The guardian stared for a heartbeat -- then a soft smile cracked through his crystaline face.
" Then ... the void still lived"
Dream nodded " yes. The void still breathes"
The guardian let out a breath that shimmered like dusted light.
" Then all is not lost"
The chamber trembled, shards drifted like dying snow, yet the guardian's tone grew gentle.
" You're far from whole, emperor... I assume this is as a result of the great war, though I do not know much about what happened, but your soul burns clean. I sense no lie, hate, or greed in you-- only weight. That is why I trust and believe you"
" You can sense emotions?" Dream asked
" Yes" the guardian murmured, touching his chest. " You actually thought us how to use this skill ... Reveal"
" Reveal?" Dream repeated, as he heard the skills name.
" My master said he learnt that skill from you and from him we all learn the same skill. Even now I sense that you use it, but not completely. It shows you strength, essence, weakness, but the truest form of it lies deeper. It can read intent and with a high enough mental strength, shield your essence "
' hmm, I'm guessing that's what happened from the start, I couldn't see anything about him when I used reveal earlier'
" Every being carries emotion in their light. Rage, deceit, kindness, hunger, so much more. They shimmer in the soul's pattern. If you master Reveal, you will see them. That is how you'll know who wishes you dead before they even draw their blade"
The guardian raised his hand, the faint glow of gold bleeding into Dreams aura. " Try it"
Dream whispered, "Reveal"
The world shuddered. For a moment, color faded from his sight-- and then he saw faint hues dancing around the guardian's form. Gold for calm. Silver for acceptance. Blue for peace. Black for death. Then the light wavered, dimming.
Dream staggered, panting. " It's faint... but I can see it. And it drains me mentally"
" Good, you make progress so fast, as expected of an emperor i guess" the guardian smiled weakly. " That spark alone can save your life. The eyes of gods do not see the world, they feel it. Your mind must be strong enough to withstand what you feel"
Dream just stayed in silence not understanding what the guardian was saying.
A soft chime rang
[ Skill unlocked: Reveal( enhance)]
[ Sub skill registered:Intent(lv.1)]
Dream looked up, almost amused.
' a sub skill?, never heard that before'
" You made me learn a new skill"
" A dying man should leave behind something more than just bones" the guardian said with a broken laugh
The guardian reached towards his chest, light began to spill through the cracks in his Crystalline armor. He drew out what looks like a key. He inserted it into the glowing, floating crystal and small core appeared. Swirling with silver and grey energy.
" I have protected this realm for so long I can't even recall how much time has past, that's saying a lot for someone who has lived for a very very long time" the guardian said as he took the core " this is the dimensional Rune of the shards realm, take it. If the void is truly alive then it can bring my people back, please save our world"
Dream stared at it for a moment before accepting. The rune vanished into his inventory.
[ Dimensional rune acquired - Realm of Shards]
The system's voice chummed again, echoing faintly in mind
[ A portal can be created. Would you like to return to the void?]
Dream nodded " yes"
He turned to the guardian, whose body continued to show more cracks.
" Thank you. For trusting me" Dream said.
" No" the guardian whisperered. " Thank you. For give me hope"
Dream smiled and with that stepped into the rising portal -- before light swallowed him, he bowed slightly - an unfamiliar gesture of respect- then vanished.
The silence that followed after was short- lived.
Moments, after Dream's departure, the air split apart- shadows bled through the cracks, coalescing into a towering, horned figure clad in black armor edge with crimson runes. Eyes like molten coals flared from beneath a mask shaped like bone.
The guardian's fading senses spiked.
" A... demon"
" Correct" the newcomer said, voice smooth and arrogant. " A demon noble, to be precise. Now... hand over the heart of this realm"
The guardian steadied himself, half of his body already fractured. " I was wondering when a demon would be sent. Well... the heart is gone, already in a safe place"
" Safe?" The demon chuckled darkly. " Nothing is safe from the abyssal household"
The guardian's smile was faint, defiant which annoyed the demon. " If only that where true"
A flash- the demon's blade cut through what remained of the floor as he drew it.
" Where is it?, I won't ask again"
" Come on now, do you really think I'll tell you?" The guardian simply said, gripping his blade firmly. The demon's aura erupted- a storm of shadow flame that crushed everything in its path. The guardian raised his crystaline arms, forming a barrier of golden shards. It shattered instantly.
One swing. Two. Three.
The guardian was driven to his knees, his chest split open, light pouring out.
Still, he smiled. "You can destroy my body but,.... not what I gave away or to whom I gave it too"
The demon stopped mid-strike, his senses widening. He felt it, the faint, lingering ripple if the dimensional portal. The trace of the void.
" Is ...is it the void I sense" he said in disbelief. "Impossible. The void was erased eons ago... what sorcery have you done..."
Stepped closer, voice rising. " Is the void still alive!? Answer!"
The guardian's laugh was weak, hollow, yet triumphant. " With how angry you seem, you know the answer or perhaps you fear the answer "
" I said answer me!"
But all he got was fading laughter.
With a snarl, the demon dashed towards the guardian, catching him off guard by he didn't care. Palming his face, he smashed it to the ground with great force, shattering his head. Shards scattered like dying stars. He stood among the ruins, eyes wide open in rage and fear of what he had just realized. "If the void still exists...then the emperor lives"
" I must inform her grace at once" he said as he vanished into shadows.