The Dreamwalker

Prologue

The Dreamers

Warm sunlight pierced the cloudy veil overhead in thin, fragile shafts, scattering light across the dew-laden grass. The mist from the roaring river that circled the grassy courtyard caught the sunlight in bursts of colour, casting soft rainbows over the winding stone stairwell above it. Beyond the stairwell, a vast castle rose. On its stone walls shadows stirred, a silent dance of light and dark. Behind its tall windows, glimpses into another world, students sat in classrooms, their lessons unfolding in quiet contrast to the serene scene outside, where others lounged on the grass, lost in books or play.

From a far corner of the courtyard, beyond tall hedges of pink Azaleas, a boy came running. The boy held in his right hand a small intricate metal object while his left arm cradled a stack of leather-bound books, clearly weighing him down.

“Master Rolo!” echoed his voice across the courtyard, disturbing its peace, as he called out to a man standing on its far side.

He ran past the massive stone fountain in the middle of the courtyard, shouting louder, “Master Rolo, please wait!”

Master Rolo turned around, his deep blue eyes fixed on the tall blonde boy rushing towards him. The boy couldn’t have been much younger than him, yet he was dressed in the blue garments of a grand-apprentice.

Gently, he placed the books on the floor next to him, catching his breath on a pillar next to Master Rolo.

The boy’s grin caught Master Rolo by surprise. The massive wisteria tree gently swinging in the wind, releasing colourful, dark purple clusters of flowers onto the regal stone fountain under it, framing the young boy in a calm cascade of rich purple.

“Sir, I heard you were leaving on a mission related to the dreamers, so I thought you should have this”, he chirped, raising his right arm to present the small metal orb.

The orb consisted of seven metal rings that hovered, orbiting a round silver core.

Master Rolo hesitated for a moment before cautiously taking the strange instrument in his hand, pausing for a few seconds to examine it, before a glint of recognition flashed in his eyes.

“This is an Arcbrace”, he stated in half-contained shock. “It has been a while since I last saw one, but I have no recollection of seeing one this intricate,” his face showed a mixture of intrigue and admiration.

“What are these for?” he asked, pointing at the small intricate runes etched all around the seven metal rings.

“Well, this is no regular Arcbrace you could just find in a shop”, the boy smiled. “The answer to your question depends on the ring. Of course, all of them are for protection, just like any normal Arcbrace, but I made each of these rings with specific runes to protect from different types of magic.”

Master Rolo’s eyes flickered with curiosity. “Unbelievable!” he exclaimed a bit louder than intended.

The most rings I’ve seen an Arcbrace have are three, and even that is incredibly rare. To think that this one has seven. Out of all Warding Arcs, the Arcbrace is the most valuable. Master Rolo thought.

“What is this one protecting from?” he asked.

“Why, but magic branch of dreams”, he claimed proudly.

Of course. glancing down at the books beside the boy.

Greatest Dream Manipulators of the Last Century

Dreamers - A Fallacy Made Real

The Theory of Dream Threads

Advanced Dream Manipulation

Nightmares and Night Terrors

Diary of a Dream Realm Explorer - Vol 4

Dream not

The Trees That Dream: Ardalambion and the Memory of Sleep

He examined the young boy’s garments. A long royal blue satin and silk cloak, with bright yellow and orange buttons with the symbol of an owl, the patron animal of dream magic, and the golden etching on the back that he knew all too well. GRAND APPRENTICE.

A student of dream magic. And a very advanced one at that. What a rare sight

“Thank you. I will give my utmost to keep it safe and protected. May you know grace”, he said with a slight bow and turned towards the castle.

The droplets of freezing water hitting his face from the river below the winding stone stairway he walked up towards the castle doors brought Master Rolo to his senses. He turned to ask the young boy a question, but he was no longer there.

He grinned to himself.

I wonder if he's the student I heard about from Master Xilgrade. A shame I didn't ask for his name. He thought as he proceeded to pass through the giant wooden doors into the castle.

The young boy, now sitting underneath the Wisteria tree, marvelled at the water fountain as a slight breeze moved the floating flowers in the water in circles.

Above the water stood a massive stone statue of a two-headed dragon, several meters tall. The dragon had a rotating orb in each of his mouths, with emerald green water pouring out from around them to the pool beneath. As the balls rotated, a different animal patron could be seen, symbolizing every Magic school in the academy. In the dragon’s left hand, it held a crest in the shape of a shield with an engraving translating to Where the Arcane Bows to Wisdom. In it’s other hand, the statue held a towering sword held high above it, reaching towards the sky. On the sword itself, another engraving translates to “Knowledge is the Sharpest Blade”.

“Graham, there you are!”

A young girl came into the courtyard yelling at the boy.

“Fogul, I found him”, she yelled back at an exasperated boy behind her, waiting impatiently for him to catch up.

“We were looking everywhere for you. Why did you leave the study hall in such a hurry?” she asked Graham once Fogul caught up to her, huffing.

As if mesmerised, Graham took a few seconds before replying with a giant smile, “I saw him”.

