Denver sat back in his chair and closed his eyes enjoying the zen like quiet of the Public Library.

He loved the library, a place to get away from the troubles of the world. Nothing but a wealth of knowledge and the gentle sounds of pages turning. He often came here when life got too overwhelming or to write up a new Dungeons and Dragons character, except on this day it was a bit of both.

He sat at his usual table, the place never had a whole lot of regulars. It made for a perfect spot to do a little character design and hide away from his problems.

He and Keva both lived nearby. So after dropping her off he had opted to stop by his little paper back oasis. Not a whole lot was said after her big psychic reveal. He had no need to pry at her abilities or to question them. The fact she knew what she did about the voice and the form he had given it was enough. In fact he really was sitting here quietly wondering why in fact he wasn’t more.. upset?, angry?.. jealous? ...

He was attempting to put his finger on what exactly he was feeling about the whole thing when he heard the chair beside him get pulled out more roughly than was acceptable in a library. The resounding chorus of “SHHH” filled the room, and Denver snapped his eyes open and looked to confront this intruder only to stop and sigh.

“Well to be honest I didn’t know what I was expecting.. but when I finally got the nerve to tell someone that I could read minds, the silent treatment was not it.” Whispered Keva harshly. She was

sitting hunched over, with her elbows on her knees glaring a hole through Denver. “I mean c’mon Denny, You’re my best friend and you basically just shrugged and did a Denny!.”

She looked like she was going to explode, her face was red, and she was so close to him he actually worried about getting bitten or something.

“I’m not going to bite you stupid!” she said the moment the thought crossed his mind. His eyes widened. “Stop that.” he said starting to get angry himself. “You don’t get to just go in my head whenever you want Franny!!.” his heart was beating faster as each moment passed. He could not remember ever being angry at her before. Her face had begun to lose it’s redness. She was just looking at him now. Her eyebrows weren’t reaching for her hairline anymore, nor was she looking as though she was going to bite him. She just sat there quietly and for all he knew.. willing to get scolded?. This was unlike her.

Concern grew in his stomach as his anger started to be replaced with worry.

“Keva? I’m sorry I didn’t mean-” started Denver before she placed her hand over his mouth stopping him.

“Yeah you did.” she said slowly taking her hand away from his face. “it’s not right and honestly I don’t have any excuses for you about how I can’t control it or anything. If I want to know what your thinking I just do. It’s strange and in some strange way it’s also familiar? I can’t explain it.” she was looking down at her hands now.

Denver wanted to console her, to tell her it was all going to be okay, and they would figure this out together like in the movies...

But how? How could they figure this out? He didn’t even know what to do or even where to begin..

“We start with talking to each other.” she answered. Her eyes were beginning to water as she looked up at him. “why are you crying?” he leaned over and cupped her hands with his.

It broke his heart to see his friend hurting. She was always so up front about everything, he knew she wore her emotions on her sleeve.

Sitting there holding her hands in his, he felt an overwhelming appreciation of Keva, Denver knew she hated any form of deceit. Looking at her now and with what was happening he supposed it made a kind of sense she would be a mind reader.

It was than she raised her head small tears were falling down her cheeks, giving him a sad smile.

“You...” she started taking her hands from his and noisily moving her chair closer to him so there knees were touching. She placed her hand on his knee looking up into his hazel eyes with her green. Wiping her tears away before saying.

“I have known you nearly my whole life, you are my best friend. You were the person I thought of first when this happened to me. I always knew you were great Denny, but until I was able to hear what you don’t say I never had a clue about how great you truly are.”

she was so close to him now, her hand clenched his leg lightly.

“Keva, is everything-”

“Yes Denny!” she interrupted sharply. “Damn it Denny I know how you feel about me. I know you think I wouldn’t be interested in you, or that it would hurt Trevor if I did.. Damn it Denny! screw all of that. You are a good person! A good friend and my god! me or anyone else would be happy as shit to have you!” she whispered hotly at him squeezing his leg as emphasis.

