Expectations Vs Reality

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Kai floated on a daze of dreams as his brain retreated into a comforting, surreal fantasy. He found himself in the middle of a large, ethereal chamber where golden runes traced along the walls, shimmering, casting their own light. A warm fire crackled in a hearth nearby, casting a soft glow over the scene. Before him, a gilded throne ascended from the polished stone floor, and on to it he sat like a Lord, no, more than that, a champion amongst his loyal followers.

But they were not ordinary followers.

In front of him now, the room seemed to fill with the ethereal calm of the Maidens of the Soul's games. Close to his side stood Melina, her single eye glowing softly, with the same velvet determination shining in that one glimmering orb. He seemed to be sitting between two women to his left, the Firekeeper sat delicately, the blindfold wrapped around her eyes, with her hands folded as if in a prayer on his right was the Deathbed Companion, Fia, who leaned over him, softly speaking and sharing her warmth with him.

And there, out on the edge of the massed throng, stood Ranni the Witch. Her face hidden by the wide brim of her hat, the icy mystery of her beauty, in her deep-blue, flowing robes, took his breath away. The soft rhythm of her voice, as she spoke, were like the stillness of a winter's night-comforting, entrancing with their ancient wisdom.

"Kai... my Tarnished," Melina said, her voice cool and gentle, her eyes looking up to him. "You have fought bravely, but even a champion needs rest."

"Rest in my arms," Fia whispered, almost maternal in tone as she reached out, her hand grazing upon his cheek. "Let the cares of the world melt away."

Ashen one, thou has guided many souls," he nodded serenely. "Let us now guide thee.".

It all just hit Kai at once, and he couldn't help but burst out laughing at it all "wow, I must be one hell of a streamer to have you ladies as my audience." Kai joked with a wide grin. "I mean, who would not want to be surrounded by you? This is exactly what my viewers signed up for!

The Maidens exchanged soft smiles, and though nothing in their faces changed, their proximity was a solace. It was like the perfect dream-one wherein he was both the hero and the beloved, the recipient of tender love from these mythic creatures.

Melina leaned her head to one side, the ghost of a smile on her lips. "Your viewers, Kai. they've watched you fight, they've watched you struggle, but now they'll watch you find peace."

"Yeah, yeah," Kai chuckled, leaning back into the throne, crossing his arms. "This is that kind of stream, huh? Just kick back and let the donations roll in, maybe even set up a 'Just Chatting' with my Maidens."

He almost heard his chat blowing up with messages as his loyal followers hammered out praise, jokes, and emotes while watching their favorite streamer surrounded by some of the most iconic characters in gaming. It was one of those dreams that could last forever-a perfect respite from the brutal reality he had to face.

It was then that Ranni spoke, the first sound from her lips. Her presence was naturally quiet and commanding, her eyes-in soft, yellowish glow from beneath the brim of her hat-set on Kai with an intensity that seemed to cut through him. "Thou hast traveled far, battled much, and yet, thou art weary," she whispered softly in his ears, her voice soothing. "Mayhaps it be time for thee to rest, and dream of our futures untold."

Kai smiled at her, his heart feeling a sense of warmth "rest does sound good, especially with you around Ranni, just don't do me like Godwyn."

Ranni's lips arced into a subtle smile. "never, my consort eternal," she returned softly, though laced with the promise of knowledge and of power.

He felt the warmth from their closeness to him, their soft words reassuring and making him think he couldn't get hurt. The dream was complete almost too complete.

But then, something shifted.

The room started to grow cold the crackling of the fire was heard farther and farther away, as if some unseen force pulled them further and further away. Serene expressions dimmed, and their forms blurred. Then, a cold whirlwind whipped through the room, nipping at Kai's skin, carrying with it a wave of discomfort.

The voices around him suddenly took on a deeper pitch, more real. The soft, soothing tones of the Maidens twisted to merge into something entirely different.

"What a...strong boy."

Kai's brow furrowed in an attempt at focus as the words echoed within his mind. The figures around him were no longer as well defined anymore their forms shifting, changing into something else.

"I saw him fighting those wolves... it sparked something deep inside me."

the dream had slid away, it was transforming into something else. Kai blinked hard, trying to hold onto the comforting vision of the Maidens, but his vision was growing blurrier, the warmth of the fire replaced by the chill, hard reality. 

