Chapter 20: Dreams and Designs

It always began the same.

Spade was running down a dimly lit hallway, heart pounding in his chest. The Old Guard was no where to be seen, but occasionally he could hear someone’s cries as the sound of weapons clashed in the upper floors. It had taken Spade hours to escape from his cell, and he only hoped he wasn’t too late to help his friends.

He found a servant entrance with a spiraling staircase and prayed to AION that it would bring him near the Dark Lord. Around and around he spun about the staircase as he ran up numerous flights of stairs. With every step the sound of battle grew louder, with every flight of stairs he climbed his fear was growing. Running towards the danger was never a good idea in his experience. A sudden crash and a cackle of laughter resounded throughout the staircase and he clutched his bow tighter to his chest. Every breath was an agony and he felt terror as he never had before.

The exit came sooner than Spade expected. It was a simple wooden door lowly servants used to do the Dark Lord’s bidding. For a moment he stood with his hand on the door knob, catching his breath. His other hand counted the remaining arrows in his quiver, then he adjusted the short sword in his belt. Then he opened the door into chaos.

Nearly every member of the Old Guard was either incapacitated or unconscious.

Melamy and Redstar lay in a heap by the main entrance, blood pooling around their robes. Samantha Blood was holding her hands over her belly, seeming the tide of blood from a wound a projectile had caused, her face contorted in pain and her bow broken and cast away. Spade saw both Dredman and Karkren laying flat on their backs closer to the dias, blood also covering their faces. Christie was missing which worried Spade but he hoped she has gotten away, and Mack the Tooth was strung up by a set of heavy chains, he was the one who was screaming as the Dark Lord’s spell wrecked havoc on his body.

“Solomon!” Shouted Mack. His fur coat was splattered in someone’s blood and his bulging muscles strained at the chains. “Solomon wake up! Wake up, man, he’s going to kill us all!”

The leader of the Old Guard was kneeling before the Dark Lord in a daze. Spade did not know what kind of spell he was under, but it seemed to give the Dark Lord full control over Solomon’s body. All the casualties in the throne room was Solomon’s work and the Dark Lord had never lifted a finger.

“Quiet, Mack,” hissed the Dark Lord. His face was covered by an iron mask and his massive 7 foot frame was covered by a dark cloak. “Or I’ll have Solomon rip your guts out and strangle you with them.”

The Dark Lord raised a hand covered in rings, his fingers were a dark grey color unlike anything Spade had ever seen in Esem. The Dark Lord snapped his fingers and Solomon stood up, completely under control.

“You were a fool to bring your Guild here, Solomon,” said the Dark Lord. His voice was deep and hypnotic as he spoke. “There is no future where you could ever best me, not with a thousand players. For nearly 10 centuries players have tried to defeat me, all of them have met the same fate of your little guild. I am going to have you be my hands and kill them all, then when you see what you have done I will blind you, and maim you, and cast you into the darkness.”

Solomon turned around as the Dark Lord snapped his fingers again.

“My...Lord...What...is...your...wish,” said Solomon haltingly. Spade saw how his leader was fighting the Dark Lords spell. In one hand Solomon held Banebreaker, his famous sword. It was covered in the blood of the Old Guard he had cut down at the Dark Lord’s command.

“Mack the Tooth tried to strike me with his axe,” though his face was masked Spade could sense his vile grin stretching across his face. “I wan’t you to bring me his head.”

“No...,” Solomon seemed to spasm with resistance but the Dark Lord’s power was too strong. “N...n...Yes, master.”

The Dark Lord threw his head back and laughed.

“Even the most OP player in existence cannot defeat me. If a man with 20 contract marks is no match with his guild who will ever be able to kill me?” The Dark Lord raised his hands and thunder sounded outside, the lightening flashing through the windows and illuminating Solomon’s stone cold face for a brief moment as he descended the dias stairs to where Karkren and Dredman lay. “I am the Darkness and the Light. I am the greatest creation to ever be made in Esem, and one day I will grow more powerful than even my master.”

Thunder sounded again outside, his blasphemy seemingly egging on the raging storm.

Solomon reach the foot of the stairs. Spade could see Dredman coming around, his eyes slowly opening. The large man weakly raised a hand towards his leader.

