Once again, a dream drifts into my mind—a dream both familiar and unfamiliar, a strange blend of déjà vu and bewilderment. I find myself standing in a dark, enigmatic room, its corners swallowed by shadows. My heartbeat echoes in the silence, a constant reminder that I am alive within this surreal place. Turning my head to the left, I spot another version of myself, a reflection or perhaps a mirror, though no glass stands between us. That version of me, as if synchronized, also turns its head left, staring at yet another version of myself. And so, the sequence continues, a succession of my own reflections stretching into infinity, creating an unending spiral of self-observation. From a bird's eye view, I see them all forming a perfect spiral, a shape I recognize—the Golden Ratio. A mathematical perfection, the very structure of nature, the universe, and perhaps something more.
Why am I seeing this? What is the significance of these images? A strange feeling wells up inside me—a sensation that is neither fear nor joy, but a deep sense of acceptance, as if I am resigned to my fate, no matter what it might be. This acceptance is so profound, it's almost as if I'm surrendering to whatever the universe has in store for me, good or bad, understanding or bewilderment. I accept it all.
"Wake up, Morsus!" A voice cuts through the fabric of my dream, pulling me back to reality. "Wake up!"
I slowly open my eyes. The world is dark around me, but my vision quickly adjusts. Ardent is sitting beside me, his expression a mix of concern and impatience. We're inside a cave, the rough ground cold beneath my body. "Morsus, how are you feeling?" Ardent's voice is laced with a hint of urgency.
"Foggy," I reply, my voice sounding distant even to my own ears.
"Morsus, do you know why you're here?" Ardent presses on, watching me intently.
"I… I think so…" I murmur, trying to piece together the fractured memories. "I tried to kill the princess's assassin, which turned out to be a blonde female, even though all vampires are supposed to be dark-haired males."
"Correct," Ardent affirms, his tone grave. "But your actions have created a situation far more complex than you realize."
"How so?" I ask, though a part of me already dreads the answer.
"To start with, your display of power caused widespread panic within the Holy Kingdom. They now believe that your actions were a deliberate attack orchestrated by other kingdoms, and they're on the brink of declaring war. And that's not all—the Ordo Noctis has likely branded you as a rogue and will want you captured and disintegrated."
The weight of his words hits me like a physical blow. "Perhaps that wasn't the best idea… I thought I could prove my worth by using my full potential to eliminate the assassin without any resistance. But instead, I've only managed to terrify everyone—including you." I pause, feeling the reality of the situation closing in on me. "I suppose this is the end for me…"
"Not at all," Ardent interjects, a surprising warmth in his voice.
"What? How can that be?" I ask, bewildered.
"You see, Morsus, you are far more special than you've ever imagined."
"Ardent?" I study his face, searching for clues to this strange shift in his demeanor.
"There's someone who's had their eye on you since the moment you were created," Ardent continues, his voice carrying an almost reverent tone.
"Who? Is it one of the gods?" I ask, a chill running down my spine.
"Yes, a god, but not one of the ones you're familiar with…"
"Ardent, you're not making sense," I say, feeling my anxiety rising.
"You'll understand in time, Morsus. But for now, do you remember that dream you had about creating plasma energy by combining water and fire?"
"Yes, I do," I reply, the memory of that dream suddenly vivid in my mind.
"Good," Ardent says, a satisfied smile creeping across his face. "That means you've already been gifted with something extraordinary. You can use that ability. Show me. Show me the power!"
This sudden burst of enthusiasm from Ardent catches me off guard. He's never shown such passion for anything before. Has he lost his mind? Despite my confusion, I feel a strange excitement stirring within me. The idea of wielding such power is intoxicating. I stand up, shaking off the remnants of sleep, and focus my mind.
"Ardent, I've never learned to use water magic, only fire. Can you teach me? It seems you know more about this than I do."
"No, Morsus," Ardent replies, shaking his head. "I've never mastered water magic myself, much less the delicate art of combining it with fire. That's what makes this gift so special. In your dream, you learned it without even realizing it! It's inside you, Morsus. You just need to unlock it!"
His words fill me with a strange determination. I focus on conjuring a ball of fire, raising my hand as I do so. A flicker of flame appears, hovering just above my palm. Then I concentrate on water, imagining the cool, soothing flow of it… But as soon as the water appears, the two elements collide and extinguish each other in a sizzle of steam.
