Chapter 8: A Shattered Serenity

Sky’s voice faded into the silence as Cassian drifted into an uneasy sleep, the weight of exhaustion finally pulling him under. For a moment, there was only darkness, heavy and oppressive, a void that held no sound or sensation.

But the peace didn’t last.

The nightmare returned, clawing its way into his subconscious like a malevolent beast.

Hands. Too many hands. Rough and calloused, gripping him, pinning him down. The laughter echoed all around, cruel and mocking, a cacophony of voices that overlapped and drowned out his cries. Pain seared through him, unbearable and endless. His body felt as though it had been torn apart, over and over, until he was no longer whole.

He screamed, but the sound was swallowed by the void, lost in the chaos. No one came. No one ever came. The hands wouldn’t stop, wouldn’t let go, wouldn’t give him a moment to breathe.

And then, just as he thought he would shatter completely, the nightmare shifted.

The suffocating darkness gave way to a serene light, soft and golden, bathing him in its warmth. The ground beneath him was cool, like lying on a bed of clouds. The air smelled faintly of something sweet, like freshly bloomed flowers, and a gentle breeze whispered against his skin.

He recognized this place.

All around him, an endless sea of shimmering mist stretched as far as the eye could see. Trees with crystalline leaves sparkled like diamonds, their branches swaying in a breeze that didn’t seem to come from anywhere. The light filtering through the mist felt alive, pulsating faintly as if it had its own heartbeat.

Cassian tried to move, but his body remained unresponsive, as though he were merely a passenger in this strange realm. He couldn’t even lift a hand, couldn’t tilt his head. He could only observe, his thoughts swirling as he struggled to comprehend where he was and why he had returned here.

This place again, he thought, his mind reaching back to the last time he’d seen this ethereal expanse. It was after he’d swallowed the pearl, after the world had gone dark. But the memory was fragmented, disjointed, like pieces of a puzzle that refused to fit together.

He couldn’t move, but he could feel. There was something in the air, an energy that was both calming and overwhelming. It seeped into him, wrapping around his soul like a warm embrace. It wasn’t oppressive, nor was it painful. It was simply... there, constant and pure.

His perspective shifted suddenly. The body he was trapped in moved, rising gracefully to its feet and walking toward one of the crystalline trees. He couldn’t control it, but he could see and feel everything as though it were his own.

The figure—*his figure*—reached the tree and sat down beneath its luminous branches, folding its legs into a meditative position. The leaves above them shimmered, reflecting the golden light in mesmerizing patterns.

Cassian felt the energy intensify, flowing through the body he inhabited like a river of molten gold. It was overwhelming, yet it didn’t burn. It was power in its purest form, untainted and infinite.

The figure closed its eyes, and Cassian felt himself drawn inward, deeper into the swirling current of energy. It was unlike anything he had ever experienced. It was as though the world itself was breathing, its essence flowing through him, filling the empty spaces within his soul.

But beneath the serenity, there was something else. A shadow. A whisper. A presence that lurked just out of reach, watching him from the edges of the light.

Cassian’s thoughts raced, his mind straining to comprehend the duality of the realm around him. It was beautiful, ethereal, yet there was an undercurrent of unease, a feeling that something was not quite right.

The figure continued to meditate, its breathing slow and even. Cassian could feel the purity of the energy enveloping him, but he also sensed the shadow growing stronger, creeping closer.

And then, without warning, the presence spoke.

Its voice was soft but resonant, echoing through the expanse like a ripple in a still pond.

“You’ve returned,” it said, its tone neither welcoming nor hostile. “But are you ready to see the truth this time?”

Cassian’s thoughts froze. He wanted to speak, to respond, but the body he inhabited remained silent, its meditative state undisturbed.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

The presence moved closer, its form still obscured by the shimmering mist. Cassian felt its gaze pierce through him, stripping away his defenses, laying his soul bare.

“Do you even know who you are?” it asked, its voice dripping with a strange mix of curiosity and challenge.

Cassian felt a jolt, as though the question had struck a nerve deep within him. He didn’t have an answer. He didn’t even know if he wanted one.

The presence chuckled softly, the sound both comforting and unsettling. “You carry the pearl, yet you remain blind to its purpose. You tread the path, yet you do not see where it leads.”

The light around him dimmed slightly, the golden hue taking on a faint, ominous tinge.

“Wake, bearer of the pearl,” the presence whispered, its voice fading into the distance. “Wake, and face what lies ahead.”

Cassian’s eyes snapped open, his body jerking upright in the small bed. His heart pounded in his chest, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

The room was dark, save for the faint light of the moon streaming through the window. Sky was still beside him, curled up under the blanket, his tiny form peaceful and unbothered by Cassian’s turmoil.

Cassian ran a trembling hand through his hair, his mind reeling from the vividness of the dream—or whatever it had been. The words of the presence echoed in his mind, haunting and unrelenting.