Denver was unable to come up with a thing to say. He just sat there staring at his friend.. his beautiful friend who was so close to him telling him he was great and she knew he liked her.. well of course he liked her, she was beautiful and upfront and kind who wouldn’t.

She smiled at him again as he sat looking at her dumbly.

“You never were a great speaker.” she said with a chuckle.

She sat back in her chair and looked at him with that Cheshire grin she got when she was planning something particularly sinister. “Maybe we’ll pick this up some other time?.”

Denver couldn’t see his cheeks but he could definitely feel them burning.

“So what character are you thinking for Brian’s new campaign?” She said leaning over the table now. She flipped her shoulder length pink hair over to one side exposing her neck and jawline.

The act was so feminine it took Denver by surprise he had known her almost his entire life, and he could have sworn he had never seen her do that before. He watched her before answering, noticing how delicate her jawline was and how- Oh no. He thought as she snickered to herself never looking back at him. Why would she, she already knew he knew. This was going to be rough.

“probably. But it feels kind of right too doesn’t it?” she said her voice for whatever reason, even sounded more feminine to him.

He forced himself to stop looking at her, as she grabbed the players handbook and started sifting through the pages.

“Take a minute, I don’t mind” she chuckled without looking at him. “I’m thinking Rogue, maybe a half-elf?.” she said reaching over to his binder and pulling out a spare character sheet.

“You’re always a rogue” he said clearing his throat and returning to his own character sheet.

“I’m thinking of making a summoner, human for the extra feat.”

she looked at him then, giving him a little half grin, “what no barbarian this time?” she teased.

“Well alright, I guess I’ll try something new this time too. Want to help me decide?.”

Denver tried to slow his pulse, “I always wanted to try a summoner. We just have a tendency to all die so quickly..”

She nodded biting her lip. “So your going all in for the long haul? You think this is the one?.”

“I dunno honestly, but sometimes you just got to go for it.” he said putting the sheet down and looking at her. He wasn’t entirely sure they were still talking about the Dnd game anymore. Were they ever? s “Did you bring your monster manual?” Keva asked grinning at him.

He knew she was enjoying this. Not for the first time he felt jealous of her aptitude at her new found ability. What was the extent of his? Did he even have one that was useful?.

“nah just the handbook.” he said “I wasn’t totally sure on the summoner idea.”

“makes sense. These suckers can get heavy after awhile.” she said with a laugh, “we should come back here tomorrow and write up some basic summons for you. Plus I think I’m going to make a monster race.”

They were still sitting close together, huddled over the players handbook. Discussing feat and skill combinations when it happened.

Keva’s lips tasted like cinnamon, her hands ran through his hair trapping him to her.

Denver had never kissed a girl before, and desperately tried to not think about how uncomfortable he was, not with kissing her, but with the idea, of ruining this before it even started because of his lack of tonsil hockey practice. Despite his hesitance, she pursued his tongue with hers.

It was like a rivers current, once it had you it took you where it wanted. He was unable to fight it, unwilling to fight it.

It felt as though they were in their own little dimension, lost in time, exploring each others lips, gripping one another as if the slightest wind might pull the other away. Denver had never been happier than he was in that moment. Whatever came their way, they would face it together.

He would tell her everything. It would be easy she could just see it for herself after all.

As he kissed her goodnight and the door closed behind her. His smile threatened to split his face in two.

He wanted to yell to the stars, howl at the moon, skip even.. as he walked the narrow stone path to the sidewalk. Looking back he could see her bedroom light turn on and her window open shortly after. “Go to bed creeper” she called out laughing.

As Denver walked passed the rows of doors (now changed to resemble standard wood, a trick he had learned from the night before) he took note of the symbols etched on each one differentiating them. The symbols resembled a mixture of Japanese and old Hebrew adding a hint of familiarity but still as alien as ever.

The corridor was bright, another trick he had learned. His control of the dream had grown greatly since he had given form to the voice. He even knew what he would call it, a perk of looking through his dungeons and dragons books.

He called out to the voice, willing it to him in it’s physical form. The ebony stone began to swirl and pool upwards like a slow flowing geyser. In moments the voice’s body materialized in front of him.

