Klint showing up at his door in the middle of the night, banging on it and ruining his sleep, had driven Faust crazy.
He was actually a calm, motionless-as-water type of guy—at least during the day. Otherwise, when he was with the Brothers, he'd have everyone laughing to death. Still, he was someone who got irritated fast and whose mood dropped just as quickly. He got angry in an instant.
Feeling everything intensely, and being able to flip those feelings to the complete opposite in seconds, made him a little… dangerous. But for someone whose life was always full of rivals trying to survive and who lived a harsh life, that danger could be considered a bonus.
The Brothers understood him—they'd been together for years. A problem or conflict only happened maybe once a year. But strangers? They wouldn't be so lucky. In a world where not even children were shown mercy, who knew what a short-tempered man like him could do to them.
This wasn't Faust's only problem, but for now, it was enough. Klint pushing him over the edge last night had messed him up badly. And since Faust couldn't think straight after being thrown off like that, he hadn't been able to sleep properly either—but he still had to force himself to sleep.
And the sleep he did get turned into a nightmare.
* * *
Faust was lying in the middle of a forest—but only physically. Looking deeper, it was clear his consciousness wasn't present.
It looked like a strange nightmare, and why wouldn't it? It definitely was one, but the surroundings were filled with green, bright-colored apple trees, and in the middle of it all Faust lay flat on the ground, unconscious, with a human-shaped black cloud standing over him.
What made the situation nightmare-worthy was simply the possibility that the cloud might make a hostile move toward him… but it didn't seem to have that intention at all.
A muffled voice:
"Faust. Wake up, Faust…"
"Open your eyes, Faust…"
…hmm?
The voice was getting closer and closer, but not sharper.
"Get up. Don't worry, it won't take long."
Even in my dream you wake me up… get lost already.
The cloud didn't have a clear shape, but it resembled a human. It had arms and legs, and stood around 1 meter 80 centimeters tall. You couldn't tell what it was, but its movements betrayed it.
The black cloud brought the hands it had kept behind its back to the front. It lifted its right hand…
My eyes may be closed, but I can feel you, you idiot.
Whoosh!
The black cloud slammed its right hand into the spot where Faust had just been lying, sending dust flying. But when it lifted its head and looked forward, the one standing in front of it—just moments after it had tried to strike—
Was none other than Faust.
"People can't just let me take a damn nap can they?."