spend the next week preparing for the confrontation. It was exhausting and I barely got any breaks. But at the end, Morty's illusions didn't have a single effect on me. Then we gathered with me, Relse, Morty and Lex. Lex then said to Relse.

- Come here for a moment.

- Sure.

He plases his hand on Relse's chest and says something to him. I think it was a spell of some sort. Then he stops and let's Relse go. Then he comes and hands me the dream walker necklace.

- Why did you give me this?

- Just in case.

- In case for what?

- Don't worry. You might not need to use it after all.

He then walks back couple of steps and starts to speak.

Lex: Now then, are you three ready.

Relse: Absolutely.

Morty: All right.

Nor: Yes.

Lex: Then remember, it's a dangerous place you are entering. While there aren't any civilisation around that island, there sertainly is some beasts roaming around to guard that place. And be carefull of what you see there. Not all that seem to be there are actually there. Are we clear.

Relse: Yes.

Morty: I mean I've been there before, but sure. Yes.

Nor: Yes.

Lex: Good, now be carefull. May the Isle of illusions be mercifull.

He then sends to Isle of illusions. It's normal looking at first, but when I look closer, I see many misshapen things. There seems to be an eery mist around this whole place. Hills look just wrong, they are there, but they just feel wrong somehow. The trees seem to have faces in them. We see a serpent like dragon flying in circless. The road that we follow seems to be all illusion. We see flying ships in the sky and people falling from them. There even are misshapen bodies around that look like it is impossible to be that way.

Then we encounter a minotaur. Just wondering around with no purpose. Then it sees us and attacks us. Relse managed to turn it into smithereens before I could even ready my sword. Then we continue our journey.

It takes couple of days of us roaming around and trying to follow the path. Morty said that the path should lead us closer to the seal, saying.

- It exists for the cultists to find a way to the seal so that they go there for worship.

- Speaking of cultists, why haven't we seen any of them around?

- Good question. But it could very well be that there is no reason to be here at this moment. Even if they worship Delir, they are in a way also scared of her. They come here for just ocational worship and creating a finger. If we see any, then we should expect a fight.

- Well that won't be problem for us.

- Luckily so.

We continue our journey. The fog is making it harder to see, so in case we lose each other, we put a rope connecting us from the hip. After a day, we see Aktor here for some reason. I say hi.

- Hey Aktor! What are you doing here?

- I thought that you might need a little bit of my help, so I came by. But now that I think about it, you have Relse with you, so my servises might not be needed.

- What have you been doing these couple of weeks?

- I've been with my family back in Hiék. Need to keep up with what is going on with them you know. Hey, Lex mentioned you were heading towards the seal. If you are looking for it, then go that way.

He points away from the path.

- Why would we go there when there is a path leading to the seal.

- Perhaps it is a trick to lead you away from the seal.

- My friend Morty here, has been at the seal once and he said that we should follow the path.

- Well, he is former member of the cult. Maybe he is trying to lead you to a trap.

- I trust him to not do so. How do you know about that anyways?

- Lex told me.

- And how did you manage to catch us if you were sent later. This place hase quite dangerous terrain you know.

- I just ran and he sent me closer to you.

- Then why didn't he sent us farther in then?

- Who knows. Maybe he wants you to experience a journey.

- ...

- What is it?

- You aren't Aktor, are you?

- What do you mean. I me, aren't I.

- Then let me punch you to test it out.

- Go on a head. If thats what it takes.

I punch him in the stomach and I felt little weird on my hand.

- See *cough* told you so.

- No, you aren't him.

- What do you mean? You felt the punch didn't you?

- I did, but something seemed off. Perhaps my resistance of illusions has reached the point that makes this feeling.

- So you have trained to resist me. Hah. Leave it to a little Morty to figure that one out.

- So you really are.

- Yes, I'm the same old Delir. The best of all beings. The star. The comet. The wonder.

- Could you stop using my friend's face and voice to do those things.

- What is the matter? Can't deal with my magnificence?

- No, just don't want to immagine him doing the things you are doing.

- A shame. Well, come on in then. Have a little row of beasts to deal with. Toodoloo!

He disapears and suddenly a group of magical beasts have surrounded us. I'm bit worried, until Relse says.

- You think that these little pets of your can stop me?! Well think again!

He make a shockwave that disintegrates all the beasts in one go. I'm glad that he didn't go on a rampage when he was called by Lex.

We continue our journey and soon find a giant purple crystal in a middle of a island in small lake. The fog has gotten so thick, that we only could see it's glow. Morty told us that it was a crystal. We went over a bridge that lead to the small island. The waters looked weird in a way that I could see faces in it. We started hearing voices, telling us to save them, but Morty said.

- They aren't real. But if you try to go on and help them, then you will be put in a long sleep. A sleep that you might never wake up from.