"No, Morsus! You're doing it wrong!" Ardent's voice rings out, harsh and impatient. His face twists in frustration, and for a moment, he looks almost deranged.
"Shut up, Ardent! It's not as easy as it looks!" I snap back, frustration bubbling to the surface. "I need to figure out a way to combine these elements without them destroying each other. But how?"
An image of a spiral flashes in my mind. Yes! A spiral! Spirals are natural forms of combination, structures of power and balance—the very building blocks of the universe! This might work… I focus once more, conjuring the fire and water separately, but this time I imagine them twisting together in a spiral, like the Golden Ratio I saw in my dream. I concentrate hard, forcing the tips of the elements to touch, and then, by some miracle, they begin to merge, not extinguishing each other, but blending into a single, swirling ball of energy—a ball of plasma.
"Amazing…" Ardent breathes, his eyes wide with awe as he gazes at the orb of pure energy hovering above my hand. His earlier madness seems to melt away, replaced by genuine admiration. "So this is the power that was promised to you…"
"Yes," I say, my voice steady despite the exhilaration coursing through me. "I believe it is. But what does it do? How can this power be used?"
"I've never seen anything like this," Ardent admits, shaking his head in wonder. "But I can sense its destructive potential. This is combat magic, without a doubt."
"And who is it that promised me this power?" I ask, my curiosity piqued.
"The God of Chaos," Ardent replies, his eyes gleaming with a feverish intensity. "He is the one who has chosen you."
"The God of Chaos?" I repeat, my mind reeling. "Does that mean… that I am a hellspawn?"
"No, Morsus," Ardent corrects me, his voice almost tender. "You are the chosen one, handpicked by the God of Chaos himself. He spoke to me in my dreams, revealing everything I needed to know to guide you."
"This is all too much…" I murmur, overwhelmed by the weight of his words. "I think I need to rest… to process all of this…"
"No! Wait!" Ardent's voice takes on a desperate edge. "That ball of plasma—use it! Throw it at something! I must witness its full destructive power!"
"Very well," I agree, though my mind is still spinning from the revelations. I turn and walk toward the cave's entrance, the ball of plasma still floating above my hand, pulsing with energy.
As I step outside, the harsh light of the sun blinds me for a moment, and I squint against the glare. The landscape before me is a vast expanse of sand, stretching as far as the eye can see. The heat is oppressive, the air dry and unforgiving. We're in a desert, though I have no idea which one.
"Ardent, where are we?" I ask, turning to look at him as he emerges from the cave.
"We are in Aestumalen," Ardent replies, his voice steady and calm. "The Desert Kingdom."
"Why did you bring us here?" I ask, suspicion creeping into my voice.
"Aestumalen is a place of ancient, forbidden magic," Ardent explains. "The desert sands hold secrets and powers that even the Holy Kingdom cannot match. This is the perfect place for you to practice and grow. And who knows? Perhaps we can even uncover new magics while we're here."
I fall silent, lost in thought. "Ardent, none of this makes any sense. What is your plan for me? What does the God of Chaos want with me? How can I trust anything you say?"
Ardent sighs, his gaze softening. "I don't blame you for being confused, Morsus. Your mind has not yet been fully opened to his knowledge. That will come in time. For now, I am here to guide you."
"And if I refuse?" I challenge, my voice firm.
"The God of Chaos loves you, Morsus," Ardent replies, his voice almost
"Wake up, Morsus!" A voice cuts through the fabric of my dream, pulling me back to reality. "Wake up!"
I slowly open my eyes. The world is dark around me, but my vision quickly adjusts. Ardent is sitting beside me, his expression a mix of concern and impatience. We're inside a cave, the rough ground cold beneath my body. "Morsus, how are you feeling?" Ardent's voice is laced with a hint of urgency.
"Foggy," I reply, my voice sounding distant even to my own ears.
"Morsus, do you know why you're here?" Ardent presses on, watching me intently.
"I… I think so…" I murmur, trying to piece together the fractured memories. "I tried to kill the princess's assassin, which turned out to be a blonde female, even though all vampires are supposed to be dark-haired males."
"Correct," Ardent affirms, his tone grave. "But your actions have created a situation far more complex than you realize."
