William looked at himself in the mirror. The white cloak and tunic he had wrapped around him fit the image he wanted to project. Father had told him he had to do more than heal the sick and injured; he had to fit the part. He could be known as more than a miracle worker with proper presentation. He could be recognized as a messiah.

William didn't particularly want to be known as a messiah. But as a noble, he was obligated to bring further glory to his family and nation. So he took Father's advice. Then, there was a flash of light, and Kiyora appeared.

"Hey, how is it going?" asked Kiyora.

"Well enough," said William. "You're here early."

"I have the day off today, so I figured I'd sleep and see if anyone needed help," said Kiyora. "I should swing by the Nakmar and see if they need my help, too. Though it's been a pretty slow few months since I met you."

"It's been nearly a year," said William.

"Right in dream time. Not real-time," said Kiyora. "So, anything you need to talk to me about?"

William straightened his cloak and sighed. "Father has agreed to send the escort. It would help if you talked to him about the exact details. However, there is something else. Do you believe the dwarves would take offense if we sent some priests of Elranor to preach his word?"

"I dunno. Maybe, maybe not," said Kiyora. "Why do you ask?"

"My Father was hoping to send missionaries, but he doesn't want to offend you," said William.

"Eh, I'm pretty indifferent to religion," admitted Kiyora.

William stared at her. No matter how long he knew her, she never stopped finding ways to amaze him. "You're a god. You are a religion incarnate."

"I'm pretty chill about it, is what I'm saying," said Kiyora. "I'll talk to the dwarves about it."

"Thank you," said William.

"Hey, is something wrong?" asked Kiyora. "You seem a bit out of it."

"I was thinking about those infected by malas," admitted William. "I wish I could help them." Unfortunately, healing them would only increase his reputation, which would be the right thing to do.

"Come to think of it, they're in a sleep they can't wake up from, right?" said Kiyora.

"Yes, what of it?" asked William.

"Well, I'm the Dreaming Goddess," said Kiyora. I can do something about it.

"Kiyora, I don't mean to offend you, but Elranor is a much more powerful god than you," said William. "If his magic can't do anything, what hope does yours?"

"Sleeping is my specialty," said Kiyora.

William met her gaze. Was she serious? Then again, she might have capabilities Elranor did not. "All right, I'll take you to her. Felix, where is my sword? I could have sworn it was there on the table."

"I hung it up, obviously," said Felix, retrieving it from the wall. "You really shouldn't just throw powerful artifacts anywhere."

"Right, right," said William.

He took the blade from Felix and unsheathed it. The sword had grown with him. However, that was not the first change it underwent. After he'd cut Laughing Wraith with it, the blade had turned entirely black. And when Rusara reformed the metal after it was broken, she placed many glowing red runes on the hilt.

"Felix," said William, "has Rusara ever told you what these runes were for?"

"No," said Felix. "She just took the blade from me and worked magic on it. It was probably some blessing or protection sigil. She does know more sorcery than just setting people on fire."

"I hope so," said William with a slight smile as he sheathed the blade. "Come on, let's go."

The trip to Rusara's house went by very quickly. The streets seemed to fly by to the point where it seemed strange. Finally, William knocked on the door and had only to wait a minute before it opened. Rusara looked through, looking very tired. "William, I wasn't expecting you for another day."

"The situation has changed," said William. "Kiyora believes she will be able to heal malas sickness."

"Well, she is welcome to try," said Rusara. "There are plenty with that affliction today."

She led them in, and William saw row upon row of people afflicted with malas. There weren't enough bedrolls for them all. You could hear them groaning in agony, even those without wounds. Seeing all those pure white eyes looking at them made him shudder.

"What happened?" asked William.

"Right after you left, people started pouring in with their afflicted," said Rusara. "Word of a great miracle worker has spread, and they are willing to try anything."

"But so many..." said William.

"Far more than I believed," said Rusara. "And more are coming in by the hour."

William looked at Kiyora. She was clutching her head as though in pain. Her eyes were distant, and she looked out of it. "Kiyora, are you alright?"