The two shared confused looks of concern as if this wasn't the first time he ran off without a logical answer.

“Saw who?” she asked.

Fogul’s eyes glinted. “You saw Master Rolo, didn’t you?” he yelped. “Did you give him your....What did you call it again?”

“The Dreamcoil”, Graham said contentedly.

With a mighty gasp from both, they joined their friend on the stone bench, looking at the water in disbelief.

”What did he say?” she asked eventually.

“Not much, but he seemed to be impressed”

“Of course he was”, Fogul interjected. “Not many could do what you did. An Arcbrace that protects from all 7 types of dream magic?! That’s impressive for anyone to do”

“True”, the woman agreed, “but I guess you didn’t mention us?”

“He didn’t even ask for my name”, Graham laughed.

The girl pouted, “Then how do you expect the name Mina the all-powerful Runesmith to be known if you don’t spread it?”

“Ha”, Fogul scoffed. “All you did was help Graham with his technique; he did all the Runesmithing”.

“No fair”, Mina pouted again. A ray of sunlight breaking through the clouds above shone over her long, Slick black hair, tinting it a dark green colour. She was fair and tall, and even while sitting, her thin frame stood above Graham’s. Fogul, on the other hand, was short and chubby, with thick brown hair and a smile that never vanished. His dark eyes are consistently joyous.

“The guardian tree is especially beautiful today”, Mina broke the silence, looking upwards to the massive wisteria tree above them.

Master Rolo, holding the orb in his hand, proceeded to walk down a narrow staircase, delving deeper under the building, leaving students and teachers prattling around from one class to another. Suddenly, the stairs stopped above a pitch black abyss.

It was his first time in the hallway, but he remembered what his predecessor told him before passing away.

“When the road seems to betray you, keep your faith and push forwards”.

Easier said than done, he thought. I must be nuts... and stepped off the step.

The darkness of the abyss encircled him as he plummeted. After a couple of minutes, the orb in his hand started to glow, strengthening as he continued to decline until suddenly he was no longer in the air, but rather in a dark stone hallway.

He made a dismissive gesture with the hand holding the orb and suddenly the orb vanished, leaving him stranded in a pitch black void.

Large beads of sweat formed on Hines' tanned bald head, glistening in the warm flickering candlelight as he shakily lowered a large silver serving tray to the man sitting beside him. The man sent a gloved hand, grabbing the sole drink left on the tray, silently placing it in front of him on the large round-stone table. The man directed a glaring gaze toward a sickeningly pale woman who sat across the table from him.

The woman was in a trance, her eyes completely white, lacking any signs of pupils while rhythmically leaning slightly in her seat back and forth, knocking some strands of scarlet hair out under her black robe. As if sensing his gaze, her eyes turned in their sockets, revealing their crimson colour. She met his gaze with hers, ceasing her finger’s constant movement on the stone table for the first time since she first sat down an hour prior, giving him a discontented half smile and staying sitting silently with her arms crossed.

Much like the other nine men sitting around the table, the two wore black hooded robes etched with white symbols Hines had yet to understand. The clear drink in the man’s refined crystal glass began to change its tint to light green and formed little wisps of light green smoke above it, joining the drinks of the rest.

And that’s that, Hines thought to himself, looking contently at the change of the colour of the drink. He made a reverent bow to the guests around the table and stepped back whilst putting the tray beneath his arm, nearly stumbling over himself.

I managed not to mess anything up, Master will be pleased. He thought to himself, allowing a faint smile to appear on his face.

Hine surreptitiously surveyed the room as the eleven hooded figures stayed sitting unnaturally still around the immense oval table in the middle of the massive underground chamber. His eyes stopped for a second on one of the two chairs that were left empty around the table, with all of the guests seemingly waiting for something, not daring to move a muscle.

The silence in the chamber was deafening. So much so that Hines could have sworn his heartbeat to be loud enough to echo in the closed chamber's high marble ceiling.

Through his clouded breath, he saw a few of the guests looking at the other empty chair with growing curiosity as time progressed, some looking more worried than others.

He knew of the disdain of those sitting around the table for his presence and could feel the piercing gaze of some of them beneath their hoods. Despite this, he stood in the flickering candlelight with a proud demeanour. This was the first time his master had asked for his help in the meetings.

Interrupting, his thoughts, a loud creaking sound pierced the silence, startling Hines as the two vast doors behind him opened, allowing an enormous man to step beyond them into the chamber. The man adorned a similar attire hiding beneath it extravagant clothes and similar gloves with a bulge under one of them, betraying the presence of a large ring.

"You've done well" proclaimed the man with a heartfelt smile, placing a giant's hand on Hines' shoulder, quickly lifting it before he’d buckle under its weight. His deep voice echoed throughout the room as though the gods themselves were expressing their satisfaction. The towering man looked proudly at the room, his smile fading a little as his gaze fell on the empty chair the others looked at "I didn't expect you to be able to gather all of us, well done” he praised him, forcibly tearing away his gaze from the chair towards Hines. Giving him a reassuring smile.

