I shook my head, trying to clear the fogginess.
"How did I even end up here? Where am I?" I muttered, my eyes scanning the dark surroundings.
The air was thick with an unsettling stillness, and the darkness seemed to press in on me from all sides.
Then, a faint voice echoed from the shadows, sending shivers down my spine.
"Hey Shang! Did you miss us? Come here, let's play!"
The voice was familiar, yet twisted, bringing back memories of a past I'd rather forget.
"No... no, please noooo," I jolted awake, gasping for air, my chest rising and falling in frantic rhythm.
I looked around, disoriented, and spotted Drake sleeping peacefully beside me.
Sweat clung to my skin. I took a few deep breaths, trying to steady myself.
"Oh, it's just a dream," I muttered, shaking my head, trying to wash away the lingering fear.
But the image of the dark place and the haunting voice refused to fade, lingering like a shadow.
I stood, my legs wobbly, and stumbled toward the nearby waterfall. The cool water splashed across my face, sending a refreshing shock through me. I closed my eyes, the roar of the waterfall almost soothing as it drowned out the silence in my mind.
"What was that? And why now?" I wondered aloud, the questions gnawing at me.
I stood there for a moment, eyes lifting to the sky, my thoughts drifting. The stars shone like diamonds, scattered across the vast expanse, distant and untouchable.
"I need to figure out, what's with these strange sensations and most importantly.....
Why was I reincarnated" I whispered to myself.
Suddenly, a sharp, electric jolt shot through my chest, like a blast of lightning striking me from within.
I gasped, my heart racing, my breath coming in shallow bursts. "Ugh! What the hell?"
I fell to my knees, clutching my chest, the pain searing through me like wildfire.
It felt like I was about to pass out, the discomfort so intense that I couldn't breathe properly.
After what felt like an eternity, the sensation began to fade, leaving me breathless and confused. My heart eventually steadied, but the strange feeling lingered, gnawing at the edges of my consciousness.
"What the hell just happened?" I thought, barely able to form the words in my head.
Before I could make sense of it, a figure stepped from the darkness of the mountain, a shadow moving with eerie precision.
He was cloaked in black, his features concealed, but his eyes... those eyes. They gleamed like twin stars, sharp and unblinking, piercing right through me.
My breath caught in my throat. I opened my mouth to speak, but no sound came out. My body felt heavy, like I couldn't move.
"Who... who are you?" I whispered, my voice trembling.
The figure didn't respond. Instead, the air around me grew thicker, pressing down on me, suffocating me.
Suddenly, my legs gave way, and I felt my body crumple to the ground. The last thing I saw before everything went black. those glowing eyes, watching me... waiting.
I was crawling trying to get up, but my body betrayed me
"No, I need to get back to the Camp-"
then I was out.
————
Scene Shift
A grand, imperial room cloaked in dark, ominous tones.
The vaulted ceiling loomed high above, its center dominated by a massive crystal chandelier. The faint light refracted through it, scattering colors across the stone walls like bleeding glass.
Shadows danced over ornate furnishings. The room breathed silence and power.
Then—
Footsteps.
A horned man entered—his pearl-white eyes gleaming, his brown hair slicked back. His boots struck the stone with authority, the echo following him like a ghost.
He wore dark, battle-worn armor, cracked at the edges but still gleaming with menace. Intricate engravings ran along the leather like veins.
"Tsk. Took forever to kill that fool," he muttered, scratching the back of his head. His voice dripped with equal parts relief and irritation.
From the shadows, another figure emerged—his presence quiet, yet overwhelming.
His face remained hidden in darkness, unreadable.
"What took you so long, Vex?" the voice asked. Low. Cold. Commanding.
Vex dropped to one knee without hesitation. "Greetings, Prince Vrakor," he said, keeping his head bowed. His voice was calm—but the fear beneath it trembled like glass.
"Stop with the formalities," Vrakor snapped, his tone suddenly thunderous. "Get to the point. Did you retrieve the Aetherstone like I ordered? And what about that traitor—Zarak?"
The air in the room thickened as his voice grew sharper—dense, heavy, like pressure pressing down from all sides.
Vex flinched but didn't rise. "I-I killed him, my lord. Zarak's dead. But... the stone—" He swallowed. "It wasn't on him. I searched his body. He didn't have it."
Silence.
Then—
"Shit," Vrakor snarled, slumping onto a black throne carved from obsidian. He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling slowly through clenched teeth. His rage simmered just below the surface.
A soft laugh echoed from behind.
From another shadowed corner, a woman stepped into the faint light—her presence as regal as it was unnerving. She wore a silk gown that shimmered like liquid starlight, the gems on it catching what little light remained. Her crown sparkled, its centerpiece glowing faintly.
She approached Vrakor with slow grace, her hands sliding around his neck from behind. "What's the matter, dear?" she whispered. "You look… troubled."
Vrakor didn't look at her. "It's nothing. Stay out of this, Melina."
She pouted, her voice playful. "Hmph… you're no fun, dear." Her fingers slipped away, but her eyes remained locked on him, curious. Watching.
Vrakor's attention snapped back to Vex, his expression now colder. Sharper. "I don't care what happened to him. I want the stone. That stone is crucial to us Phobians."
Vex nodded quickly. "Understood, my lord."
Vrakor leaned forward slightly, his gaze like a blade. "Bring it back… or else—" He paused, letting the weight of his next words settle like a curse. "Grandfather will get involved."
Vex's eyes shot wide. His voice cracked. "His Highness...? The King himself?"
Vrakor Narrowed his eyes seriously.
A wave of energy burst outward—silent, invisible, yet crushing. Vex's body slammed to the floor, spine arched, muscles trembling under the weight.
"Uurrgh… f-forgive me…!" Vex gasped, choking on his words.
"You don't need to know why," Vrakor said, his voice now distant, detached. "Just obey."
He turned away.
Then, after a moment—
"I have high hopes for you… Commander Vex."
The pressure vanished.
Vex coughed violently, then slowly forced himself upright, back on one knee. "Y-Yes, my lord. I won't fail you."
—————
POV: Aries
The warmth of the sun bathed me in light as I blinked my eyes open. Drake was standing over me, his face drawn in concern.
"You alright, Aries?" he asked, his voice gentle yet urgent.
I nodded slowly, still disoriented. "Yeah... I'm fine," I mumbled, trying to shake off the lingering feeling from my dream.