A strange sensation enveloped Kael. He found himself floating, suspended in what felt like the very heart of nothingness—if that made any sense.
'Not this again.'
An endless, formless emptiness stretched before him.
But just like last time, he didn't really care. He simply closed his eyes, attempting to drift back to sleep.
'Must be another weird dream.'
....
An eternity of aimless floating around eventually gave way to a subtle shift in his surroundings.
Opening his eyes, he saw a small dot of golden light flickering in the distance.
'Just like last time… That means I'll soon wake up.'
As he drifted closer, the dot intensified, burning so brightly that he had to shield his eyes, fearing blindness.
He waited silently, expecting to wake soon.
"..."
After a couple of minutes of silence, realizing nothing had changed, he slowly peered his eyes open.
And the sight that greeted him was…
'Beautiful.'
The word echoed in the silent expanse of his mind as he took in his surroundings.
He was encircled by walls of glowing golden light that cascaded downwards like a waterfall. The golden glow pulsed and shimmered like liquid sunlight, stretching endlessly in every direction, neither warm nor cold, solid nor intangible. Weird, yet oddly pleasing to look at.
Another eternity of floating passed, and the familiar boredom began to settle in. Just as he was about to succumb to the urge to sleep again, something shifted. A solid presence registered beneath his feet.
'Huh.'
Opening his eyes, he found himself standing on… nothing. There was absolutely nothing beneath him, yet somehow he remained upright.
"..."
'Okay, that isn't weird.'
Cautiously, he tried to take a step forward. His foot met no resistance. Walking felt normal, but when he attempted to turn and retrace his steps, an invisible barrier blocked his exit.
"..."
'Am I stuck here?'
Shrugging, he strolled forward as though he owned the place. He had no idea where he was or why he was here, but with no immediate threat apparent, he wasn't about to stress over it—at least not yet.
'It's just a dream… My dream.'
Yet, unbeknownst to him, a figure observed silently from within the golden radiance—a presence neither fully formed nor entirely formless. It followed his movements, a silent observer.
...
After a period of silent observation, the figure finally decided to reveal itself.
'He doesn't even seem bothered at all,' it muttered.
Kael, still lost in his thoughts, suddenly felt a presence behind him.
He turned to find himself face-to-face with something—or someone. The figure radiated an intense golden glow, its brilliance so overwhelming that it seemed to dim the surrounding light. Molten gold seemed to burn in its eyes, radiating an ancient feeling.
A presence stirred within the golden radiance, shifting, watching. Kael could discern neither face nor true form—only a silhouette shrouded in celestial haze. Neither man nor woman, young nor old.
Its voice, when it spoke echoed directly within his mind.
"You do not seem afraid. That is good. A true warrior knows no fear."
The voice reverberated like ripples across still water, carrying a weight that sent a shiver down Kael's spine despite his outward calm.
Kael frowned, confusion knitting his brow. 'What's up with this thing? How can it speak? And afraid? What's the worst that could happen to me in a dream?'
As though privy to his thoughts, the voice resonated again.
"But you are too ignorant. That is not a good trait for a warrior. There are beings in this world that could rip the very threads of life from your nibble body—even within the confines of your dreams. I suggest you cultivate caution."
Kael raised a brow, a wry amusement touching his lips. 'It can read my thoughts? Great. Not creepy at all.'
Ignoring the earlier pronouncements, he posed his own question. "Who are you, and why are you in my head?"
The golden glow pulsed, an indication of amusement—or perhaps annoyance. "That is not the question you should be asking."
"Then… what is the right question?"
A short silence stretched between them before the voice answered, softer now, almost like a whisper. "Do you truly wish to know? Are you prepared to tread a path paved with death, pain, and regret and suffering? I warn must warn you—there is no turning back."
'Not that you could refuse anyway' it added silently to itself.
A strange, heavy feeling settled in Kael's chest, entirely unfamiliar. "What do you mean by that?" he demanded, a knot of unease tightening within him.
But the golden glow merely flickered, dimming slightly as if in retreat. "Wake up, child. It seems you are not yet ready."
Then, almost as an afterthought, it added, "But I suppose I should make things easier… or harder for you. However you choose to see it."
Before Kael could formulate a response, he vanished. The golden figure remained alone, its glowing eyes narrowing in contemplation before it muttered to the silent expanse—
"That should suffice."
...
Kael shot upright, gasping for breath.
The familiar rumble of carriage wheels on the dirt track grounded him in reality. Sweat slicked his skin, and his heart hammered against his ribs.
'A dream…?'
But its vividness clung to him, a persistent echo suggesting it was more than mere fancy. He remembered every detail—the golden light, the strange presence, its cryptic pronouncements. Unlike the ephemeral nature of most dreams, this one remained sharply etched in his memory.
Rubbing his temples, he expelled a long sigh. 'What the hell was that supposed to mean?'
Then, abruptly…
....A familiar chime resonated in his mind, and a familiar blue screen materialized before his eyes.
[Archive has been forcefully configured...]
[Archive is undergoing changes...]
'Not this again!'
His eyes widened in disbelief as the blue screen flickered, the familiar blue layout abruptly shifting to a stark gold color.
...
[Status Window]
Name: Kael Darven
Age: 18
Level: 1
Class: Knight
Rank: Novice Sigil
Attributes:
Strength: 47
Agility: 39
Stamina : 53
Health: 41
Mana: 0
Luck: 10
Physique (New): ???
Skills:
\Wrath of a dying god (Demi-god)/
Title: None
Weapon Mastery (New):
Sword: 2%
pear: 0%
Bow: 0%
Axe: 0%
???: 0%
.
.
.
Tasks:
Timed (New):
-\Advance to Adept Sigil within six months.
Penalty: Death.
Reward: You won't die./
-\Reach 25% Mastery of swords and 5% of any other weapon within six months.
Penalty: Left eye.
Reward: You won't loss your left eye/
\-Get accepted into the Aetherion Academy
Penalty: Right leg.
Reward: You won't loss your right leg/
...
"..."
'WHAT THE FUCKING HELL?'