"I... it's nothing," said Kiyora. "My head just hurts. I haven't felt this way since- never mind." Then Rusara looked out the window. Her eyes narrowed, and William got a chill from the look on her face.

"If you'll excuse me, I must attend to something. I won't be a minute, William."And she walked out the door. William followed and saw her walking towards a Calishan man. He'd been offering some children packets of a golden brown substance.

"Children," said Rusara, taking the packets from them, "I'm afraid I need to speak with your friend. Run along now; I'll tell you a story later."

"But Rusara.." began one.

"Now," said Rusara.

The children dispersed, and Rusara looked to the Calishan. "Reus, just what do you think you are doing here?"

"I'm plying my trade," said Reus. "What does it look like?"

"Interesting," said Rusara. "Tell me something. Do you think that just because you are part of the Fists of Baltoth gives you a right to sell malas on my streets?"

"Last time I checked, Duke Vanion's barely got enough troops to protect his palace." snapped Reus. "The rest are all moving out. So maybe you should be like him and think of your safety."

"Have care," said Rusara. "You will not enjoy my displeasure."

"Oh right, you're going to-," began Reus.

Rusara snapped her fingers. Reus' pantleg began to smoke and burst into flame. He screamed as he tried to beat it out, but the fire spread rapidly over him. He tried to run, but his legs would not move. The flames began to consume his entire body. The smell of burning flesh was everywhere.

"Mercy! Mercy, please!" screamed Reus.

Rusara said nothing; they just stood there and watched. She watched as Reus was reduced to a charred skeleton, still flaming. Kiyora observed that the skeleton fell to ashes. She watched as those ashes blew away, leaving only a scorch mark where once there had been a man.

Rusara turned and walked back to the house.

"Alchara above!" said Kiyora. "You just... just burned that guy alive."

"Yes, and from now on, anyone who sees the mark will know what it means to cross Rusara," said Rusara. "Now come, dear, I'll make some tea. Best to try healing malas sickness with a clear head."

"Okay, no, this is not one of those things where you just pretend nothing happened," said Kiyora. "You just burned a man alive!"

"A man who had probably destroyed many of the lives now at stake within my house," said Rusara. "Don't trouble yourself; he deserved it."

"Okay, how about you leave that to a court of law," said Kiyora.

"I left specific orders. Anyone peddling malas in this area should be executed," said Rusara. "I was merely carrying them out."

"And who are you to-?" began Kiyora.

Rusara fixed her with a look both sympathetic and firm. Kiyora shut up. "Dear, I understand that where you are from, things are different. However, you must realize that I am not merely here as a healer. Far from it, I am the leader of the Dust Elf population of Arsheen. My authority comes directly from Duke Vanion himself and his from the King of Antion."

"So... you can legally go around executing people?" said Kiyora.

"Quite," said Rusara. "Though I expect if I did it too much, Vanion would take issue, and I'd be reassigned. My task is to keep order. Now that that unfortunate business is out of the way, how about we see about helping the less fortunate?

"You may start wherever you wish."

Kiyora approached one of them, a girl who looked about twelve. Putting a hand on her forehead like she had seen William do, she tried to stretch forth her will. But she couldn't. Something was stopping her. She pressed against it, but her will was repulsed.

"...something is stopping me. It's like there is a wall around her mind," said Kiyora. "I can't get through it."

"Ah, well, that reveals a great deal, doesn't it?" asked Rusara.

"What do you mean?" asked Kiyora.

"You are a goddess, my dear, and all gods are bound by laws," said Rusara. "Among these is a rule that the gods are not permitted to make war on one another directly. Instead, they must do so through mediums, such as paladins. William is an example of that."

"So?" asked Kiyora.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"So if you are forbidden from working a miracle directly upon these people, what does that mean?" asked Rusara. "It means that another god is possessing their will."

"Okay," said Kiyora. "So, I can't do anything?"

"Not directly," mused Rusara. "However, if you were to imbue someone with authority by your command, that person might act in your stead."

