• Mature • (emea) Twisted Synapse III

[Wald Lowca]

36th of Vhalar 719

The world was back to a large grass field, a stream bordering the land. The bright stars in the sky warming the land gently, as day seemed to be young. The small camp of three tents seemed to already have been awake for a short time, before the dream even started. A fire was set, and figure seemed to move around the camp. Wald was sitting there, his child like form slightly larger then it was in past dreams. It looked to be almost a full arc since the last one took place. His mother and father were gathering things into sacks, several kinds of furs and even some parchment that had cursive scribed about it.

The father moved a large deer over to the fire, where Wald was sitting. He would give a white smile through his dark beard, before speaking. "Ya mother and I will be back, can ya take care of cleaning da deer for us son?" Wald gave a slow nod, he would stay quiet through this as he pulled the deer closer. The two parents seemed to be used to this by now, as they got their things brought to one of the tents.

Soon the horse would leave the tent, saddles and people aboard as they would ride towards town. They knew not to bring Wald, as he would have issues with the place in itself. The scares of his arrest the cause of such phobias, and despite the events of the last two dreams memories still continued. Soon Wald would begin to cut into the deer, slicing the skin slowly as he seemed to know how to even in his young age.

[Sybil Malach]

I

36th of Vhalar 719

Sybil had become a specter within the dreams.

They were wreathed in the energies of Emea. One day, they woke up with the sensation of being more... Transient, than they once were. And through some trial and error, Sybil learned quite the interesting parlor trick. They could fade out of existence, burning like a piece of parchment until an ashen silhouette remained. A silhouette that couldn't be seen, they found. The process of their body becoming kindling was shockingly painless, however.

Sybil was among Wald's dream now. They could tell it by the shape of the brand that glowed upon the younger Wald's form. A glowing, amber colored handprint.

Looming over Wald, their eyes glanced around at their surroundings. It was always grassland. Not a trace of the Videnese norm could be seen anywhere in the slightest within his dreams. It was a motif that was becoming less and less a fluke, and more of a simple fact of the matter. Wherever Wald came from, it frankly was a matter of not being anywhere near Viden, at least from what they could tell. Their unseen brows furrowed, as they considered it.

References to being a replacement. Attacks by a group. Taken in by a group. A family in the wilderness. A distinct lack of icelands and tundra. This was... Foreign.

However, in this form, they would not even be able to be seen by the native Emean, within Wald's dreams. And that, it seemed, was the main thing that was bringing their mind here on this night. They were made aware of the Emean's influence upon Wald, but was given no chance at understanding just what exactly it even did. But now...? With this strange new ability? Their spectral form could see such things without hindrance.

[Wald Lowca]

The dream seemed to be peaceful at first, as he worked on the deer. Slowly slicing the knife under the skin, snipping away at connective tissues. The sound of the horse now a far off memory, a small brown bird would land on Wald's shoulder. He would turn his head and give a smile. "Hey Nex." The child spoke to the bird, as the dreamwalker saw the glowing orb sit next to Wald on the ground.

A small voice would speak out in response. "Hi Wald... how are you today..." The voice was sad, and just seemed to be recalling a conversation.

Though Wald could not hear the Emean, the bird on his shoulder did tweet before he responded. "I am doing fine, just waiting on my parents to return. I can not play though I have to work on the deer."

The bird would chirp for a moment, before the Emean would respond again. "Oh that is fine... I do not mind watching..." The small figure could be heard sniffing at this, while it was replying. The bird slowly moved to another shoulder, as it looked over what the child was doing. "You seem to be good at that Wald..."

Wald would nod slowly as he gave a soft smile. "I am not that good though, my father is much better."

The chirping would begin once again, as the Emean flew up into Wald's face. "Run Wald please! I can't do this anymore... Sybil... Sybil was right... PLEASE HEAR ME!"

Wald gave a soft laugh, as he moved the flap of skin over from the deer. "Yea, I know I should not compare myself to an adult like that." The sound of horse hooves were starting to be known in the distance, along with dogs barking and people talking to each other.

[Sybil Malach]

II

36th of Vhalar 719

A struggle?

Sybil's eyes watched as the two talked through one another. The Emean was trapped screaming at Wald, while Wald acknowledged its presence in passing... It was almost like he didn't even hear what was being said. Their eyes traced between the two, curiously. Though, for a moment, they do look down at their own hands, seeing the squirming ashen outlines of their body. If they could do this... Could this strange Emean do similar?

Then it gave up. It started screaming at Wald. And if Sybil was a lesser man, they would take pride in the fact that the creature said that they were right. They knew better. Feeling good about something like that... Was pointless.

