Abe could feel Mor’kel’s body healing around him, its mushroom fibers growing and recovering, thickening around his skin until his curves and ridges faded beneath rounded edges.

He could sense both his body and the worm's aversion to the dream energy that washed across him, but the energy seemed to be consumed by the fungi capsule of Mor’kel’s flesh and didn’t cause any harm.

He hoped that the weird mushroom would wake soon. He did not particularly miss its company, but he would take whatever help he could get to navigate this situation.

As Mor’kel’s flesh recovered, he could sense the power within its fibrous shell. It was no armor, but he was confident he could take more of a hit with the mushroom’s flesh protecting him.

Gradually, he calmed as the dream energy rippling across his body didn’t rip him apart. The darkness provided concealment, but Abe decided to descend further, creating distance between him and the ship. He couldn’t be entirely sure how well they could detect his energy, and more distance seemed prudent.

The energy flowing from the ship felt similar to water, and he was confident he could swim through it and even up to the vessel itself if he wished. Of course, he had no interest in trying to assault a ship full of dreamers by himself, but it was a reminder of the dangers of traveling the Vale. If something powerful managed to hitch to your vessel, it could easily climb aboard.

He pictured the star-dotted blanket of darkness that was the Vale and tried to figure out which way Lantern was. He had paid some attention to the journey while aboard the reaver vessel, but imagining its path was no easy task. Not that it was urgently vital since he saw no way off his hitched ride.

It looks like I’m taking this thing to its destination, whether I like it or not. Mor’kel, if you’re in there, old pal, watch my back, okay? Remember, you’d have been stuck down there if it wasn’t for me. Whoever these guys are, please, don’t let them kill me.

There was no reply.

*******

Heavy boots echoed across the marble tiles, directing Fuhai Bao’s attention to the connecting hall.

“Oh, General Sergei, what an unexpected honor. Please, take a seat,” the chairman said, gesturing toward the seat opposite him at the chessboard.

“Cut the romantics, Bao,” General Sergei grunted and lowered his broad frame into the chair, the red orbs in his skeletal skull resting on the chairman. “Surely you know why I’m here.”

“No, should I?”

“Don’t be a fool, Bao. You’re not an idiot. I know you can see the writing on the wall. Eighty percent of the tethers are already active. The invasion is coming, and my advice for you is to pick the right side.”

“How can that be? A county cannot tether to a barony. These ancient laws are not so easily evaded. How exactly can your Mistress invade this place?”

“Cursed blood soaks this land. It binds the two domains together. Can’t you feel it?”

Fuhai Bao narrowed his gaze.

“You've slept too long in this place, old man. A curse was placed upon the Countess’s blood and brought here by that unwitting tool of a necromancer. I’m surprised you didn’t see through it.”

“So, that was his purpose,” Bao rubbed at his chin. “My memory of ancient curses really isn’t what it used to be.”

Sergei snorted and retrieved a cigar, lighting it with a flame produced by his thumb. “I’m not here for your nonsensical yapping, Bao. Answer me already. Who’s side are you on?” He said as he puffed thick clouds of smoke through the room.

“You know I don’t take sides, Sergei. Not that much has changed since the last time you came around.”

Sergei sighed and shook his head, “Fine. Have it your way. But I should warn you, Countess Katiana isn’t like the Baroness. She doesn’t need or want mortals in her domains. She might decide she doesn’t need you either.”

“I understand, general. But I should also warn you. Evgenia is not that pushover you believe her to be. And she has a promising young talent beneath her wings.”

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General Sergei rose from the chair, chuckling, “So I’ve heard. We have a backup plan for him in case he becomes troublesome. Let me assure you that every piece on this board has been accounted for. Mistress Katiana hasn’t waited this long for a chance to become one of the greats to risk toiling it away like her simple-headed sisters. Doubt me all you like, but soon you will see,” Sergei leaned forward and ashed his cigar on the chessboard. “My servants will be contactable for now. But don’t wait too long. Once we’ve conquered this place, I cannot guarantee that my offer will stand.”

“Understood,” Fuhai Bao said as Sergei lurched toward the elevator. “Best of luck to you and your Mistress, whatever happens.”

“You’re an old fool, Bao,” Sergei said as he stepped into the elevator. “But perhaps true death is what you seek after all these years?”

******

Flying through the Vale, Abe could feel the waves of dream energy growing stronger, almost suffocatingly so, even with Mor’kel’s protective flesh.

He could see nothing at first. Only feel the mighty thump of energy that hovered through space. Wherever they had taken him, it certainly wasn’t Lantern.

