For so long I can remember for, dreams are more like a reality to me than reality was. I have been having those dreams since I had my 5th birthday. Living in a huge mansion, served a very hot and delicious meal, learning of the otherworldly knowledge, stuffs! Things that I... will never experience in the real world. It is as if, I'm a whole another person.
For years, I've been having the same dream everytime I fall asleep, and when I sleep on that side, I wake up.
It doesn't take me decades to be able to grasp and control myself inside the dream, for at my 10th birthday, I fell. I fell into the sky, plunging deep into an entrance to the seemingly endless stairs, climbing upon the bizarre steps, I found myself asked questions by the gatekeepers. I asked them back, the riddling questions of the world, why does a dream feel so real... explanations were given, and shocked I was. Presented to me, yet another seemingly endless stairs, is a pathway, to another physical plane, where another me lives. For someone like me whose destiny is but to be a meat shield in this chaotic state, I decided. I will take these steps, and live at least happily in this another... realm, as another, far more happy me, Deostreav Engraze.
Theostra Malliere. Born in 15 January 1939, is a veteran of war. Having been born in the age of chaos, war was more than a common thing in his daily life. However, participation can easily be avoided, if you have the status and resource to spare yourself with. Unfortunately, Theostra wasn't one with such luck when he was brought into this world. Uneducated, poor, and a peasant. Having such status and qualities brings him nothing but misfortune of having participate in the army since he was at least 4 years old, where most child at his age should have been sitting on a desk, learning to spell words, eating good food to grow, and playing to their heart's content. A luck so bad it is a tragedy, but Theostra never was the type to give up, having been raised in harsh environment since he was small, he had incredible adaptability despite being a child, and even though he's not as strong as other adult soldiers, he does has his own uses. As a bait, as a distraction, as an assassin... lives, in the eyes of war, was nothing but another flower to be plucked, afterall. And Theostra, who lives amidst those, as the smallest flower, will definitely survive and not be plucked by plucking others.
But, no matter how tough Theostra and his adaptability as a child was, every human has their limits, both physically and mentally. He was still a growing child, he couldn't be as strong as every other soldier around him, and despite having experiences on that is gruesome and battle, in the end, he is indeed still a child. Crying himself to sleep almost everyday, that is the only way he could've remain composed to the next day, brooding over a happier what ifs, dreaming, dreaming, and dreaming... eventually, hopefully, such times will come over, and maybe... he can.. live happily. Wishful thinking like that, over, over, and over. Sick.. I am sick of this, please. I would rather live in that dream than here. Please, make that dream of mine become reality, if you are indeed there, God, whoever.
Your wish has been heard, young man.
Welcome, deostreav
Before my illuminated vision, a vast forest with no end, familiar air fills my lungs despite of my first time stepping inside of here. I don't... I can't recall where is this, all that I possesses is my memories of the cruel, cold reality where war lives on, how can this be? There should be nothing like this in the area I was assigned in, trees can't grow that tall, and those creatures... I have never seen them. No... No, I have already seen them once, didn't I? In a book.. a book? What book? I have never held a book even once in my life. All I know is firearms, blood, blades, and everything that is ever needed in a war. I know nothing with such no use as book, all that matters is practicality.
Yet... Why do I feel as if I've been here longer than I have ever known? No time to think, however. The beasts are charging at me, on my hand, a bilbo ... I don't know how did it got into my hand, but thank you. With this, I know... know? How do I knew, again? I was a sheltered noble child, I have no training history with swords, Iβparried the beast's hard hide, and using the momentum, was able to hit into the crack that exists in between the beast's tough skin, bleeding them extensively and making them lose in balance, tumbling upon the other beasts, giving him an even easier chance to finish the beasts around him. They are a hostile and aggressive type, it should be fine for him to do so... right? Right. I don't know where do I know the fact that they are aggressive, but after seeing their rush against me, I am forced to believe. However, it doesn't end there! As if welcoming a newcomer, a horde came from behind him, chasing him relentlessly, not giving him time to skin those materials from the monster he slain. It is a waste, but as if he knew the topography, he led them into a stream of water falling down from Mt. Lerion to Nir and made them fall one by one. Ahββ? Damn it! There was one more!? No, no waitβ! AAAA, NOW I CAN'T GO TO ULTHAR! In this pace I'm going to be swept by the wave of the river to Mt. Lerion! Huh? ...Again, where did all this knowledge come from..? Mt. Lerion? Nir? I don't recall ever learning this in the army..? No, not in the army. In the mansion! What mansion, I, I.. AhhβWho am I? Whose memories are those...?
