There were other kinds of weapons and equipment in the safe house. Kiyora found scimitars on the walls and buckled one on with some help from William. As she did so, it dawned on her how hungry she was. Her stomach was aching like an empty void was inside it. When was the last time she ate anything?

"You want to see if we can find something to eat here?" asked Kiyora.

"It is worth a search," said William.

The search took a few minutes. After some time, Kiyora found several months' worth of emergency rations. They were in some metal crates in the cellar and open. She gladly helped herself, tearing one open and beginning too much.

Emergency rations had never tasted so good.

Then again, Kiyora had never really eaten emergency rations before. Neither had she been chased around by possessed elves. Or had she ever been rescued by a knight in shining armor? Not in real life, anyway.

But then the dreams were looking more real by the minute.

Now, if only William would say something. Instead, he was sitting cross-legged there, playing his harp. He looked dashing. Kiyora shook her head as she felt a blush creep to her features. Why was she thinking like this?

She would outlive him by centuries anyway, although reincarnation was a thing. Who had William been in his past lives?

"Hey," she said, "isn't that chainmail heavy?"

"Yes," said William. "However, I'd much rather have the protection. Rusara enchanted it to ward off more force than ordinary chainmail."

Silence again.

"It's a long way to Iron's Pharmaceuticals, isn't it?" asked Kiyora.

"Possibly," said William, "however, we do not know where it is."

"Oh, right," said Kiyora. "Do you want some emergency rations?" She offered him a bar.

"I'm not hungry," said William. "I don't feel tired at all. I hope Raynald and the others are alright."

"Don't worry," said Kiyora, "I find that time in this world doesn't match up with time in the dream world, y'know. Or, I thought it was a dream world."

She finished her emergency supplies. Then she filled her pockets with several more and stood. "Well, we should probably keep moving. Actavosh, where to next?"

There was a low vibrating, and then the wall pulled aside to reveal a passage. It wasn't complete, but the wood was shifting before her eyes. Kiyora could feel Actavosh suffering in the air. Even the youngest trees had trouble moving themselves like this.

But she got the idea. It presented itself to her in her head. Turning to William, she tried to put it into words. "Actavosh is making us a passage that will lead us straight to Iron's Pharmaceuticals. It... it is hurting him, but he's doing it."

"Then we shouldn't waste his efforts," said William. He clearly did not understand things. "I'll go in front."

They began to make their way down the passage. It was continually shifting and turning and heading steadily lower. It would have been a maze if there had been more than one path. Yet William walked forward carefully.

Kiyora hated the feeling of the scimitar at her side. It was heavy and kept getting in the way. Also, she needed to learn how to use it. "Um," said Kiyora, "how do I use the scimitar?"

"It wouldn't do me any good to explain it if you don't already know," said William. "Frankly, I would have much rather given you an axe. Those are fairly easy to use."

"Or a bow," said Kiyora.

William looked at her as though she'd grown two heads. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I guess I'd have to practice shooting, but a bow doesn't require a lot of strength, right?" said Kiyora. "So, it's better for a weak person."

"You have never used a bow," said William. "A bow which a weak person could use would also be fragile and next to useless in battle. The best bows are complicated to pull back, so launch a faster arrow.

"Like Dust Elven bows."

"So, do you know how to shoot one?" asked Kiyora.

"No," said William. "I've been trained, but I'm awful at it. I have never hit a target in my life, in battle or practice. After I accidentally broke one of Rusara's bows, she stopped trying to teach me."

"How did that happen?" asked Kiyora.

"I pulled it back, and it snapped," said William. "I'm a lot stronger than the average person my age. It has something to do with my heritage."

"Ah right," said Kiyora. "Your mother is an Amazon, right?"

"She's the daughter of a Queen of the land of Themious," said William. "The males there are very unimpressive. They do what satyrs refer to as 'woman's work.' That's all I know. She never talks to me about anything except to assure me that I have some grand destiny. I generally pretend Themious doesn't exist."

"Aren't you curious, though?" asked Kiyora.

"Not really," admitted William. "Not curious enough to press Mother to talk about something she isn't ready to talk to me about anyway. I'm sure she'll tell me when the time is right. What about you?"