“Master, you have returned.” it said with a bow.

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“Well that was formal.” Denver said with a smile. “I have news and of course.. more questions.”

“As you wish master.” it said falling into step beside him.

“Well first things first. I have a name for you.” Denver said still walking onward down the seemingly endless corridor.

“A name?” it said simply.

“yes, I am going to call you Shade. The idea came to me earlier today. It only seemed fitting you had a name, considering your more than just some creepy voice now.” he said turning to look at it as they walked on.

“As you wish master, I will be Shade.” it said in it’s usual cool whisper.

“Good” he said turning back to look ahead.

“second” he said holding up two fingers “where the hell is the end of this place? Where does it lead?”

“unknown.” said shade.

“What do you mean unknown?” said Denver finally coming to a stop to look at Shade.

Shade stopped as well, tilting it’s head to the side. Denver had taken that movement to mean it was thinking.

Denver had to force himself to stay on one topic at a time while in this place. It was far too easy to fall into a rabbit hole of questions.

As Shade composed an answer to his question, Denver looked took in his surroundings, symbols continued to change from door to door. He had no way of knowing how far they had walked as the endless corridor was totally uniform now except for the differentiating symbols. He took a mental note of the symbol on the door nearest him. Tracing the alien etching with his finger he closed his eyes and attempted to memorize the symbol. He managed to trace it a few times before Shade answered him.

“The corridor of Gates was created by you, Master. You formed this place using your Dream stone to encapsulate the 44 sealed gates of Al’dune.”

“dream stone?” said Denver as he reached out and caressed the strange substance. “Well that sounds made up.” shake his head as he flexed his fingers against the stone. He decided to try something as he felt the strange material.

“It is made up.” said the shade simply. “And it is not. Dream Stone is the first and only creation of Gorvandra’Fel. For he was created and charged with the housing of Al’dune’s most promising creations.”

Denver cocked an eyebrow at that. Interest peaked he turned from the wall to look back at Shade.

“44 doesn’t seem like that many.” he said probing for more information. He seemed to have to steer the conversation with Shade. He couldn’t be sure just yet if it was due to him taking things too literally or if it was being intentionally difficult at times.

Shade just shrugged it’s quasi solid shoulders. The movement took Denver by surprise, it was so human.

He stared at the creature a moment, fascinated by it’s growing comfort in it’s new form.

Nearly overwhelmed by pride at Shade and himself.

He felt almost like a proud parent as it grew more and more comfortable in it’s corporeal form.

“You said these are seals” he began turning back to the symbol he was tracing his finger on before.

“Al’dune’s creations? Like what? What creations? Like vaults full of loot?”

His best friend was psychic and he had a dream bank?.

“what is loot?” it said tilting its head in confusion.

Denver couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Like magic weapons, gold, jewels, and stuff.” he said counting off his fingers.

“There are weapons, yes. Only the most promising creations were kept, for there mere existence was cause for your creation Master.”

At that he turned from tracing the seal to look at the Shade again.

“Right, I believe you said that before. This Gorvandra’Fel was created for the seals am I right?.”

“Yes, Master you were created to safeguard the creations of Al’dune. You and the seals are one and the same. As the DreamStone and I are one and the same.” said Shade moving closer to him.

“So what Gorvandra’Fel was than the 45th creation than yea?” he said turning back to the door. Shade’s answer confirming what he had started to suspect.

His attention focused back on the long elegant lines of the doors seal. It was beautiful.

This place, what was happening to him, to Keva it was all just so amazing, and mysterious like some great puzzle and he couldn’t wait to put it all together.

“Yes. You were created as the guardian of the Seals, Your life force is key to the seals existence.”

Denver nodded,

“So.. you said you and the DreamStone are one, does that mean you and I are linked as well?”

he asked, building towards his final question. His heart raced as he tried to keep his voice even while he spoke.

“Yes. You created this body using your DreamStone. If your life force depletes I and the Gates will perish as well.”

Denver nodded again. Well at least if he died what ever was behind these doors would die with him.

unexpectedly relieved at that thought.