We continued to walk and finally reached the seal. It was making an odd huming sound when we got close to it. Then we heard footsteps coming from behind the seal. We waited to see what it was, until we saw an old malnourished man with a snow white hair and a raggy clothes around them. On a closer look, he was a vampire with his red glowing eyes. Morty then said.

- That is the hand of the patriarch. The body of Delir.

- So he is.

Delir gives us a grim smile.

- You actually reached this place. Leave it to father to clear anything from his path. So now you see me, or atleast my current main body, in action. He has served me well for a milenia. Glad I made this race. So durable.

- You created that race? With Aíma?

- Yes, she was a great darling that one. Though she was against it at first, but with little persuasion...

- You raped her?

- That's a mean word to use. I made her enjoy every last moment of it. So at least she didn't lose her virginity for nothing. Oh, and she got great offspring to roam the world. Now her realm is primarily made for them. Oh! Perhaps I should do it again! A another branch of vampires! Then again, there are already three different kinds.

- You still manage to amaze me.

- And there is lot more to uncover! There is no better entertainment for me to do than watch others bend to my will! And no one can do anything about it!

- We are going to bring an end to this.

- You think you can?

He starts lying on the ground in peace.

- Go on ahead.

- I will.

Me and Relse touch the crystal and start pouring the energy from the origin to it. We do it for a while. And then Delir starts speaking.

- Wait a second. What is this?

He closes and opens his hand couple of times.

- No no no, you are actually making progress. I wont let you.

Then he snaps his fingers and we start to feel pain all over our bodies.

- You think that I would let you? I'm the god of this world, and I'm not going to give my throne to anyone else. Now wither in pain. I'm no longer in a mood for games.

The pain is immense and me and Relse are on the ground in agony. Morty seems to be fine, but he seems unable to move much. Even still, me and Relse grawl to the crystal and start pouring our power back in to it. Delir notices and says in a calm and cold maner.

- You dare to oppose me. Well then, let me make it more painfull.

He snaps his fingers and we feel even more pain. I'm nearing to lose consciousness. I still continue to pour my power to the crystal, even if it's the last thing I do. Then Delir steps on me and strats to kick me with all the strenght that the vampire's body has. It's excruciating. While he is kicking me, he starts to speak with a cheery attitude.

- You know little Nor, and father while we are at it, I don't actually need to snap my fingers when I use my powers. It's more of an habit that I build up over the years. You know, it creates this "oh, if he snaps her fingers, things will happen" kind of vibe.

I notice Morty kicking Relse. He can't resist, even with my powers.

- You know, you are doing something horrible. If I can't purge things in my own accord, then population will start to rise. For now it will be good, but in the long term, I would be a savior to the future generations. So I'm not the bad guy here. I'm the main character, you know. The dreamer, you know. So it's pointless to continue doing this.

Me and Relse continue to push our powers to the seal.

- Well then, nightmares it is then.

I fell asleep and saw nightmares. Familiar faces being torn to peaces. Burning landscapes. People eating each other. All kinds of stuff. Then I heard a voice. Oblew's voice.

- So this is the type of dream he makes you see. Not all dreams should be good, but this is ridiculous. Now wake up.

I wake up and continue pouring my power to the crystal. I notice Relse is awake and doing the same thing. Delir says with disapointed voice.

- Why can't you just sleep? I rather not kill either of you. I want to use you two as pawns in some of my games. Who is interupting me?

I fell asleep again and soon wake up again.

- This... Oblew! You slimy worm, I will make you regret going against me! Well, now that I'm out of options.

She grabs my sword and pierces my stomach with it.

- Now you can die. At least you have someone who will be upset at this. Oh! Perhaps I should show them how much you suffered! And for what? A meager attempt on supressing me? Talk about jokes.

I continue to put my power in.

- Why? Oh why dear Nor do you try so hard? To save a few people? You want to be a hero of this story? You are not! You have done purges, just like me. And you think you are the good guy? Didn't you listen when I talked about population? How rude of you to just ignore me.

He grabs the sword from my stomach and makes another hole in it.

- Just stay put would you.

I continue... to pull... my power...

- Why? Oh why?

He stabs me again. And again. And again.

- Why why why why why? Just let me be at peace and let me do my thing. I let you be all this time. Why can't you be kind to your neighbour?

He stabs me again. I can't... my consciousness... is faiding... but I must... continue.

I black out. Am I dead? This is the second, no, third time. But this time I don't have any tricks. Guess I'm done then. Low is going to be upset and have trouble sleeping again. I wont be there to take care of my child. I wont be seeing Stella become the best human mage around. I don't get to listen one of Aktor's stories again. I wonder where he is now. Relse might go berserk but hopefully he can cope. Lex might make a coment like "I knew this would happen".

I am dead.

...

...

...