Instead, their eyes turned around, glancing about. The creature was trying to warn Wald of something. Their eyes slowly began to set upon the horizon. They knew better than to expect to be able to see something immediately, but this is where Sybil began to take a few steps back. Things were, judging by the creature's reactions, and the colorful history that was Wald's life, about to get either extremely violent or extremely sad.

The script broke, but there was not anything to learn yet. Awakening Wald at this point would eject him from the dream. The memories he carried with him would be... Pushed back, until another night.

And yet, in despite of all their internal justifications, they knew that by the way that the Emean was behaving, something awful was about to happen. Something that they began to feel a sinking sensation in their stomach over. Biting the bottom of their ethereal lip, they truly wished for a means to help Wald that didn't hurt. They truly did wish for such a scenario.

... But they weren't yet sure if such a thing existed.

[Wald Lowca]

The Emean was completely ignored by the child, as he stood up and looked out to the horizon. The boy had a confused look on his face as he tried to see what was happening. His parents had just left, they would not be returning for several breaks not a few bits. The first thing to cross into view was a raising banner of sorts, something foreign to both Sybil and Wald. Wald's head titled as the Emean began to kick at the child, though it had no effect even on the dreamer's clothing.

Men riding horses, and dogs running along with them. Wald did not react at first, until he saw a glint of silvery steel rise in the air. He panicked, as the bird on his shoulder flew and sputtered about Wald's head. Wald would follow the flying animal, as the Emean tried to pull on the child's clothing. "Not that way!" The men rode into the camp, as the dogs ran around the tents. They began to rummage through the tents, even taking the deer that was still near the fire.

Wald had ran between the tents, following the small brown bird. Though as he did he was face to face with the group of hounds, along with one rider who laughed at the child. "Is dis ya camp boy?" The voice had a thick accent to it, something from eastern Idalos. The man would give a loud whistle, as his dogs began to surround Wald. Fear entering the child's eyes, he still carried the small skinning knife. Though there was nothing Sybil could do in this scene. He watched the boy fighting against the beasts. His shirt would tear away at one point exposing the X scars were completely gone from his body. Though one of the dogs would finally grip into the child before flinging him into a tent, drops of blood followed.

As quickly as the group came, they left, the brown bird was no where to be seen anymore. The small child was pulling his way out of the tent's fallen tarp. blood staining where he had fallen. The Emean slowly trying to help mend the wound, though unable to do anything themself.

[Sybil Malach]

III

36th of Vhalar 719

A banner rose in the distance. It was one of the first things that caught Sybil's eyes. Banners tended to do that. Though, it was in this moment that their mind started to parse what they saw, as it drew closer. Was this, perhaps, the very same thing that they'd seen before? The childish dream that had to do with the sheep and the raiding party was lacking in detail compared to this. This was... Far, far more vivid.

A slow glance was given towards the Emean.

Sybil didn't know much about the likes of banners and heraldry: it was a pointless endeavor when you could be known for the sweat of your own brow rather than dynastic symbols long since corrupted. But this was a sign of something. Pressing their middle and index fingers against both eyes, they tried to think something through as they raiding party burst into the camp. They were unseen by their surroundings. A strange calmness among horror and chaos.

What was the point of this action? They rose their banners to let themselves be known. They then decided to just... Raid a camp. Logistically, that made no sense. They didn't even take the kid hostage, or sell him into slavery.

At this point, they were uncertain if Wald was an unreliable narrator, or if this was just a genuine, wanton act of malice that had no purpose other than to cause harm. ... What was worse, is that the latter was a feasible option.

For a moment, they considered tracking the group that ransacked the area.

As they approached Wald, their eyes remained in that area. A slow shake of the head was given. The child wouldn't understand something he didn't witness. It was pointless to the reasons they came here, what they assumed they did. They approached both Wald and the Emean rather closely, eyes scanning between the two... Watching the scene. Waiting for the key point where the repression began.

Sybil was nothing more than a catalyst at this point.

[Wald Lowca]

The raid was just a random act in truth, the camp was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. The mercenary group was on their way to fight battles elsewhere, but on of their scouts had spotted the small sight. Due to its size, the camp would of been a quick place to find a few supplies and maybe easy loot. No forces would bat an eye at the act either, as no one would look for them for attacking a single stray camp.

The small child began to get out of the tarps, as Wald was finally able to stand over and look at the destruction of his home. Blood would cover his side fully where the dog had grabbed a hold of him. The child would walk slowly, small hands holding his side trying to keep the warm fluid inside. As he would walk to one of the ruined tents, it was cut open from both sides, as the mercenaries wanted to be quick and did not care about destruction.

