(Emea) The Void 2

[Wald Lowca]

Saun 21 719

Weight had left the body, there was nothing holding down the thoughts of the dreamer. Nothing holding onto the reality around them. Nothing to be held onto. It was a empty void of the physical, allowing only the thoughts of man to propagate. Wald's eyes slowly opened, glowing yellow against the void. His body hung in the nothingness, the only sense was that of which his eyes could see. The glowing eyes scanned the void across the dreamscape. There was nothing to be found by the mortal man's vision. Slowly his eyes drifted down, as he saw the void under him.

The realization of being above nothing, slowly caused a sinking feeling. Was Wald falling? Was it the correct way? Up and down did not exist in this space yet, as the mind did not decided on what was right. Slowly Wald moved his arms in front of himself, his eyes did not see them. Causing a realization that he was not here. Was Wald dead? Is this what death was?

A sudden jerking motion wrenched into his gut. The feeling of colliding with something, it was hard yet had a soft undertone to it. The feeling of weight entered his body, as he was being pulled towards his front. He was laying on something now. His hands slowly gripped into grass and dirt, as he moved his head up. The eyes did not see but an empty blackness, yet his hands and body felt a land around him. The sound of his heart pulsed through the dreamscape, as a window of color slowly manifested in front of the dreamer's consciousness.

The small window spread through the void, giving scattered edges touching the black. Bright green grasses, a river that flowered from the deep void, only to return to it. It was a splash of life, in a realm of nothing...

[Sybil Malach]

I

Saun 21, 719

Emea was different for all that perceived it. At least, that was the idea behind it. It was something that Karim and Magpie had hammered into their skull. But where others saw the underbelly of an ocean, or marvelous works of art within dreams... Sybil saw a world ablaze. A dim twilight with a void eclipsing the stars. A ring of fire so strong, that staring into the void is preferable. Even their brands, as they saw them, were affected by it. There were holes of twilight darkness, boring into the reality where their marks resided. Doors were replaced by obsidian tears into walls.

Sybil did not understand what this all meant. Why Emea had manifested itself to them like so. But by now, it was a thing that they were familiar with. It illuminated their eyes to the darkness which held creatures they could not yet fathom.

Drawn like a moth to a flame, Sybil traipsed into Wald's dream once again. Through the veil, they stepped through the tear that served as the connective tissue between the veil itself, and Wald's own dreams. Their eyes lid, as they saw that the world they stepped into was dark. Perhaps the first few winks of a dream blinking into existence, perhaps the inky blackness of a dreamless sleep.

Sybil's body began to morph, as they stepped foot into this place.

They became geometric. Their body sculpting into something that, naturally, it could not be. They became a being of obsidian glass, only giving the vague shape of a human. Sybil did not yet know of a way to slip between the cracks and become unseen, so the best they could do, is simply... Not, be their own body. Their eyes slowly leveled with the distant oasis of greenery, painted upon the void as though it were an artist's studio.

And so, Sybil began their approach. Slowly moving, but behaving as though they simply belonged here. As though it was entirely normal for them to make this approach. As though they were one with the dream. Watching.

[Wald Lowca]

Wald stayed sat in the void, the scene before him coming to life. His body my have manifested in the dreamworld, but it would seem it was not him who would be the puppets. Within the green life that was spread before him, two figures could be seen moving. One was small, a child, going through the grass following another figure. The second was more bestial, though it almost looked like a white cloud. The child held onto a stick, the familiar shape of a hunting bow.

Wald's body reached out for a moment, his mouth looked to have shouted something. Not a word was uttered though, as he watched the child continue the scene in front of him. When the man tried to get into the field of green, the void held him still. Though just as the boy readied an arrow, the void swallowed up the scene once more. Wald's eyes closed shut, as he fell to all fours, knowing what happened to the child.

As he opened his eyes once more to the dreamworld, Wald saw a new place form. The grass turned into a golden color, a cold chill flew through the air. In the center were three tents, a campsite, it seemed to be a safe place. The child was there in the camp, along with two adult figures. A man, his features looked almost identical to Wald, though his hair was a dark color. A woman as well, her features soft, though she had the same blonde hair as Wald. A small bird flew around the camp, it was unnoticed by the two adults, but the child was watching it. Wald would sit down in the void, and watch the scene in front of him.

A light would be in the void with Wald, always near him unless the intruder were to get to close. It would seem the light was relaxing on Wald's shoulder unnoticed by the man.

[Sybil Malach]

II

Saun 21, 719

A drama playing itself out, in the dreams of another?

Sybil's mind was perplexed at the childish assortment of puppetry and diorama-like creations. This was something that confused them, deeply. Was this normal, for a dream? As Sybil watched the events before them unfold, it prompted a moment of introspection, of confusion. The way this was playing out was strange. They had never seen something like this before. Though, admittedly, they had seen very few things in the dreams of others. But to be able to make what would amount to a puppet show... Something about this didn't seem all too normal.