“So.. what’s behind this uh, Gate?.” he said hand still tracing the seal.

“Ar’Rhikagash, the living blade.” it said simply.

Denver’s eyebrows rose as he looked to the shade.

“The what!?” he said surprised.

Denver didn’t know exactly what answer he was expecting but a living blade named Ashikaga-something definitely wasn’t it.

That was straight out of some adventure book he would put money on it.

“So Ashikaga the living blade.. why on earth does that exist?”

The Shade tilted it’s head again.

“Ar’Rhikagash” it said slowly. “Ar’Rhikagash was and is your main weapon against the forces of darkness.”

Denver wobbled on his feet a bit, placing his hand open palm against the seal to steady himself.

It was so easy to get turned upside down when he came here. The more he learned the more he didn’t understand.

“first off what forces of darkness? And second your telling me behind this door is a living sword that what, obeys my commands? How? Does it fly? But this is just a dream? Oh my god!.” he shouted barely unable to contain himself.

The outburst didn’t seem to faze the Shade as it stood beside him, it’s head tilting side to side.

“There are many forces that wished the destruction of the Al’durian race. Unknown time has passed since I was created to safeguard the Gates. Your rebirth in this Edenian form offers many questions to which I lack an answer Master.”

As it spoke Denver couldn’t help but notice it struggle with admitting it didn’t know. He had been so lost in his pursuit of figuring this out that he had seemed to ignore the fact that this thing.. this being, was in fact alive and probably had a laundry list of questions itself.

He was unaware of how long he stood staring up at the shade, his mouth opening and closing with discarded thoughts.

“Of what I can answer I will Master. All that dwell here will obey your commands.” it said moving too the door.

Denver felt as though he was seeing Shade for the first time again, it was learning and adapting quickly, from it’s movements to it’s mannerisms and the way it spoke. It was growing, growing with Denver.

“Okay.” he said moving over to give the Shade more access to the door.

“Dream is a word used for an Edenian’s sleep cycle. Standard Edenian forms lack the capabilities to perform a Lei Link. They’re minds are to subdue them for there mortal form to rest for the next days labour. This place and your use of the Edenian word Dream are not the same. You were recreated in this form with the ability to Link to the Lei energy. It’s potency is yet undetermined. And the cause of the rebirth into such an inferior form is.. perplexing. I require more data to make sense of this.”

As it spoke of the Lei Link it motioned to it’s head in the places that hurt when Denver was creating his body.

“Okay, so what is this place then? Are you telling me I don’t have to be asleep to come here? Why do I have to be asleep to come here. Inferior form? Have you forgotten that before I came here you had no body.?” he said a little insulted at being referred to as inferior.

“You are able to access the corridor at will Master. I believe your body has initiated your link as a reflex. In a natural attempt to teach itself control of the link. And no I have not forgotten your gifting me with corporeal form Master. Your power is much greater than I at first presumed. I beg a pardon for any offence.” Shade said bowing subserviently to him.

“it’s okay Shade, I know you weren’t trying to offend me.” he said motioning for it to stand upright again.

He supposed that made sense though, a lack of control. How else would he learn to control this place if it didn’t force itself on him somehow. He truthfully was relieved it only happened when he was asleep. The idea of it happening when he was driving or walking or something unnerved him.

“So I can learn to access this place whenever I want? When I learn better control?.”

Shade nodded.

“You said Ar’Rhikagash was Gorvandra'Fel’s weapon, does that mean the things behind these gates can be brought out of this place? Is this some form of like pocket dimension or something?” said Denver his excitement returning.

“Yes. The Paragons were beings of immense power. All wielding a portion of Al'dune's essence itself. The gates were and are both Gorvandra’Fel’s charge and the might of his power.”

Holy shit.

“Are you telling me I summon things to fight for me?” he said nearly frothing at the mouth with nerdy excitement.

“To simplify the immense power of my creator.. Yes.” Shade put up an ebony hand to halt Denver from asking more.

