Prologue: The Hunter, The Doll, and The Last Dream

I watched the Good Hunter return to the dream, coming back from the waking world. His clothes were covered in blood, as always, but untouched. I couldn't recall the last time I saw him injured, not even with torn clothes.

He approached slowly, measured steps, perfect balance, restrained presence. I could see his calm but vacant eyes, as if something long lost in the dream was missing.

Something inside my chest hurt, which shouldn't be possible, but nonetheless, I felt sorrow invading my being.

I still remembered how those eyes, once blue, now black as the night sky, once held joy, hope. Now, they just seemed empty, like a starless, moonless night sky.

As he drew near, when the Good Hunter's eyes turned in my direction, I could see a spark of something within them, beyond the emptiness they seemed to fill just moments ago.

I felt a twinge of joy at this sight, something that, like sadness, should also be impossible for me to feel. But as always, the Good Hunter seemed to do the impossible.

Upon reaching me, he ignored the workshop in flames, not even turning to look at it, and bowed slightly in greeting but remained silent.

I returned his greeting with a bow, clasping my hands in front of my body.

"Good Hunter, you have come. Dawn will soon break; this night and this dream will end. Gehrman awaits you at the foot of the great tree."

He nodded calmly and, passing by me, gave me a final glance with a nod, heading to the back of the workshop with a determined look on his face.

I sat, awaiting the battle that, in the end, I knew would occur.

Gehrman always, at the end of a night's hunt, offered mercy to the hunters, freedom to witness the end of the night, to break free from the dream.

Everyone, without exception, chose that option, but something in me told me that with the Good Hunter, it would be different, that he would never choose this ending.

A few minutes later, I felt Gehrman's presence disappear from the dream. Again, I felt an emotion, something that should be impossible: happiness.

I didn't feel sadness for Gehrman's death, but happiness. Finally, after all this time, he had peace, able to rest at last.

Moments later, I felt a presence descend onto the dream.

The presence wasn't malicious, perhaps even benevolent like the sweet embrace of moonlight, but its intensity made the entire dream tremble, covering it completely. The atmosphere seemed to grow heavier, solely due to the existence of the owner of this presence that I could feel.

"Flora..." My voice echoed. "Of the Moon... of the Dream..." a Great One...

Before I could complete my speech, my voice vanished, my body freezing with the other presence that emerged, not from outside, but from within the dream itself.

This other presence was like Flora's, if not greater, heavier, denser... more fierce.

An enraged presence, carrying infinite grievances, eternal fury, like an animal in search of blood, like a hunter after its prey, infuriated.

"Oh... Good Hunter..." I murmured, feeling the dream tremble as the two presences collided, as the battle began.

The dream shattered in an instant, the entire environment distorting and cracking, with the residual shock, echoes, of a battle greater than the dream could endure.

I looked around calmly and tilted my head to the side, confused. Strangely, my surroundings were intact, protected from such a confrontation, a thin veil surrounding and shielding me.

"Why... O Good Hunter...? Even in such a battle, expends strength to protect me... Even against such an adversary, keeps his attention scattered, keeping me safe...?"

I was a Doll, a creation, made only to assist hunters, something dispensable... Why... Why save me... Protect me?...

I rose calmly, touching the barrier that shielded me from the chaos outside, from the ongoing battle... Why?... Why did my chest warm at such protection?... What was this feeling I was experiencing?...

Confused by my emotions, I waited for the end of the confrontation. The battle seemed to last little, or perhaps much, time seemed to lose its meaning, no longer something necessary.

Finally, the thin veil that protected me dissipated, and behind it, the dream lay intact, the workshop once again immaculate, restored.

Before my thoughts could wander to the final outcome of such a fight, who had won such a confrontation, steps echoed slowly, descending the stone stairs, coming in my direction.

I looked up hastily, for a reason unknown to me. There, the Good Hunter descended the stairs.

He seemed immaculate, his clothes untouched, his demeanor composed, not even the blood that seemed to accompany him, covering him at all times, existed.

It was as if the battle that had just occurred was only a distant dream...

Descending the stairs, he observed me, as if expecting me to attack him, something that, surely, I would never do. Even if the Good Hunter ever wanted my destruction, I would never attack him, never retaliate.

The Good Hunter seemed to realize this fact, and I could see in his eyes, relief, a relief so pure, so raw, that for a moment, I thought he might collapse.

"Doll..." The melodious voice of the Good Hunter echoed. It was hoarse and deep but calm and composed. "I'll be gone for a while... take care of the Dream until my return. Please."

"Of course, Good Hunter." I gave him a slight bow.

Without further words, he seemed to become illusory, before disappearing from the dream, his existence like a mirage, returning to the waking world.

I looked to the spot where he had been moments ago and murmured. "May you have a good hunt. O, Good Hunter..." Then, I returned to sit, awaiting his return to the dream.

I waited, in silence, guarding the dream and the workshop until the return of the Good Hunter. At times, the dream seemed to tremble, at others, it stood still, but it always returned to normal.

Finally, I didn't know how much time had passed, but at some point, the Good Hunter returned to the dream, to the workshop...

He was the same, his appearance identical, but somehow, I knew he was different, something had changed...

I rose to greet him, as I always did when he returned, and as I always would.

"Welcome back home, Good Hunter. What do you desire?" A small curiosity pulsed within me. Another unknown, strange emotion. But, I hesitated to ask... What had he gone to hunt... now that the night had ended?...

The Good Hunter nodded calmly to me, as if thanking me for my welcome, and, as if reading my thoughts, he said.

"The waking world is finally at peace. My kin no longer exist..."

My thoughts stopped for a moment with such a statement. Not realizing, or ignoring my confused state, dare I say, the Good Hunter walked to the workshop.

"I will work on something, Doll, a research, a return to my former planet." Hesitating, for a moment, the Good Hunter looked back before entering the workshop.

Turning back to me, I waved to the closed door of the workshop.

"I will wait then, Good Hunter." Then, I returned to sit, waiting, as I always would.

The Good Hunter returned more quickly this time.

Exiting the workshop, he walked towards me. He seemed hesitant, as if fearing something...

Strange... I hadn't seen such an emotion displayed by the Good Hunter for a long time, he had long stopped being afraid...

Finally, I could see his eyes return to their usual emptiness, making my chest tighten with sadness.

"Doll... Would you accompany me?" The Good Hunter asked, extending his hand to me.

This time, I could see something faint sparkle in his gaze, hope.

I smiled, something that, for my body, should be impossible, then, the sadness in my chest seemed to be replaced by another emotion, joy.

I extended my hand, calmly, without hesitation, and held the hand of the Good Hunter.

"Forever." For all eternity, as it always would be.

No more words were needed.

In an instant, both of us, the Good Hunter and I, the Doll, disappeared from the dream.

[...] -- [...]

Just a prologue; if you enjoy it, I'll continue the story.