One week later, late at night…

Snow-swept stone ensnared in the timeless grip of icy leaves and blooming white and blue roses. Large antique windows brimming with the light of the morning sun. Blood mars each step before the once great clock once absolute upon the wall ahead, now little more than a ruin of shattered glass and metal.

Oh, fuck! How the fuck did I…

“You’ve returned, ‘Hero’. I’ve missed you so very much.”

Those words are spoken with a voice just like mine, so similar in its crystal-clear clarity that for a moment, I wonder if I said them myself. But no. Of course not! It’s a shadowy silhouette manifest in the shade of me, sitting cross-legged on the bloodied snow-swept steps. As if it had just read my mind, it grins maliciously.

Uh oh. I think I know who this is! It’s the Demon Lord! The bastard’s making a mockery outta me, too. But then, how in the fuck did it…

“You just had to screw it up, didn’t you? We had everything in our grasp… and now, here we are. Back at the beginning.”

“Fuck you!”

Summoning Elizabeth into my grasp, I focus up and unleash a massive blast of Holy Fire upon the Demon Lord, setting it ablaze in a tempest of white and blue flames. And then, I unleash more waves of Holy Fire to incinerate that burning tempest and everything around it in a storm of righteous fire.

“Yes, I know, I know! Good to you see again too, ‘Hero’.”

“Fucking hell…”

Somehow, the Demon Lord still stands, smiling wickedly at me. And it’s still taking the form of that fucked-up silhouette supposedly meant to look like me. The nerve of that bastard!

“How the fuck are you still...”

“You can’t kill me. You already had that pleasure. No sloppy seconds!”

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“Still worth a try.”

I unleash another massive blast of Holy Fire upon the Demon Lord. No dice, unfortunately. And it’s still grinning at me like this is all nothing but a big joke.

“Remember what I said mere seconds ago, ‘Hero’?”

“I remember that you pissed me off,” I retort curtly. “And you’re pissing me off still!”

“If it helps you calm down…” the Demon Lord states dryly, shrugging its shadowy shoulders. “I’m so very sorry about your Paladin. Anna Silvermoon, was it?”

“Silverlight.”

“Yes, of course. If only I had the chance to kill her again… were it not for you, I’d rip her soul apart, piece by piece...”

“You can try,” I offer coldly. “And when you do, she’ll shove Ascalon down your throat.”

“If I should ever be so lucky to lay my hands upon her again…”

“You won’t be. I’m gonna kill you right now.”

Holy Fire burns everything around me in an all-consuming, sacred inferno. I’ve really outdone myself this time. I suppose anger does make you stronger! And yet… well, y’know… third time’s not the charm for me, unfortunately.

“We can keep doing this. You can, I mean. Forever, if we must…” the Demon Lord mocks, standing unscathed when the flames subside again. “Or at least, for as long as you sleep.”

“So, this a dream…” I state curtly, eyes fixated upon the Demon Lord and its mocking gaze. “Is that why you’re unkillable?”

“It is indeed. Our shared dream, to be precise. It’s also why I haven’t killed you, ‘Hero’. One of many reasons.”

“Well, that’s just wonderful, eh?” I remark dryly, crossing my arms and rolling my eyes. “I’ve always wanted to spend my night dreaming of someone like you.”

“Well… I didn’t have a choice. Neither do you, it seems.”

“Heh. I guess dreams really do come true, huh? So, what the fuck do you want?”

“Nothing!” the Demon Lord answers sarcastically, licking its shadowy lips. “Not yet, anyway. This will be the first of many communions to come. And from how you talk… it seems like you’ve forgotten!”

“Forgotten what?”

“I’m sure you’ll remember as you re-trace your steps as time goes on in this new timeline.”

“Good grief. That’s very helpful and not vague at all. Thanks a lot, asshole! And I’d rather you leave me alone. Y’know… if you’d be so fucking kind to do so.”

“Oh? Don’t you feel it too, ‘Hero’? We are as one now. We’ll be in touch!”

“What!? What the fuck are you even…”

Before I can finish my question, my eyes open wide to the darkness of the ceiling back in my room in the Chantry of Eternal Light. I’m still in bed, warmly tucked in – too warm! I’m sweating buckets, each breath so heavy. My heart is pounding, too. And I feel… awful.

Quietly, I lay upright on my pillow. It’s still dark out the window. I’m thinking about what just happened moments ago, and as I gaze out into the night sky, I can’t help but frown deeply as I think of the Demon Lord, now a dark silhouette manifesting in the shape of me, pissing me off in my dreams. Boy, oh boy.