Alistair fell asleep and was then transported into the fantasy world.
He was going to seek guidance among the creatures.
Maybe they know something more about what's going on than he does.
He opened his eyes and looked around.
Grassy fields and beauty surrounded him.
In front of him was a modest cottage in which a dwarf came outside through the door.
"Ah hello, Alistair! It's good to see you, my boy! Good to see you indeed… er-please come inside uh I have tea"
Alistair followed the dwarf back into his house.
Careful not to bump his head on the short doorway or the ceiling.
It was almost amusing to him how the dwarf waddled around scavenging for teapots.
Then again he must look like a big string bean of some sort to the dwarf, he thought.
"Please take a seat, the tea will be out in a minute"
Alistair nodded and settled down in one of the wooden seats.
He could tell something was wrong.
Very wrong indeed.
The dwarf's movements were shaky, A stark contrast to His usual confident way of getting things done.
The dwarf waddled up to the table and put a teapot and multiple tea cups in front of Alistair
"I know this is a very strange question to start our conversation…"
"What is it?"
Alistair was curious now.
But he felt as though he shouldn't be.
"Have you seen Arnold?"
He froze.
His worst fears have now been affirmed.
It really was a creature that was under his bed that night.
It was Arnold.
Dead.
"no"
Alistair didn't want to trouble the poor dwarf by telling him his dear friend had died.
That just wouldn't be fair with all he's been through.
"It's just been one thing after the other since that vision all of us had."
Alistair nodded.
At least there was some truth in all this madness.
"I'll say, it shook the lot of us! That vision!"
"That much is obvious."
The dwarf let out a hearty laugh.
"I really shouldn't be laughing at times like this. For all I know, the world could end in 20 seconds"
"Really?"
"for all I know"
"…"
Alistair and the dwarf actually waited 20 seconds.
No world-ending deities in sight.
"I feel as though I'm going to wake up soon. I'm afraid I have to leave."
"Alright.. nice talking to ya!"
"You too Karl"
Alistair walked outside, closing the tiny wooden doors behind him that he could barely fit through.
And then he saw something.
Something in the sky.
Something…
Unholy.
Something…
Powerful.
The skies turned red.
And all of a sudden.
This world didn't feel so beautiful anymore.
It didn't feel so safe anymore.
It scared the life out of him.
Was this some sort of deity?