Deep Sea Embers

The monstrosity that filled the skies above the forest was beyond grotesque, beyond terrifying. An intricate display of countless, undulating tentacles reached out in all directions, clutching and lifting its radiant “shell.” This shell was the very source of the “sunlight” that cascaded down, drenching the forest below in a hauntingly ethereal glow. The very nature of the sunlight now raised numerous questions, chief among them being its origin from such a malevolent being.

How long had this behemoth lurked in the skies, unbeknownst to all below? Was it from time immemorial or a recent occupant? It was perplexing how no soul had detected the subtle aberration in the sun’s rays. What purpose or dark intent did it have observing this woodland – an eerie blend of different dreams?

In the midst of this surreal moment, Heidi found herself unwittingly drawn upwards, her gaze fixating on the compact “sun” being held aloft by the creature’s tentacles. As she observed, she caught sight of the pale, monstrous eyes shielded by the same sinuous appendages that carried its luminous burden.

The sensation that washed over her next was indescribable; it was as if her psyche had merged with a vast, otherworldly consciousness. The eyes that beheld the world below were the very portal through which an unknown force breached her mind. The immediacy and intensity of this communion was like a cosmic collision, bombarding her spirit with a torrent of ancient aspirations and observations related to this dreamlike world and the unfamiliar visitors it contained.

Her mind was suddenly inundated with hundreds of voices, each one whispering, pleading, shouting, or simply observing. Of these, one voice in particular burrowed deep, its words echoing like an ancient chant: “…Hidden deep in their memories… before our sunlight fades…”

Caught in the throes of this overwhelming experience, Heidi could barely resist the urge to kneel in surrender.

But then, just as abruptly, a fiery pulse surged from her chest. It tore her from this mental reverie like a shockwave, snapping her back to the physical realm. The disconnection felt like escaping a maelstrom, with her heart racing wildly and a piercing tone reverberating within her ears. After taking a few seconds to recalibrate, relief washed over her. With newfound clarity, she averted her gaze from the skies, her fingers clasping the pulsating purple crystal pendant on her chest.

The pendant, while fiery hot, didn’t burn her. Casting a wary glance sideways, she noted the “Sea Witch” had an outstretched hand from which three resplendent gems hovered and spun, casting radiant, potentially deadly beams.

Heidi’s pulse quickened once more. “I’m awake! I’m awake!” she blurted out impulsively, fearing the witch’s possible assault. “I swear I haven’t been tainted~!”

Lucretia simply nodded, her penetrating gaze fixed on the pendant around Heidi’s neck. As she retracted her hand, the gems ascended, aligning with the decorative piece in her hair.

Clearing her throat, Lucretia remarked reassuringly, “I had no intention of ending your life.”

Taken aback, Heidi managed to stutter out, “I was certain you were preparing to strike me.”

The ensuing silence was thick with unsaid thoughts and unanswered questions.

“That would not have been a mere shock, but a cataclysmic jolt to your psyche,” Lucretia began with a grave tone. “If the contamination on your mind was merely on the surface, such an impact would activate the primal fear of death deeply embedded within your subconscious. This would force the untouched sections of your mind to flee this dream realm. The aftermath might be you awakening with a gaping void in your recent memories.” She paused to ensure Heidi was following. “This procedure is coined by Master Taran El as the ‘Sudden Death Method’.”

Heidi’s sapphire eyes widened in horror, a slight tremor in her voice, “You mentioned before that this method was precarious, didn’t you?”

Lucretia let out a sigh, her gaze drifting to the distant figure of the scholar, who appeared to be ensnared in his mental reverie. “For Taran El himself, the method is a gamble. He’s so susceptible that the mere thought of ‘sudden death’ threatens his life, even without the presence of nightmares.”

Heidi’s eyebrows knitted in anxiety. “And for someone like me?”

“You’re resilient,” Lucretia said simply, her gaze penetrating yet reassuring.

A heavy silence hung in the air before Heidi, with noticeable trepidation in her posture, gestured upwards without daring to gaze at the looming monstrosity. “Miss Lucretia, that… entity…”

Lucretia waved her hand with graceful poise, summoning a resplendent ethereal mirror encrusted with elaborate, court-style patterns. Using this magical artifact, she scrutinized the nightmarish scene overhead, “The ‘curtain’ in this dream realm is erected to shield us from its intrusive gaze.”

After a pregnant pause, her face a mask of concern, she continued, “Its form… it eerily resonates with the symbolisms often adopted by the dark cultists devoted to the Black Sun. That entity mirrors the ‘sun heirs’ they ardently venerate.”

Heidi’s face went pale. Being a Pland and having survived the traumatic “Black Sun Incident”, she was all too familiar with the horror and devastation associated with the term ‘sun heirs’. She stammered, “But the interloper I initially encountered in the dream was unmistakably from the Annihilation Cult…”

“annihilator?” Lucretia’s frown deepened, her face a palette of alarm and contemplation. “That complicates things immeasurably.”

Heidi was about to press the “Sea Witch” for clarification when an eerie, hushed rustling arose nearby, cutting her off and stifling the atmosphere further.

Heidi’s voice was a bare whisper, tinged with anxiety, “Did you catch that?”