The only thing left inside was a single bed roll, and even that was thrown about and trampled on. This was the smallest of the three tents, it was where Wald would sleep. It was his own privet place, and what few things he had were all taken. Stumbling in further, Wald would fall on the bed roll. He was scared and alone, he could not feel safe even in his own privet place. "Mom... Dad... Nex... Someone..." The child would begin to cry while laying on the bed place.

The small Emean sat next to Wald. "I am right here Wald, I have never left you." The small figure seemed to pet Wald's head.

[Sybil Malach]

IV

36th of Vhalar 719

Sybil began to take shape.

But this shape... Was not truly their own. A gust of flame erupted from the ground, forming the outline of a person. Shocks of flaming hair flow upwards into the sky. Its legs and arms all tapered into a blunted edge, having no need for such trivial things such as feet or hands. The creature that Sybil took the shape of, was stark, burning like the most violent bonfire.

"Stand from your bedding, Wald."

The distinct burn of the voice lashed the attention of Wald's mind. The creature that had presented itself to him commanded authority, dictating to him what should be done. The ground around its feet did not burn, yet Sybil's body was afire from the sheer rage of the moment. Glowing white eyes stared down upon Wald, as their vague shape made itself amply known to him.

"You have witnessed the cruelty of Man. But I offer unto you another fate." Sybil's hand gestures outwards, towards the child, bent over against his bedding, hurt, and unknowing of the reason the horrors had taken place. They allowed the feeling that they wished to impart upon the child to consume their body, burning them to the core as though they were strapped to a pyre.

"Come to me. I will salve your wounds." The creatures trailing, white-hot eyes furrowed, "But that is a choice that you alone must make. To stand, and accept such an offer, or to hide within this camp."

Sybil made no attempt to move. They had no reason to. It was not their place to decide for a grown man's dreaming state.

Instead... It was all on Wald to decide the next move.

[Wald Lowca]

Wald's face twisted from sadness to that of complete fright, as a strange fire figure formed from the air. He would not move as he was stunned by the event that had happened. Was this... Was this an Immortal? Or one of the spirits of fire? The child's mind fluttered with stories of beings of fire. Even some Fairies were thought to be of fire, maybe a troll. No it had to be some sort of Elemental right? The small child had not started a breath since he was thinking. A gasp of air soon rushed into his lungs, for some reason the heat from the flames did not scorch his lungs. They were, gentle.

Soon the fire fay would give their offer, extending a whip of fire towards the child. What was safe though, the child sat up. The wound dripping in pain drawing attention to itself. Was anywhere safe... Something Like that could happen again right. No matter where Wald ran to. Was it safer to take the chance, or to stay in the bed to continue their life as normal.

An audible swallow could be heard, as Wald squeezed his eyes shut tight. He had made a choice and was to afraid to look at what happens next.

The child's hand would grip the tendril of fire, as they kept their eyes close. The choice was their's and they took it, he had lost so much so quickly. His first bow, his only toys that were widdled of wood by his father, and Nex his only friend seemed to have disappeared. The only thing left to loose was his parents, and his own life right now.

[Sybil Malach]

V

36th of Vhalar 719

"What you have experienced on this day, was the cruelty and callous nature of Man and Men's design." The flaming figure that was Sybil's avatar flared into a blistering light. Though their body did not harm Wald as he touched them, they were covered in an unnatural warmth. Sybil looked down to the child that they towered over, "But you are not dead. You live to see another day, and learn a valuable lesson."

The burning figure reached down, and tore off a piece of Wald's shirt. The fabric tore with an audible noise as they took it from him, and put it against one of the child's bleeding areas. For a moment, there is an allowance for silence. They give Wald a chance to consider the lesson he had learned of cruelty on this day. They did not give him an answer on how to feel, but merely laid the seeds of contemplation.

"You must feel the fire budding within you, Wald. The fire that burns behind the eyes." Sybil pressed their warm index finger against the bandage, all but sealing it to the child's skin, before pulling back, "To hide is to allow THEM to win. You are not yet ready to fight the horrors of this world. But to live is to be knocked down onto your knees without knowing why."

Sybil motioned out, to the horizon, opposite of where the raiding party came from, "You chose to live, rather than to curl up among the wreckage. You chose to rely upon another, rather than to hide away from the world."

"But you must not surrender, until you are strong enough to put a dent into the iron wall of cruelty." Sybil takes a step back from Wald, staring down at him, "For if you choose to surrender, and to hide away, another child in your position will choose to surrender, unknowing of hope. Unknowing of exemplars of strength."

"Do you know how steel is made, Wald?"