Confused, I tried to wake myself, but nothing worked. Alone in the void, I called out, hoping for an answer.
After several moments, two figures appeared.
The first was a man with neatly combed black hair, standing just shy of six feet tall. His tailored suit radiated elegance, with intricate patterns that shimmered faintly as he moved. He exuded calm confidence, the kind that made it clear he was used to being in control.
Beside him was a striking woman, her dark dress hugging her frame like liquid shadow. Her raven hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her pale skin glowed faintly against the dark backdrop of her attire. She had a sharp elegance, her piercing eyes suggesting she could see through lies before they were even spoken.
“Greetings, Juren,” the man said, his tone measured and polite. “I am Arcway, the god of dreams.”
My skepticism must have been written on my face, because the woman’s lips curved into a smirk.
“And I am Runa, goddess of nightmares,” she added, her voice smooth and rich with amusement.
I hesitated, caught between disbelief and caution. “Gods, huh? Alright, I’ll bite. What do you want with me?”
Arcway gave a small nod of approval, as if he appreciated my directness. “To help you,” he replied simply.
That answer wasn’t satisfying. “Help me? Why?” I pressed, crossing my arms. “Last time I checked, gods don’t usually go out of their way to assist mortals unless there’s something in it for them.”
His calm demeanor didn’t waver. “Fair,” he admitted. “Then let me be transparent. My sister was the goddess of the elves. As long as your kind survive, she cannot die a true death. Helping you ensures her continued existence.”
I blinked. “Your sister… the one who created the elves?”
Arcway’s expression tightened, a flicker of pain crossing his face. “Yes. She was betrayed by the other gods and stripped of her domain. Runa and I—being gods of the immaterial—were powerless to intervene directly.”
Runa’s voice softened as she spoke for the first time. “She was my dearest friend. When they struck her down, we vowed to do everything in our power to protect her legacy.”
Their sincerity was undeniable. I felt a pang of guilt for doubting them, but I wasn’t about to lower my guard completely. “So, what’s the catch?”
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Arcway raised an eyebrow. “Catch?”
I gestured at the empty void around us. “There’s always a catch. What do you expect from me in return?”
A small smile returned to his lips. “Just that you survive. Grow strong. Fulfill your destiny.”
“That’s vague,” I muttered.
He chuckled. “Destinies often are.”
I paused, studying them. Something still felt slightly off—not malicious, but incomplete. Then I glanced at Runa and noticed the way she avoided meeting Arcway’s gaze.
The realization hit me like a lightning bolt. I couldn’t resist. “Wait a second,” I said, pointing at Runa with a knowing grin. “You’re not just here for his sister. You’re here because you care about him.”
Runa stiffened, her cheeks flushing faintly.
Arcway glanced at her, confused, then back at me. “What are you—” He stopped, his eyes widening slightly as understanding dawned. “Oh.”
Runa’s hands curled into fists, her composure slipping. “You’re insufferable,” she muttered, glaring at me.
I couldn’t help but smirk. “What can I say? I have a knack for reading people.”
Arcway cleared his throat, visibly flustered. “This… isn’t the time to discuss such matters.”
Runa seized the opportunity to redirect. “We brought something for you,” she said, holding out a cloak.
The garment shimmered in her hands, its surface shifting between colors like a living rainbow, streaked with tendrils of shadow and flashes of red lightning.
I winced. “It’s… bold.”
Runa smirked. “A little flair never hurt anyone.”
Arcway’s expression softened as he explained. “This cloak will protect you from the dark gods’ scrying and bolster your resistance to mind control, light magic, and dark magic. It is a gift, born of necessity.”
I hesitated before taking it. As I held it in my hands, I noticed they weren’t baby hands. Looking down, I realized I wasn’t a baby at all—I was fully grown, my reflection visible in the black, water-like ground beneath me.
The man staring back was impossibly handsome. Lean and muscular, with golden eyes that seemed to glow faintly. It was surreal.
“That,” Arcway said, interrupting my thoughts, “is what you’ll look like in the future. We used the collective dreams of sentient beings to predict the fine details of the prophecy.”
“Convenient,” I muttered, still grappling with the image of myself.
A thought struck me, and I glanced down at the front of my pants. The grin that spread across my face was pure mischief.
“Really?” Runa said, exasperated.
Arcway burst out laughing, clutching his sides. “I like this one,” he managed between fits of laughter.
Ignoring them, I donned the cloak, and a prompt appeared in my vision.
Trait Gained: [Cloak of Dreams and Nightmares]
- Prevents gods from scrying your location.
- Provides 50% immunity to mind control.
- Boosts resistance to light and dark magic by 20%.
The weight of the cloak felt… comforting, like a shield against unseen forces. For the first time, I believed they might genuinely be on my side.
Before I could apologize for my earlier suspicion, Arcway spoke again. “We understand. In your position, I’d be wary too. But before you start feeling too self-assured…”
He smirked. “Those comments about me being clueless when someone fancies me? Right back at you.”
I opened my mouth to retort, but before I could, I woke up.
Early morning light filtered into the tent, and I immediately noticed the chill in the air. Late fall had set in, but my back felt strangely warm.
Turning, I froze. Emma was spooning me.
My gaze darted to the tent door, where my dad stood, munching on a candy made from syrup and pine-like tea leaves.
“She bribed him,” I realized, horror dawning.
Pointing at him, I shouted, “TRAITOR!”
TRAITOR".