"Right, sure, whatever," said Kiyora, uninterested. "Hey, William-"

"No," said William, already guessing what she would say.

"Why not?" asked Kiyora.

"I am bound to the will of Elranor," said William. "I cannot serve two masters."

"I'm not asking you to do anything you wouldn't have done anyway!" said Kiyora.

"I am a paladin of Elranor," said William. "Not a paladin of the Dreaming Goddess. I like you, Kiyora, but I am committed."

"Oh well, I guess they die, and you fail as a paladin," said Kiyora.

William saw her point. "You could give your powers to Felix."

"No," said Felix.

"Oh, come on," said Kiyora.

"I am bound to serve William," said Felix. "If I were to accept status as your servant, there would be a conflict of interest."

"I could give my powers to Massacre," said Kiyora.

"Oh yes, because I'm sure a man-eating chimera would be suited to healing the ills of these people," said Felix. He glanced at Massacre. "No offense."

"Bah," snapped Massacre.

"But I don't know anyone else!" said Kiyora. "No one that isn't in Seathorius anyway!"

"What about-" began William.

"I am not giving powers to that bloodthirsty flame lover!" snapped Kiyora.

"I'm not bloodthirsty," said Rusara. "Although I wouldn't accept the offer anyway. I serve Laevian, Lady of Disease, and the Wild."

"So we're at an impasse," said William. "We can't heal them without Kiyora giving her powers to someone. And no one suitable is willing. What now?"

"Will, maybe you could commune with Elranor and get some kind of dispensation," said Kiyora.

That damn nickname again! When was she going to stop calling him that? "My name is William, and I can't exactly walk up to the heavenly gates and request an audience. I don't meet Elranor; he meets with me. I only ever saw him once."

"William, perhaps you should pray?" said Rusara. "You might make contact with him."

"It seems the obvious solution," mused Felix.

William looked at them. "...As you wish."

He walked to a corner, clasped his hands, and attempted to commune with Elranor. Surprisingly, it worked. He stood in a shining hall with Elranor in front of him. Such was the brilliance of him that William had to avert his eyes. Even so, there was a certain irritated casualness to the aura of Elranor today.

"Well?" said Elranor.

"Lord Elranor, I was wondering-" began William.

"It is my will that you take up the service of the Dreaming Goddess," said Elranor. "So long as we understand that if our purposes cross, you will serve my interests."

"Thank you, sir," said William.

Then, the vision ended. William turned and walked over to Kiyora. "He says yes."

"Oh great," said Kiyora before looking at Rusara. "Now, how do I invest my power in him?"

"Dear, do I look like a goddess to you?" asked Rusara with an amused smile. "I haven't the faintest idea; I merely know it is possible. I suppose you should will that some part of your power flow through him."

"Right, okay," said Kiyora. "Um... I, the Dreaming Goddess, at this moment, imbue a part of my power on you so that you may save these people. Or something like that."

The effect was instant. William suddenly looked around, and nothing seemed real at all. The world seemed a petty illusion, and Kiyora was the only thing real in it. He shook his head and looked at his hands, wondering if they were real.

"Formality doesn't suit you," said Felix.

"Did it work?" asked Kiyora.

"Yes, it worked," said William. "I can sense it, somehow. I'll see if I can heal them now."

"It better work after all this trouble," muttered Felix.

William approached the girl he had tried to heal before. She had dark hair cut in a bowl cut and had a tan complexion. She looked like a mix between Harlenorian and Calishan. He'd tried to heal her once before Rusara had stopped him.

"Take this seriously, William," said Rusara. "The will of a god is possessing these people. You will have to fight to heal them."

William touched her forehead and reached into her with his will. He found himself walking amidst an endless golden haze. He wandered amidst it until he heard crying. Following the sound, he saw the girl kneeling and sobbing.

"What's wrong?" asked William.

"I'm lost and can't get home," said the girl. "I've run for hours, but whenever I'm close, he finds me."

"Who?" asked William.

"He... he..." The girl's eyes were suddenly glazed. "He is laughing."