He didn’t know what lay ahead, but one thing was certain: the pearl had brought him into something far greater than himself. And whether he was ready or not, there was no turning back. He pushed himself up on the bed and slid back on the bed leaned against the bedframe

'That pearl, what have I got myself into?'

His hand still trembling slightly as he tried to shake off the lingering unease from the dream. Sky’s soft, sleepy voice pulled him back to the present.

“Brother... why wake?” Sky asked, his small face puffy and streaked with faint tear stains. His wide eyes blinked up at Cassian, filled with a childlike mix of concern and curiosity. “Can’t sleep? Did you have a bad dream?”

Cassian offered a faint smile, though it felt hollow. “Something like that.”

Sky shuffled closer, his little hands gripping the edge of the blanket. “My mama said when you have a bad dream, you should listen to her lullaby. And the bad feeling about the dream... it’ll go away, like—” he waved his hand dramatically, “—*poof!*”

The boy’s expression grew somber, his lips trembling slightly. “But... Mama’s not here, so... should I sing you a lullaby?”

Cassian let out a soft chuckle, the sound surprising even himself. It felt foreign, a flicker of light breaking through the darkness he carried. “It’s okay, kid. I’ll sleep later. Anyway, are you hungry? Should I make you something?”

Sky tilted his head, his eyes narrowing as he considered the question. “Do you know how to cook?”

Cassian smirked, the corners of his lips twitching upward. “I’m not a cook, that’s for sure. But I can try making something simple for you.”

The boy’s gaze was skeptical, his expression a mix of doubt and amusement. “Mama always said you shouldn’t eat food made by people who don’t know how to cook. She said it could make your tummy hurt.”

Cassian couldn’t help but laugh, the sound low and rusty from lack of use. “Well, I don’t plan on poisoning you, Sky. I’ll stick to the basics.”

Sky perked up at the mention of food, his stomach growling loudly enough to make him blush. “Okay, brother,” he said with a sheepish grin. “But only if it’s something yummy!”

Cassian stood and stretched, the stiffness in his muscles reminding him of how long it had been since he’d rested properly. He glanced down at Sky, who was already scrambling out of bed and tugging on his sleeve.

“Come on, I’ll help!” Sky declared, his energy a stark contrast to Cassian’s weariness.

“You? Help?” Cassian raised an eyebrow. “I thought you didn’t trust my cooking skills. What makes you think you’ll do any better?”

Sky puffed out his chest, clearly proud of himself. “Mama let me help her all the time! I know how to crack eggs, and stir things, and... and taste-test!”

Cassian shook his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips as Sky dragged him toward the small kitchen.

---

The kitchen was modest, barely more than a countertop, a stove, and a worn wooden table pushed against the wall. Sky immediately climbed onto one of the chairs, his legs swinging as he watched Cassian rummage through the sparse cupboards.

“Hmm,” Cassian muttered, his eyes scanning the limited supplies. “Not much to work with here.”

Sky leaned forward, peering over Cassian’s shoulder. “There’s bread! And... uh... that thing!” He pointed to a small sack of potatoes on the floor.

“Bread and potatoes,” Cassian said dryly. “A feast fit for a king.”

Sky giggled, his laughter filling the small space. “You can make toast! Toast is yummy.”

Cassian sighed, pulling out the bread and setting it on the counter. “Toast it is, then. Maybe some boiled potatoes, too.”

Sky watched intently as Cassian worked, his small hands occasionally darting out to grab something—an old knife, a piece of bread, a stray potato. Cassian kept an eye on him, making sure the boy didn’t hurt himself, though he had to admit Sky was surprisingly careful for his age.

As the potatoes boiled and the bread toasted, Sky began humming softly to himself, a simple tune that was both cheerful and calming. Cassian found himself relaxing despite the tension still lingering in the back of his mind.

“Where’d you learn that song?” he asked, his voice softer than usual.

Sky looked up, his expression bright. “Mama used to sing it to me. She said it was a happy song for when you’re feeling sad.”

Cassian didn’t respond immediately, his gaze focused on the steaming pot of potatoes. The boy’s innocence was a stark contrast to the harshness of the world outside, and it stirred something unfamiliar within him—something he wasn’t sure he could name.

“Does it work?” Cassian asked after a moment.

Sky tilted his head. “What?”

“The song. Does it make you feel better?”

Sky smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Yeah. It makes me think of Mama, and that always makes me happy.”

Cassian nodded, turning off the stove and plating the simple meal. As he set the food on the table, Sky’s eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands together in excitement.

“It looks good, brother!” Sky exclaimed, reaching for a piece of toast.

Cassian watched as the boy ate with enthusiasm, a small smile playing at his lips. For the first time in what felt like forever, the weight on his chest lifted slightly. It wasn’t much, but it was enough.

Yet the pearl remained—a haunting whisper in the depths of his mind, a promise of power or a curse entwined. He could feel its weight not just in his hands but in his very soul, a silent force shifting the course of his fate. What would his life become now? The question lingered, unspoken yet deafening, threading through his thoughts like an inescapable prophecy.