"Hmm?" said Kiyora.

"Who is your family?" asked William. "You've asked me many questions, but I don't know anything about your life here in this realm of gods."

"It's not a realm of gods." laughed Kiyora. "Or at least I don't think it is. Well, my dad is a famous painter. He paints pictures of other worlds. They're great. I can show you them sometime. My Mother, um, she tells me I'm a Princess.

"She kind of cut her ties with her family."

"Why would she do such a thing?" asked William, horrified.

"They wanted to force her into an arranged marriage, I think," said Kiyora.

"And what is the problem with that?" asked William.

"I guess she didn't love the person she was supposed to marry," said Kiyora.

"I don't see your point," said William.

"Um, well, it would be wrong for someone to marry someone they don't like, wouldn't it?" asked Kiyora.

"No," said William. "That's how marriage for nobles works. Sons and daughters are married for the benefit of the family. They must abide by those rules."

"Didn't your dad make a deal with Melchious because he didn't want to marry someone he didn't like?" asked Kiyora.

"Yes," said William. "But it was a mistake."

"A mistake that you owe your existence to," noted Kiyora.

"Hardly," said William. "He could have refused dealings with Melchious and still met and fallen in love with my mother."

"He was already engaged when he met your mom?" asked Kiyora. "Wasn't he?"

"That's different," said William.

"How?" asked Kiyora.

"My father broke off an engagement to the daughter of a powerful Lord to marry a Princess," said William. "It was an upgrade."

Kiyora looked at him thoughtfully. "Do you honestly think of things like that?"

"I must," said William. "Love is a secondary factor in marriage. At least to nobles."

It only then dawned on Kiyora that William did not think like she did. She liked him, and he was a nice guy. But to him, a village getting burned down could be okay if it was his enemy. He lived in a world of obligations and blood and glory.

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"Hey, William," said Kiyora, "do you like adventures?"

"No," admitted William. "Not during them. But I enjoy telling people about them later. And I like winning glory for my family. And even if I didn't like them, I'd still be obliged to seek them out."

Their conversation died out as they began to hear the distant echoes of explosions. Kiyora listened carefully and could hear chanting. "What is going on out there?"

"I don't know," said William, "however, the path is beginning to climb. So we are heading for the surface."

As they walked, Kiyora gradually began to feel a vague ache in her head. It was a presence whispering to her in her mind. There was a voice telling her that she was in danger. Was she in danger? No, there was no one here but William. Was he the danger?

No, that was just stupid. William would never do anything to hurt her.

How did she know that? He came from a bloody and terrible world. Was he here to help her? Or was he merely biding his time to strike? It was insane to think that but wait. William's body was tensing; his hand gripped his sword as if to use it.

She had to stab him! Stab him before he killed her!

"No," said Kiyora.

It was fascinating to look at. It was like Kiyora was looking at herself from the outside, except she was still inside. Kiyora felt like her body was only an extension of a far greater whole. Looking at herself, she saw the energies of Laughing Wraith. They were trying to drive her into insanity.

But she wasn't just Kiyora Yagos, a scared schoolgirl. If Laughing Wraith was real, then the Dreaming Goddess was also real. And that thought scared Wraith; Kiyora could sense his fear now. He was terrified of facing her. Afraid of what might happen in a second confrontation.

Even now, he realized his efforts to affect her were in vain. So he turned his mind to William, who turned to face her with a look of fury. But the Dreaming Goddess raised a hand, and the hatred faded from his eyes.

"Ugh..." said William, putting a hand on his forehead. "I... my head hurts so much..."

"Wraith was playing games as always," said Kiyora. "Don't worry; he can't affect you anymore. Not while I'm here. Now come on, we're nearly there."

Soon, they came to a dead end. But as soon as they neared it, the wall opened, and they found themselves in a concrete hallway. The sound of the explosions was nearer now. Kiyora walked quickly to the head, followed by William.

"What is all that noise?" asked William.

"The military has gotten involved," said Kiyora. "The possessed military units have begun trading fire with the treeship Ascendance. Of course, they'll drive it off, but it should keep them distracted while we make it to the center.