The energy continued to rise, clawing at his soul as white light enveloped the ship, forming a tunnel that cut through space and opened a hole in the darkness. Beyond it, he saw green and blue.

The light was blinding, and he was forced to shield his eyes as the ship traveled through the white tunnel.

Squinting, he lowered his arms as the energy began to fade. Gone was the endless darkness of the Vale, replaced by a land of rolling green hills, open fields of lush grass, picketed farmlands, forests, and blue skies. He could see towns and villages with thatched roofs scattered across the picturesque landscape, connected by winding roads and, at its center, a giant tree.

His jaw slackened, and his eyes widened as he watched the tree disappear into the clouds above. It had to be more than a hundred stores tall and wider than any building.

I don’t think this is good.

The ship flew over a canopy of dense green, with the tallest trees only meters from his feet as it flew toward the center where the giant tree stood. Abe could feel the energy pulsing from that massive tree. He had only ever felt one comparable energy source, Miss Nia’s.

I’m pretty sure I don’t want to meet that thing. I guess I have no choice.

Abe swam breaststroke through the rippling waves of dreamer energy until he reached their edge, and weightlessness took over.

The fall came quickly, and before he knew it, he crashed through branches as he raced toward the ground. Reaching out, he attempted to slow his fall. Ragdolling through the tree, he slammed against multiple branches before he slowed to a halt.

Climbing through the branches and snapping away anything that tried to slow his path, Abe extended his claws, dug into its trunk, and slid down to the forest floor.

“Finally,” he grunted. “Although, I’m not sure this is better than being stuck on that island.”

His body wouldn’t heal here, and he had set himself on a race against time; he could at least feel Mor’kel’s shell absorbing and healing. With it around him, he wasn’t just a hopeless undead stuck in a dreamer domain waiting to die. Still, without Miss Nia’s blood, his time would be limited.

His brow perked as he realized that Mor’kel’s flesh was doing more than just healing itself. It connected with the earth around him and the living creatures of the forest. He could feel it, like another sense layered atop the ones he already had. Fungi, trees, plants, he could feel them all, connected like a web of life.

“Nifty trick you got, Mor’kel,” he murmured as he tried to make sense of the sensations flooding into him.

Well, I’m not dead, at least. But I doubt I will last long in my current state, even with Mor’kel’s protection. I can feel him growing stronger, but he still doesn’t respond. There’s a possibility he really is dead. Which means I’ve got to figure out how to get out of this damned domain myself.

Abe glanced around the forest, trying to get a better look at his surroundings. Through the corner of his eyes, he realized that his skin was now entirely grayish-white, covered by a thin, fibrous texture. It was different than it had been; this wasn’t just a thin film of Mor’kel’s presence protecting him. The thick layer of mushroom flesh had torn away his clothing and stretched his belt and holster strap tightly.

He also felt a new level of control over the new mushroom skin, like he could compel it to retreat. And while he had no interest in taking the form of a mushroom, he figured it would be best to leave it while in this place.

I have a new world to explore now. Well, at least it is settled… I think that’s a good thing. If I can hijack one of those ships for myself somehow, then maybe I can get back to Lantern and, from there, figure out how to return to Miss Nia’s domain. Hopefully, I can survive that long.

He scanned the forest with his array of senses, trying to figure out the best path to take. Life was hidden all around, but most of it didn’t seem to pose any threat.

However, in the distance, he could feel powerful energy sources. Stealing a ship would be no easy task, and charging into the dreamers that called this place home would be suicide.

But then he sensed something else. It was strong but alone. His eyes flickered purple as he concentrated on it, trying to understand its energy better.

“It’s deep in the forest,” he mouthed.

He could see its energy pulsing in the distance.

That thing, it is strong. I can almost taste its energy from here. There’s no doubt that thing could kill me, but can I escape this place as I am now?

He glanced down at his hands and his weakened body beneath Mor’kel’s flesh.

Nia’s blood had healed him considerably, but he wasn’t at full strength. However, consuming that thing would be enough to recover his strength fully, but there was also its promise of more power.

His evolution was close. He could feel himself at the pinnacle of his power as a ghoul. Feeding on something that powerful would almost certainly push him through his evolution, and while he still wouldn’t be powerful enough to take on this domain alone, his chances of escape would be greatly improved.

“I have to kill that thing. I have to feed on it,” he mouthed as he began to walk through the forest toward the purple glow. “It’s the only way I’ll be strong enough.”