00 - Dream A Little Dream
I find myself walking along in total darkness. I feel no sensation, save that of my own flesh, and that of my bare feet against what seems like cold, damp stone. While not an uncomfortable experience, it can be a pretty boring one. Since it was the only thing available to me, I focus on myself.
Clothed only in tattered rags, I’m little more than skin and bones; my skeletal hands appearing to be more like claws, or at least they would if I had eyes to see them with. Around my head, a torn piece of dirty cloth is the only thing protecting my empty sockets from whatever the world has to throw at me. However, I am not defenseless.
As if in response to this statement, something moves in the silence. I freeze, listening to my surroundings.
…!...
There it is again, closer this time, and to the left.
“…Necromancer…”
From out of nowhere, I find myself surrounded by a mob of people, all screaming for my head. Stepping out of their midst, I am confronted by what appears to be a simple farmer, holding a pitchfork.
“Leave this place, monster!
He lunge at me, intent on running my through.
‘A monster, am I?’ I chuckle to myself, as I sidestep his attack with ease. If defending yourself against all who would destroy you is grounds for such a title, then I suppose I am a monster.
He turns, and advances again.
‘Ok, I’ve had enough.’
With a speed that defies my appearance, I reach out and rip the pitchfork from his hands and toss it aside. I bet he wasn’t expecting that.
His response leaves me speechless.
“Why won’t you just die!”
Looking away, I think about how many times I’ve heard thoughs exact words over the years?
I look back up at the peasant, only to find that both he and his mob have vanished.
I was alone again, so I set about my journey. What was my journey? At this point, even I’m not sure anymore.
My mind drifts away into the darkness…
When I next come back to myself, I'm climbing. I was scaling up the side of a massive building overlooking the sea. While the scenery around me was breathtaking, I only had eyes for my destination.
Looking down at me from the top window was a beauty beyond compare. Her skin was lightly tanned, and her short blond hair had just the faintest trace of brown at their roots. But what truly drew me in were her eyes. Deep brown, they stared at me, into my very soul. I could do nothing but continue to climb up…up to her. So intent I was on my prize that I barely registered that my form had changed into that of a young man, strong and true. All I knew was that I had to get to her, had to claim her. She was mine, and would be mine forever.
After a climb that seemed to take both forever, and no time at all, I finally reached her bedroom window, and climbed in. Looking around for my prize, I see her laying on a large, four poster bed, roses scattered about her.
On the wind, I catch an exotic, spicy scent. ‘Cinnamon’ I think absently as I approach.
She is completely bare, save for a small, white crystal bond to a chain around her neck, and an almost transparent sheet covering her to the waist. I reach my hand towards her, to take her into my arms, but as I do, she suddenly shoves me backwards. I stumble, and would have fallen back out the window, save from my outspread arms stopping me in time.
Looking back over my shoulder, I see that the beautiful scenery has been replaced with an infinite void, nothing as far as the eye could see.
Returning my attention to my betrayer, I see that she has been replaced with a knight in plate mail armor, bearing a red dragon and golden lion crest.
“No matter where you may hide, The Holy Empire will find you!”
Before I can even attempt to defend myself, he plants his rather heavy boot into the center of my chest, propelling me out the window, into the void.
For as long as I can remember, I have always felt its pull. That tingly sensation in the back of your mind, driving you forward; that feeling that if you can dream it, then you can make it be. That’s right, I’m talking about magic.
As a little boy, it was hard to control. Things would just happen. Accidents, injuries, and other misfortunes would befall those who hurt or insulted me. As you might imagine, it made me difficult to handle, and led to even more trouble. One day, it led me into a scuffle that would change my life forever.
I find myself sitting on a cloud, overlooking the village of Three Bends, my childhood home. Not exactly the center of the universe, but it had its moments. Below me, two boys are tussling about on the ground. The first was wearing a ragged blue tunic, synched at the waist with a leather belt. The other wore the more costly attire of a squire in training. While both boys were giving it their all, the squire seemed to be getting the upper hand. Eventually, he pinned the peasant beneath him, laughing as his opponent’s predicament. His laughter however, soon turned to screams of fright as he found himself suddenly flying through the air, straight into a nearby swamp. As he drags himself out of the muck, he looks up to see the peasant standing over him, arms crossed and smiling darkly.
That’s where it started, and even though the peasant would grow up and forget all about that confrontation, the squire never did.
I watch as the scenes unfold. Years later, when the two would meet again, the squire (now a knight)’s grudge would lead to him pursuing the peasant (now a budding necromancer) with a fervor that bordered on mania. I saw as the young necromancer faced conflict after conflict, and yet always came out the victor, if a little worse for wear. I continued to watch as the he went thought environs that would leave a lesser man broken. The taking of his sight, the breaking of his very name; all these things made him into the man he would become. Who I would become.
Even…the slaughter of my family.
I watch in silence as my younger self cradled the bodies on my parents, their blood soaking into his robes; his tears soaking into theirs.
As I continue to observe, I slowly become aware of another presence nearby. I turn toward my observer.
In the sky behind me is the largest moon I have ever seen. Etched into its surface were a series of craters that appear in the shape of a unicorn’s head and neck in profile. As I watch, the image seems to slowly turn in my direction, though how that’s possible, I’m not sure. Slowly, a smile works its way through my melancholy.
“Hello Mother.”
The image changes, almost seeming to gain a mischievous looks, before disappearing.
Before me appears one of the most majestic beings I have come to know. She is almost as tall as I am, despite walking on four legs instead of two. At first glance she appears similar in shape to the horses of my homeland, except for the addition of an impressive horn and set of wings. Her coat was a dark blue, while her mane seemed to hold the otherworldly appearance of the night sky.
She approaches me slowly, stoically observing the scene behind me, before letting out a sigh.
“What art we to do with thou”
I chuckled, “Most tend to hire assassins, but you always struck me as the kind of mare who would do her own dirty work.”
Her expression seems to soften at my words, and I’m sure I can see the barest traces of a smile showing through. She turns and starts back the way she came.
“Come. Walk with us.”
Taking her advice, I quickly catch up to her and walk beside her.
“How long where you watching? I ask.
“Long enough. “
As me continue along, her horn becomes encased in a deep blue aura. Suddenly, flashes of the visions that had assaulted my mind recently began to form around us.
“While we art aware of many of thy torments, we are curious as to this one.” She indicates toward the peasant from before.
“Him?” I laugh. “I met him once while walking through some backwater village. Apparently he was under the impression that I had come on some unholy crusade to make their lives even more miserable than they were. Funny thing is, I actually ended up venting necrotic magic over a nearby abandoned cemetery in order to safely get out of that one.”
She snorts at that. “What we mean is,”
“I know what you mean.” I sigh.
‘Why won’t you just die?’ How many times have I heard that over the years?
She seems to notice my mood, and changes the subject.
“Come! Tis about time thy arose. Today promises to be fruitful. Much to see! Plenty to do!
I chuckle at that, as we slowly walk into an ever expanding light.