'I think this place is one of countless that was swallowed by the Dream Realm. Just like what is happening to the waking world now.'
Deep down, Noble had already known the fate of her world. It was why she had moved her family to the Dream Realm to begin with.
But she had assumed the waking world would end by being overrun with monsters, not that it would disappear entirely!
Were parts of the Earth already gone? It was possible since much of the surface was not inhabited by humans.
The gates had been eating away at her world for decades now. North America…Antarctica…even Europe…parts or all of them could be voids that the satellites simply ignored.
'It...it can't be!' Flint's neutral expression faltered.
'Do you have another explanation?' The floating Master sincerely hoped he did.
'No.' He answered after a pause. 'But even if it is true, it doesn't change anything. We have to solve this Nightmare. Then we can deal with the ramifications of what might be happening on Earth.'
He was right, of course. This was something they would have to look at more closely when they got home. Worrying about it now would not do any good.
"I take it by your expression that you have no advice for me regarding our situation." Syrce seemed to expect the answer, but it still made her sad.
"In my Realm…" Noble considered her answer.
It was funny. The mossy-haired Saint had been calling her a Realm Walker this whole time. It turned out she was, just not the kind that Syrce thought.
"…we have the Darkness as well. The Spell I mentioned is the only way that I know to close— I mean, dispel the Darkness for good."
"The same Spell that turns people into Nightmare Creatures can also get rid of the Darkness? That sounds like a contradiction." Syrce pursed her lips.
That was a good point.
Where did the Spell fit into all of this?
Even if it wasn't what caused the Gates, it was certainly attached to them somehow, at least in the waking world.
Maybe the same phenomenon didn't happen in Mortal Realms–whatever that term meant–or maybe the Spell came later? Either was possible.
If the Spell were the force that was closing the Gates and dispelling the Darkness, did that mean it was good?
Noble couldn't accept that. The Spell allowed people to become gates and turn into the hideous creatures that humanity battled against.
It had infected and killed countless youth.
The Spell had killed Seb.
It was not benevolent. It was merciless.
Unfortunately, it also had uses. Noble was using it now to become more powerful.
'Why can't things ever be simple?'
"It does sound like a contradiction, I agree," the floating Master sighed. "But that is the only solution I have ever been given. Perhaps you have a better one?"
There was little hope in Noble's mind. Nightmares always ended in tragedy. If they had succeeded, then Noble wouldn't be here reliving their tale, would she?
It seemed unlikely. But maybe...just maybe they had part of the key and just couldn't complete the task. If that were the case, then Noble could take that knowledge home with her to try and save her world.
"My plan? Well, it involves bringing my sister home first, and then..." Syrce was cut off as a messenger hurried toward them.
He dropped to one knee.
"The convoy has arrived, my lady! They request permission to be hoisted."
"I already gave those orders," the Saint blew out her cheeks. "It seems someone is asking to be thrown from the fortress walls. I will go oversee the entry myself."
Syrce stood, then motioned for her friend to follow.
"If you come with me, I can show you my plan. That will be easier than describing it, anyway."
Noble didn't need to be asked twice. She had felt bad about leaving the rest of the caravan behind. While they weren't defenseless, their most powerful warrior had left them behind to defend the Fortress.
Their arrival was good news, but the Child of Promise would feel better when she saw with her own eyes that everyone was alright.
"Thank you, I will come." Noble turned to the third member of the group, sending him a silent message. 'Are you ready to go?'
'What?' The surly Master was lost in his thoughts. 'Oh, sure, whatever you say.'
Flint began to follow them without question. As they walked, Syrce grilled her servant on all of the details of the arrival, leaving the other two to their own devices.
Noble raised an eyebrow. 'You are far more agreeable when you are distracted.'
'I have a lot on my mind. You should, too, if you know what is good for you,' Flint retorted.
'I thought you said that worrying about the Waking World right now was foolish and changes nothing.' Noble tilted her head.
'It is and it does. I am more concerned with the central conflict of this Nightmare. If it involves stopping that gate down there or others like it, we may as well be planning our funerals now.' Flint's serious tone was devoid of sarcasm.
'The Spell is supposed to be fair. I do not think it would give us an unsolvable problem.' Noble was almost sure. Almost.
She pushed away the remaining doubt, nodded, and continued.
'Yes, it has to be something else. Who knows, it might not have anything to do with the gates at all.'
Flint glanced toward the upcoming wall.
'Then why put us…both of us…in this group?'
That was a good question.
'I don't know.'
Noble had always believed that the Spell chose to place challengers in the place of the person who most closely resembled them in some way. But perhaps it was more complicated than that?
She finished her thought, 'Whatever the reason, we should keep our eyes open and our minds focused on resolving the conflict…whatever it is.'
'Agreed.' Flint grunted softly.
'What? No sarcastic remark?' Child of Promise smiled.
'Eh, I've no energy, and if you are expecting it, it loses all of its charm.' Flint shrugged.
Wait! He really thought he was being charming?!
The question was never asked, nor the answer ever given. They had arrived.
The group stopped at a break in the wall. Two enormous doors were wide open as the people of the caravan filtered in. Large pulleys lifted the wagons from the ground, hoisting them with a set of intricate gears to swing them into the Fortress.
Nearby, Delia and her brother were being led to the stables. Everything seemed like it had gone smoothly, including their arrival. That was good.
Noble felt a little of the tension leave her body.
"Ah, here it is!" Syrce spied a sturdy flatbed wagon, with a crimson cloth tightly covering its contents.
Dismissing the servant, she led Flint and Noble over to it just as its wheels reached the ground.
"Bel, I think you are going to like this. Look what we have here!" Without waiting for an answer, Syrce pulled back the crimson covering and revealed the contents inside.
Noble blinked.
What in two worlds…three worlds?!