The Dream World
The samurai sat cross-legged on a white tile floor, deep in meditation. Eyes closed. Breathing steady. The dream world around him was silent until footsteps echoed across the tiles.
He opened his eyes and turned.
Steve.
The samurai turned back around, resuming his meditation.
Steve scoffed. "Damn, Samurai. I knew you didn't like me, but not even a hello to your favorite spirit?"
The samurai replied without opening his eyes.
"You're not my favorite."
Steve grinned.
"What do you call the spirit who saves your ass every time, then? Warrior?"
The samurai stood slowly.
"You didn't save me every time. Just that one."
Steve shrugged.
"Still counts. Both our humans are still breathing. Might be the last time."
The samurai's gaze sharpened.
"I won't need your help soon."
Steve raised an eyebrow.
"Is that so? Want to wager on it?"
The samurai smirked.
"What do you want to lose?"
"Bottle of moonshine," Steve said.
"I don't drink moonshine."
"Fine. Moonshine for me, and a bottle of that sake or whatever you call it for you."
The samurai said why would I care for drinks?
Steve replied ya being a energy source that don't die just adapts and attaches gets boring might as well live a little. The Samurai replies "Thats why we will never make it to paradise".
Steve said "One thing I'm certain I have the upmost respect to those worthy of paradise, but you and I weren't good when we were mortals. The Samurai looks stern and says I admit of my choices that I made that some can see has cruel. But I wont forgive those who murder the innocent. Steve says you said it good "we are not the most righteous, but we are also not the most evil."
"The smartest thing you said all day Steve."
They shook on it.
Then Steve's tone shifted.
"All jokes aside… do you know what's coming?"
The samurai sighed.
"Yes. I know."
Steve's voice dropped.
"You were nearly destroyed with Thomas in that eruption. That kind of power it doesn't just kill the body. It kills the mind. The spirit."
The samurai nodded slowly.
"That eruption… it was unlike anything I've ever felt. It happened so fast. Thomas and I weren't ready. Even when I was alive, I never felt power on that scale."
Steve leaned against a pillar.
"Thomas is something else, huh? His potential feels limitless."
The samurai's eyes narrowed.
"And yet he refuses to rely on it. That's what gets me. He's opened a door that only one other has ever opened. The level of power he can grasp…"
Steve's voice turned somber.
"Yeah. And the worst part? The only one who can teach him how to master it… is calling shots from the other side."
The samurai exhaled.
"I agree. Without guidance, Thomas is a ticking time bomb. Unless his will is strong enough to contain it, that power will destroy him."
He paused.
"And you're right, Steve. The only one who can teach him to master that power… is Lucifer."