“Solomon...please...please,” he murmured.

Mack the Tooth struggled at his chains harder than ever.

“No! Solomon! Remember who you are! You are the leader of the Old Guard! Dredman is your friend!” The chains clattered but grew tighter about his chest and he began to wheeze. “Stop...this...please...!”

“Raise your sword,” said the Dark Lord, his booming voice filling every corner of the throne room. “Bring me his head, you are a servant of the Dark, now. Do as I command.”

Spade, arrow drawn to his cheek and sighting down the shaft, narrowed his eyes as another burst of light came from the windows, casting half of the Dark Lord’s face in light, the other in shadow. His eye seemed to glow in the darkness.

“What a corny thing to say,” muttered Spade. He let the arrow fly.

Years ago, in that throne room, on that day, Spade’s Shot as it came to be known had struck the Dark Lord in his left eye, breaking the spell over Solomon who turned around and immediately used the moment to strike down the screaming Dark Lord.

But this was not that day, and neither was it a dream, it was a nightmare.

The arrow buried itself in Solomon’s heart, killing Spade’s leader instantly.

….

As Chase woke up, the sound of the Dark Lord’s laughter was still ringing in his ears. A cold sweat covered his body and under the covers his right hand was shaking again. Chase focused on his breathing and clutched his right hand with his left. Finally, the shaking subsided but the ringing laughter remained like a distant echo, haunting him as it had for 15 years.

Marlon and Thomas were snoozing soundly on either side of him, just bundles under their blankets, their gentle breathing filling the room with peaceful sleep. Chase lay back and sighed. 15 years and still he was haunted by this dream, this false memory which insisted upon him with recurring malice.

Chase took a deep breath and focused on banishing the nightmare from his mind—not an easy task but one which he was accustomed to. He wondered idly, not for the first time, whether the other Old Guard members had similar dreams.

Tendrils of sleep began to lace his heavy eyes closed, he felt his body relax, and soon another dream took him.

He was at the peak of a mountain, staring out over the entirety of Esem. Chase knew that no such mountain existed, and also in that moment that he was not alone as he surveyed the nations of NPC and player alike.

“Emissary?” Chase broke his gaze to look around the mountain peak. “Where are you?”

Chase focused on the form of the Dream Emissary, and just as suddenly as a strike of

lightning, she stood beside him, arrayed in her familiar cloak.

She smiled wearily at him, she seemed to have been aged by a decade since last he saw her.

“It is good to see you, Chase.”

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“Emissary...how are you here?”

She shrugged her slim shoulders.

“It was no mean feat, I assure you of that. I tried to come to you sooner but you were

having such a terrible dream I could not pull you out of it. Try as I might,” she added with a concerned smile.

Chase looked away from her.

“It was a dream about the day we defeated the Dark Lord,” he said.

“Ah,” her eyes grew softer. “It haunts you still?”

“Aye,” said Chase. “15 years later and I can’t escape him.”

“I think you know why,” she said, her voice suddenly sad.

Chase shrugged but felt a despair well within him.

“It wasn’t my decision, Emissary. I was only 20 years old at the time. Sometimes I

wonder whether if I had said something...maybe...”

“Maybe the world would be a different place,” she finished for him.

“Aye,” he repeated glumly.

“Well,” she said, suddenly more cheerful. “You may have a chance to redeem yourself.”

“How so?” Said Chase, turning back to gave her. “And how are you here in my dream? I thought we only could talk during spawning.”

“Normally that is true,” she said. The Emissary then looked around and, seeing a crop of rock rising behind her, gently sat down and rested her back against the wall. “Sorry, I am awfully tired lately. As for seeing you tonight I am technically breaking the rules but I think AION would approve. Sometimes his plan needs a small kick to get things rolling.”

“I hope you don’t get in trouble,” said Chase, intrigued. She was breaking the rules to see him?

“Here’s the thing, dear Chase,” she continued. “I know that Ghelion told you about the Antagonista. It is true, it has returned to Esem. It’s half the reason I am able to see you, in fact. It’s presence has created a chink in the world which I normally inhabit. Be that as it may, I won’t be able to stay very long.”