Their eyes traced the scene, as the child was taking aim at the cloud-like figure.

Was Wald awake?

The thought traced their thoughts, as they moved their gaze around them, trying to find anything that looked like eyes, or a face, within the void. While the obsidian creature was free to move of their own volition, it was hard, almost impossible, to tell where the observer of this dream could see. Though Sybil had no identifying features anymore, they had become something... Odd. Anomalous. Something the mind would take note of, if they were observed. But so long as they kept their wits about them, they could watch the scene unfold, opting to not intervene.

The next scene was with a woman. And... A man? Their eyes softened, as they began to comprehend what they were seeing.

But eventually, their eyes would wander to Wald. The bright glinting light shimmering about him. It was something that was familiar in these dreams. Not quite one of the creatures that they had seen prior, but it was... Strange. Their eyes settled on it, for just a moment longer... What was it?

It wouldn't be long, however, once the creature fluttered to and fro, that their attention wandered back to the scene. It wasn't harming anything yet. To Sybil, it would have to be something that was allowed to happen. No point in intervening, or getting the attention of something they don't understand... Yet.

[Wald Lowca]

The adults began to talk to the child, voices obscured by a whistling wind. Though the chill seemed to run down Wald's spine, the man's eyes opened wide. He knew this scene to well now, as the child was given something to work on. It was a deer. He was to cut and clean it for the camp. The two adults walked to one of the tents together, slowly taking out a horse from within. It was brought out, as the man helped the woman atop it, and the man followed suit.

The two rode off into the void, with soft waves towards the child who worked on the deer. Wald seemed to scurry to his feet, and he took to a sprint in the direction the horse went. Though it would disappear into the void. Once the figure left, Wald slowly sunk down to his knees, as it looked like the light that followed tried to comfort him. Though this was to no avail as Wald did not see or feel the creature.

The child continued to work on the deer, as the bird in the scene seemed to fly around the boy. It seemed quite happy to be around the child, landing atop his head. Though, the void began to rumble, some sort of earthquake pulsed through the void.

The sound of hoofs could be heard echoing through the dreamscape. Wald's eyes closed tight, as he went back to the ground once more, holding tight to his head. Even as he covered his ears he could hear everything that happened behind him.

A band of horses rode into the scene descending onto the camp. The boy seemed to be frightened, his eyes opened wide with fear and confusion. As along with the sounds of horses, the barks of dogs and the shouts of men could be heard.

[Sybil Malach]

III

Saun 21, 719

No matter how much Sybil tried to focus on the conversation, there was nothing they could understand. Something within the dream was preventing the words from being heard properly. Instead, their gaze was forced to pay attention to the diorama, as though witnessing a puppet show of the mind. But it didn't stop Sybil from trying. While keeping their eyes open, they began to clear their mind, quieten all thoughts, in an attempt to be able to pick something, anything out from what was being said. Or at the very least... Understand the noise that was obscuring it.

Amber eyes slid across the scene, as more people began to move in. Strange figures with dogs. They didn't seem to be native to the camp. The whistling of the wind was something that drowned out what was heard... Perhaps... Something that happened distinctly within the memory? The mind trying to not focus on things that were forgotten, or not yet heard? The thought of it confused them, as their eyes settled on the new figures. There was only one thing that they knew for certain, when watching this.

This was... Wald. Or at least, Wald at a specific point in time. It's playing out chronologically, like a story. Beginning with him in a field, killing some sort of... Cloud-shaped being. Now he's here, with what they could only assume to be his family. Perhaps these figures were... The owners of the being that Wald killed? Perhaps a sheep?

The confused swelled in their mind, as the abstract shapes of their body glistened with their obsidian black textures. The only way forward was to watch and listen. Hopefully, Sybil's mind reassured, there'd be at least something that they could understand from all this. Something that could give them some sort of insight.

[Wald Lowca]

Men on horse back barreled into the scene, there seemed to be around six in number. Along with them Large dogs, the size of a grown man. One of them let off a deafening howl into the air. The howl seemed to take over the void in its entirety, it was something specific to the memory being played.

The child backed away, trying to find a way out. As the camp got surrounded. The group had insignias on their mounts, it was foreign to the Empire where Wald lived his childhood. They were something from Yaralon, a rouge band of mercenaries moving across the country side. The child tried to get out of the camp between the tents, but something was already rounding the camp to there. Barking could be heard from behind the tents, as the child fell backwards. he crawled back trying to get away from the large war hounds.

The sound of laughter could be heard echo out, as the child looked back to see a large man behind him. Tears flowed from the child's face as his mouth moved wordless. The man seemed to not care for whatever the child had to say, kicking him forward into the war dogs.

Wald curled up during theses events, gripping tight on his side. A phantom pain reentered his body.