"How so?" I ask, though a part of me already dreads the answer.
"To start with, your display of power caused widespread panic within the Holy Kingdom. They now believe that your actions were a deliberate attack orchestrated by other kingdoms, and they're on the brink of declaring war. And that's not all—the Ordo Noctis has likely branded you as a rogue and will want you captured and disintegrated."
The weight of his words hits me like a physical blow. "Perhaps that wasn't the best idea… I thought I could prove my worth by using my full potential to eliminate the assassin without any resistance. But instead, I've only managed to terrify everyone—including you." I pause, feeling the reality of the situation closing in on me. "I suppose this is the end for me…"
"Not at all," Ardent interjects, a surprising warmth in his voice.
"What? How can that be?" I ask, bewildered.
"You see, Morsus, you are far more special than you've ever imagined."
"Ardent?" I study his face, searching for clues to this strange shift in his demeanor.
"There's someone who's had their eye on you since the moment you were created," Ardent continues, his voice carrying an almost reverent tone.
"Who? Is it one of the gods?" I ask, a chill running down my spine.
"Yes, a god, but not one of the ones you're familiar with…"
"Ardent, you're not making sense," I say, feeling my anxiety rising.
"You'll understand in time, Morsus. But for now, do you remember that dream you had about creating plasma energy by combining water and fire?"
"Yes, I do," I reply, the memory of that dream suddenly vivid in my mind.
"Good," Ardent says, a satisfied smile creeping across his face. "That means you've already been gifted with something extraordinary. You can use that ability. Show me. Show me the power!"
This sudden burst of enthusiasm from Ardent catches me off guard. He's never shown such passion for anything before. Has he lost his mind? Despite my confusion, I feel a strange excitement stirring within me. The idea of wielding such power is intoxicating. I stand up, shaking off the remnants of sleep, and focus my mind.
"Ardent, I've never learned to use water magic, only fire. Can you teach me? It seems you know more about this than I do."
"No, Morsus," Ardent replies, shaking his head. "I've never mastered water magic myself, much less the delicate art of combining it with fire. That's what makes this gift so special. In your dream, you learned it without even realizing it! It's inside you, Morsus. You just need to unlock it!"
His words fill me with a strange determination. I focus on conjuring a ball of fire, raising my hand as I do so. A flicker of flame appears, hovering just above my palm. Then I concentrate on water, imagining the cool, soothing flow of it… But as soon as the water appears, the two elements collide and extinguish each other in a sizzle of steam.
"No, Morsus! You're doing it wrong!" Ardent's voice rings out, harsh and impatient. His face twists in frustration, and for a moment, he looks almost deranged.
"Shut up, Ardent! It's not as easy as it looks!" I snap back, frustration bubbling to the surface. "I need to figure out a way to combine these elements without them destroying each other. But how?"
An image of a spiral flashes in my mind. Yes! A spiral! Spirals are natural forms of combination, structures of power and balance—the very building blocks of the universe! This might work… I focus once more, conjuring the fire and water separately, but this time I imagine them twisting together in a spiral, like the Golden Ratio I saw in my dream. I concentrate hard, forcing the tips of the elements to touch, and then, by some miracle, they begin to merge, not extinguishing each other, but blending into a single, swirling ball of energy—a ball of plasma.
"Amazing…" Ardent breathes, his eyes wide with awe as he gazes at the orb of pure energy hovering above my hand. His earlier madness seems to melt away, replaced by genuine admiration. "So this is the power that was promised to you…"
"Yes," I say, my voice steady despite the exhilaration coursing through me. "I believe it is. But what does it do? How can this power be used?"
"I've never seen anything like this," Ardent admits, shaking his head in wonder. "But I can sense its destructive potential. This is combat magic, without a doubt."
"And who is it that promised me this power?" I ask, my curiosity piqued.
"The God of Chaos," Ardent replies, his eyes gleaming with a feverish intensity. "He is the one who has chosen you."
"The God of Chaos?" I repeat, my mind reeling. "Does that mean… that I am a hellspawn?"
"No, Morsus," Ardent corrects me, his voice almost tender. "You are the chosen one, handpicked by the God of Chaos himself. He spoke to me in my dreams, revealing everything I needed to know to guide you."
