Kiyora felt like she was being tossed and turned within a stormy sea. She saw a thousand worlds as she was thrown from one dream to another. And a thousand different futures. She felt as though she would be carried away and lost.

Then she saw her world. The place she had grown up and lived all her life. Except now, it seemed more like a toy castle than a true world. Before her eyes, it began to fade. She reached out for it, but her fingertips passed through. Then, a wave washed against her, and she was washed away. She tried to fight against the current, but it was too strong. It was dragging her inexorably toward a predetermined future. And in that future, she beheld an elf but clad in black armor. Though why she had it baring her arms and legs was beyond Kiyora. Probably style points. Anyway, her skin was dark green, and her eyes flared yellow. Wings like those of a dragon were on either side of her back, and her hands were huge claws.

Yet the alternative was... worse.

Kiyora saw before her something or someone. It was a creature of the purest malice, cohesive yet at war with itself. Its tendrils reached across the universe, pulling upon the minds of every being at every time. Within its formless mass was undying torment and endless screams. And the elf before it alone was independent; she alone was free of corruption.

She alone could purge it.

She should probably lay off the drugs. Either way, her arms were limp and powerless. Her mind was drifting. Little by little, she was losing herself to one or the other. Who was she?

She felt things. A desire for power. A plan to gain complete dominion over all things as was her destiny. Yet she could not remember her name. Wait, it was coming to her. Her name was...

Arraxia. Was that it? It did not feel right.

Of course, it did not feel right. Arraxia was but the name given to her magnificence in a vain attempt to explain her. It was her destiny to rise above all this. Rise and reign over all that could be and would be.

This did not seem like her. But a will forced her down, and she thought like Arraxia. No, like herself. No...

Then, there was a flaring of orange light from above. "Don't let her control you, Kiyora," said a voice she remembered. "You are stronger than this. What you feel now is her trying to draw your will into her own.

"But you are the stronger."

The orange light came to her. And memories came rushing back. She was Kiyora Yagos, and she was herself.

Before she was a familiar figure, clad in white garments, descending. With what strength remained to her, she reached out, and he grasped her hand. Then she was pulled up and came face to face with her rescuer. "Tenius?" Then she paused. "No, Ictargo. What is going on here?"

"There is no time," said Ictargo. He drew her hand and pressed it against his chest. "Take my power. Take it before it is too late!"

Orange light surged from his heart into hers. Suddenly, Kiyora felt stronger. Much stronger, and she could stay out of the currents by her own power. Rising out of them, she and Ictargo separated. Then, she found herself standing in the usual field of flowers. And Alchara was standing before her.

Yet now Alchara was arrayed for battle. Her eyes were glowing gold. "What did you do? What was that?"

Alchara said nothing at first. "Well, you've been busy."

"Alchara, what the hell is going on?" asked Kiyora. "Why did the world start falling apart like that? And how is it connected to me?"

"What makes you think it is connected to you?" asked Alchara.

"I don't know. Maybe because Emperor Ictargo showed up out of nowhere and gave me an injection of power," said Kiyora. Why was it she never told her anything? "I figured it had something to do with me. And another thing, I was talking with the Prince of Calisha. He said I was the reincarnation of someone called Queen Dreamer.

"There is something you aren't telling me, isn't there?"

Alchara sighed. "... I'd hoped not to explain this just yet. I wanted to wait until you were mature."

"You aren't my mother nor my mentor," snapped Kiyora. "I don't even like you. Stop pontificating and tell me what the hell is going on."

"No, you're right," said Alchara. "You are my sister, and your will is bound to this world."

That was the stupidest thing Kiyora had ever heard. "Uh, no, I'm not."

Alchara said nothing.

"Well?" said Kiyora.

"Well, I would go into more detail, but that requires me to explain some ancient history," said Alchara. "And you've made it clear you don't care about any of that so I won't bother you."

"We don't have time for this!" said Kiyora.

"This domain exists outside time and space," said Alchara. "We have all the time in the universe."

"Okay," said Kiyora. "Fine."

They waited, and Kiyora crossed her arms. Alchara remained silent. Finally, Kiyora's patience was exhausted. "Oh, fine. What is the history?"

