My eyes flew open, only to be closed again. It felt as if a God tried to blind me.
I put my hand in front of my eyes and slowly opened them once more.
Finally, the blinding light subsided.
What I gazed upon was breathtaking in its beauty. It was a magnificent array of.. everything.
I spun on my heels, looking every which way.
This was amazing, perfect. There were no better words I could use for such a place.
What I gazed upon wasn't the ground, ruins, or creatures.
Instead, it seemed I stood upon the very clouds themselves, each part shimmering with bright rainbow hues.
Magnificent white pillars extended upwards from each side of me, forming what seemed to be a path.
I stepped forward, my foot touching the clouds as if they were solid.
I let out a shaky breath. My eyes widened with wonder and amazement.
How could such a place exist? Especially in the dream realm of all places!
I let out a laugh of disbelief, which quickly turned into full-blown laughter.
I spun around again, this time in wider circles, my single arm extended, feeling the soft warm wind against it.
I laughed happily, tears of joy and relief dropping from my cheeks.
I couldn't have imagined anything greater, anything more peaceful.
***
I walked slowly, my eyes still wide with awe, engraving each detail of this place into my mind.
Until finally, I saw something different. Something bigger, something greater.
In front of me, perhaps a few kilometers away. Laid what seemed to be a brilliantly glowing white palace.
My hand trembled at the mere sight of it, pupils shaking.
I didn't hesitate, didn't think, didn't hold back.
I augmented my body, fueling warp as much as I could.
My body blurred through the glowing clouds, dozens of warps carrying me throughout this heavenly realm.
Until finally, I stopped in front of the palace.
I gulped in oxygen as if it was trying to escape me. My hand was on a knee, supporting my exhausted body.
But that didn't matter, none of it did.
I brushed away the sweat on my face. Eyes unblinking, staring intently at the palace.
I slowly approached it, my steps slow and deliberate.
Until finally, I stood in front of the colossal double door made out of what seemed to be radiant marble.
I slowly extended my hand, my eyes tracking the movement with care.
And then, I touched the door.
Nothing happened. But slowly, with care, something started to flow through me.
My eyes closed in bliss, a small smile forming.
Then the bliss turned to anguish! My eyes flew open, a scream already tearing out of my throat!
I fell to the ground, barely able to warp away from the palace.
I gasped for air, but it only made it worse! Finally, I took a pained look at myself.
And then I saw it, brilliant white flames coiled beneath my skin! Tearing through it with deliberate slowness, as if making sure I would suffer.
Another scream of anguish tore out of me, sounding more like the roar of a creature.
I desperately tried to awake, but I couldn't.
The flames only grew hotter, my skin starting to sizzle and bubble.
My breathing stopped. I lay still for a moment before seizures tore through the entirety of my body.
I couldn't gasp for air, couldn't think, couldn't scream.
I could only clench my eyes shut, praying to whoever was listening not to let me die here.
I coughed, white flames mixed with blood falling to the ground.
My body calmed slightly, but I could still feel it. My legs, or rather, the lack of them.
I didn't dare look, the sight would only break me.
I gnashed my teeth, furiously summoning my measly will.
I begged, no! Commanded warp to take me away, to anywhere but here!
The next moment, my form vanished.
***
I stepped through the shadows, appearing in my basement, in front of my pod. The pod that housed the boy.
Only.. it was empty, or rather, there was no person inside. Only white flames ate through the pod, melting and dissolving everything they touched.
My eyes widened in horror. I knew these flames well by this point. Better than most.
Which left only one possibility, the boy was dead. And he was killed, by none other than Nephis.
I clenched my hands into fists, shadows coiling around me.
They quickly covered the flames. Not eating, but blocking their path.
They would die out sooner or later.
Yet my anger didn't diminish. I didn't care for the pod. I only cared to know how this had happened.
I bit into my lower lip, centering myself.
Yet the shadows showed my true feelings. They shot around every which way, a chaotic pattern that mirrored my heart.
Shadow step carried me upwards, onto the first floor of my house.
Rain stood there, confused and fearful of what fouled my mood.
"Dismissed for today," I stated, barely keeping my tone even.
She left at once, not daring to make her usual jokes.
I let out a breath, grabbing my communicator.
A few minutes later, I was on a call with Nephis.
"Where are you?"
There was a long pause, before a dignified female voice responded.
"In Valor."
I nodded twice, fingers twitching with agitation.
"Did you, perhaps, fight anyone?"
I worded my question carefully.
This time, the answer came sooner.
"I did not."
She paused, then continued.
"Why?"
My hand slightly trembled, my flaw forcing me to respond truthfully.
"My dream pod is being melted as we speak... by white flames."
I paused, inhaling deeply.
"The person inside of it... gone."
There was no answer from Nephis for a few tense moments.
"Strange."
Then the line cut off.
I stared at the communicator in my hand, eyes wide.
Then they narrowed, who was she trying to fool? There was no one in the world able to use those flames, other than herself.
She was lying, not even trying to hide it. Not even trying to explain herself. And then she dared hang up?!
My jaw clenched, my hand crushing the communicator in my grasp.
I would find out the truth, one way or another.
I had to, I had to know the truth.
Thanks for reading!