Darkness. A void presses in.
Structures. Shapes emerge, defined only by their edges—familiar, yet alien, stripped bare of colour. A female form coalesces before him, featureless, sculpted from shadow, an outline hinting at humanity.
Voices. They drift, disembodied, within the textured black.
"See you later," a female voice speaks to him, matching the figure. She turns, runs. A weight settles deep in his chest, cold and heavy.
"I want you to be mine. I want to tell you I love but I'm scared. I'm scared you won't love me", words spill out, raw impulse overriding control.
Sudden noise rips the silence—rubber shrieking against a hard surface. A blunt shape, vaguely animalistic, hurtles toward him. Impact. Pain flares, white-hot, electric; then vanishes.
Something bright, white, tears free from the limp body below, ascending into the nothingness.
*************************************************************************
"Argh!" Kane bolts upright in the bed, gasping. Sweat streams down his face, slicks his bare chest, pooling the wool and cotton sheets bunched around his waist.
He grips the fabric, knuckles white.
"Bad dream," he forces out, still fighting for breath.
"Kane," Nixie runs in, she rushes to his side and puts a hand on his forehead, "Are you okay?", worry all over her face, "Yes, I just had a bad dream,".
"You are hot," "I know," a faint smirk touches his lips.
Her eyes suddenly take in his body, his chest and chiselled abs scarcely buried by scares of blade and whip.
Her cheeks flare up and she punches his shoulder lightly, "You aren't nice," she says and leaves him in the small room, winds of cold seeping through the open window.
Nixie pops her head in again, "Get dressed. Our lady wants to see you,".
Sun light stabs at his eyes as he steps out of the wooden cottage. He shields them, blinking against the brightness until his eyes adjust.
He stands in an open field dotted with similar dwellings roofed in straw and bamboo.
Tiny, glittering fairies dart through the air like living jewels.
Tall, living-trees with intricate carvings patrol the settlement's edge
Creatures he can't name graze peacefully.
He walks behind Nixie then quickens his pace to match hers, "Those walking trees, what are they?".
"Runebark," she says, eyes scanning their surroundings, "They protect Nirvana,".
"From monsters? The ones outside,"
"Yes," a shadow crosses her face, "Unfortunately, Nirvana sits in hostile territory. We need all the security we can get,".
He hops over a small, furry creature munching on grass. Nixie waves absently at a cluster of fairies shimmering with magic dust.
"You mentioned poachers before," he breaks a renewed silence, while Nixie visibly stiffens.
"What's that about?"
"Some people see our kind as… commodities," "Like slaves?".
"No," she stops, turning to face him, her expression grim, "Much worse. Ingredients,".
A disbelieving chuckle escapes Kane's lips. The silver-haired man's brows rise, "You can't be serious," "I am dead serious, Kane", her voice is low, intense.
It just remind him that with all the fantastic creatures in this world, there are still those who spread terror. He should know.
She resumes walking, faster now.
"These poachers hunt us, kill us and defile our dead", her fists clench at her sides.
The words catch, roughened by poorly hidden pain.
"Please," she whispers, "can we talk about something else?".
They stay silent until they reach a large cottage in the middle of the settlement.
Floor of blue petals surround the cottage while Runebarks stand sentinel, guarding the place as fairies fly in and out.
Pleasant scents foreign to Kane fill the premises, leaving the air soft and welcoming on his nose.
"We have come to see Lady Bramble, she is expecting us" Nixie says and the guards give way for them.
Nixie starts forward, but Kane's hand briefly touches her arm, halting her.
"I'm sorry," he says softly, "If I reminded you of something painful,"
She looks to the ground, then meets his gaze forcing a small smile, "Don't worry about it," she says and goes in, with him behind.
The interior feels vast, grander even than its outward appearance suggested—a miniature castle alive with light and the constant, high-pitched chatter of fairies.
They zip through the air like fireflies, their tiny wings a blur.
Floating gems hang near the high ceiling, casting warm glow. Doors line both sides of the expansive main room.
At the far end, a thin, shimmering curtain hangs expectantly.
Tiny wings buzzing as little fairy children play around.