Alchara smiled. "Long ago, when this universe was still being formed, there were three goddesses. I was the eldest, Laevian the middle and Dreamora, the youngest. We were meant to be the patron goddesses of the elves. Every race had its own God."

"Let me guess. You screwed it up," said Kiyora.

"There were complications," said Alchara. "You see, there were three races of elves. High Elves, who were mine, and I taught them to have a kinship and an ability to order things. The Dust Elves, who belonged to Laevian, created great land growth. Finally, there were Dreamer Elves who were the last to awaken and had a mastery over the spirit world."

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"Hang on a sec," said Kiyora. "I've been paying attention all this time, and I know that the Dreamer Elves are a young race. Younger than humans."

"Yes," said Alchara. "Because the satyrs completely wiped out the original Dreamer Elves. They slaughtered them all to the last child. As a result, Dremora became a minor goddess who helped us with our people.

"For a time, things went well. Her skills allowed many things to flourish. But the High Elves never forgot what happened to their kin. Many became vengeful and hunted both humans and satyrs relentlessly. We were angry, and so we did not stop them."

"I'm guessing this was how the whole cycle of revenge between human and elf started," said Kiyora.

"You might say that," said Alchara. "As time passed, we did rein in our peoples, but the damage was done. The bitter seeds that the satyrs planted soon bore full fruit with the rise of Anoa the Butcher. He rampaged across the world of Erian and drove the High Elves near to extinction."

"But there are other worlds with other high elves, aren't there?" Asked Kiyora.

"The worlds are all connected, Kiyora," said Alchara. "What happens in one affects the others. Every action by every mortal being has consequences that change the entire universe. And it did not stop with Anoa. For after his "ascension into heaven," a new enemy appeared. Melchious. And he went from world to world, sewing discord and causing mass carnage."

"Wait a minute, Arraxia told William that Melchious was a satyr. One descended from Fortenex," said Kiyora.

"Arraxia bent the truth to seem more important than she was," said Alchara. "One of his incarnations was born a satyr and ascended to become an extension of his will. The Vulture of Melchious."

"So she was lying?" asked Kiyora.

"Does she seem reliable to you?" asked Alchara. "She is nearly as arrogant and narcissistic as you are."

"Good point," conceded Kiyora.

"At any rate, Melchious actions set in motion a chain of events that nearly purged all High Elves. Not just on this world, but from all the worlds," said Alchara. "Laevian didn't even care. She had already defected over to Elranor's side rather than send help."

"I knew she was evil," muttered Kiyora. "So how did they stop Melchious?"

"A great hero named Ictargo confronted him and destroyed his avatar. Then Ictargo descended into hell and wounded him terribly," said Alchara. "It took Melchious many centuries to recover from the wounds he suffered. In that time, I was able to restore the High Elves.

"However, the victory was at a terrible price. With my people's slaughter, my power had diminished. And to such a point, I could no longer house all of them in my afterlife.

"Dreamora came up with a solution. She would create a new world, attuned with the spirits of all worlds. There, the souls of those High Elves I could not house could be reincarnated. However, to do this, she had to disperse her consciousness throughout this world. The strain of it killed her. Only temporarily, of course. In time, her consciousness would be able to resurface and take form within that world."

"So me," said Kiyora.

"Yes," said Alchara.

"And you didn't want to tell me this because why?" asked Kiyora.

"Because, well-intentioned or no, you are a spoiled brat who isn't as smart as she thinks she is," said Alchara. "You are reckless; think you are always right. And you tend to judge people based on surface appearances.

"If you are like this now, I shudder to comprehend what you would have been like with full knowledge of what you were."

"Another good point," admitted Kiyora. "So how does this play into the world falling apart? And how does Calisha fit into all this."

"You have been using a truly massive amount of power, Kiyora," said Alchara. "First to banish Laughing Wraith, then to drive him out of Laurus. And also rousing all the trees of the Iron Kingdom to liberate the place. All of these things have been done for a good cause, but they have weakened you badly.

"To be honest, Melchious has been waging a war of attrition all this time. He was tempting you into repeatedly countering him until you exhausted yourself. Thus dooming us all.