As the child with red hair and white streak is lost deep in his own thought, he let himself to be dragged by the stream and managed to hold onto one of the branch leading to Mt. Lerion, and climbed through Mt. Lerion, only to fail reaching the top and stop midway. Afterall, his body right here, is nothing like the body that he has in the waking world, but he is already high enough to be able to view the bustling port of Dylath-Leen, which seems unbelievably far. Luckily, his dream self's knowledge was able to play a part here and with various herbs and materials he gathered throughout his climb, he was able to make a bait, a food to tame one of the creature lying dormant around the Mt. Lerion, something akin to a Wyvern - a flying lizard, salamader-like creature. It didn't take him long to find one and bait him into submission, taming him into some kind of a personal pet. Though his waking world's self wouldn't know, but magic does indeed exist in this world, and such thing can be used to create a pact between a beast and a man, creating a bond allowing them to converse through intention and allowing him to cross against the harsh environment for a kid to travel and safely reach the port trading town that is Dylath-Leen, which is the largest city in this world.
I did it. It took me almost a day to climb and half a day to reach here from... that mountain over there. The difference is surreal. I can't help but to chuckle at the absurdity. I always knew I was an adaptable one, but... how do I even know how to tame this... lizard? And how did I know how to use magic?! At this point, I'm very much convinced that I had lived here in the past, or else how should I know about all these things and feel familiar to almost all of them? And that my time on that world full of greedy humans are... just a period of where I am tested! Right? It most definitely is, and now I did my job, I am now back to my old world, and in this world where I have learnt about how this world works, I will live freely, unlike what I did in that world, and for the first step... let's see, yes. To those astonised observer that just saw my pet, thank you for the opportunity for me to take your wallet and in return, I'll let you pat my pet! A profitable deal, and my tamed beast had gone on slowly approaching them, recognizing my intent from the beginning, and using the distraction I made, I escaped! With now money on my hand, I can start my adventure! Though I do dislike unnecessary bloodshed, in this world where those... beasts, no, monsters materials are the most sought after, I have no other choice but to once again lend the skill I've been taught in that world. For once, I do feel grateful about that world.... the world where I have nothing left, not even family.
....Let's not think about depressing thought! First, first, I shall use my extensive knowledge to barter those herbs I picked up and the sword that Iβwhoa, this sword is really made with a well-tempered steel, even after hitting all those heavy hides, it didn't become that dull. But, I guess I still need to take it to a blacksmith. Weapons, check! Potions... I probably will need some, and some rations. I need to reach that country as soon as possiblβ...? Country? Is there any town, or country bigger than this place? Weird. This must be my sealed memories acting up again... Man, I can't wait until I remember everything, this worldβdespite the difficulty, is far more fun than my old world!
country, agnitium, is being rebuilt in the stony desert due to a dreamer's great influence.
Good night, Greyrak. As I said my good night to my months of travelling partner that is the winged Salamander, I've grown more powerful and thus I can sleep soundly tonight after 3 days of travelling and no sleeping. However, bleak reality awaits me as I shut my eyes. The cold temperature once again strikes my shivering skin, and the sound of busy people walking around and shouting wakes me, the smell of gunpowder and engine, the despicable wall I see everyday... I.. I am back? Why? Didn't I finish the trial? Why am I back in this living hell? Why? I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK HERE! TAKE ME BACK! Oh no, nonono, they're calling. The squadron commander's calling... ahh.. it hurts! Don't hit me! Please! Ah, no.. NO! ...No... I'm really back to this world, to this, hell... hell of a world.
Crushing feelings of despair, disappointment, anger, and sadness overwhelms the young boy as he goes on to his daily duty as usual, even though yesterday was his 10th birthday, no one celebrated it, not even himself, for the life of a peasant soldier like him is replaceable and is not worth mentioning. That's fine, he doesn't mind, but the fact that all those months were just a dream... even though it felt so real, to the point he was able to apply to his real life, those... battle experience, those useless knowledge... why give him such dream, if you're not going to make it a reality? It's as if you're torturing him. God. The day passed, he killed a few more people than usual today, and the commander praised him, gave him more dinner than usual, and that's it. Nothing really heals him, not even the almost inedible dinner, not the praise, nothing. This is nothing compared to the joy he had in those dreams. That's why, he's just going to... sleep. Sleep, and hopefully this all is just a nightmare, and he'll soon come back into the reality that is the fantasy, Dreamlands.
...!
I am... back?
