Isyd stood on the embankment on the Outside and was staring at the towers of the Academy peaking on the horizon. It was something he often did when he happened to walk near the River. Unfortunately, Isyd had few occasions ever to go to the Inside and even less to approach the Academy. So, watching from afar was the best he could do.

He knew that he had to hurry and go back to work. His Master had sent him to fetch a parcel of broken watches to be recommissioned. Isyd held the bundle of clinking metal pieces wrapped in cloth somewhat carelessly. He should have paid it more attention because if anything happened, his Master would wring his neck. Strangely enough, Isyd couldn’t care. He was transfixed by the sight of the Academy.

Something was not right.

Isyd couldn’t put his finger on what, but he knew it. This was supposed to be a normal day like many others; a day spent on menial tasks at his Master’s behest to pay for his bunk and his two meals. His Master’s workshop would be smothering hot due to the presence of the kiln and forge and echoing with the rhythm of hammer shaping the metal into its desired place. Isyd would run around, cleaning that desk here, rearranging those tools there, fetching this piece over here and bringing it over there. All the while, his Master would carefully combine the different gears into the clock mechanism for his clients. Isyd couldn’t go to the Academy, so instead he would stand next to his Master and watch him use the few [Spells] he knew. Which meant that Isyd had to hurry back if he didn’t want to miss anything.

Isyd still didn’t move. Somehow he couldn’t; it was as if he was glued on the spot. He glanced around him and noticed that his vision was blurry on the edges. Was he sick? Isyd didn’t feel particularly sick. Only… disconnected. As if he was there, but not really…

Isyd cocked his head at the River. He had just realized that the water remained still. It was like staring at a painting. In fact, there were no ships in sight. Odd… Should he be surprised? He remembered something… From reading the newspapers and overhearing his Master, Isyd had learned that there were problems in the West. Things were unclear as information only arrived bit by bit but there were talks of a war in the Matizna Empire, of a plague. Isyd had even heard a sailor talking about demons and an endless night… There was something else as well… Something about the War…

His heart began beating faster. Why can’t I recall…

It was important, it was urgent… but he couldn’t remember what!

“Do you know what it is, N…” Isyd asked looking over his shoulder.

There was no one. Who was he talking to? Whom had he expected to be there?

She was always there with him; it was impossible for her to leave. She was his boon and his curse, all in one.

Who is… ‘She’?

The air seemed to become heavier around Isyd and he felt as if he was suffocating. His heart wanted to beat right out of his chest and his hands were clammy. He dropped his bundle without even realizing it.

She is… she is…

Something was very wrong! The word was on the tip of his tongue, on the edge of his memory.

I have to remember! I made a promise! She is… She is… N…

“Naeht!” Isyd exclaimed, breathless.

Something touched his shoulder. Isyd whirled and faced a Peacekeeper.

“Everything is alright, young man?” the man asked.

“I…” Isyd tried to answer, but the words died in his mouth.

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He’d recognized the uniform of the Peacekeeper, but when he had glanced at his face, Isyd’s heart lurched. The man had no face!

To be more precise, he had a face but it appeared to be blurry. It was as if Isyd was looking at the reflection of the man’s face on troubled water. Isyd took a step back.

Naeht should have been at his side. The Peacekeeper’s face wasn’t supposed to look like that. The River should not stand still. Isyd shouldn’t be here.

“I am dreaming…” he murmured in realization.

The moment he recognized it, everything suddenly came into focus. This was a dream. More than that, it was a memory.

This did nothing to reassure him and in fact, his chest sank deeper in his chest. Without thinking, Isyd grabbed the hand of the Peacekeeper.

“We need to flee!” he said, yanking at it. The man didn’t budge. He had completely forgotten about Isyd. The man had his head thrown up and stared at the sky. Isyd looked around and everyone had stopped what they were doing and were also looking up. Only then did Isyd notice the sudden chillness in the air and the sudden dimness.

It was too late.

Isyd closed his eyes but he knew that it was frivolous and something compelled him to open them and look at the sky like everyone else.

Despite being a little after noon, the sun had disappeared. It had been covered by a shroud of darkness and only a faint outline of light remained.

Dusk had fallen onto the world.

Suddenly, the sky split asunder! A long crack of light appeared as if the heavens were made out of glass. The shouts of surprise and fear of the crowd were drowned in the deafening roars of a thousand thunder erupting at once. Slowly, as if requiring tremendous effort, the rift widened.

People began to run, trying to flee whatever was happening above their heads. Isyd remained where he was. He knew it was too late; there was no escape. The Obcys had come.

All he could hear was a chilling laugh mocking him.

----------------------------------------

Isyd woke up, gasping for air. He rolled and rose upright, taking inventory of his surroundings. The humidity and chillness of the air, the wetness of the ground, and the musky odour of the forest helped him to ground himself and recall where he was.

“Naeht!” Isyd hissed.

“I’m here!” she said, appearing overhead.

“Report, please!”

“Nothing happened. Nobody approached. You slept 4 hours approximately, 4 restless hours, if I may say so myself…”

Isyd stood up completely and winced at the cramps in his body. He still had a slight headache. Naeht approached him, a worried frown on her face.

“So… how bad was it?” she asked him.

Isyd shrugged, putting up a nonchalant appearance for her sake. “Not the worse one. I’m fine Naeht. After tonight, we should be good for a long while without sleeping. Forever if I my words to say…”

“Given how often you find yourself in trouble, I’d say it’s pretty unlikely!”

Isyd smirked and stretched.

“Let’s go back. I need a bath and it is early enough to have the Thermae all to ourselves. The dream is a good wake-up call; we have more to do. Dusk will come, let us prepare.”