A dark domain with a sustained wicked aura. Leon was experiencing something real, something that withered his deepest self. Everything around was pitch black with nothing to look at. He was walking aimlessly when he sensed a presence. Sternly on his feet, he looked around for the source of the presence. He nujjed right and then swiftly turned the eyeball left, but still no sign of anyone. That's when the dread got stronger. A thin fog started leaking out of the dark surrounding. And among the dead atmosphere and chilling fog, a voice emerged
"Leon Vale, or the White Revenant" it paused and echoed "what should I call you?"
Leon, still puzzled about the source, asked "who are you?".
"That's not something I came here to talk about. I am here to appreciate your courage and grudge against the Crike Syndicate"
"So you are the Crike" Leon was absolute in his voice
"Huh…" the voice echoed laughter, and it got louder
That's when the fog started crawling in. Leon knew the entity was going to reveal itself, and so he was ready for anything worse. The white fuzz from the condensed particles was all around. Nothing was visible in the absolute dark under the blanket of transparent mist. Among the ivory chaos, a silhouette appeared right behind Leon.
"You are the one with intellect, aren't you?" It said
Leon, swiftly turning around, was left in the dust as the silhouette switched its place, again straight behind him.
"You are interesting, Revenant" the voice shattered as the unknown threat came close to Leon. The gaze was straight at his face, menacing enough to make him tremble. Right at that moment he knew…. He knew he was far weaker than the abominable entity. The mere presence of the unknown silhouette, wrapped with black fuzz around his face, questioned his ascension in power.
"Why ....are you here?" Leon asked "there would be no more questions"
The placid aura got violent towards Leon, with the fog charging in stronger.
"I just wanted to greet you. Don't I have the right to meet the imposter, interfering in my operation"
"Operation…. That's quite a pathetic word for your filthy work" Leon smugged.
"Enough of those insecure words. I know you are trembling in fear Revenant"
"I appreciate your utter torment, the power that you hold. But don't consider that flatters me. I know about your infidelity, disciple of Envir ....the path of sweet dreams- that is what you follows" the enemy's eyes widened in amusement "Is this dark domain one of your tricks?"
"How do you know about this?" He questioned in disbelief
"It is to protect Tistra Domiscus, right?" Leon kept adding in
"How"
"Tistra is a disciple of Envir as well, isn't he?"
"I asked you a question" The entity was flabbergasted
"So of course, you want to protect your dear emperor"
"What?...."
"I guess I hit a sensitive nerve"
"How…would you know?"
"Are you a fool, god dammit" Leon went in closer to the black mist hiding the face of the enemy "I am a reincarnation as well"
The atmosphere tensed, the dark domain was fading. The dreams were finally over. That's when the entity signed last few words
"I will kill you, Revenant. Very soon…I could see your end in my tiny pocket dream…."
The scene faded as Leon woke up from his sleep. Faf was right beside him- still sleeping. Tents made of cured animal skin were blanketing both of them from the nearby woods. It was already morning and consequently they had to leave. The time was less as every minute they wasted could cost Agasthus his life.
Wrapping hard leather mounted on their bodies, they hoarded the horse. Fueled up with energy, the four legged mammal rammed towards the Tergoray Nols. Soon the sight was visible- the dark clouds that always crowned those woods could be seen whirling around with wind. And the trees, they were shady too. Their branches were dense with shadowed foliage, and roots were creeping out of the soil. When the margin of the woods was visible- Leon halted the horse.
"Let's go, brother" Faf came in.
"You see that narrow lane going into those eerie woods. That is a mirage, a false way digged by Gobels" Leon whispered
Gobels are small, thin creatures with earthly quirks. They can suspend roads and mislead entities from destiny towards their blood camp: the place where they cook and consume humans, or other creatures. They have similar structure to humans- two legs and two hands with three fingers. Their black skin camouflages them with the dark woods, and that's why, auguring their sentience in Tergoray woods was harder.
Leon curved his thumb beneath his index finger. A surge of energy was reciprocated which was equivalently dark to the woods. That energy was floating above his index finger- ready to illustrate the mirage. He released the surged energy straight at the deceptive trail of mudded soil. It shattered and vanished as if the mud evaporated. A better and finer trail emerged.
"Faf…shall we thus begin this journey in Tergoray Nols" Leon turned behind, side eyeing Faf.
"Let's surge in, Captain," the passenger replied.