Laughing Wraith was here. A chill went down his back. "Oh damn," said William, taking her by the hand. "Come on; I'll get you out of here. Just follow me."

Even as he spoke, the haze became darker, and a shadow appeared in his vision. William hauled on the girl and fled. The shadow grew closer and closer, looming ever larger. Its very presence was beyond horrible to think about.

"He's catching up to us!" cried the girl. "We'll never escape!"

"No," said William, pulling his mind back and her with him. "We've defeated him before. I will defeat him this time."

The haze became pitch black. Cruel laughter could be heard around them. The girl was sobbing, and every waking moment was agony. Then, when William could no longer endure it, they ran through a light. Suddenly, he was stepping back from the girl a moment later.

"Did it work?" asked Felix.

"I... what happened?" asked the girl. "Is the nightmare over?"

"Yes," said William.

"Where am I?" asked the girl.

"In my house, some days after you fell sick," said Rusara. "Tell me, how did you fall prey to malas sickness?"

"I... I've been buying the stuff for weeks," said the girl. "Or I had been. I used my wages to do it, and once I started, I couldn't stop. But... but the visions it gave me began to change. They became horrible, and I saw him.

"Sometimes, I began to see him even in the real world, and I wanted to stop. But I couldn't. I had to take it. I didn't have a choice anymore."

"Who?" asked Rusara.

The girl looked up. "Laughing Wraith." Then she fell back and was asleep again. Yet this was a natural sleep, and her eyes were closed, her breathing steady.

"Him?" asked Kiyora. "But I killed him."

"He has been destroyed many times," said Rusara. "And he always returns."

"Not again," said Felix. "I thought we were done with that nightmare months ago. I don't want to have anything to do with him."

"Unfortunately, we do not have a choice," said Rusara. "If Laughing Wraith possesses these people, it is for a purpose. And whatever that purpose is, I think we want to thwart it."

"What are you talking about?" asked Felix. "Laughing Wraith is evil incarnate. I spent days dodging that monster. His actions have no rhyme or reason save mindless sadism and fear."

"What's your point?" asked William.

"Did that monster strike you as the sort to make plans?" asked Felix.

"Not as you saw him," admitted Rusara. "However, Laughing Wraith... changes. Each time he appears, he is a bit different. I suspect what we know as Laughing Wraith is merely a succession of avatars. With the same evil being as the source."

"What about Melchious?" asked Kiyora.

"Hmm?" asked Rusara.

"Melchious summoned Laughing Wraith into this world. He was trying to create a dark dreamer to serve him," said Kiyora. "Remember the book William found?"

"I remember it. I have studied it," said Rusara. "However, I do not believe that the man who wrote it really had any idea what he summoned. He might have tried to summon a dreamer and gotten something entirely different."

"None of this matters. I need to see to the others," said William.

"Be careful," said Kiyora. "You don't look very good."

William didn't feel very good, either. His head was swimming, and his hands were shaking. He steadied himself. He then channeled the power of Elranor through him to strengthen himself. Then he moved to the next one.

"Keep your eyes open," said Rusara. "Each of these people has the will of Laughing Wraith within them. If you focus, you may be able to get some sense of his plan."

William began the process of healing them. This was nothing like treating flesh. Every attempt he made brought him close to the mind of Laughing Wraith. It pained him more and more each time to rescue them. He could focus on nothing else. The people who awoke from their dark sleep could tell him nothing. Nothing save that it was Laughing Wraith who had done it. He worked for hours, and occasionally, he had to stop to drink some tea made by Rusara. His hands often shook, and he could sometimes see the monster's face, almost at any rate. It looked a lot like his own.

Then, while working on another girl, he had a vision.

He saw the inside of a massive temple-like structure. A statue of Typhos loomed high above them, and a man was looking at him. He was a tall, thin Calishan with a red beard. His eyes were deprived of sleep, and he looked in a bad temper.

"The door remains closed," said the man. "Your efforts seem to have failed."

