1 DREAM

Here she was again, back in this familiar space, but this time it felt different; it was unlike any of the other nights. Her skin tingled under the influence of the cold air as it clung to her like a hovering shadow. Lost, desperate, and exasperated, she breezed past the forest's undergrowth, wondering why her legs kept running. "Malowi," she cursed in Vladin, her mother tongue, as she stumbled upon what felt like a dislodged branch. Quickly, she regained her composure and was about to resume her fast- paced escape through the forest maze, she unfortunately found herself in when she heard a loud shriek.

The forest that was once filled with the sounds of different animals suddenly became quiet, too quiet. Goosebumps emerged on her skin, her objective in the forest becoming clearer with every second that passed; she had to survive. Something lurked in the shadows behind her, which wasn't far away. Her fight-or-flight reaction kicked in as adrenaline coursed through her veins giving her more than enough motivation to start running again.

The shrieks became louder and closer. Whatever pursued her was gaining on her, and her mind was conflicted about her next course of action; she had no athletic prowess, nor were her legs fast. Part of her wanted to scream for help, but she knew all too well that she was alone in this darkness. Another part of her wanted to succumb to her pursuer, but she wasn't about to give up without a fight. She wheezed and gasped as she felt her lungs collapse, but her fear was great enough to keep her moving; her hope that she would survive prevented her from giving up. "Val Morghur stanis," she asked the gods for strength and hoped that they would answer her, just this once. A deep, loud growl shook the entire forest, and the little illumination the moonlight once cast on the forest now disappeared completely. She gasped as her legs stopped; her body shivered as she faced the danger she desperately avoided. "It is inevitable," she thought as she came face to face with her pursuer. She had heard so many tales about mythical creatures from her father, but he had never once mentioned one as terrifying as this.

The creature slowly crawled towards her, surely sizing her up to see how best she would fit in its wide jaws. Its crimson-red eyes shone with fierce murdering intent, and it was incredibly difficult to focus on or make out its shape as it kept changing form. The shadowy figure towered over her as she mumbled a few prayers hoping she would, at the very least, make it to Elinham, the place of eternal rest. The creature finally ran out of patience and leaped towards her to devour her.

Her eyelids shut tight as she finally accepted her inevitable fate, DEATH.

Luckily, the gods had other plans for her. The anticipated final blow didn't come. Instead, she opened her eyes to see that the creature had turned its focus away from her and was now trading blows with another shadowy figure standing between them. Her eyes slightly adjusted to the darkness, and she made out the mysterious figure. It had a masculine physique, and her eyes widened when he stretched out his blade.

His sword materialized from the darkness, and that was precisely what it was made of: darkness, stark darkness. He seemed to be equipped with some armor. But from the little she could tell, the armor was probably made of the same material as his sword.

The man immediately launched himself at the creature and, in a swift strike, struck it by its side. The creature wailed as it rolled over on its back, thrashing about furiously. The man's eyes gleamed fiery determination as he observed the creature, its wounded form writhing on the ground. Sensing an opportunity, he swiftly closed the distance between them; his muscles tensed with anticipation. With an unexpected agility, he leaped into the air, somersaulting over the creature's flailing limbs.

In a breathtaking display of precision, he executed a lightning-fast strike, severing not just one but all four of the creature's limbs in a single, fluid motion. The creature's agonizing shriek pierced the air, reverberating through the entire forest, yet the man didn't let up, his resolve unshaken.

Igniting a spark of relentless fury within, the man showed no mercy. With each strike, his weapon cleaved through the air, leaving trails of shadowy steel in its wake. He danced around the creature, expertly dodging its feeble attempts to retaliate. The ferocity of his assault intensified, leaving no room for the creature to regain its footing.

Time seemed to stand still as Ava watched on, frightened as the strange man continued to unleash fury on her pursuer. The creature's form began to crumble, bit by bit, under the relentless onslaught. Within seconds, it dissolved into nothingness, defeated by the unwavering spirit of its assailant.

Finally, the man turned his gaze towards her, his face becoming clearer under the dim, milky shade of the reawakening moonlight. As he advanced towards her, each step filled with purpose, she involuntarily took two steps back, her eyes widening with a mixture of fear and awe.

Torn between extending gratitude and running for dear life, she struggled to find the right words.

"Who...What...are you?" she managed to get out between stutters. But before she could fully grasp the situation, the ground beneath her feet dissolved into nothingness, sending her hurtling into an abyss. Panic surged through her as she flailed desperately, engulfed in the all-encompassing darkness, the echoes of her terrified screams fading into the void.