Hines on the other hand, was left confused by his master’s words. what does he mean by gather everyone? Clearly one of them was not present.

In response to Hines’ confused expression, the cloaked giant again turned to the empty seat, this time almost mournfully.

“Unfortunately, it does not seem possible for the Douches to join us this evening. Nor do I think will she ever again” he said coldly, slightly louder than he intended. “Her Blair stopped a few minutes ago. I’m afraid the worst has come to pass”.

The people around the table exchanged looks ranging from worry to sadness. Abruptly, the crimson haired woman stood up, with tears in her eyes and a hateful gaze. “Whoever is responsible will pay dearly” she cried, her tears simmering on the surface of the stone table leaving a distinct mark. The rest lowered their heads sorrowfully, except one. “And what are you going to do Imelda?” asked the man sitting opposite to her. “You know what she was doing, what she was after. Do you really think you could do what she could not?”. The room went silent as the fire behind Imelda’s eyes faded slightly. “You know as well as I do what this means. It’s bad, worse than her fate, worse than what any of us imagined could be.” And he turned to the giant host, “and I suppose that is the subject of the matter?”

“Indeed” he answered, slowly waking over to his seat and with a great thud, dropped into it. “While her fate is yet to be carved in stone, and still. The blair never lies. She has crossed the veil and is now unknown. Our safest bet is that the Sacred Relic has fallen. We need to prepare”

Murmuring began between them. The giant called Hines to him, nodding at the doors and said “you may leave now”

"Yes Master" mumbled Hines quietly whilst bowing a deep bow and quickly walked towards the doors, slowing down to take a few shaky deep breaths in front of the doors. He nervously closed his eyes and held his breath as he trod through the open doors, feeling an intense chill that took the air out of his lungs as if he were thrown into an ice bath.

Looking back at the chamber from past the doors, Hines saw his master say something to his guests. His lips moved yet no sound managed to pass through the doorway. His master pointed at the empty chair he was previously looking at and took a seat in the other. With a worried expression, he raised his glass, followed by the guests. In doing so, the wisps of smoke started to combine in the air to form a more complex and unified shape that Hines couldn't see as the doors closed.

On the way back Hines passed many doors similar to those he just passed through. Some were open and some were closed shut. He knew better than to go past the open ones and definitely better than opening them, but there was this one door on the way that took Hines by surprise. The door looked different. It was a small wooden door in a chiselled stone frame. Whilst the door was unremarkable the frame was exquisitely marked by various creatures, each holding a ball. As Hines drew closer to the door, light began emanating from behind it enticing Hines to open it. The door wasn’t there when he went here prior, nor did he ever see such a door in all the time he spent lost in these maze like corridors. And yet here it was right in front of him. Hines’ curiosity got the better of him. As he reached out for the door he started to hear faint whispers with the light glowing brighter and brighter until he twisted the handle and opened the door.

Suddenly the voices stopped and the light disappeared as if it never existed. On the other side of the door was a small stone room with a pedestal in the middle, and on the pedestal laid a blank stone tablet. Hines stepped closer to the tablet and as he did so, markings started to be carved into it right in front of him. The carvings were of a strange tongue Hines couldn’t cypher, however their faint semblance to a language Hines knew enabled him to figure out three words.

A name of a gem: Hessonite

A name of an object: Key of Genesis

A name of a man: Grokot

Feeling as though he made a terrible mistake, Hines hurried to leave and close the door on the stone tablet as it continued to carve itself. As he turned back to leave he gasped to see countless other doors just like the one he entered through have suddenly appeared behind him, all slowly opening to show a similar room with a stone tablet inside. As the doors opened, the stone tablets began to carve themselves in a similar manner and a cacophony of whispers came rushing through Hines’ mind. Horrified and shaken of the realization of what he has done, Hines began to run with the echoing sound of his treads in the endless corridors barely reaching his ears through the sea of voices. Finally after he got far enough from the rooms and only one voice remained, now sounding as screams in his head, the voice said “There were two, then three, then eight, then one. In the darkness they will fade, disappear and be undone. Should they reach the inner core, to mirror that of which is bar-none. The shard will come to end it all and through it come Bergadan”

Large beads of sweat formed on Hines' tanned bald head, glistening in the warm flickering candlelight as he shakily lowered a large silver serving tray to the man sitting beside him. The man sent a gloved hand, grabbing the sole drink left on the tray, silently placing it in front of him on the large round-stone table. The man directed a glaring gaze toward a sickeningly pale woman who sat across the table from him.

The woman was in a sort of a trance, her eyes completely white lacking any signs of pupils while rythmically leaning slightly in her seat back and forth, knocking some strands of scarlet hair out of her black robe. As if sensing his gaze, her eyes turned in their sockets, revealing their crimsoncolour. She met his gaze with hers, ceasing her finger’s constant movement on the wooden table for the first time since she first sat down an hour prior, giving him a discontent half smile and staying sitting silently with her arms crossed.