"We're going left here."

"How do you know the way?" asked William.

"Let's just say I've achieved enlightenment," said Kiyora. "Here is the elevator."

Pressing the button, they waited until the doors opened and entered. Waiting within, William eyed her with a certain suspicion. "Kiyora, Actovosh isn't guiding us anymore, is he?"

"Actovosh is an ancient tree," said Kiyora. "Moving suddenly hurts him and takes a lot of energy. He doesn't do it except in emergencies."

"But I thought you said he used his roots to create the foundations of houses," said William.

"Yes, but he forms them over months, not minutes," said Kiyora. "He's in a lot of pain right now and won't be able to help us. Don't worry; I can handle Wraith. Just like before."

The elevator doors opened to reveal Laurus. He looked awful. His hair had turned white, his eyes were bloodshot, and his skin was pale. And he was also holding a military-grade shotgun.

"So I was thinking," said Laurus. "How could I possibly kill a being whose very existence is antithetical to my own? And then I had this brilliant idea: I'd just shoot her."

"Laurus," said Kiyora, "what is going on? Why are you helping Wraith?!"

"Sorry, I'd love nothing more than to chat," said Laurus. "But I've got small animals to torture, puppies to kick. Y'know, generic doomsday villain things."

He was hesitating. But if Kiyora made a move, she would probably set him off. "Listen to me, Laurus. Put the gun down. You don't need to go this."

"Don't need?" asked Laurus, eyes filled with horror. "Who says I don't want to do this?"

"I know you," said Kiyora. "You are my friend. Wraith has been getting into your head and-"

Then she was shoved to the side, and Kiyora hit the elevator wall. William's sword was out and spinning toward Laurus. The boy ducked too late, and it gouged a deep gash in his shoulder. Screaming in pain, Laurus fired a shot blindly.

It went wide, and then William was on him. His hands wrapped around Laurus' neck, slamming him against the floor. Laurus choked and gagged.

"William, don't kill him!" screamed Kiyora. "It isn't his fault!"

William hesitated. Then Laurus let out an in elven screech and struck William across the scar. The wound began to bleed, and another blow threw William off him. William grabbed his sword and rushed at Laurus, but Laurus had already gotten his gun.

He fired twice, and William was thrown back, covered in shrapnel and bleeding. Was he dead? He couldn't be dead!

Laurus stood up, looked at William, then at his hands, then screamed and ran sobbing through a far hall. Kiyora ran to William. "Come on; you can't be dead! You can't be!"

William's chainmail was shredded. His chest was a bloody mess, and he was gasping for air. One of his eyes had been destroyed. He wasn't breathing. Kiyora put her hands on him. She could sense he was still alive, but he wouldn't be for very long.

She was the Dreaming Goddess. She could save him!

Reaching into him, she sent her power through him. She couldn't heal him, but maybe he could heal himself if she could wake him up. She poured herself into bringing him back into the waking world, and his one good eye slowly opened.

William awoke, screaming. He screamed as the shrapnel came out of the wounds, which closed behind the shards. His eye mended itself as all the rest of his injuries closed. He gasped for air, pulling off his shattered chainmail and getting unsteadily to his feet.

"What were you thinking, you idiot!" screamed Kiyora. "He had a gun, and you decided to go after him with a sword!"

"He was threatening you," said William.

"What if you had died?!" said Kiyora. "How could I have explained it to your friends and family?! 'Sorry, I dragged your only son into my world to fix my problems, and he got himself killed!'"

"And what if you had killed Laurus? What would I have told my friends and his family?"

William tried to force himself to stand but fell. "We have no time for this. Where is Laurus?"

"I'll take care of Laurus," said Kiyora. "You are going to stay here and recover. You just healed about a thousand lethal wounds."

"I need-" he began.

Kiyora hugged him. "I am talking to you as a goddess. Not a friend. I don't need you for this. Now lie there and recover." She broke the embrace, and they looked at each other for a long moment. Then, finally, Kiyora turned to walk toward Wraith and Laurus.