The dogs began to grab and rip away the child's shirt, playing with their toy. Scars were already upon the child's back, in an X shape with four lines. One of the dogs finally got a hold of the squirming child, gripping its fangs into the side of him. Shaking the boy for a short time, before throwing him into the tent where the horse came from.

Just as suddenly as the men entered, they departed with two chests and the deer that the boy was trying to prepare. The crumpled tent did not move as the scene slowly faded.

[Sybil Malach]

IV

Saun 21, 719

Sybil watched through granite eyes.

It was something that most people would try to intervene with. A camp that so clearly held a family. The moment that the party entered the threshold, Sybil's mind finally understood that this was a raid. For most people, making the dream stop, stepping outside, or even just trying to meddle in the affairs of Emea to make things better would be the immediate action. Who wants to see a child and family get robbed and likely grievously injured?

... But to Sybil, such a question was not as easy. One could very easily become too soft, and think that they were doing something good by putting an end to this. But to the dreamer... A failure to come to grips with what happened to him, in the very end, will be far worse for his mind that a moment of panic and discomfort. To eventually heal, one must allow cruelties to happen. They settled on that notion, as their stone eyes half lid, watching it unfold.

Their mind took note of the first of many scars to form upon Wald. The 'X' upon his back. But slowly, their eyes began to wander from Wald himself. As the mongrels had their fill with torturing him, their eyes turned to the banners that these people flew. Foreigners. Clearly, they bore no insignia that was even remotely Videnese, and even then, the climate was all wrong. That was certain the moment they regarded the absolute lack of any sort of ice sheet, just barely beneath the feet of those walking around.

But as with all things, it all returns to Wald. Their eyes glance back down. These could be misremembered details. The mind of a traumatized child is not the most reliable for details. So instead, they finally settled their gaze back upon the child, watching just how he managed to survive this encounter.

[Wald Lowca]

The scene slowly faded from view, as a familiar chill blew through the world. It was a biting cold, something that fell during a northern rain. The world entered into a dark atmosphere, rain fell from the sky as a white wasteland swelled in front of the dreamer. The amber eyes of the man looked on to the scene, a sense of relief washed over him. This memory was very recent to Wald's mind. Tents began to dot the scene, a handful of men were seen around a campfire. They seemed to be talking to each other.

A pair of ambers drifted in the void, just outside of the camp. A second pair of yellow dots were next to them, they were watching the men talk around the fire as a soft rain hit the camp. The fire was the only source of light, though something seemed to shift. One of the men moved away, as a loud scream could be heard echo into the void.

Wald sat there, he watched the memory closely. This one did not give Wald the visual reactions of the past two. He did not try to stop anything, he seemed to be content with this part of the dream. Soon the only light from the camp vanished, a darkness took over the void again. Though a red glow began to enter the scene, the familiar roar of fire entered the camp. Tents were set a blaze, as the scene filled with the screaming of men. If Sybil looked closely he could recognize a face in the distance. One of the caravan guards were locked in the cage in the back.

The four glowing orbs walked into view fully, Wald stood there alone it would seem. The dream version was standing in front of a man, who seemed to be stammering in fear. Giving a point into the air, a white and blue blur fell onto the scared man. A distinct crack could be heard through the void. The dream Wald slowly walked into the scene, people burning alive running around. As Wald walked to the back, avoiding and attacking a few people on the way. Setting free the one man in the cage. Leaving soon after bringing the void back to the vision once again.

The void was now empty, only the obsidian being, the being of light, and the dreamer remained.

[Sybil Malach]

V

Saun 21, 719

Fire engulfed Sybil's vision.

The diorama began to serve its purpose once more. The glowing figure fluttering around Wald seemed to behave in such a way that gave the man away. Their gaze shifted, only for a moment, towards the man. They watched his outline, being forced to watch the scene. For a moment, they allowed the sensation of pity to start bubbling around the stem of their brain. Had the man not suffered enough? Did he not deserve a moment of respite at the hands of his own mind? Yet... These things. These dreams, rather, are something that bring no end to the confusion of Sybil's mind.

To coddle the man out of pity, wrests control of his improvement in a way that might stifle him. In a sea of happy dreams, one yearns for the release of a different place than the cold, distinct reality.

A shake of the head is given, as the obsidian being decides on the course of action. They had learned enough. How Wald would take this dream, is something that is completely up to him. There is nothing that they should do, in this moment. He either awakens, with the stark memories clear within his mind, or continues about his day with absolutely no idea what the inky black void of his mind contains. To awaken him now, would bring this dream to the forefront, all memories rushing forth as he experiencing lucidity and perfect recollection.

Sybil slunk back into the dark void of Emea. Allowing the tendrils of the door from whence it came to subsume them, their eyes remained upon Wald, until the reality began to pull through their eyes.

They would begin to help him, now. Through whatever means necessary. They knew quite a bit... And just a bit more, they could start making informed decisions. Their eyes closed, as they awakened into the real world.

A few more nights of suffering would be necessary. But soon, such shackles would be broken.