The horrors of the night retired as the sun rose beyond the horizon, spreading its deterring light. Nico looked far out from his perch at the kettle of Seekers forming. He put his shivering fingers in his mouth and blew causing a piercing whistle that caught the attention of several of the birds.

Nico did not summon any weapons. The familiar weight of Duality Feathers hung from his ear as he waited. Two seconds passed and then another three. By the seventh second the first Seeker was on top of him.

‘I’m not jumping from a cliff at least,’ Nico found little comfort in the thought as he leaped from the tree branch. Tucking his head in, he rolled past the dangerous claws and held onto the Seeker’s feathers.

Nico flapped his arms in an undignified manner and squealed as he hit the ground. ‘My name is Nico, I am human. I am not a bird brain.” Nico calmed himself as he tried to focus. The instincts of the bird were far less potent than the previous times Nico merged. Likely due to the Seeker’s lower rank.

Orienting himself, Nico took off. The other birds hovered in the air, confused at the chain of events. Their meal had vanished and was replaced by a mini version of themselves. Showing no mercy for their plight, Nico struck the birds with his talons, avoiding major areas. He felt his body itch from the shallow scratches.

The victims screeched in fury and gave chase, beating their powerful wings. Nico was swift and glided over the river. He maintained a modest lead over the Seekers and led them to the trap.

The stilt village came into view. The smaller bird transferred its forward momentum up and performed a thin arc, swooping down into the center of the ruins.

The larger birds pulled up just in time to avoid smashing into the wooden walls. However, they were exposed.

Gen lashed out from the top of the wall, beheading a Seeker and drawing first blood. An arrow passed through the eye of another one and Justin leaped from the battlement and stabbed twin swords into the bird's breast.

Nico watched the success with muted glee and awkwardly stood on his three toed feet. His flaw was merciless, delivering the pain of the three strikes. Maintaining his stance, he wobbled and let out a silent breath. The people below him moved away from him, looking at him with confusion. Despite his compact size compared to the other Seekers, Nico’s form was twice Gen’s height. He waddled over to the dead seekers to take his mind off of the pain and dug through the bodies for their shards.

He stopped. The smell of fresh blood was enticing, however, another smell was even better. Nico took off before anyone could stop him and rose just above the trees. The leaves quivered violently as he passed and Nico followed the stale smell.

The canopy was thick and Nico almost clipped a wing flying through. Bathed in a shower of light and leaves, Nico stood over the rotting body of a monster. He padded closer, surveying the area for threats. Nico forgot about the food.

All around him were white spheres, suspended from the trees like abnormal fruits. Something pulled on Nico’s mind and he lost his balance. Struggling to stay up, Nico unfurled his wings to flee. His body was infused with a tender heat and the voice of the spell called him back to his body

[A soul was sacrificed]

Nico let out a gasp as he scrambled to his feet, throwing up mulch and dead leaves. All around him he felt minds. This was different from back at the river. These were humans, not the beasts.

‘Is there someone in each cocoon?’ Nico made an estimate count. Nearly fifty cocoons hung from the canopy. Blood pounded in his ears and leaves crunched under his scattered steps. The pull for sleep was familiar. It was exactly like in his first nightmare. Nico summoned Whispering Reed and without thinking stabbed his hand.

His mind cleared a little and he started to run. A white beast streaked through the jungle reeking of fear and sweat. Then it dropped. Performing a face plant and a roll, Nico landed on his back facing the blocked sky. His mind was muddled and the pain was already fading. He waited with a bated breath for the danger to appear.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

[W-welcome…Dreamer, to the Nightmare spell…]

A tall scalene triangle stabbed the sky. The clouds parted for the spire, forming a wide circle of clear sky. The sun hung in the horizon, turning the circle violet. The citadel was quiet and forlorn. Rio stood at the bow of the ship, taking in the eerie atmosphere.

“Get in contact with the garrison,” An awakened ordered. Her name was Lutra and performed the duty of quartermaster on the ship.

“No point. They are already dead,” Rio turned away from the island and faced the woman. “Turn your ship around and run.”

“Do not dare order me,” She hissed and turned away, flinging her brown braid in his face. Rio was accustomed to the cold shoulder and simply summoned Winter. The snow white elk blared a greeting as it manifested on the deck.

“Where do you think you are going?” Rio turned and came face to face with Wavera.

“To investigate,” Rio was already mounted and spurred Winter on. The elk glided over the surface of the water and sent up a misty spray of salt.

There were well over twenty ships harbored around the island and yet not a single soul was visible. Rio touched the coral pendant hanging over the scales of his chiton and summoned Ocean’s Wrath. The mirror surface of the spear reflected the setting sun.

Rio landed on a stone path leading to the citadel and took cautious steps. His body bursted with adrenaline when a sudden chime rang from somewhere deep in the island. The sounds of the waves shifted and the tides moved.

Black water spurted out from below the beach and dispersed into black fog then into dissolved wisps. Winter bellowed a warning and Rio blocked just in time. His arms shook from the impact and his sandals scraped over the stone.

The attacker wore the same body suit as the other Nightwalkers. Rio angled his spear and spun the end into the man’s abdomen. The two broke apart then slammed against one another trading vicious blows.

Rio looked into the man’s soul as he nicked his neck. It was as he feared. Their core was corroded and vacant of memories. The man shuddered and messed up the angle of his swing, missing Rio’s chest. Rio countered and ran the man through, delivering both a physical and soul attack. The corrupted core showed cracks and was close to shattering.

The area around the man’s chest caved in from an invisible force. His death was near instant. ‘His sword wasn’t a memory.’

[You have slain awakened human…] Rio did not get to listen to the spell. Instead, the waters erupted with motion and several other awakened surrounded him.

Before he was crushed by an onslaught of attacks, three rubbery limbs slammed into the attackers midair. The tentacles smashed down and incapacitated the awakened.

Rio was sure of it. An Awakened should not be able to match an Ascended. ‘It’s one of her avatars. They all are. That explains the lack of Aspect.’

Removing his spear from the body, Rio summoned a pink conch shell and filled it with the man’s blood.

Wavera rose out of the water and approached the subdued men. ‘Partial transformation.’ Rio ignored them and looked to the peak of the tower. The small frys down here weren’t meant to stop them, only slow them down. ‘She’s up to something.’

“Stop.” Rio hesitated and turned to the Saint. Her dark green eyes burned with fury, a stark contrast to her previously jovial self.

“Explain the situation. Are they under a mind hex of some sort?” She indicated to the struggling awakened. Rio shook his head, replying “They are no longer your friends. If she can control them, they gave into her.”

“Gave in?” She inquired.

“The nightmare creature I’m after controls avatars. A prerequisite of taking over a body is permission. She can appear in your head as someone you love or someone you trust,” Rio turned solemnly to the captive people. “Once they let her in, she has total control over their actions.”

“Is there some way to reverse the effects?” Wavera asked with repressed anger.

“Other than killing the five main bodies, no.”

“Five main bodies? What do they look like?” Lutra shouted from the docking ship.

“Only the main bodies can use their aspects,” Rio finished.

“This is no normal Corrupted Devil,” Lutra said. Rio half smiled. “I warned you to leave.”

“Get these people tied up and keep the ship ready,” Wavera ordered. Lutra flinched from the harshness of the Saint’s words and wordlessly left.

“You,” She turned to Rio. “Take me to this nightmare creature.” The Saint was bathed in a storm of sparks and a blue chainmail dress jingled down. In her hand was a crescent cutlass pressed from the ocean. The water moved and maintained its shape, looking sharper than any metal.