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The Eternal Guardians - Earth&Water
Chapter Twelve: The Dream Visitor

Chapter Twelve: The Dream Visitor

Exhausted from his journey into his mother's mind and the intense training that had followed, Orin collapsed onto his bed and fell into a deep sleep almost instantly. His dreams were initially a whirl of childhood memories and fleeting images of the lessons his mother had imparted. But as the night deepened, a presence began to infiltrate his dreams, slowly taking shape and form. Eileen appeared before him, her eyes glowing with an unsettling intensity. Orin's dreamscape shifted, becoming a dark, misty forest illuminated by an eerie, otherworldly light. He instinctively tensed, ready to fight, but he quickly realized that the rules of the dream world were different. Here, his physical abilities were irrelevant.

"Orin," Eileen's voice echoed through the mist, "I have, finally, found you.” Orin's eyes narrowed. "Eileen, how did you get here?” She smiled a cold and calculated expression. "Morgana's grimoire holds many secrets. One of them is a spell to track the eternal flame. Using it, I found something of yours, so I could reach you in your dreams”. Orin realized that she was not a mind-walker, the spell she used was designed to connect people’s minds in the land of dreams, a safe place, without any source of magic. “Your mother is powerful, - Eileen continued, but she cannot even keep the dark forces asleep within her forever.” Orin clenched his fists. "What do you want, Eileen? Why are you doing this?” Eileen's smile widened, her eyes gleaming with a fanatical light. "Power, Orin. I want more power. Morgana merely wanted to defeat Merlin, to be stronger than him. A petty goal, really. I, indeed, want to control dark magic itself, to grasp its very essence. To do that, I need the Void, the emptiness where the darkness thrives. If I can control the Void, I can manipulate the darkness and bend it to my will.”

Orin felt a chill run down his spine. He had to find a way to stop her, but the dream world bound him with its own rules. Fighting there was impossible. "Eileen, you can't do it. Even if you manage to control the Void, it will consume you. The darkness is not a tool to be wielded lightly.” Eileen laughed, a sound that sent shivers through the dreamscape. "You underestimate me, Orin. Just like your mother underestimated her own powers. She thinks she can keep the darkness at bay, but she's merely delaying the inevitable. Soon, it will break free, and I will be ready to harness it.” Orin's mind raced. He needed to buy time, to find a way to wake up and warn his friends. "What makes you think you can control something that has destroyed so many before you? Morgana herself was consumed by her lust for power.” Eileen's eyes flickered with a dangerous light. "Morgana was a fool, blinded by her hatred for Merlin. I have no such distractions. My focus is pure, and my resolve is unbreakable. I will not make the same mistakes.”

Orin took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm. "What do you gain from this? Why do you crave power so desperately?” Eileen's expression hardened. "Power is everything, Orin can’t you see it? With it, I can reshape the world, and bend it to my will. I can eradicate weakness, create a new order where I am supreme. Morgana's ambitions were small-minded. I aim to transcend even the greatest mages in history.” Orin felt a sense of helplessness wash over him. He needed to escape this dream and warn his friends. Orin's heart pounded as he’s listening to Eileen's words. The prospect of her trapping the darkness inside the Void was terrifying, for it could lead to a shadowy world where light was an ancient memory. The eternal flame, the source of all magic, would be consumed by the Void's insatiable hunger, its brilliance snuffed out like a candle in a storm. This cataclysmic event would plunge the world into perpetual darkness, a place where shadows ruled and hope was but a distant echo. Eileen's diabolic plan threatened not only the balance of magic but the very essence of life, turning everything into a desolate realm of shadows, devoid of warmth, light, and life.

"Eileen, you'll only bring destruction upon yourself and everyone else. The Void is incredibly dangerous, and even if you could learn to master it, it would take years of training.” Eileen's laugh echoed through the forest, cold and mocking. "We shall see, Orin. We shall see. For now, remember this: your mother's time is running out. The dark power within her will break free, and when it does, I will be there to claim it.” With that, the dream began to dissolve, the mist swirling faster until everything faded to black. Orin jolted awake, sweat dripping down his face. He sat up, heart pounding, and looked around his room, reassuring himself that he was back in the real world. Tio and Lysandra burst into the room, having sensed his distress. "Orin, are you alright?" Lysandra asked, her eyes wide with concern. Orin took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "Eileen... she found a way to reach me in my dreams. She said Morgana's grimoire has a spell to track the eternal flame. She's planning something terrible, something that involves trapping the darkness inside the Void and controlling within it.” Tio's face paled. "The Void is incredibly dangerous. If she manages to control it…" Orin nodded grimly. "I know, Tio. But with enough training, I can learn to master it too, like Merlin did, hopefully without being consumed by it. We have to stop her. But first, we need to find a way to protect my mother she won’t be able to keep the darkness at bay for long.” Lysandra placed a reassuring hand on Orin's shoulder. "We'll figure it out together. You're not alone in this.” Orin felt a surge of gratitude for his friends. "Thank you. We'll need all the help we can get.” As the first light of dawn broke through the window, Orin knew that the journey ahead would be fraught with danger and challenges. But with his friends by his side, he was ready to face whatever came next. The battle against Eileen and the darkness was just beginning, and he was determined to protect his mother and the world from the impending threat.

