Strange dream?

"I have never slept too well in my entire life," I thought to myself as I walked through the mists of my dreams. It wasn't the first time I had such lucid dreams but this was the first time my dreams featured the entirety of my past.

I stopped at one of them. It was at a time, several years ago before my disease made itself known. I faded into it reliving it. Everything felt like I remembered it.

I held on to my training sword with an iron grip, the small but heavy blade threatened to drop at any second. "That's it, Leo. Now again strike!" the sound of my father's booming voice echoed in the training all. Spurred on I took a sold step forward and lifted my blade. By the end of my step, the blade was already coming back down, the weight adding to its power. It struck the stone statue in front of me, shattering the shoulder I have been hacking at for a week. "Good now, we don't want to waste training tools. Follow my lead" he pulled out his blade.

"one step towards the enemy, pivot on your leading foot, opposite of your main hand. Using the twisting of your body brings the sword around to strike your foe's neck." he said as he slowly walked through the steps "Now in a fight, the one rule for any fighter is to never show your back to the enemy. I agree with this but if your self to be fast enough" He followed through the form and pulled his sword closer to his body as he spun so fast I almost didn't see it. The blade extending at the last moment shattered one of the stone statue's heads. He ended the spin back in his standard sword stance.

He almost looked like he was casually standing there without a care in the world. I've seen arrogant fools take this as an insult rushing ahead when they thought fathers guard was down. No one walked away alive when they let pride dull their senses, especially against father.

I nodded and began my training. My father's approving nod and slight smile were enough to drive my small frame to the brink of death. Anything to gain father's approval. "One day I'll stand tall over the heads of my subjects and in times of need will show the force of my training today!" I thought to myself. Little did I know, that I was never going to see that smile of his again. He didn't take my sickness too kindly.

I pulled out of the memory before continuing on the line. I passed memories of when I still eagerly trained, ate all the meat in the storehouse, and studied till I passed out. All hoping that one day I will have a magical growth spurt where it will all pay off. But after one year passed, then two, three.

I gave up on my passion and instead I tried to lose myself in one of the cardinal desires. Lust? No one would sleep with someone who looked like a child. Anger? I was too small to be a threat to anyone. Sloth? My pride wouldn't let me waste away like that. Trying to eat my days away is what started the cooking punishment from madam Catherine. "If all your going to do is eat the days away then cook your own food" that escalated into my cooking being better than a so-called renowned chef. Who was promptly fired.

I shook my head at that memory. The real reason for Catherine to force me to cook was a part of her long-term plan to get rid of the cook. She did not care who it was that beat the cook, I was just the unlucky sacrifice. Everyone knew the cook fell in love with Madam Catherine at first sight and we all know how much she absolutely despised the man.

It was only a matter of time before something happened. As I reached the end of the tunnel my mind begins to fade. "Ah must be time to wake up," I said out loud.

I was awoken abruptly by a blinding light. It was so bright I was momentarily blinded and my eyes were shut. I must have rolled on my belly when I slept, as my chin rested in my arms. Uncurling from the ball I was in I stretched trying to blink the white light from my eyes. My ears picked up on the sounds around me as the world slowly started to come into focus.

"Congrats Kana, you successfully summoned your own familiar. It looks to only be a few months old so be sure to take good care of him and no hunting until I give the okay alright" an older man was speaking. I did not recognize him "yes sir, but uncle you still haven't told me what my summon is yet" the old man chuckled "oh yes, sorry dear I almost forgot. He is a snow fox a very rare summon so far away from the polar ice caps. A good match for one such as yourself."

By this time my eyes were finally clearing up and I could see two people. One a man in a long white robe and a long grey beard. He leaned heavily on his walking stick. Beside him, looking at me with a heartfelt smile on her face was a girl of about twelve years of age. Long white hair and blue eyes, the moment our eyes met a pulse was felt throughout my body and immediately I felt a connection towards this odd girl.

Trying to stand up I fell on my face, looking down I saw two fluffy paws and a bushy tail. Looking at my hands revealed two soft paws and when I touched my head to pointed ears could be felt. Shaking my head in denial I started backing away looking around frantically. I felt the girls worry but I didn't care. I needed to get home, mother would freak out but if I could find my brother's Alchemist.

I nodded my head and begun to dash towards the first open door, I ran outside where I was greeted with open air.

I stood on the deck of a large ship, below me was a sprawling city. Carriages were pulled by two-legged lizards. People rode on the backs of various beasts from birds to a dragon and multi colored clouds. Sea monsters helped pull ships and I could have sworn one of them winked at me.

I backed up quickly, shocked. "This isn't right, this isn't home. Where was I?" backing up I found the arms of the girl waiting for me. Worry plastered her face, she picked me up and held me to her chest. Her hand absently petting my head. Whether it was due to her warm embrace or the strange connection I felt towards this girl. I found myself relaxing, my shivering started to stop and my heart rate calms down.

We walked back inside where the old man sat smoking a long pipe. "Ah good, you caught up to him. I'll admit I didn't expect him to freak out like that. Usually, they are too exhausted from the summoning for that." he shook his head "Ah besides that he seems fine. Now Kana did you follow through with the master and servant pact as I told you to?" he gave the girl a stern look as if he already knew the answer.

The girl got her part looked him dead in the eyes. Standing straighter. "No I chose to make an equals pact" he looked upset "Now Kana we talked about this" he started but the girl just spun around and walked off. "Kana" the old man shouted.

"Don't worry little one?" she said patting my head "I am not your master as others would ask me to be" his face scrunched up in disgust "we are equals, bound by the gods of magic." She started "I will always protect you if you protect me"

She wasn't talking to me but rather at me but I think I got the gist. The thought of running off and ditching this girl crossed my mind but for some reason the thought made me feel disgusted with myself like I'd be breaking a sacred vow. Shaking my head I decided to figure it out later, I closed my eyes and went back to sleep. For just waking up I was exhausted.