"This is all too much…" I murmur, overwhelmed by the weight of his words. "I think I need to rest… to process all of this…"
"Very well then, Morsus. Please take a breath of fresh air."
"I nod in agreement, though my mind is still spinning from the revelations. I turn and walk toward the cave's entrance...
As I step outside, the harsh light of the sun blinds me for a moment, and I squint against the glare. The landscape before me is a vast expanse of sand, stretching as far as the eye can see. The heat is oppressive, the air dry and unforgiving. We're in a desert, though I have no idea which one.
"Ardent, where are we?" I ask, turning to look at him as he emerges from the cave.
"We are in Aestumalen," Ardent replies, his voice steady and calm. "The Desert Kingdom."
"Why did you bring us here?" I ask, suspicion creeping into my voice.
"Aestumalen is a place of ancient, forbidden magic," Ardent explains. "The desert sands hold secrets and powers that even the Holy Kingdom cannot match. This is the perfect place for you to practice and grow. And who knows? Perhaps we can even uncover new magics while we're here."
I fall silent, lost in thought. "Ardent, none of this makes any sense. What is your plan for me? What does the God of Chaos want with me? How can I trust anything you say?"
Ardent sighs, his gaze softening. "I don't blame you for being confused, Morsus. Your mind has not yet been fully opened to his knowledge. That will come in time. For now, I am here to guide you."
"And if I refuse?" I challenge, my voice firm.
"The God of Chaos loves you, Morsus," Ardent replies, his voice almost reassuring. "He has given you free will. A choice. You can walk away, live a normal life, and forget all of this. But if you choose that path, you will never understand the true power within you. You will remain like the rest of us—ordinary, purposeless. A mere shadow in the grand scheme of things."
I stare at him, trying to grasp the full meaning of his words. "And if I accept? What happens then?"
"If you accept, you will embark on a journey to uncover the truth about your existence," Ardent says, his eyes alight with conviction. "You will learn to harness your powers, to become something greater than anyone could imagine. The God of Chaos has chosen you for a reason, Morsus. You are destined for greatness, but only if you embrace it."
I take a deep breath, looking out over the endless desert. The idea of being chosen by a god—especially a god as unpredictable as the God of Chaos—is terrifying. But at the same time, something deep inside me stirs at the thought of unlocking this potential, of discovering what I am truly capable of.
A moment of silence passes between us, the wind sweeping across the dunes, carrying the heat of the sun and the scent of the desert. I can feel the weight of Ardent's gaze on me, waiting for my decision.
"What does it mean to be chosen by the God of Chaos?" I ask quietly, more to myself than to Ardent. "What is my purpose?"
"Your purpose is to bring balance through chaos," Ardent replies, his voice low and intense. "The world as it stands is too orderly, too stagnant. The God of Chaos seeks to restore the natural order by introducing change, disruption, and—yes—chaos. You are the instrument through which he will achieve this."
I look down at the ball of plasma still hovering above my hand, feeling its energy pulsing with raw, untapped power. The choice before me is clear, yet the implications are far from simple.
"I don't know if I'm ready for this," I admit, my voice barely a whisper.
"No one is ever truly ready for their destiny," Ardent says, placing a hand on my shoulder. "But when the time comes, you will find the strength within you to rise to the occasion. Trust in the process, Morsus. Trust in the God of Chaos."
I close my eyes, taking a moment to center myself. The dreams, the visions, the powers—they all point to something far greater than anything I've ever known. And yet, the path ahead is shrouded in uncertainty, fraught with dangers I can't even begin to comprehend.
But if I walk away now, I will never know what could have been. I will never understand the full extent of what I am capable of.
Slowly, I open my eyes and turn to face Ardent, the decision made.
"I'll do it," I say, my voice steady. "I'll accept the path that has been laid before me. I want to know the truth, whatever it may be."
A smile spreads across Ardent's face, a mixture of relief and triumph. "You've made the right choice, Morsus. Together, we will unravel the mysteries of your power, and you will fulfill the purpose the God of Chaos has set for you."
I nod, still feeling the weight of the decision, but also a newfound sense of resolve. Whatever lies ahead, I will face it head-on. I will uncover the secrets of my power, and I will learn the true meaning of my existence.
As the sun continues to beat down on the desert, I let the ball of plasma dissolve back into the ether, its energy now a part of me.
This is only the beginning.