'Fuck, what is this headache'
The bizarre dream shattered at once. Otto, still asleep, felt a throbbing pain in his head as if someone had whacked him with a club. Mind in a daze, Otto wanted to open his eyes, get up and hold his head, but it seemed like his limbs wouldn't listen to him. It was like he had lost control over his body.
' Ugh…' Otto tried– Wait… 'Who is Otto?'
The pain intensified, sharp as if someone was stabbing his brain. His brief surge of clarity vanished, and the world spun before he collapsed into unconsciousness.
***
A temple made of obsidian could be found in the center of an island. Surrounding this temple, many other smaller islands could be seen, all of them connected by white bridges made of web.
Inside this temple, a boy could be found laid on the floor. Blood gushed from a wound on his head. It didn't take long before someone passing by spotted the bloody pale kid.
When Anna saw the gash on the side of his head, her stomach churned. The wound was deep, obviously the kid had hit his head on the obsidian floor. She didn't think twice before grabbing the boy and rushing him to the hospital.
***
The seventh bell rang, and together, the boy's head throbbed.
When he opened his eyes, a room, white as the snow, made entirely of marble, came into view.
Cold air entered through the open window. Where two curtains made of web that looked more like pure silk, could be seen.
It smelled like the ocean. Having lived near the ocean for the last five years, he knew this smell very well… or did he?
Another throb pulsed through his head just as the black wooden door on his right swung open.
A woman with silky black hair entered the room. Her presence commanded attention.
Her features were sharp yet ethereal, like something carved from moonlight.
Her black eyes locked with his. In them, the boy could see some hints of worry, and perhaps pity? Although he wasn't sure…
Before he noticed, the woman sat by him.
"Sylas, are you alright?"
That name made him dizzy for a second.
'Right…Sylas…Wait, is that my name?' Sylas tried to remember, but the more he tried the more he felt like his head was splitting.
"Sylas?" Anna asked again, eyes full of worry.
"I am fine." He said, forcing the best smile he could muster "Hm… I don't remember much of what happened…"
He tried to run his hand through his hair, a habit Sylas had whenever he got nervous. Only to find it bandaged.
"You had a terrible wound on your head." She talked slowly, as if she was afraid of his reaction. "You fell, I think. I don't know how long you been there when I found you. You've been out for a few hours now. How are you feeling?"
"I am fine." A lie, "Besides a headache, I don't really feel anything at all."
"Hail Weaver." She said with a relieved sigh. That name provoked an even worse poke in his brain. "What do you remember?"
That was the million dollars question. All he could remember was that he had laid on his bed to sleep, before he was suddenly here.
Without thinking much, he just said:
"Not much." Before growing silent.
Anna, as if predicting this, said while nodding.
"Well, at least you are fine…" She sudden pulled Sylas into a hug. "You made me worry."
Sylas was surprised by the sudden show of affection, and soon grew uncomfortable.
"Sorry for scaring you." Sylas said, breaking the hug.
"It's fine, the important thing is that you're well… Seriously, if you died, I would have to search for you through the entire Shadow Realm." She said that with a playful smirk.
Sylas giggled,
"I am sure Shadow wouldn't like you there." The name, Shadow, provoked a slight discomfort.
"Good." Anna smiled brightly. "So go to sleep. You have to rest."
Only now Sylas realised how tired he was, a yawn escaping his mouth.
A quick gaze at the window showed him that it was still day.
'Not that it will change…Wait, why wouldn't it change?' He wasn't sure.
Anna gently made him lay on the comfy bed. Tucking him in.
"Rest for now. We can talk more later."
She left quietly. It didn't take long for Sylas—tired beyond measure—to close his eyes and drift into a dreamless sleep.