Dyllan slowly turned around. There, hovering in midair with a condescendingly stoic pose, was Andie’s Dream. It took the form of a large knight-like mecha, its shape was angular but without harsh edges, and its armor plating was made of a shiny and uncomfortably clean silver-chrome alloy. Fire flowed out of thrusters on its back, merging together to form a cape of flame that fluttered in the wind. Behind its visor shone a pair of bright orange lights shaped like eyes that glared with a cutting yet regal fury.

For a second, the Dream’s gaze softened when it noticed Dyllan and Cedric, but the Nightmare quickly snapped up its attention with a short, crackling chuckle.

Slowly, the beast’s grin widened to such a size that Dyllan half expected it to outgrow the creature’s face - its hollow “eyes” narrowed as it stared coldly at Andie’s Dream. Then, dozens of vaguely familiar voices echoed out from behind the Nightmare’s teeth. They spoke in unison, their tone gleefully mocking at first, but a disdainful hiss slowly began to flow through the creature’s voice. “Cocky, stubborn, naive.”

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Andie’s Dream froze in place, almost appearing calm at first. With a steady hand, it raised a super-sized copy of Andie’s Virtue - her Courage - to the sky, holding it there as a silent tension began to stretch out through each passing second. Tighter and tighter it stretched, until finally both the tension and the Dream snapped - the latter flying into a rage and swinging its blade down at the Nightmare… and the train station it was perched on.

The same station where Dyllan and Cedric stood.