At first, William thought he was talking to him. Then he saw his own shadow—the shadow of Laughing Wraith. Just looking at it horrified him, and he wanted more than anything to flee back. He was looking through Laughing Wraith's eyes, sensing his thoughts.

He had to get out of here! He had to get away from this before the monster sensed him!

No. No, he had to stay. He had to learn of their plan. He listened to Laughing Wraith's response. It wasn't verbal. He couldn't comprehend what he was listening to. What he heard was only his mind attempting to make sense of what he heard.

The seal had weakened.

They only needed more power to fuel the spell. Spreading the possessed malas was working. They only needed to continue as they had been. Or that was as much as William could tell from the will of the dark dreamer.

"Whatever the cause, our priority is to break these gates," said the man. Korasus was his name. He halted, striving to speak. "Once we do that, nothing else matters."

Fool, they were already discovered.

"What do you mean?" asked Korasus.

The wretched paladin had learned of their efforts. The miserable little flesh and blood were healing the sick as they spoke. They were taking away Wraith's playthings.

"I thought you said your power was immune to healing magic," said Korasus.

The Dreaming Goddess was his antithesis. She could combat Wraith's energies. Wraith longed to find her, how he longed to wrap the hands of those dearest to her around her neck. He thirsted to squeeze until there was no life left in her.

"Wonderful," said Korasus. "Which means we are exposed for naught."

That was right; William should kill her when he got out of this. It made perfect sense. She deserved it. No, she didn't deserve it; what was he thinking? Wraith would break the gates himself. He desired that Korasus would allow him to do his part of the arrangement. He was laughing. He was laughing. He was laughing.

"I have done everything the plan calls for," said Korasus. "I supplied the workforce, the guards, and the money. However, it is you who has not shown results, monster."

Wraith would not dignify that with a response. What was important was that William killed Kiyora when he next saw her. And failing that, he should murder one of the others. Perhaps Felix. How amusing it would be to see the look on his face as one closer to him than any other drove a blade through his heart.

It wasn't as though this world was real. Nothing he did mattered. So he could do as he pleased. Wraith turned away from Korasus.

"Where are you going?" asked Korasus.

To feed.

"Don't target Asimir's villages," said Korasus. "He may expose us."

Wraith cared not.

"I mean it!" snarled Korasus.

It was Wraith's dream. He'd do as he pleased.

William awoke with the conviction he'd lacked. He had to kill Kiyora and Felix. It would be amusing to watch them die, and why was he tied up? Ropes were bound around him, and his sword was far from him.

Why would they tie him up? It wasn't as though he was a threat. Except he was. He was going to kill them. What was he thinking?! He shook himself and regained his senses.

"Well?" asked Rusara.

"Someone named Korasus has been excavating the site of an old temple to Typhos," said William. "He seems to have a connection to Laughing Wraith, and they are working with an Asimir."

"Asimir?" asked Kiyora.

He'd been ready to kill Kiyora and Felix. He'd gone insane there for a moment and hadn't even noticed. "Could someone cut these ropes?"

"I apologize for that, dear," said Rusara. "When you didn't wake up immediately, I thought Wraith might affect you. Gods have a way of doing that, so I had you tied up. Felix cut the ropes."

Felix untied the ropes. He didn't like wasting things. As William got his hands free, he stretched them. "If you knew it was that dangerous, why did you send me?"

"Elranor gave you permission," said Rusara. "I expect he knows better than I what you are ready for."

"Who's this Asimir guy?" asked Kiyora.

"Lord Asimir dwells in the far northern part of the province," said Rusara. "Near the satyr highlands of Khasmir. I believe that was where the last vestiges of the old cult of Typhos died out. Though I have heard that the cyclopi of Estal has taken up her worship."

"We have to inform Father about this. Then, he'll know what to do," said William. "I only wish Raynald were here."

"I will alert the garrison at once," said Rusara.

William looked at Kiyora. She looked as if someone had stepped on top of her grave. Her face was pale, and she was shaking. "Are you alright?"

"I..." Kiyora paused. "I have to go."

And she was gone without a flash. She just faded.