She found the door ajar, and beyond was utter darkness. Whatever had once been in this room now, there was only an infinite void. The sound of screaming could be heard within it, reechoing repeatedly. Among them were William's screams. And her own.

Kiyora realized she was listening to every victim Laughing Wraith had ever targeted. She felt a knot in her stomach as she made her way forward. Who was she to stop this thing? Sure, she was a goddess, but Wraith was also a god. No, no, she could do this. She knew she could do this.

But what if she couldn't?

Then she saw Laurus. He was standing in the void, holding a pistol, just looking at it. His injury had healed, but his clothes were still ripped. He seemed almost skeletal as she approached. He raised his gun.

"Stay back!" said Laurus.

"Laurus, this isn't you," said Kiyora, keeping her eyes on his face.

"Laurus? Laurus? That's what you call me, isn't it?" said Laurus, voice broken. "I... I can feel him in my head. I've always felt him there, but he's stronger now. I... I can't speak what he is saying to me, but I'll try to translate." His eyes suddenly flickered black.

"What are you?" asked Kiyora.

"He is the shadow which every child looked at and thought hid a monster. He is the fear which grips the heart of every creature afraid to go out at night," said Laurus. His eyes gained a semblance of vanity. "Thirty years ago... when I was eight... he... he stalked the world. But the DSD... they managed to shut him out.

"Out of everyone. But he... he found me and put part of himself into me. That part slept... even though I didn't know about it. Then... then I started to have nightmares. I... I became something, something cruel every night. I did things, terrible things.

"Then you banished him from the dream world. He had nowhere to go but back into me. He... he used my mind, my knowledge, to make a plan. You see... he... he doesn't think like us. He hates reasoning like he hates everything. But he wanted to win. So he used my mind to... to corrupt the medicine. He put a little piece of himself into the vats.

"It hurts... it hurts so much.'

"Laurus, you have to believe me," said Kiyora as she approached. "This will be okay."

"I can't get him out of my head!" said Laurus. "I can't! He's always there! Whispering." Then suddenly, he moved his gun upwards, putting it against his throat.

Kiyora surged forward and knocked his hand away even as he fired. The shot went wide. Then Kiyora hugged him, channeling her full will into him. "And so am I. Get out of my friend, you monster!"

Kiyora met Wraith's malice. She saw visions of endless victims tormented and ruined. She saw images of untold horrors perpetuated across hundreds of worlds. She could hardly bear it. What was she to such atrocities?

Laughing Wraith was a being beyond the comprehension of mortals and immortals alike. Merely being in contact with him pained Kiyora more than anything she had ever felt. She wanted to pull back. Maybe William was right. Perhaps the only solution was to kill...

No. She thought of her family and how sad they would be if she died. She thought about her friends. How would they react when they discovered what had happened to Laurus? She thought of Laurus' family and people she'd never met who would be worse off if he was dead. And she realized that she could not afford to let this happen.

"He... he is Laughing..." muttered Laurus incoherently.

"You are nothing!" roared Kiyora. "Nothing but formless cruelty and sadism! You love nothing. Value nothing! You care about nothing! You pretend like you're this transcendent being, but you're not! You're no better than a schoolyard bully picking the wings off sparrows!"

Laughing Wraith recoiled, more hurt by her than he had ever hurt anyone. He was screaming and screaming as the light around Kiyora grew ever brighter. In desperation, the monster gripped Laurus around the throat.

"If you banish him, I'll die," said Laurus.

It was a transparent lie. "He can't hurt you anymore," said Kiyora. "I won't let him hurt anyone ever again. Now get out of my friend! GET OUT OF MY WORLD!!"

There was an unholy shriek of absolute agony. The light flared outwards beyond the room, beyond the building, brighter and brighter. Soon, it reached across the whole of the city. Kiyora could see everything: every street, tree, and person. As one, people were roused from their pains and pulled out of the nightmare.

They found themselves in places they had not expected to wake up. But they were alive. Years from now, this would be nothing more than a bad memory.

The vision ended.

Laurus slumped against her shoulder. His hair had returned to normal, along with his skin. He gasped, and Kiyora slowly put him down. She felt very lightheaded. She fell to her knees and then fell forward into another dream.