“What is the Antagonista?”

The Emissary shuddered and drew her cloak tighter around herself.

“It is Evil incarnate. It is a cruel being designed by AION to test AION itself.”

“Why? Why would AION design such a thing?”

“It is not something I was designed to understand, but from what I gather Esem, like the Old World, was not created merely for entertainment purposes. There is a mission for all players to engage with, and the Antagonista is a part of that mission. Without it around, there could be no Esem, and no players in which to fill her.”

Chase decided to join her against the rock. Together they looked across the land. Mountains, cities, lakes, nations, all manner of monsters and roads flitted across the world. Chase thought if he is stared long enough he could even find the training island and the room which he was currently laying in.

“So what does this mean for Esem? For me?”

“It means that change is quickly approaching, but I think there is still time.”

“Time for what?”

“Chase,” she turned her head and there was a look of great intensity now upon her face. “I did not enter your dream to warn you about the Antagonista.”

“Okay,” said Chase, taken aback by her abrupt change in tone. “What’s the skinny?”

She blinked. “The...skinny? Oh!”

Laughing, she placed a hand on Chase’s knee.

“I forgot that expression. The skinny is I want to know how your first week has gone

since you spawned. Who have you met...what do you think of them?”

Chase told her about his spawnmates, Alex and Amelie. He told her about their first day together, and about meeting Thomas shortly after. He told her about the Triple Fives and meeting Brent and Claire, and also about his eccentric roommate, Marlon.

“As soon as I saw Thomas I leapt from the table. I didn’t even think about it—I just ran. Brent followed me and he punched the big one—Greg—Brix was upset. We lost the game but it was a good time overall.”

The Emissary sighed.

“Oh, Greg. It took him ages to decide on his name. I offered him Dorian, you know. But I don’t understand...why did you split the arrow?”

Chase laughed. “I was genuinely an accident.” He showed her his left hand. “I started shaking while I was aiming. I was trying to get it between the two arrows.”

“I see,” said the Emissary. She thought about his story for a full minute as a passing cloud obscured their view. Suddenly she got to het feet and slowly walked around the mountain peek.

“Is something wrong, Emissary?” Said Chase.

“Do you remember what I mentioned during your last spawn?”

Chase knew exactly what she was talking about.

“You suggested it might be a good idea to take some players under my wing and train them.”

“Oh good, your memory is still functioning.” She smiled, but again looked very tired. “I would like to upgrade that ‘suggestion’ to a plea.”

“A plea?”

“The Antagonista’s sudden presence has sped up some plans which have been in the works since the beginning of Esem. It is my belief that a solid group of players under the tutelage of an experienced warrior is exactly what this world needs.”

“What plans are those?”

The Emissary stared at him but did not offer any explanation. Chase sighed again.

“Fine, what players? The ones I mentioned to you who I have met?”

“Yes.”

“Even Greg?”

“No, dear,” she said. “Not Greg. I am talking about Brent, Claire, Marlon, Thomas,

Alexander, and Amelie.”

“Why them? Forming a new guild doesn’t sound like a bad idea. And they seem like a

decent bunch, but surely there are more capable people I could lead.”

“Don’t you like them?”

“Of course,” said Chase. “But that’s not my point. Surely we won’t be able to defeat the Antagonista.”

“Obviously,” said the Emissary impatiently. “I am not telling you to form a death squad. I simply want you to band these young players together, and Marlon, and help them along their way.”

Chase thought a moment before responding.

“This is a very odd dream” he finally said.

“I’m sure you’ve had stranger,” she said.

“You really want me to do this, then.”

“Yes,” she said. “Do whatever it takes to convince them. Even tell them your old identity if you have to. Remember that I brought them all into Esem. I know their hearts, and each are very pure, all things considered. Except...”

“Except?”

“Well...Alexander has some darkness to work through, but I think with the proper guidance he could be the rock upon which you form your guild.”

“I think I know what you are talking about,” said Chase, thinking about the past few days. Alex had a penchant for self loathing he had only noticed after they had lost the game. He knew Alex blamed him for that.

“So will you do it?”

