The melancholy and dread weighed on Damien like physical chains of dull iron, but he trudged on, regardless.

It all became a blur as he walked on, passing by a world of black and gray. The ash and dust buffeted him, the taste of charcoal invaded his mouth. It all barely registered to him. With every single step the energy seemed to be leached from him by his own emotional fatigue.

Why not lie down until he became like the dust that berated him so strongly now?

Despite his lack of spirit, his feet walked on, refusing to give up when he had already, so long ago.

On the edge of the world of black and gray, the vibrant color of green sprawled out, and added life to the dull palette.

Eventually Damien stepped out of the world of ash and dust into a landscape of small sprawling green hills and thickets of blackberry bushes. A gust of wind shook the dense greenery, made it dance and sway-

Made it come alive.

Damien couldn't help but gawk at the rolling fields of grass swaying in the breeze, and the large and gentle trees shaking their hair at the sky. At some point during his journey it had become day, and the sky was a clear blue.

An innocent smile bloomed on Damien's lips as he took in the breathtaking scene of nature. His shoulders felt lighter, his heart clearer. The clean scent of the air stimulated and reinvigorated his tired mind. There was just one problem-

Damien was hungry.

He gripped his stomach as it grumbled, and felt the pain of hunger for what felt like the first time- no, was the first time.

Damien frowned pensively while looking around. Was their anything he could eat in this endless sea of foliage?

He instinctively knew: The grass and trees would provide no nourishment, despite their beauty. His eyes fell on the blackberry thickets. He walked forward and picked a single berry. He brought it to his nose and sniffed, then tentatively brought it to his mouth and took a small bite. His eyes widened-

It was delicious.

Damien picked and ate berries with delight under the clear blue sky, in perfect harmony with the world of green that was dancing to the tune of the wind.

After a buffet of the bounty of nature, Damien sprawled himself across the field of green, staring at the bright blue sky with a wide, joyous smile on his face.

Eventually, under the watch of the warm, lazy sun, Damien fell asleep surrounded by nature.

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The shrill cries of women screaming and children crying could be heard throughout the night. The sound of timber burning and beams of wooden structures crumbling in on themselves could be heard all along the street. A steady burning, destroying what had taken years to build in a matter of hours.

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The night sky was filled with the smoke of a bonfire the size of a small city. The smell of sulfur was as suffocating as the thick clouds of smoke bleeding from the once beautiful city structures.

Damien coughed as he ran along the street, a blur among the frantic mob of people fleeing chaotically in every direction. He pushed aside pedestrians and jumped over burning debris, apprehension burning in his heart.

A smoking monster of flame and earth broke through a house in front of him, sending wood splinters and bits of glass in every direction. The demon roared at the night sky, ash and flame spewing from its gaping maw. It's infernal eyes locked onto Damien, drool of lava dripping and sizzling as it melted holes in the pavement.

Damien unsheathed the blade at his side. A prismatic luminescence pierced the veil of smoke around Damien as he held his blade between himself and the smouldering demon in front of him.

The demon rushed Damien, a mass of hellish fire was charging at him like a freight train, it's flaming eyes glowing with intelligent malice.

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Damien's eyes flew open. He rolled to his feet and unsheathed his sword in one fluid motion. He looked down at the useless blade in his hands, and then down at his feet that were in a battle stance with perplexity.

Then he took in his surroundings and realized where he was, and that he had been, in fact, dreaming.

The sun had set long ago, leaving the moon in its place. But the celestial body was not alone. A thousand gliterring gems shone in the sky like white diamonds; a breathtaking entourage for the moon's shining luminescence.

"Beautiful isn't it?" A gentle voice asked from beside him.

Damien looked to his side and noticed a pale and slender naked woman bathing in the pale moonlight, gazing at the night sky in wonder.

"I never tire of the mystery that lies beyond that infinite void." She seemed to be gazing somewhere far off, farther than even the moon or the stars in the night sky.

Damien sheathed his useless blade and sat down silently, joining the mysterious woman in gazing at the night sky.

The gentle breeze disturbing the grass was warm, and there was the faint sound of a single cricket somewhere nearby.

"My name's Damien."

The naked woman inspected Damien thoughtfully.

"Mm, that doesn't feel right. You don't look like a Damien to me."

Damien hesitated for a moment. "I didn't use to be... I think. What's your name?"

The nameless woman giggled. "You're a strange one. My name's Margo."

"Margo..." Damien repeated absently while staring at the naked moon. "That's a pretty name. It fits you."

"Thanks."

They continued to gaze at the night sky silently for awhile.

"Do you think names have meaning?" Damien suddenly asked.

"Hmm?" Margo answered without looking away from the night sky. "Yeah, at least I think so. If something doesn't have a name, then how do you know what it is?"

Damien cupped his chin, deep in thought.

Margo interrupted his brooding. "What were you dreaming about? You looked tense while you were sleeping."

"I was a stranger in a burning city, looking for something that I couldn't find." Damien shuddered when he remembered the end. "And then a monster attacked me."

"A monster?"

"Yeah, it was terrifying. It was huge and made of fire. But for some reason, I was getting ready to fight it."

"Huh." Margo replied simply.

The sound of the lone cricket was all that could be heard for a long time.

"You know, the moon sort of looks like a pearl in the sky doesn't it?" Damien contemplated.

Margo smiled, flashing a row of perfect white teeth. "Indeed, it does."

Damien stretched and yawned tiredly. "Hey, Margo, you don't mind if I go back to sleep do you?"

Margo looked on as Damien closed his eyes and smiled gently. "Not at all."

Silence returned to the peaceful landscape as a naked woman listened to the sound of a cricket under the light of the pale full moon.

"Goodnight, Damien." Margo whispered.

Damien slept a peaceful, dreamless sleep that night.