What a wild dream I'm having.
Franz was lying flat on his back, gazing at the sky. It was a hazy night sky with a bright red crescent moon visible, almost out of sight. His ears were badly ringing and his eyes felt like they had a heavy weight on them.
His back was on cold, rough, and jagged ground. It felt like he was both burning and freezing from within. Overall, it was not the most pleasant dream he ever experienced.
Holy hell, where am I? Did I have too much to smoke or something?
Slowly sitting up, Franz took in the scene around him. He was lying near a broken piece of wall. Seeing how close it was, Franz took the convenience and leaned against it as he observed the dream around him.
He was in a medieval looking village. However it was not a peaceful view, it was actually all in flames. The modest houses strewn around Franz were either burning, close to the fire, or collapsing.
Past that, there were people running around, all headed in one direction. These people were, in a word, bizarre. Some were extremely large and muscular figures with swords and shields of brilliant light. Others were emitting strange auras, enough for Franz to feel oppressed. Finally the last type of people Franz saw were incredibly regular.
Is this some fantasy dream? Oh, I guess my hearing is back now. Hmm, this is so interesting…
Suddenly, Franz heard someone approaching him and turned to look. He saw a man in his mid 30s charging straight toward him. Within a couple of seconds, the man was right next to Franz and was pulling him up by the elbow with concern in his dark eyes.
"What the hell are you doing Peus!? You're supposed to be getting toward the Cave!"
Agh, damn. What is this man yelling at me for? I just got into this weird dream, I don't know where the "Cave" would be!
Within a moment of thinking this, a cold spread through Franz's body. It felt to him as if the claws of death itself were tracing circles around his whole soul. However, just as quickly as it happened it disappeared and Franz's mind went back on track.
"What cave are you talking about? Who are you?"
Franz had decided to just wing it and ask the important questions. He had expected this "NPC" to reply normally and keep moving. To his dismay, that did not happen.
"What are you saying? "Who am I?" Snap out of it! I told you before - when the wolves get past the walls you have to get to the Cave of Lineage!"
Just as the man finished talking, the feeling of death spread over Franz again. However, unlike the last time, the man's words also sparked fear and terror through Franz. The claw of death could no longer describe this feeling. This was now more as if Franz was wading into the mythical river Styx instead. Though the feeling disappeared quickly this time too.
"What Cave of LIneage!? Just tell me where that is!"
Franz could not be any more direct than that. If he doesn't tell me what and where this cave is, I swear I'll pummel him!
"The Cave of Lineage! Me and your uncle showed it to you before! How in the he-"
The man could not finish his words however. Just as he was about to start cussing Franz out, a huge explosion sounded in the distance and many screams could be heard. Besides that, Franz could feel a terrifying feeling coming from where the explosion sounded.
Hehe. I don't even care what this "Cave" thing is anymore. I'm getting out of here!
Unexpectedly, the man roughly grabbed Franz by the shoulders and shook him slightly.
"Peus listen to me very carefully. I have to go. I'm your uncle's brother — a Keeper. You know that. You have to run, Peus! I don't know what's happening to you, but you must run!"
With that, the man snapped his fingers and a sudden cold grabbed onto Franz's shoulders and lifted him off his feet. Within seconds, he was well into the air. He could see the man who was talking to him before running to the source of the terrifying presence. However, more importantly, Franz could now see the causes of the noise.
There were dozens of huge, 8-legged wolves. They were breathing fire, manipulating the earth, and firing ice spears all across the village.
What the hell are those monsters!?
To the continuing terror of Franz, there was a wolf relatively close to him. He saw as it was about to start ripping a human apart, but instead it was ripped apart. A huge sword of light cleaved right through it and separated its body in 2.
Damn! That was honestly so cool! If it wasn't for this weird feeling I'm having I would clap.
Talking about the weird feeling, Franz wondered how exactly he was in the air. Glancing up, he nearly fell out of the sky from fright due to what he saw.
It looked like a semi-transparent gargoyle. The thing was extremely skinny and sported small wings. Overall, it was extremely bizarre just like the rest of the dream Franz was having.
I wonder if this thing can let me down. I mean like, sure, I'm super high up in the sky right now but we haven't really moved horizontally at all. I have to get to the "Cave" as fast as possible afterall.
"Can you let me down?"
Franz didn't really know what made him say it, but just as the words left his mouth he thought how good of an idea it was to say something. Within moments, the being started to lower Franz to the ground.
After a couple heartbeats later Franz touched down on the ground some ways away from the burning town and the demonic looking wolves. Just as he was about to say something to the being that the strange man conjured for him, it rose into the air once again and Franz lost sight of it.
How strange. It was obviously tasked to help me out but it left just like that. What a bad being to summon I guess.
Shrugging, Franz turned his attention to the landscape in front of him. Since he was now a couple hundred feet away from the wolves he felt safe enough to stop thinking about them. Afterall, they might be as big as 5 people but it didn't matter. No organism that size is able to cover hundreds of feet within a couple of seconds!
The area in front of Franz was a mountainous region with absolutely no plant life. It was really reminiscent of the Siliwak part of the Himalayas, just less plants. Just as Franz was about to start walking away from the town, the terrifying aura he felt before came back.
Contrary to last time, this time was much worse. Franz grabbed at his throat and wretched a little. Not caring anymore where he was, what this town was, or who Peus was, Franz started to run.
With the heavy feeling on his throat, it was initially hard to run. However after Franz put a couple dozen more meters between him and the town the oppression lightened.
That was a horrible thing. Fuck that! I'm getting out of here! But hmm… where could that cave be?
Within a split second, the thing that Franz was wondering about happened. A memory slammed into Franz's head — the cave was ten miles away, buried in the mountains, shown to "Peus" long ago.
He exhaled roughly as he ran.
Alright. That's where I'm going.
Another wave of dread rolled over him, thicker and colder than before. The town behind him crackled and screamed, and that crawling sensation returned, not the choking feeling but a finger across his spine. He was finally getting far enough away from the nightmarish wolves and whatever kept making the terrifying feeling.
Franz kept running.
Each step hurt, but putting distance between himself and the nightmare helped. Still, the strange fear clung to him, refusing to leave, like something unseen was breathing down his neck.
What a strange and annoying dream… I hope this damn feeling stops soon.
He kept running toward the mountains, toward the Cave of Lineage — the only hope he had.
Inexplicably however, a strange new feeling started to roll over Franz. A feeling of deep sadness. A feeling of deep mournfulness. A feeling too raw for a dream.
Honestly. This whole dream has felt so chaotic. If I had to give a comment on it, I would say the pacing is off! Hmm…