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Orin's head buzzed with the weight of their task as he, Lysandra, and Tio gathered in the dim light of their makeshift study. The air was thick with tension, mingling with the scent of ancient books and the faint whisper of magic. They had a singular mission: to find a way to help Orin's mother, Edua, cope with the dark power she harbored within herself. "We need to use Merlin's grimoire," Lysandra proposed, her voice cutting through the silence. "It has to have something that can help us.” Merlin's grimoire was not just any book. It was a tome of immense power, a relic of magical history that pulsed with energy and knowledge. It was also, as they were about to find out, fiercely protective of its secrets. Tio, ever the brave one, reached for the book first. The moment his fingers brushed the cover, a sharp, searing pain shot through his hand, causing him to jerk back with a yelp. The book glowed faintly, a warning. "It's made for Air magic mages," Lysandra said, a tremor of fear and awe in her voice. She hesitated but knew they had no other choice. With a deep breath, she placed her hands on the book. Instantly, a surge of power coursed through her, overwhelming and almost unbearable. She withdrew her hands quickly, panting. "The power is too strong," she admitted, her eyes wide with fear. "But it's clear now, Orin. This book recognizes you. You're destined for this.” Orin stepped forward, his mind racing.

The grimoire was ancient, its cover worn but unyielding, the pages within a repository of unimaginable power. As he touched it, the book seemed to hum, a resonance that matched the rhythm of his heart. The pages turned on their own, revealing a spell that caught his eye. "This spell," Orin said, pointing to the intricate runes and symbols. "It can temporarily reinforce magical prisons. But it requires Earth and Air magic, and... a connector.” Tio's eyes widened. "Connectors are rare. They're like conduits, allowing magic to flow through them without affecting them.” "But there's a catch," Orin continued. "The spell has to be performed by the person who created the prison in the first place.” The three friends exchanged glances. They knew what they had to do. "Let's go back to Edua's mind," Tio said, determination in his voice. "We can do this together.” With their resolve steeled, they prepared for the journey. Tio and Orin combined their powers, creating a portal that would bring them physically into Edua's mindscape. The air shimmered as the portal opened, and they stepped through, finding themselves in a familiar yet unsettling landscape. Edua looked tired, the toll of holding the dark power evident in her weary eyes. Orin recalled that time flows differently in the mind’s world, his time spent with his mother and his training had lowered her focus on controlling the prison she had created.

"I don't know how long I can last," she admitted, her voice trembling with fatigue. Orin stepped forward, his heart aching for his mother. "We've found a way to reinforce your trap using Merlin's spell. We can do this, Mum.” Edua's eyes lit up with a glimmer of hope. "Then let's not waste any time.” Orin and Lysandra began to follow the intricate instructions laid out in the grimoire. They combined their Earth and Air magic, creating a swirling, cloudy wave of potent magical energy. Tio, being a mind-walker, served as the connector, his unique ability to bridge different realms making him the perfect conduit. Edua stood before the prison she had created within her mind, her hands trembling but resolute. Tio placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, ready to channel the energy. Orin and Lysandra directed their combined magic towards Tio, who absorbed the energy and funneled it into Edua. The wave of magical energy surged through Tio, reaching Edua and infusing her with newfound strength. She directed this energy towards the trap, reinforcing its walls with a brilliant, shimmering aura. The dark power within struggled, but the reinforced prison held firm. It worked. For now.

Edua collapsed to her knees, tears streaming down her face. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice filled with gratitude and relief. "But this is only a temporary solution.” Orin knelt beside her, his heart heavy. "I know, Mum. I'll start my Water magic training as soon as possible. We will find a permanent solution.” They returned from Edua's mindscape, exhaustion etched into their faces. Orin hugged Tio, his voice choked with emotion. "Thank you, Tio. For everything.” Lysandra placed a hand on Orin's shoulder. "We'll get through this together..” Orin recounted to them the details of his training, the stories his mother told him, and the warnings about the Frost Elves. They listened intently, their resolve growing stronger. As Orin prepared for the next chapter of his journey, he couldn't shake the feeling of impending danger. The path ahead was fraught with challenges, but with his friends by his side and the legacy of his ancestors guiding him, he knew they could face whatever lay ahead. The battle against Eileen and the darkness was far from over, but they were ready to fight, to protect the world from Eileen’s evil plans. The dawn broke, casting a warm glow over their weary faces. Orin took a deep breath, steeling himself for the trials ahead. His mother's words echoed in his mind, a reminder of the strength and courage he would need to succeed. "Water is strong, fluid, devastating, and uncontrollable," Edua had said. "Mastering it takes time and patience. Trust in yourself, Orin. Believe in your power.” With renewed determination, Orin set his sights on the next step of his journey. The Frost Elves and the Alps awaited him, their knowledge of Water magic crucial to his success. But he knew he had to be cautious, for their loyalty was as fluid and unpredictable as the element they mastered. As he prepared to leave, he couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. The journey ahead would be perilous, but he was ready to face it. For his mother, for his friends, and the world, he would master the elements and confront first Eileen and then the darkness that threatened to consume them all.