I am dead, aren't I? Is this it? All that I will see after death is this? Well this will be boring.

...

...

...

Why do I feel warmth? It's getting hot in here. Hot. Hot.

- Hot!

I woke up and I see Low besides me. Did she learn to use her power just now? She has tears coming out of her eyes.

I notice that we are still close to the seal. The same place where I passed out. I hear Delir's voice.

- Why you... just stop now and I will let you keep your sanity, my bride.

- Are you talking to Low?

- Yes! She is immortal just like me. But if she can't dance in my tune then...

I put my protection to Low and she feels just a small amount of pain.

- You little worm.

I run towards Relse and push Morty from his back. I then bind Morty so that he wont do anything else. He mutters.

- Thank... you...

Then me and Relse continue pulling our power to the crystal. It seems to work in the matter that you need to put sertain amount of energy from the origin and then it will activate. Each of our powers are seperate form of power from origin, so they wont mix together.

We continue and my part of the seal is almost done.

- No no no no no. You can't do this. I wont allow it.

He then pushes me and starts beating me. Relse then uses his powers to turn him in to dust. Then I continue.

- You think you can kill a first tier vampire that easily?! You can't! I will...

Relse blasts her away again. Then Delir appars again.

- You dare to...

Relse does it again. And then Delir comes again.

- I will never beg for your mercy! You will...

Relse does it again. And soon later Delir appears again. I'm finally done with my part and the crystal glimers in a bright light for a moment. Delir then says.

- No... No no no. What have you done. What have you done!

Relse now continues to put his power inside the seal. I'm now on the guard so that Delir wont try to stop us. He says.

- You... You can't do this. I'm the dreamer and this is my dream. I'm the one who supposed to be in control. I order you to stop it!

We feel a small amount of pain, but not as bad as we did before.

- This is.

- No. No no no... My powers can't be this weak. They... they can't.

He continues to put pain in us and shows us a little disturbing things.

- Why why why... This... the seal can't be that strong, can it. My powers are limitless so a small barrier can't possibly... No no... drip drop... drip drop... hahahaha.

The fog starts to get a bit clearer, but is still is hard to see.

- Father... Yes! Father!

- What is it?

- Stop this and I will grant you the ability to see the past Soul again. That what you created me for, right.

- He might not be a full embodyment of Soul, but he still houses her soul.

- No no no. You are mistaken. He is just a fake like me. He can only decieve you father.

- I know you're lying so cut it out.

- Father... Father...

He gets to his knees and starts to beg in tears.

- Please father. I'm your child. Please have mercy on me. I will be good this time, I promise.

I say.

- I thought you would never beg.

Then Relse stops puting his power to the seal and walks to Delir. I ask.

- What are you doing?

- He is my child you know.

- That doesn't mean she should be let go.

- I...

Delir begs more.

- Please father. Please.

- ...

He then picks Delir up and they bouth hug.

- It's alright Delir. We can make things better.

- Yes... Yes we can.

Bouth of them are in tears. Then I notice Delir's hands getting closer to Relse's head. Then Delir says.

- You will always be my father. So let me show you mercy.

He then started to do something to Relse and I couldn't move for some reason. Neither could Low.

In pain, Relse puts his hand quickly back to the seal and finishes transfering the power to it just before he collapses. Delir then shouts.

- No no no no. No! But I was your child! How could you do this! It's getting silent. My connection... it's so weak.

Then a green light comes out of Relse's body. Delir is surprised and looks at it for a second.

- This is... No. NO!

He starts to run and then the light goes inside of him and he too collapses. What just happened? We turn them bouth on their backs and get them close to each other. I then unbind Morty and he then explains.

- This was a plan B. But it seems the plan A worked as well.

- What do you mean?

- Plan A was to further seal Delir's power. Like we talked about. Plan B was only to be used if Delir resorted to drastic measures like this.

- What happened?

- To put it simply, the spell that Lex put in Relse was something that would copy anything that happened to the holder and send it back at the caster. Relse made sure in his last moments that if he didn't make it in time, at least he could do to Delir what Delir was doing to him.

- So what did Delir do?

- By the looks of it, he put them in sleep that will only show your deepest nightmares. Lex expected this to happen, so he gave you the dream walker necklace.

- How long will this dream last?

- For Relse who has some immunity toward Delir's illusions, about twenty years. As for Delir himself, Given that he doesn't have a much immunity to the level of power that he casted. So... Let me see.

He does something to Delir's body.

- About 100 years.

- 100 year huh. So that's the amount of time we can be free of Delir's madness.

- Well, the seal still is in place. And thanks to you bouth puting it in, the seal is much stronger now. His power became much weaker. He probably can do lot of things he has always done, but the intensity and the amount of people is greatly reduced. Now then. How about you use dream walker to see their dreams.