... I am back. To this world. Greyrak! I am back! ...Huh? Greyrak? Where are you? Greyrak? I can't find him. Wait... why does something feel.. different? Huh? Ouch! What the hell!? Eh? Why did the branch hit me? I wasn't even this tall before..? What... what happened? I... I need to establish my connection with Greyrak and figure out the situation. I need to get out from the Parg Forest and get to Dylath-Leen to ask, I... I need to go. GREYRAK!
...This is really bizarre, ah there it is, the port city. Unchanging, bustling as usual, this is reassuring in a sense. Well then, like usual, as I land, I'll take some wallets, and... huh? What did they say? After a year, the dragon rider came again? A year? Nonono, no. I was only gone for a night, how is it a year? This is absurdity at its finest, they must be... no, they don't know my situation, why would they be lying?
Perhaps... time flows differently? I did spend months here and woke up in just a night... woke up? Wait, then... I can go back here, and there? Then... this is not a dream? Ouch. Yeah. The slap hurts. This is truly not a dream.. but if so, then, I HAVE NO TIME TO WASTE. I NEED TO GO BACK TO Agnitium! My.. my country, my kingdom, the place where the mansion is, where I had the earlier dreams, that's where I should be right now. Greyrak, off to the Stony Desert, we go! To Agnitium!
Indeed, the land where his dream self is born, the Agnitium. Located in the Stony Desert where as far as eyes can see, is only sand and dust, lays itself high between the rings of a petrified, legendary beast's body, the Death Worm. For as long as he can recall, the Agnitium's not that lively of a city, nor it is too big, but at least it is a home for him, and that the guardian Dragon that protects the city is there as well. But his family? No.. he cannot remember, all he can remember is just the outline of the kingdom and all that, but as long as he can reach there, then he will definitely find people and his family that has been looking for him. Unfortunately, however...
I'm back... this over familiar sensation, this accelerating heartbeat, this nostalgic feeling, this... this is really where I belong. Where I read all those books, where I live happily, pampered by all these servants, where I eat all the delicious foods, this is it! Here I am! Home! But... why... why is it so desolate? Did something happen when their prince went on a journey? ...A journey? Was it? No, no. Enough pessimism, that's only for the real world, I need to confirm by my own two eyes. My family, this kingdom's ruler, the King, and the Queen, I... I'm excited. GREYRAK! FASTER! TO THE CASTLE!
However, what lies ahead is nothing like his expectation...
...What is this? I explored every inch of the castle, but there's no one, not even on the streets, I did think it was weird that no one was on the streets, but to think there's no one in the castle as well... what happened? Mom? Dad? Why is everyone gone...? The building is still intact, though? W-why... HUH!? An.. egg?
At the queen side of the throne, however, lies an egg that shines bright, and to the egg, he felt an attraction unlike any other he has felt before, as if... it's a fate, or some kind. True to that, after deciding to come closer to the egg, he started hearing voices inside of his head, a voice... mystical, and mighty strong, majestic.
"My prince."
"You have come back from the awakening."
"Congratulations."
"You are the chosen dreamer."
"Now that you are here,"
"As one of them,"
"...I can entrust this kingdom to you."
βHEAR ME, HUMAN CHILD!β
βI AM THE MIGHTY PROTECTOR OF AGNITIUM!β
βTHE DRAGON, RUNASVARA!β
βAND NOW, I SHALL PASS BOTH MY DUTY,β
βAND THE EMPEROR'S DUTY,β
βTO FLOURISH THE KINGDOM ONCE MORE,β
βTO THE AWAKENED PRINCE,β
βDEOSTREAV ENGRAZE!β
"...Please, prince."
"I trust you."
"Bring glory to this kingdom once again."
"And guard this egg until it hatches."
"Until then, leave it here."
"It will protect this kingdom."
"...Now go!"
"Make your own story in this world."
...I still cannot believe what is currently happening, not only I did not get an explanation what the awakening was or where did everyone go, and what was the egg itself gonna do, the Dragon's terrifying voice commanded me to go... go, go where exactly!? I don't know! I... at least give me a direction, a help, damn it! I don't have any choice but to run if you roar with such voice now, do I?! Stupid, stupid Runasvara. What kind of insane task are you giving a 10 years old boy? I.. I don't know anymore. But.. my adventuring blood is boiling real hot. I can't contain my excitement... what is this, fire? In my heart? I feel like I can take on the world and spread the glory of my kingdom if it's like this. No, forget that. Like I said earlier, I'm gonna have fun, live for a part of myself that cannot have fun in the waking world, and most of all, a thrilling adventure, I will indulge myself in. Wait for me, Dreamlands. I will conquer all of you and become the emperor of this place!