Lucretia’s voice, however, remained unperturbed, “It appears we’ve attracted the guardian of the skyward beast. It gets defensive whenever its existence is discerned, seeking to erase any sentient beings that have laid eyes upon it. Such is the method of the Black Sun’s progeny.”

The sinister rustling ceased abruptly, replaced by a suffocating silence. In the ensuing stillness, an impending sense of dread overwhelmed the surroundings.

Suddenly, from the periphery of Heidi’s vision, an undulating shadow emerged beneath the underbrush. In what seemed like an innocuous corner moments earlier, a nebulous darkness coalesced, spawning razor-sharp, lance-like appendages that thrusted menacingly at the two women.

As the malevolent shadow lunged at her, every cell in Heidi’s body screamed danger. Almost reflexively, her body rolled to the side, and the golden spike she grasped in her hand left a blazing arc of golden light as she swiped it forcefully through the empty space before her. In her wake, an ethereal doppelganger of herself lingered momentarily, and within a heartbeat, the advancing attacker mercilessly impaled this spectral twin.

The assaulting shadow recoiled, leaving behind the impaled apparition, which now began to solidify, revealing an uncanny likeness of Heidi. It swayed, almost ghostlike, before becoming firmly anchored in reality.

From Lucretia’s vicinity, a sharp, resonating blast echoed. Shadows writhed and coiled on the ground like malevolent serpents, slowly converging around Lucretia’s feet. In an eerie transformation, they morphed into an array of lethal armaments – jagged thorns, wicked spikes, razor-sharp blades, and writhing tentacles. These shadows seemed to act in unison, launching a concerted assault on the Sea Witch, threatening to engulf her entirely.

However, Lucretia’s response was swift and unexpected. Her form suddenly flattened, becoming as insubstantial as a shadow itself, resembling a two-dimensional image and evading the shadowy assault with fluid grace. In a fleeting moment, she rematerialized a short distance away, now brandishing an elegant conductor’s baton reminiscent of those used by maestros to lead great symphonies.

With an artful flourish, she tapped the baton against a looming tentacle, softly intoning, “Minor tune.”

The response was almost instantaneous. The tentacle emitted a muffled explosion, followed by a cascading series of blasts, each sounding eerily harmonious. Before long, the very fabric of the tentacle disintegrated, transforming into a vibrant cascade of ephemeral musical notes that danced away into the void.

Every shadow linked to this dark tendril erupted in a series of synchronized detonations, each culminating in a shower of luminescent, prismatic notes that filled the air, creating a mesmerizing, otherworldly spectacle.

Amidst this phantasmagorical display, Lucretia elegantly twirled her baton and directed her attention towards Heidi, who now seemed to be flanked by two identical projections of herself.

An intrigued arch formed on Lucretia’s brow, “You possess a commendable protective spell. Judging from the finesse of your actions, I assume you’ve trained in the physical realm as well?”

Heidi, pausing to catch her breath, responded with a mix of pride and relief, “Indeed. Given our profession, where we don’t only confront mental ailments but also the manifestations of such disorders, it’s imperative to be prepared. My father instilled in me that one must always be their own shield.” She then surveyed Lucretia with a mix of awe and respect, “Your prowess is nothing short of legendary.”

In return, Lucretia offered a wistful smile, “Your sentiments mirror what my father often preached.” Without missing a beat, she pivoted gracefully, preparing to face the fresh wave of shadowy apparitions materializing in their midst.

The retreat of several shadows was but a minor lull in the brewing storm. The followers of the Black Sun weren’t renowned for their relentlessness without reason; their grotesque appendages, having tasted loss, seemed to regenerate with increased vigor and tenacity.

Emerging from the chaos were towering beings, their outlines vaguely humanoid. They sported attire resembling long, flowing black coats that were fashioned from an otherworldly fabric. The unmistakable noise of coiling, contorting flesh emanated from beneath these enigmatic garments, each squelch and wriggle turning stomachs and sending chills down spines. Their visages, hidden beneath the deep shadow of expansive brimmed hats, bore no human features. Instead, a vast abyss existed, pulsating with unyielding malevolence and an undying enmity towards life.

Recognizing the true nature of these looming nightmares, Heidi’s voice wavered with a mix of recognition and dread, “…They are the ‘inferior clones’ birthed from the Sun’s lineage.” As her voice trailed, she exchanged a wary glance with her spectral twin. Her brow crinkled in contemplation, “…Yet, I’ve never encountered tales of these beings possessing the capability to penetrate dreams.”

But Lucretia’s astute observation veered towards an unexpected anomaly amidst the rising tension.

“They’ve abandoned their umbrellas,” she remarked, a puzzled frown deepening on her features.

Lucretia, a seasoned voyager of the arcane and the unknown, had trodden the perilous fringes of reality. In her vast adventures, she had encountered the minions of the Black Sun on numerous occasions, often standing defiant against their malign intentions. And every encounter bore a common sight: the ominous black umbrellas, inseparable from these malevolent entities.

Yet, here in this dreamscape, these Sun-spawned monstrosities stood unshielded. They seemed to revel in the luminescent embrace of the simulated sun, absorbing its radiant glow without their typical barriers.

It was a sight so peculiar, so out of place, that it evoked a chilling realization: perhaps here, in this dreamlike realm, these exiled entities had finally found a semblance of home.