- So I would see their deepest fears. Well then, let's try it out first with Relse.

I put the necklace on and use it. When I close my eyes, I'm surrounded by flame that nearly blinds me. In the sky I see the world we all are. Though it is tiny. Then I look around a bit more and I find Relse. He is surrounded by three people hanging from the sky from their neck. They are all just there. I go and tap Relse's shoulder and say.

- Hey.

With a small voice he says back.

- Hey. So you came to see me.

- I did. So this is your deepest fear. Seeing three hanging people and a flame below.

- The three people are my siblings and the flames are coming from the sun. I can only watch as the world goes on, while I'm still burning for their sake. So that I wont hurt them.

- What was the sun like before you became it?

- It was a hole that filtered the origin's warmth to Norbul. Soul came up with it.

- So how did it feel to be a sun?

- Awfull. I am constantly raging over the death of my sister and I can't move anywhere. The amount of time was long, but when you keep on raging for so long, your time starts to feel a tad bit faster.

- Did you feel much pain from being a sun?

- A bit yes, but not the amount that can't be numbed by constant raging.

- So you are going to spend 20 years in here huh.

- 20 years you say. That will be over in just a moment. I've been waiting for a much, much longer time. I'll be fine.

- I see. I will come to visit every now and then.

- Thanks. See you around.

- See you later.

I then leave Relse's dream and come back to the real world. Low asks me.

- What did you see?

- A sun and three hinging people. Relse said he will be fine.

Morty then says.

- Then that leaves...

- Do I really have to?

- There must be something that she fears too. You must find what it is.

- I will do so then.

I go lie down and activate the necklace. When I close my eyes, I see only darkness. Then I see a small light where Delir was siting in a fetal position. It was a figure that didn't seem to have any real parts. Just some black shadow that took a figure of a human. I say hi.

- How are you?

With a echoing voice that doesn't belong to neither man or a woman. But a child.

- You. You put me here.

- It was Lex that did it.

- You all brought silence in this place. I'm just dreaming, but I feel like I'm loosing my mind.

Hasn't he already lost it?

- So this is what you fear, huh.

- Yes, the silence and emptines. I'm not proud of having a fear, but in the end I couldn't help it. Nothing to interact with. Nothing to play with. Just nothing. At least you came here to talk to me.

- I really came here just to find out what it was you feared.

- You happy now?

- You deserve bit of a time out.

- I'm a god you know. A god! The only real god in this world! I'm the player! I'm the one who decides thing! I get to always decide! Me and only me!

- I can't help you.

- You ruined my life. I already feel like I lost more power before I got here. And I feel like I'm going to be here for so long.

- Morty estimates 100 years.

- 100 years!? I can't wait that long! I must get out! I don't want to feel this silence for that long!

- And given that it is a dream, you must feel like time flies here then. Or maybe you will feel the full 100 years.

- I don't want to!

He tries to grab me by the shoulders but phases through me.

- No. NO! This is all your fault! When I get out here, I will make your life a living hell! That is a promise! You hear me!? I will fucking destroy whatever peace you might be holding in 100 years! I wont forgive this!

- You know that king Joshua had to be in silence for much longer than you have to. Well he was a broken man by the time we saw him, but he was a mere mortal. Surely immortal being can take 100 years of solitude.

- I swear, I will come for you.

He sits down again and starts to swing back and fourth in fetal position mumbling.

- Drip drop. Drip drop. Water goes up. And water comes down. Drip drop. Drip drop.

There doesn't seem to be anything else to talk about.

- I promise to come and visit.

- Drip drop.

I then leave and I am greeted by Low and Morty. Morty asks with a gleam in his eyes.

- So how was it?

- It was simple emptines. Delir fears emptines.

- I see. So now the dreamer has went to a place where they would go if they woke up. Like he woke up.

- What are you talking about.

- Just find it ironic that dreamer now has to actually dream and not be the one in control.

- I suppose so. Let's leave.

We all take a last look at the two people lying there. Then we go back to the tower. Lex says.

- So he did end up using it. A shame. Even if his body only lasts for couple of days, his mind still will be at sleep. So even if I summon him again, he will still be asleep.

- Here, take this.

I hand the dream walker to Lex.

- Would you tell me, what did my brother see?

- Sitting in the sun and seeing three people hanging from a rope.

- I see. Thank you.

Me and Low then are sent back to Lech't A Sol and we go to a well deserved sleep. In 100 years he will come back huh. What will I do then? Will I be alive even then. By then Aktor should be gone. Where has he gone anyways? In any case, I will have to deal with Delir then. Will he be calmer or angrier when he comes back? How powerfull she will be? What will I be like by then?

These are the questions that I think before I fall asleep. I'm bit scared to go to sleep now. But I'm still tired.

But I do wonder, what will happen before he wakes up?