“Ok,” said Chase. “I’ll tell them who I am, let’s just hope none of them let it slip around the wrong person. If the Old Guard finds out they are sure to finish the job and I could end up at the bottom of the ocean for real.”

The Emissary clapped her hands together with pleasure.

“Thank you, Chase. I know it’s not what you expected after respawning but AION will smile upon you.”

“Heh, I’m not doing it for AION,” said Chase.

“Then whom, may I ask?”

“Let’s just say if this can help rid me of my guilt surrounding the Dark Lord then I would do anything.”

“Of course,” said the Emissary. A look of apprehension crossed her face. “There is one more thing...”

“What?”

“I what you to get them all signed under Ghelion for their first contract.”

“Shouldn’t be too hard,” said Chase. “Why is that so important?”

“Because I trust him,” she said simply.

“Wait, are you saying what I think you are saying?”

“If you think I am saying we cannot trust all the advisors, then yes,” she said gravely.

Chase felt stunned. “Really? Aren’t they all sworn to follow AION?”

The Emissary sighed. “No, they are not. AION created them, and gave them abilities and powers unique to any being within Esem. One of the more controversial decisions he made was to give them free will just like the humans already have.”

“And some are choosing to side up with the Antagonista?” Chase’s mouth dropped opened. The thought of having to one day face down an Advisor was not a pleasant one.

“Some already have,” she said. “I don’t know which ones, but Ghelion I am sure about. If he has seemed tense lately then this is the reason why.”

“This is troubling news,” said Chase. He looked over the landscape once more. The cloud had disappeared and now Avalon was pulsing with activity. “By the way, Emissary, did you make this place? I didn’t imagine a mountain peak overlooking the entire world, and I know no such place exists.”

Now the Emissary smiled.

“Trust, me this place is very real. But I made it from memory to serve as a place for our little meeting.”

“Real,” Chase blinked. He looked around him and realized they weren’t on a mountain peak after all. The ground was far too flat and the walls straight, as though they had been hammered into shape. “Wait—it can’t be. Are we in the—.”

“Shh,” said the Emissary. She placed a finger to her lips. “Every secret has a time and a place, Chase.”

Chase only nodded.

“Even the Old Guard never made it up here,” he said.

The Emissary arched an eyebrow.

“And whose fault was that, hmm?” She laughed then, a real laugh for the first time during the dream. “Well, I think I have over stayed my welcome. Promise to remember what I said when you awaken?”

“Aye, I promise,” said Chase.

And the Emissary vanished, and then the world with her, and soon Chase was sound asleep in the warmth of darkness, which is not always as bad as people make it out to be.

“Chase? Chase...wake up...Chase you’re talking in your sleep.”

Opening his eyes, Chase saw Thomas standing above him, a hand gently rocking his shoulder.

“G’morning, Tommy,” said Chase.

“G’morning, Chase,” mimicked Thomas.

“What was I saying?”

“Something about flying cabbages,” said Thomas shrugging. “I only woke you up

because it was getting annoying.”

“Sorry.” Chase pushed him self up and leaned against the head board. “What time is it?”

“Training is beginning in an hour, so there’s time for breakfast if you want any.”

Chase yawned. “Sounds like a decent idea. Where’s Marlon?”

“I don’t know, he usually gets up really early.”

“I thought after what he drank last night he would be sleeping in some,” said Chase.

He eyed Thomas carefully. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine,” said Thomas. “I thought I would have a headache or something but nope.”

“Youth,” mused Chase. “Incredible.”

Suddenly his dream came back to him.

“Thomas, can you do something for me?”

“Like what?” Thomas sat back on his bed. He was fully dressed for the day. Perhaps he

had been waiting for him to wake up.

“I need you to find Brent and Claire. Also Marlon if you see him. Tell them I need to

speak with them. Yourself included.” Thomas’ eyes lit up.

“Is this about the guild?”

“Yeah, it is,” said Chase, standing up and gathering his discarded clothes. “I’ll find Alex and Amelie.”

Fully dressed, Chase walked to the door and turned the knob.

“What are you gonna tell them?” Asked Thomas.

Chase looked back and the little boy, he imagined a mischievous smile on his own face.

“The truth.”