The walk back to Elias’s apartment was quiet, the cool night air doing little to clear his mind. He felt stretched thin, his thoughts tangled in a knot of confusion and paranoia. The strange encounter with Kaida at the cafe lingered in his mind, unsettling him in ways he couldn’t fully articulate. She looked exactly like the Oni, yet her demeanor had been so warm, so normal. He couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to her than she let on.

When he arrived home, the silence in his apartment was almost deafening. He locked the door behind him, his movements mechanical as he set his bag down and collapsed onto the bed. The black duffel bag of cash remained on the nightstand, a glaring reminder of the strings tied to his new reality.

Kicking off his shoes and shrugging out of his jacket, Elias pulled the blanket over himself and exhaled shakily. His body was heavy, his mind a storm of unresolved questions. Sleep claimed him quickly, dragging him into its depths.

Elias found himself in a strange, infinite expanse. The ground beneath him glowed faintly, geometric patterns of light shifting and rippling like water. The air around him was still and warm, carrying a subtle hum that vibrated deep in his chest. He turned slowly, taking in the endless void of crystalline light that stretched in all directions.

And then, out of the radiant emptiness, a figure emerged.

Elias’s breath caught in his throat as he recognized the man approaching him. It was Charlie—his closest friend, the one person who had always been there for him. The sight of Charlie’s familiar face, framed by messy blond hair and softened by a crooked smile, filled Elias with an overwhelming sense of relief.

“Charlie?” Elias’s voice trembled, a mix of disbelief and gratitude. “What are you doing here?”

Charlie smiled, his hands slipping casually into his pockets as he approached. “You tell me, Elias. This is your dream, after all.”

Elias blinked, his confusion deepening. “My dream?”

Charlie nodded, his expression warm and calm. “Or something like it. The lines blur when the artifact’s involved. Call it a meeting place, if that helps.”

Elias froze, the mention of the artifact pulling him back to reality. His gaze darted around the glowing expanse, his heart pounding. “Wait. If this is a dream, then you’re not really Charlie… are you?”

The man tilted his head, his smile faintly amused. “I look like Charlie because he’s the person you trust most. The one who’s been your anchor through everything. It’s only natural that I’d take his form.”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Elias stepped back, his chest tightening. “So, what are you? The artifact? The thing inside me?”

“In a way,” the man said, spreading his hands. “I’m a manifestation of the artifact’s connection to you. A guide, if you want to think of me that way.”

“A guide,” Elias repeated, his tone skeptical. “Right. And what are you guiding me toward?”

“Understanding,” the man replied simply. “The artifact has chosen you, Elias. Its power is now yours to command, but that power is raw, unshaped. It could be a force of creation… or destruction. That choice is up to you.”

Elias shook his head, his voice trembling with anger. “I didn’t choose this! I didn’t ask for any of this!”

“I know,” the man said gently, his expression softening. “But that doesn’t change the fact that it’s yours now. You can fight it, try to ignore it, but sooner or later, the artifact’s power will demand to be wielded.”

Elias clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as he stared at the glowing patterns beneath his feet. “Why me? Why not someone who actually knows what they’re doing?”

“Because you’re more capable than you realize,” the man said, his voice steady. “The artifact saw something in you—a spark, a potential. That’s why it bonded with you.”

Elias laughed bitterly, his gaze snapping back to the man. “A spark? All I’ve done so far is get dragged into things I don’t understand and screw everything up.”

Charlie’s familiar, steady gaze softened further, and he placed a hand on Elias’s shoulder. The touch was warm, grounding. “You’ve been thrown into the deep end, sure. But you’re still here. Still fighting. That says more about you than you think.”

Elias swallowed hard, his throat tight. The warmth of the man’s hand and the calm reassurance in his voice chipped away at the wall of anger and fear he’d built around himself. “This feels… different,” he said quietly. “I don’t feel afraid. Not here. Not with you.”

“That’s because this space is yours,” the man said. “It’s a reflection of your mind, your connection to the artifact. Here, you’re in control.”

Elias looked around, the geometric patterns shifting subtly with every movement. The faint hum that filled the air seemed to resonate with his heartbeat, steady and calming. For the first time in days, the weight pressing down on him felt lighter.

“Will I see you again?” Elias asked, his voice hesitant.

“Whenever you need me,” the man replied with a small smile. “I’m always here, Elias. You just have to look inward.”

The dream began to shift, the glowing patterns dimming as the edges of the space dissolved into darkness. The man stepped back, his features softening into light as he faded into the void.

“Rest now,” his voice echoed. “You’ll need your strength.”

Elias jolted awake to the sharp buzz of his alarm clock. He sat up, blinking against the soft morning light filtering through his window. His chest rose and fell with quick, shallow breaths as the remnants of the dream lingered in his mind.

He glanced around his room, his eyes landing on the bag of cash still sitting on the nightstand. Everything was exactly as he’d left it, ordinary and undisturbed. But the warmth of the dream stayed with him, a strange calm settling over his nerves.

He looked down at his hand, half expecting the mark to reappear. But his palm was smooth and unblemished, no sign of the crystalline veins that had burned so brightly in his dreams.

For the first time in days, Elias felt rested. At peace. But that peace was laced with a quiet uncertainty, a sense that the calm was only temporary.

Swinging his legs over the edge of the bed, Elias exhaled and ran a hand through his hair. Whatever the artifact was—whatever connection it had to him—he knew it wasn’t finished with him yet.