“Though your power is great even in this Edenian form, I would urge caution in regards to attempting to manipulate the seals. There are many beings locked away within the Gates that would exhaust you even in your original form. The result of your attempt to manifest some such creature may result in your death. The link must be strengthened. In order to withstand the physical strain on your Lei Link.”

Denver nodded now nearly overwhelmed with excitement at finally learning something about what was happening to him. It was as he was thinking of the chances of this happening, he summoned things? He couldn’t believe it, he had always loved the idea of being a summoner. I knew it! He thought.

“wait. Okay pumping the breaks on this for a moment. You said I was this 5th son of Al’dune.. how many more were there? My friend Keva can read minds now since the flash happened. Does that mean she is one as well?” an uneasy feeling came over him at that thought. Would that mean they were related? Gross. He felt a little nauseous thinking about that.

“This Keva is another Edenian?” it said

“Yes my best friend. As of today I guess were going to be more...” he trailed off thinking of the make out session from earlier.

Looking down as his cheeks began to burn. He coughed and quickly began again.

“I mean yea she uh, she told me she had gained the ability to read thoughts something she couldn’t do before.” he said trying to hide his embarrassment.

Shade tilted it’s head again before answering,

“This Keva of yours, what colour had her aura been?”

Aura? He thought back to earlier, he hadn’t noticed anything when she read him. She just knew things.

“None. At least none that I could see. She said she just knew how to do it too. Like her control was immediate.”

Shade nodded.

“She is of no consequence.” it said with a shrug.

“Hey! Don’t say that.” Denver growled, the action took him by surprise, he wasn’t used to acting so aggressively.

Shade dipped it’s head and backed away.

The creatures immediate submission, dampened Denver’s anger as the shock of it was definitely something he wasn’t used too.

“it’s okay” he said bidding Shade to stand upright again “I care for her deeply, and you will speak of her with respect okay?” he said softly but firmly.

Shade nodded.

“My apologies master, I meant no offence. She by your account sounds as though she is a Seer. Her aura by my estimation would be quite minuscule compared to a paragon. She and others like her will be drawn to you.” it said.

As it finished speaking it began tilting its head again.

“What is it?” Denver asked seeing it seemed to be wrestling with some thought.

“Your friend, is an Edenian as well?” it asked

“um, yea.. I mean yes.” said Denver not bothering to ask why, he was a little put off by the unfamiliar tone. It was surprising Denver just how much Shade had changed in the time he had spent with it. It’s mannerism not just in its physical ways, but in it’s voice itself were becoming less alien to him. Maybe it was just Denver getting used to it, but he was beginning to think it was juts settling in. Again he was struck with the fact this thing was alive. He had to force the thought away though, and focus on the conversation they were having currently. Another question for another day.

“Edenian’s were not created with the ability to form the Lei Link, it would appear as though it was not just Gorvandra’Fel who was reborn as an Edenian. More information is needed to ascertain the reason for this.. Anomaly.” it finished after struggling for what to say.

His nausea returned only this time it was induced by a growing sense of unease.

He had not concerned himself with that little detail. The scope of which, he felt was beyond his teenage mind.

For all he had gathered about this Al’dune, she and her people were nearly godlike or more than nearly he supposed. And more over they actually had adversaries whom were a threat to them.

Denver looked at shade for a long time, as it bobbed its head side to side facing him.

“W-what could it all mean Shade?” he asked after a long silence fearful of where his mind was taking the that new thought.

“I was created to safeguard the history of the Al’durian people. A fragment of you before you were reborn in your current form. I was never given knowledge of why my creation was needed, nor was I given purpose of the knowledge I was created to safeguard. But perhaps in your position as Al’dune’s wisdom your past self created me in order to guide you in your rebirth.”

Leaning against the wall Denver closed his eyes and let out a heavy sigh.

Another title, and more questions. Rubbing his face roughly he let out another heavy sigh before speaking.

“Listen I’m sure there is a lot more to the wisdom of Al’dune thing.. but maybe lets bring all of this back to basics. You said I need to strengthen this Lei Link, how do I do that? Lets just start there.”