I opened my eyes.
Beautiful green land stretched out around me.
I quickly turned around.
Behind me was a calm but sporadic ocean, with a long beach stretching beneath the grassy hill I stood on.
"Where am I?"
Something about this place felt familiar, like I'd been here before. But every time I tried to grasp the memory, a headache formed.
"Kroven."
The soft voice returned, rippling through my otherwise calm mind.
"Who are you? Where am I? Where are you?" I called out, looking around for any sign of life.
"So many questions," her soft voice replied. "But easy ones to answer."
"Then tell me," I said, letting some of my anger slip into my voice.
"I don't think I will."
Her voice came from behind me, followed by a quiet chuckle.
A hand rested on my shoulder.
I spun around.
Shock froze me in place.
Standing before me...
was me.
I stumbled backward, lost my footing, and fell onto the grass.
"What in Karoth are you?"
A smug look crept across her face.
"Now, is that any way to speak to a lady?"
A lady?
She chuckled.
"Yes, I am a lady."
Genuine confusion washed over me.
"But you look like me?"
"That's because that's how you perceive me."
"Enough of the bullshit. Where am I?"
The anger inside me continued to build.
She tilted her head slightly, a grin sweeping across her face.
"How vulgar."
Her grin faded slightly.
"We are here in Mozoa."
Disbelief swept through me.
"I don't understand."
"We have very little time here."
Her smile quickly disappeared, replaced by a blank expression.
"Kroven," she said, looking at me seriously, "this is a warning. Do not trust anyone in this place, not even the ones who raised you."
"What?"
A cold shiver ran through my entire body. My anger dissolved, replaced by fear.
"You must approach everything you do with caution. Every word you speak must be chosen carefully."
My body started to shake.
She took a few steps closer and knelt beside me.
"You are something I need," she said, pausing for a moment. "And I, too, will be something you need."
She sighed.
"But—"
"But...?" I muttered. My hands were growing colder, and my mouth had gone dry.
"You need to understand. But I cannot make you understand without remembrance."
"What in Karoth is remembrance?"
"You will know."
She looked upward.
"But it is far too early for that."
"What do you mean—"
She suddenly turned toward the ocean.
"He promised me more time. That bastard."
A loud ringing echoed throughout the beautiful land.
"Time is up, Kroven."
"Wait, no. I'm not done."
I quickly stood and began backing away.
"Answer my questions, lady," I demanded, my voice trembling.
"I'm sorry. Remember my warning. I will speak to you again, but tell no one about this. There will be dire consequences if you do."
She paused.
"And I need you alive, Kroven. For the sake of both of us."
She vanished instantly
"You bitch!" I yelled.
The waves stopped, and so did the wind, almost like the world was holding its breath, including me…
"I'm sorry again." Her soft voice echoed
before I could even move; a sharp, pale bone sword ripped through my chest. A screeching cry came from my mouth.
Tears began to fall from my eyes.
"Silence."
My voice vanished, but the pain, however, did not. Blood began to fill my mouth and ears.
I looked down at all the blood falling drop after drop onto the bone sword. It began to dissipate.
The sword left my chest.
I fell slowly and landed on the grass.
"Remember this pain; there will be more, and much worse.
Bravery needs to be your companion, Kroven."
The world became darker and darker with each word; eventually, nothing was left.
I slowly opened my eyes, immediately getting hit by the glare of the sun. I turned my head away.
"What time is it?" I asked, my voice groggy.
"Two or three in the afternoon."
"What?!"
I immediately threw myself upright.
"Whoa, lie back down."
A hand pressed against my chest, pushing me back onto the bed.
I looked down at the hand, then over at Selina.
"Are you okay, Kroven?"
"Holy shit!" I yelled, jumping back. "Why are you in here?!"
"Why are you yelling?" Selina asked, sitting back in her chair.
"You answer me first," I said, pointing at her.
"Obviously, I'm checking on you, moron. You've been out for two whole days."
"Two whole days? What are you talking about?"
"Do you not remember?" She raised an eyebrow. "I guess that makes sense. You hit your head pretty hard."
"Hit my head? What?"
I pushed myself back toward the middle of the bed.
"During late-night worship. You went up there, freaked out, fell over, and hit your head on the pulpit."
"Really? I don't remember that."
I rubbed my head.
"Now that you mention it, my head does hurt."
"Who would've thought?" she said, crossing her arms.
I looked her over.
"Also, what in the hell are you wearing?"
Selina was rocking some serious training gear: a grey shirt, bronze breastplate—maybe—knee pads, elbow pads, and gloves.
"Oh, yeah. We started training yesterday. This is what we have to wear for protection and all."
Selina hit the chest plate a couple of times.
"Looks uncomfortable." I rubbed my throat. "Also, have you got any water? My throat is dry."
"A little. Yours is on your chest, and... yeah, here."
She tossed a closed sack of water onto my bed.
"Thanks."
"Yep. Well, since you're awake, I'm gonna go ahead and get back to training. If you want to come, throw that on. We're out next to the Rye Patch field. It's huge, so you won't miss it."
She stood and started toward the door.
"Okay," I replied.
Selina walked out, closing the door behind her.
I quickly grabbed the sack of water and opened it, greedily chugging it down.
Once I'd finished, I lowered the sack.
"That had to be a dream, right?"
I slowly pressed a hand against my chest.
"Everything is still there, but that's impossible. The pain was too real. The smell, the wind...
I've had weird dreams before, but nothing like that.
I continued to mumble to myself, trying to make sense of the impossible.
"That warning made no sense. None of it made any sense."
I reached over to place the sack of water on the nightstand when it bumped against the hardcover book.
"Unblessed Relics," I mumbled.
I quickly put the water down, leaned over, and picked up the book. Flipping through the pages, I found the section I was looking for.
If you or someone you know is having strange dreams, contact your nearest Sanctum immediately.
I closed the book and rubbed my face.
There were still so many questions that needed answers.
Yet one thought stood above the rest.
I need to talk to Vira.