The armor weighed on his sore body and dug grooves into his wrinkly flesh. He shifted more of the weight off his legs onto his old spear and rested his head against the shaft. The man’s heart was swole with sorrow and it took every fiber of loyalty he held to keep guard instead of swinging the door open and letting his student free and leading him to freedom.

Oh the years that had cycled since his student’s imprisonment. The man’s partner was a stark contrast to him, straight as an arrow and brimming with vigor. The only trait they shared was their dedication to their dying kingdom.

Metal boots scraped over the stone and the old man lifted his heavy head, heaving a faint sigh. Another guard rounded the corner and stood stiffly before the two others. The newcomer was young like the man’s partner.

“Go on. No need to suffer with me,” The man waved his partner off and watched the two leave. Long after he knew they were out of earshot, the old man straightened and the fatigue on his face vanished.

He turned and inserted an old iron rod key into the metal lock. There was a heavy clink and the door opened, revealing a spartan room without a window. Before the man could speak, a small beast ran into him, nearly toppling him.

“My lord, I am old. I may fall,” despite his words, the man returned the embrace and brushed the child’s golden hair aside.

“We have little time,” The old man let go and the child gave a smile that would light up the world. However, there was something behind the smile. It was new. The man blinked and wondered if he imagined it.

Putting the thought away, he led the child to the corner of the hall. It was concealed behind a large pillar and sparsely torched. The window faced north, never receiving sunlight and remaining in the shadows.

A meal was already waiting for them, placed shortly before them by another sympathizing with the entrapped child.

The child sat on the window sill and started nibbling on cheese and cuts of meat. The man hung back, watching the scene with an aching sense of melancholy. His thoughts were cut off by the boy’s sudden pause.

The child raised his head and peered out the window over the angled roofs and out to the lush fields and hills. Swallowing, he looked at the old man.

“Leave the keys,” The boy said.

“My lord…” The old man gawked at the boy. He viewed the boy with hardened scrutiny. It was so sudden and new that the man didn’t realize that the boy had already grabbed the keys from his belt.

“Are y-you trying to escape?” The man whispered his thoughts. Should he stop the boy. His loyalty to his kingdom and in turn his king required him to stop the boy. However, the throne was not characterized by one man. The boy was the future. Falling to one knee, the old man bowed.

“This old servant will help you,” He declared.

“I’m not escaping,” The boy said with a mouthful of cheese. “For now.” There was mischief in the lord’s eyes and the old man felt an old giddy feeling bubble inside him.

“Just go about your business as usual,” The boy hopped down from the window sill and smiled. “Also try to get more of that blue speckled cheese.” The boy glanced out the window over the city. 'Someone else has joined us.'

Nico rubbed his face to wipe away the sleep from his eyes. He yelped from the feeling of rubbing rough leather across his face like sandpaper and finally noticed his surroundings. He was in a bunk bed flanked by identical beds in rows. The ceiling was tall and lit by chandeliers with real wax candles.

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‘Where am I?’ Nico’s hand throbbed and he held the appendage up. He was missing several fingers and it looked like someone had driven a nail through his palm. Looking down, he studied his clothes. They were tattered and covered in grime. Further down, he saw two shackles binding his legs to the bed.

The bandage on his hand was childlike and made from random material scrounged together. Iron rattled as he moved, and dangled his thin legs over the bed. The chamber could easily house a hundred people and the number of bunks confirmed it.

‘Focus.’ Nico summoned his runes and relief washed over him when he spotted their familiar form.

‘This…is a nightmare?’ Nico hissed in his head. ‘A sleeper has no right to challenge the second nightmare!’ Nico jumped down and frantically looked around, escape being the only thing on his mind.

‘This can’t be happening. I didn’t even find a seed! Damn it.’ The chain tightened and held his feet back causing Nico to topple over.

Nico could not deny the taste of blood. This was real. Or it was real in the sense that this was the nightmare spell. Nico pushed himself up and rested. He snapped his head towards a sudden sound. Metal boots on stone.

“Get up,” A man commanded. He wore armor over red fabric and had a neatly trimmed beard. Nico got the jist of his situation.

Wordlessly standing, Nico calculated his next moves. He had access to his soul sea and aspect. ‘What if I merge with another human?’ The thought wasn’t pleasant and Nico kept his eyes down, playing the part of a intimidated slave.

The man glanced at Nico’s wounded hand. The guard pulled a key ring from his belt and unlocked Nico’s shackles. This was not a time to act rashly.

“Come with me,” The man turned on his heels as he spoke. The halls were wide and tall with carpets and curtains weaved from the finest silks. The sun rested on the west horizon bathing the halls in orange light. The whole thing was blinding.

The man led nico through a maze of turns and they somehow ended up in a kitchen. Maids and cooks worked diligently. The guard turned and left without a word, leaving Nico a tad befuddled.

“Take this.” Another man shoved a tray into Nico hands so fast that Nico nearly tripped. He fumbled to balance the tray and met the eyes of the man.

“Take it down that way and turn left at the end.” The man instructed and returned to his business.

‘Do they not care that I’m a slave?’ Nico questioned every part of the nightmare and followed the man’s orders. Could he not escape? He was obviously treated poorly, yet they gave him free reign in this place. Nico assumed it was a palace and that meant important people. Did these people not fear assassination, theft, or espionage?

Nico’s thoughts drifted to his hand. How exactly did this slave get wounded? He turned at the end of the hall and continued to walk for what felt like miles in the repeating halls. Finally he ended at a darker part of the palace. The windows were sparser in the smaller halls and there was a change in the air.

“Halt,” An old man called out. His words were not phrased like a command and Nico kept walking several steps until he saw the man standing near a pillar.

Nico opened his mouth to speak, then closed it. ‘What am I supposed to do with this?’ He was holding a tray of food and didn’t know who he was serving.

“I brought food,” He said. The old guard was hunched and looked like a gust of wind would make him crumble under the weight of his armor.

“Come in,” The man opened the door behind him and Nico stepped inside. The room was relatively small for an important person and barely furnished. A blonde haired boy sat on a bed staring off into space as he hit the bed frame with the back of his heels.

Nico found a desk against one of the walls and placed the tray down. He scanned the room. ‘The guard is to keep the boy in.’ Resting his gaze on the boy, Nico froze.

Gray eyes stared back at him. He was not mistaken. Nico was face to face with the priest of the shore.

“Hello Nico,” The boy cheered. “We meet again.”

Sparks flew from Nico’s uninjured hand and a second later he thrusted Whispering Reed into the boy’s chest. The room echoed with the ring of iron and the old man bashed Nico with his bracer.

Nico stumbled back and held Whispering Reed up, ready to kill them both. The old man was not what he seemed. He was standing tall and powerful, the previous weariness gone. It was the image of a trained fighter still at his peak.

“Stop it you two,” The boy ordered, still having not moved from his place on the bed. “I think there’s been a misunderstanding. I’m not like the other people here.” The boy side eyed his guard and continued. “I like jaybirds too. Call me Solace.”