As they approach, the curtain parts silently and Nixie sinks on one knee, "I bring the Skyborn as you requested, Lady Bramble"
"Enter," a voice calls, melodic and commanding. Nixie leads him in.
The moment Kane steps past the silky fabric, a wave of energy washes over him. Light, pure, almost intoxicating.
His jaw drops.
His eyes lock onto the woman seated on a wooden throne-like chair at the back of the intimate chamber.
Magic dust glitters around her, lending her blonde, curly hair an ethereal glow. Grey eyes stare back at him like a mirror.
"Ignorant fool,".
The grating voice snaps him from his trance. Invisible force slams Kane to his knees, his head forced towards the floor.
"That's how you greet the Lady of Nirvana!" Caspian says. Kane's stomach churns at his voice.
"Caspian, stop it", he hears her angelic voice a second time, soft and majestic.
Caspian releases his spell and Kane finds his body free to his will once again, "What the hell?", he grits his teeth and glares at freckled fairy.
"Please forgive him," the lady says, her gaze shifting to Kane. Her smooth skin seems to glow, "He can be… forceful,".
Kane manages a curt nod, words failing him.
"I am Asha Bramble, the mistress of Nirvana. I welcome you to my home, Kane Skyborn," she says, her white garment shimmering in the light, a resemblance to Shiroi, the goddess.
Skyborn. The name resonates.
"Why do you call me Skyborn?" "The answer lies in the name, dummy" Caspian rolls his eyes.
"Shush," Lady Bramble quiets her subordinate, "One born from the Sky," she answers him.
Kane's mind suddenly connects his fall from the clouds, "Of course," he mutters.
"Beautiful maiden, if I may…" "You may not White Death!" Caspian explodes, his cheeks flushing pink, forehead wrinkling in fury.
"How dare you speak the lady with such informality. You have earned no such right!"
"What is your problem floating dwarf?", he snarls back.
Caspian gasps dramatically, hands flying to his cheeks, "How dare you? I am graceful, nothing like those savage creatures,".
"You are a dwarf man, accept it" "I will turn you to a frog,".
"Stop it!", Lady Bramble glares at Caspian from her wooden throne.
She stands, floating gracefully just above the ground, "Kane, walk with me", she commands gently, "You, stay here" she points at red head fairy, "Keep my seat warm for me,".
She floats out, Kane walking beside her.
"It seems to me you know nothing of your origin," she observes, her perceptive eyes catching the flicker of uncertainty he tries to mask.
"It is expected. You are only a new born. I only pray you do not become a White Death,".
White Death.
The recalls the name, one he was called in his time at Grimstone.
What does it mean? He thought it was merely a name given to him by the crowds of the arena but it seems to hold mysteries behind it.
"What does that name mean?", he gives a low bow, mistaking the greetings given to the glowing fairy as his own.
"It is a cursed name," she replies, her voice softening slightly, "given to your kind whom have turn to the darkness. Your kind is one born of great magic, blessed by the gods.
Your magic by nature is usually influenced by your environment… but your heart," she pauses, waving a hand towards two Runebarks lumbering past, "is one that easily falls into evil,".
"Great magic? I have none of that,"
"Because you have no guidance," she turns her gaze fully upon him and he swallows hard against a dry throat.
"Are you offering?" he feels his palms get sweaty.
"You will be taught here in Nirvana but first I must ask you this," her eyes suddenly gathers some seriousness in them, "Has the madness started? The darkness lurking in your dreams," she says.
Kane stares, words refusing to leave his throat while he stares into her eyes.
She reaches out, cupping his face with hands impossibly soft. Her grey eyes lock with his, searching, probing deep.
"It has only begun," she murmurs, her touch sending shivers down his spine. "Do not let it win, Kane. Your mind is your most powerful tool,".
She floats back slightly, releasing him.
"How?" he breathes, still reeling, "I had a nightmare…"
"But you saw nothing in this nightmare," she completes his statement, her expression knowing.
"How did you know?" Awe colours his voice.
"I am older than I look, Kane." A wistful look enters her eyes. "I was once in love with a Skyborn".