Kai's eyes fluttered open, heavy and his body aching. He was no longer in the ethereal room of his dream but in a dimly lit space smelling of damp earth and cold stone. His vision was still blurry and the figures that surrounded him though the voices, he vaguely comprehended were feminine, like the mannerisms, did not quite rise up to fit the image of Maidens from his dream.

"Am I in heaven?" he whispered weakly, and in the wandering manner. "Did I die?"

The figures, leaning about him, tittered. Their voices were silvery and chime-like. "No, sweetheart, you're not dead," one gurgled, stroking their hair. "But you're not far from paradise, either."

Kai squinted, trying to focus. In his hazy state, the people around him still appeared to be women, beautiful, fragile, with slight figures and soft features. The cold, hard reality of his environment was yet to dawn on him.

"Y'all are so... beautiful," he slurred, a half-smirk creasing his features. "Death ain't that bad, as long as it means being around some hot ass."

The giggles continued, and went on, and then another moment more, before Kai's vision cleared and the truth hit him like a bucket of ice water. The figures around him were not women. His heart skipped a beat at the sight-muscular figures in females clothes, faces painted with the brightest makeup, bodies strong and imposing despite the feminine garb.

Kai sprang up, his senses on full alert as he took in the room he was in. The room was gargantuan in size, its walls plastered with gaudy decorations that screamed unusual. The figures around him were New Kama, strange in their appearance and extremely disturbing to him.

"Whoa! Whoa, back off!" he exclaimed, scrambling away from them.

One of the New kama strode forward, a giant with broad shoulders, their body rippling with muscles under their tight dress. "Shy, boy?" they said with a sly grin their voice deep, despite their delicate movements. "We're just making sure you're comfortable. You've been out for almost a month."

"A month?!" Kai thought that in his head, time tumbled upside down. "Wait, what?!" scarily grasped him, and he looked around. "Where the hell am I?, wait this is..."

The Newkama nodded calmly. "Yes, darling, then I saved you from those wolves. You passed out after that, and the guards were alerted. If I had left you there, you would have been taken prisoner, and getting out from a Level 5 cell would have been impossible. You should feel great for being here, in the secret heaven! Newkama Land."

It finally began to sink in what Kai was in as he started to panic far less. 'Level 5.5. I made it.' He glanced around at the bizarre decor and the equally bizarre people. 'But I can't wait to get the hell out of this place.' He looked at the Newkama, an idea forming in his mind. "You guys are aware of the outside world, right? I mean, news and shit. Tell me what's going on."

The New kama tilted his head to one side, a playful smile on his lips. "Calm down, sugar. What do you want to know?"

Kai's gaze sharpened. "Anything big happened lately?"

So The New kama wavered. For a moment, the silence hanging in the air swelled before they finally said, "No."

Suspicion crept into Kai's voice as his eyes narrowed. "Bullshit! Where's your boss? I gotta talk to Ivankov!"

The room fell silent, the Newkama exchanging glances; the first one spoke, his voice much more serious. "You know our Iva?"

Kai crossed his arms, his tone solid. "Of course, I'm part of the Revolutionary Army as well." 

As he said this, a flicker of doubt crossed his mind, but he quickly buried it. 'Of course not', he thought to himself, 'but with everything I know, I can fake it easily enough. These guys are pretty secretive.' He kept his expression steady, hoping his confident facade would convince the Newkama around him.

The Newkama nodded showing satisfaction with Kai's response. "Very well" they said "Iva is here, Just follow us."

Kai gave a slight nod masking his relief. 'Well, this is easier than I thought,' he said to himself, keeping his expression as composed as possible, as he prepared to meet the leader of the Newkama.

...….

As Kai continued following the….'Should I consider her a she or a he? Even though no one could hear my thoughts…..I feel like I'm one step away from being cancelled here!' "Boy, I'm going to warn you, If you are lying to me, Iva is going to rip you to pieces!"

Kai shivered hearing the declaration as he said "Don't worry, I'm pretty sure she'll understand"

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If you wish to read up to 5 Chapters Ahead! or simply support me just because? then check out my patréon at

"https://www.patréon.com/Riadooo"

Don't forget to change "é" to "e"