"And it has nearly worked. When you use your powers, you naturally sap away at the fabric, keeping this world intact. To make matters worse, you have an inherent connection to Arraxia. One forged through Baltoth's Retribution. She has hardly used any of her power with the Void Stone. Yet with Axe of Fortenex, she has increased in strength exponentially.

"Before Ictargo saved you, you were on the verge of falling into her domination."

"You know what would have helped me not let this happen," said Kiyora. "Knowing all of this. Or some of this, for that matter."

"It was a calculated risk," said Alchara. "If Arraxia hadn't gotten the Void Stone, your investments in the world would have borne fruit. You would, in a few years, be far more powerful."

"And who the hell are you to make calculated risks with my entire species?!" said Kiyora.

"God," said Alchara flatly.

"Oh no, you aren't!" said Kiyora. "If you were the God you pretend to be, then you'd have known exactly how everything I did would turn out! You didn't! Arraxia blindsided both of us!

"But if I'd known that my miracles were endangering my world, I wouldn't have cut back on them. I would have done a hard stop months ago and explained the situation to Bjorn. The Nakmar would have understood and probably made some extra sacrifices or something.

"You should have told me about this!"

"Perhaps I should have," said Alchara. "But it is the moot point at the moment. We must deal with the present situation."

"Fine, so my world is the spirit world," mused Kiyora. "And William's world is the real one."

"Don't be foolish," said Arraxia. "Reality is entirely subjective and varies based on individual experience. Especially your world. The only thing you can be truly sure of is that you exist."

"Right, okay," said Kiyora. "So I should just do a hard stop to all miracles and do-gooding and give a full explanation as to why."

"I would keep on playing the part of a Dream Sage," said Alchara.

"Doesn't that count as a miracle?" asked Kiyora.

"No, because you are using the innate power to your mortal form," said Alchara. "As long as you don't use the Dreaming Goddess's power, it should be fine. Moreover, the barriers between the worlds have weakened. The defenses I have erected will need all the help they can get.

"Eventually, you will regain enough of your power to continue as you have been."

"Right, okay. What about Arraxia?" asked Kiyora. "Now, are you going to tell me what my relationship was to the Empire of Calisha or not?"

"The quest to retrieve the Void Stone is just about to begin," said Alchara.

"But what about-" began Kiyora.

"Baltoth was in love with you," snapped Alchara. "When Valranor threw his weight around, you played on Baltoth's pride. You set them against one another. Calisha was the alias you used when meeting with him. He named his country after who he thought you were.

"Actually, I have an idea."

"What is it?" asked Kiyora.

"If you take on a mortal form again in Seathorius for the quest. It would decrease the power you spend in your dreams," said Alchara.

"But what good could I be to anyone without my powers?" asked Kiyora.

"You have one that could be of great service and will cost us nothing," said Alchara.

"And what's that?" asked Kiyora.

"Oh, for think for a moment, Kiyora!" said Alchara. "You share an innate connection with Arraxia. And Arraxia's will extends outwards to all her subjects. Using that connection, you may easily locate where she and her servants are."

"Oh, right," said Kiyora. "Good idea. Okay, I'll do it."

"You are very quick to agree to things," noted Alchara.

"Well, the way I see it, Arraxia is using the Void Stone to cause all kinds of trouble," said Kiyora. "If I can stop her, then it's a good thing."

"I believe she is actually only practicing," said Alchara. "She wants to fully master the use of the stone before she tries waging any wars of conquest with it. If she made use of the full potential of the Void Stone and the Axe of Fortenex, very few could stand against her."

"Well, that's decided," said Kiyora. "When do I start?"

"Right now would be appropriate," said Alchara. "The faster we get rid of the Void Stone, the better. Your suggestion that we organize a quest ahead of time was one of the few good decisions you've ever made."

The field faded, and Kiyora found herself standing before Queen Dawn. She felt that same sensation. The one she'd felt when she woke up after looking into Laevian's mirror. She'd taken on mortal form again. She could feel the ground beneath her feet and the common pains she was spared as a goddess. But she hadn't tried to do it.

As if it had been done for her.

Queen Dawn was signing documentation at a desk. She looked up. "Those going on the quest are waiting outside." She said. Then she rang a bell on her desk.

The door opened, and the company walked in.