Nightmare

Aeon found himself in a dark, lightless space, feeling frustrated as he cursed the presence of the Eye. Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he wondered about his whereabouts and questioned whether this place was caused by the Eye.

Despite having numerous questions, he kept them to himself since there was no one around to ask. Aeon cautiously looked around and walked, exploring the space. It was then that familiar faces appeared, but their presence was tainted by anger and pain, a result of witnessing their own deaths alongside Aeon.

His once trusted and close arm in arm brother stood before him, eyes filled with resentment, accusing him of watching his demise without taking any action. "You watched me die," his brother spat with venom. "You were there, yet you did nothing to save me. Aeon, you're a curse upon us all"

Beside him, Aeon's once supportive and comforting best friend turned cold and distant, accusing him of betrayal. They expressed hurt and trembled with disappointment. "You betrayed us," they seethed. "You had the chance to change our fate, but instead, you chose your own salvation. We trusted you, and you let us down."

Aeon's parents, bearing a mixture of grief and anger on their faces, cast accusing glances in his direction. "Our own flesh and blood, responsible for our downfall," they whispered with heartbreak. "You were meant to be our protector, but you failed us."

And there, at the heart of the nightmarish realm, stood his lover, their once loving gaze replaced by eyes filled with anguish. "You promised to keep me safe," they lamented, their voice choked with sorrow. "But I died in your arms, I trusted you. How could you let this happen?"

As Aeon confronted the specter of his past, the embodiment of his cyclic existence, his companions no longer supported him. Instead, they cursed him, directing their pain and anger towards the one who failed to save them. Their voices merged with the specter's taunting whispers, creating a cacophony of accusation and despair.

"You cannot escape your guilt," the specter hissed, its malicious voice echoing. "Their blood stains your hands, forever reminding you of your failures. This nightmare is your punishment, a relentless torment for the sins you have committed."

"No, I..." Aeon stuttered, unable to find the words to defend himself, and then he woke up. Gasping for breath and drenched in sweat, he realized it was just a dream. "Huff, huff, huff..." Aeon struggled to catch his breath, recalling the recurring dream that had plagued him since his return to life.

Confusion washed over him as he discovered tears streaming down his face.

"Am I crying? But why?" Aeon couldn't comprehend why he was shedding tears, as he hadn't expressed emotions or cried for a long time. This new feeling puzzled him further, especially considering that the dream had been a constant presence in his sleep without evoking tears.

"It must be because of that damn bastard," Aeon concluded, suspecting that the Eye might have diminished his mental strength due to the intense headaches he had experienced during their encounters. Even though he had reversed time and saved them, the guilt of watching their deaths weighed heavily on Aeon, making him weary of life.

"But where am I?" Aeon was dumbfounded, realizing that this wasn't his usual room. "Am I still in a dream?" he questioned, observing the grassland and forest that lay not far from where he stood. Suddenly, a recollection dawned on him. "Haaa... thank God," Aeon sighed in relief, noticing the absence of the familiar presence of the Eye.

"Where is this place again?" Aeon pondered, questioning his surroundings once more.