The firelight danced across the stone walls of the temple as the group settled for the night. The old man had retreated to a quiet corner, leaving them to their thoughts. The story of Kali’dar’s downfall hung heavily over them, a weight none of them could shake.
Kai sat near the edge of the terrace, the cool night air brushing against his face. He gazed out at the ruins below, the silent city shrouded in shadow and mystery. His thoughts churned with the revelations of the day. The legacy of the guardians, the fractured balance, the looming darkness—it felt like too much. Yet here they were, chosen by forces they barely understood, tasked with a responsibility they hadn’t asked for.
As exhaustion finally overtook him, he lay back against the cold stone, staring up at the stars. One by one, his companions drifted to sleep, and soon, so did he.
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He was no longer on the terrace. Instead, he found himself sitting on the floor of a cozy room, warm and inviting, filled with a soft amber glow. The air smelled faintly of lavender and wood smoke. The walls were lined with shelves of books and trinkets, and the gentle crackle of a fireplace provided a soothing backdrop.
In front of him sat the small girl from his previous dream, her golden curls bouncing as she clapped her hands to the rhythm of a game they were playing.
“Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker’s man!”
The words of the rhyme came unbidden to his lips, though he couldn’t remember learning them. Their hands moved faster, the rhythm speeding up until it became a blur, and the little girl dissolved into fits of giggles, her laughter filling the room like music.
Kai chuckled, his heart swelling with a joy he hadn’t felt in years. The happiness was so pure, so untainted, that it almost hurt. He wanted to freeze the moment, to let it stretch into eternity.
But the flames in the soft lamps around the room flickered and dimmed, catching his eye. He frowned, unease brushing against the edges of his mind. Before he could dwell on it, the little girl let out a huge yawn, her laughter replaced by sleepy murmurs. She crawled into his lap, her tiny frame curling against him, her golden curls tickling his chin.
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“Daddy,” she mumbled, her voice barely audible as her eyes fluttered shut.
His breath caught. The word struck him with a warmth so deep it felt like his very soul was melting. He tightened his arms around her protectively, pressing a soft kiss to her head.
“Sleep well,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.
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He stood slowly, careful not to jostle her, and carried her through the room to a wide balcony. The air outside was cool and crisp, a contrast to the cozy warmth of the room. The city stretched out below him, its lights twinkling like stars. It was peaceful, serene—but something about it unsettled him.
The flames in the streetlamps flickered just as the ones inside had, their light dimming and casting long, wavering shadows. Kai tightened his hold on the little girl, his unease growing.
Behind him, he heard the soft sound of bare feet padding across the floor. A slim arm wrapped around his waist, and he turned to see the woman from his previous dream standing beside him. She gazed out over the city with a calm, contemplative expression.
She spoke, and for the first time, he understood her words.
“I must go to the temple tomorrow,” she said, her voice soft but tinged with hesitation. “Mother wishes to show me my legacy, as she calls it.” She paused, her gaze fixed on the city below. “I don’t understand. We’re at peace... why can’t we stay like this forever?”
Kai wanted to answer her, to tell her they could stay like this, that nothing had to change. But the words caught in his throat, a strange sense of foreboding silencing him.
The woman turned to him, her eyes searching his face, as if she was waiting for an answer he couldn’t give.
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He woke with a start, her words echoing in his mind.
“We’re at peace... why can’t we stay like this forever?”
Kai sat up, his breath unsteady, the dream lingering like a mist that refused to dissipate. He glanced around at his sleeping companions, the dying embers of the fire casting faint shadows over their faces.
The unease from the dream clung to him, and he couldn’t help but wonder if it was more than just a dream. The peace in the vision felt fragile, fleeting—like a distant memory of a time long gone.
With a heavy sigh, he leaned back against the wall, his eyes drawn once more to the ruins below. Whatever lay ahead, he knew there was no turning back. The past was gone, and the future was theirs to shape—or to lose.