Unable to find peace in sleep, I decided to seek it in meditation. I needed to clear my mind, to find some semblance of balance before facing whatever lay ahead. As I settled into a meditative posture, I focused on my breathing, letting the rhythm of my breath anchor me.
Slowly, the physical world began to fade, the sounds and sensations of my surroundings slipping away into the background. I felt myself being drawn towards the bridge between my conscious and unconscious mind, a path I had traversed before, albeit reluctantly. This time, I tried to steer away from it, to avoid the intense emotions and memories it harbored. But it was as if a force beyond my control was pulling me towards it, an invisible current guiding my mental avatar.
As I stood at the threshold of the bridge in my mind, I hesitated. The bridge stretched out before me, a pathway to the unknown depths of my subconscious. I created my mental avatar, a representation of my inner self, and positioned it just before stepping onto the bridge. But something held me back, a sense of caution, a need to prepare myself better before venturing further.
I paused there, on the edge, and tentatively reached out with my mind across the bridge, sending out feelers into the abyss. There was something on the other side, a palpable force that I could sense even from a distance. It felt like a gathering storm, an accumulation of powerful, negative emotions. "Why is it all built up over there?" I asked myself silently. Was it a defense mechanism? Had I been repressing these feelings to move on, to survive in this relentless world?
But it wasn't just the emotions on the other side of the bridge that I could sense. Above, or what felt like above in the landscape of my mind, there was an 'otherness' – a presence that felt alien, otherworldly. It seemed to be radiating from the very sky of my consciousness, an intangible yet undeniable entity trying to reach in.
I stood there, contemplating both the amassed emotions and the mysterious otherness. The bridge, a manifestation of my inner struggles, and the enigmatic presence above, felt like two sides of a complex coin. One represented the internal battles I had been fighting, the repressed feelings and memories. The other, an external force, something beyond my current understanding, yet intrinsically connected to me.
As I hovered on the bridge's edge, I once again reached out towards the storm of emotions and doubts. Without realizing it, I found myself willing it to subside. To my surprise, the emotions ebbed, if only a fraction, partially replaced by an unexpected calm. The control was fleeting and unclear. Eventually, I pulled back, stepping away from the bridge. The exploration into my psyche would have to wait. There were battles to be fought in the physical world first, and I needed to be ready for them. With a deep, steadying breath, I came out of my meditative trance, the images and sensations from the meditation lingering in my mind.
The room was quiet as I lay down, the events of the day replaying in my head. The battle with Siriana, the unsettling attention from the Iron Princess, and the unexpected moment with Elyria. I closed my eyes, hoping to find rest, but sleep eluded me. My mind was too active, trying to piece together the puzzles of the bridge, the emotions, and the otherworldly entity.
After what felt like hours of tossing and turning, exhaustion finally claimed me, and I slipped into a restless slumber. But peace was far from my grasp; my mind plunged into a harrowing dream.
I found myself standing amidst the ruins of Earth. The sky was a tapestry of ominous clouds, casting a perpetual twilight over the broken landscape. The air was thick with the cries of despair, the sounds of chaos echoing in the distance. Buildings lay in rubble, the once familiar skyline now a jagged silhouette against the darkened horizon.
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Around me swarmed a nightmarish array of creatures. Monstrous beings, ripped from the pages of fantasy, roamed the streets. Their roars and snarls were a cacophony of terror, a soundtrack to the unfolding apocalypse.
In the dream, I fought desperately, my every move an attempt to stem the tide of destruction. But for each monster I felled, another took its place. It was a battle I couldn't win, a fight against an unending horde. With each swing of my sword, my hope dwindled, replaced by a growing sense of futility.
I tried to save people, pulling them from the clutches of beasts, leading them to safety. But it was like trying to hold back the ocean with a bucket. Everywhere I turned, I saw friends and family overwhelmed by the onslaught, their pleas for help haunting me.
The dream intensified, the sense of despair growing with each passing moment. No matter how hard I fought, it was never enough. The Earth was losing, humanity on the brink of annihilation.
As the dream reached its peak, a monstrous figure loomed over me, its shadow engulfing the landscape. I stood alone against it, knowing I was outmatched, yet refusing to yield. With a final, desperate effort, I charged at the beast, only to be swatted aside like an insect.
Lying broken on the ground, I watched helplessly as the world crumbled around me. The cries of the fallen echoed in my ears, a chorus of defeat and despair.
I woke with a start to the aroma of something delicious - a real, hot breakfast. I was having trouble adjusting, my nightmare had been so real, so traumatic, and now I found myself surrounded by delicious food and wonderful smells. The table was set with sweetened rolls, a steaming hot beverage, water, and what appeared to be breakfast meat, along with a few other tantalizing items. Elyria was already there, helping herself to the food.
"Glad you're up," Elyria said, her words muffled slightly by a mouthful of food. She didn't pause her enthusiastic eating, even as she spoke. "I let myself in a while ago," she continued, punctuating her sentences with loud chews. The food seemed to barely touch the plate before disappearing into her eager bites. "The food came while I was waiting. I tried to wait for you to get up, but it smelled so good." She took another huge bite, speaking through it, "I've been eating at the mentor area, and it's decent, but they cut you off too early for me." She gestured at the spread with a roll halfway to her mouth. "This is great, though. Try the candied rolls." Bits of flaky pastry flew from her lips as she dove back into her meal, hardly taking a breath between bites. Even though I was still feeling the effects of the nightmare I could only stare at her in astonishment. "How can you eat so much? And how are you not choking? Just chew, you can talk later. I need to recover from sleep anyways.”
Ignoring my playful jab, she asked about my dream. I sat down to eat and shared what I could remember. The food was incredible, it was helping. It was nice to have a proper breakfast after so long. Between bites, I asked, "What's with all this, anyway?"
"Now that you're a big fancy finalist, you get a few more benefits. Your own stateroom, breakfast, and dinner served in your room. They want you at your best when you head to the meat grinder!" she replied her tone a mix of sarcasm and mirth. She turned serious for a second. “Sorry about your nightmare, we may find a way to help Earth after you win.”
"No pressure," I responded dryly. I then hesitated before adding, "About the hug yesterday..."
Elyria cut me off. "Don't worry about it. I came in for a good luck hug, and I got… more than that. Don't worry about it. It makes total sense. I'm hot, you’re hot, I’m lonely, you're lonely. Don't think about it again."
I frowned, sensing something off in her hurried speech. But before I could delve deeper into that thought, an announcement came through, indicating it was time for me to report to the arena. A wave of frustration washed over me at the interruption. Almost immediately, I noticed a shift in Elyria’s demeanor; her playful smirk faltered, replaced by a look of concern. It was as if my emotions had affected her in some way. I quickly brushed them aside.
We both stood up then, Elyria wished me luck and attempted to lean in for another hug, I interrupted her and just grabbed her outstretched hands. "Thanks, let's go."
As we headed out, I couldn't help but notice there was another jolt of electricity from the brief contact with her hands. What was happening to me? I needed to focus on the upcoming fight. The arena was waiting, and so was my fate. Whatever lay ahead, I knew I had to face it head-on. But the unspoken tension between Elyria and me lingered in the back of my mind.