Chapter 9: Incandescence
Gusion had a wonderful dream this time. Or so he thought...
It was high noon and he was in the center of a verdant glade, just like the one where he met Harper. But this place was a hundred times more beautiful than the previous one.
As if he was someplace ethereal... The flora and fauna that littered the place was unbeknownst to him. The sky seemed clearer than the ones where he lived. It was a haven of some sorts. A magnificent haven.
The light shone brightly but he didn't seem to feel the heat of the sun. Just a warm glow embracing him.
He chuckled and thought maybe he died. Maybe this was heaven? Ha. That seemed ironic. Since he expected something else when he'd faced his death.
He turned around and let his gaze view the entire glowing haven. But couldn't see passed the blinding light enveloping it.
"Gusion..." A woman's voice called out to him.
He looked for the source of the voice but could not find it there.
"Who are you?!" He replied.
Instead of answering, the heavenly scene suddenly shifted into a hellscape. He almost lost his bearings from the sudden change of the environment.
The place was supposed to be dark but as he readjusted his sight, he saw a burning wasteland filled with rivers of lava at the floor while the cavern seemed to have its own sky built from the eternal void.
Surprisingly, he did not felt any burning sensation whilst he was on that freak setting. Gusion assured himself this was just another one of his dreams.
"Sadly, this is not just another dream..." Answered a forlorn voice. He looked around and still did not see the source of the lady's voice.
"What are you talking about?"
"My power grows weaker by the second. Only the Twilight Goddess can help me, child. Find her and you shall have answers." The voice replied in a strained but urgent tone.
So... This was the Lady of the Light Harper was blabbering about. He had so many questions for this lady but was frustrated by the fact that he can't even see her in this dream. For one, he thought of slapping the sense into this lady to make her realize he was not the one she was looking for.
"What if I don't?" He challenged. His stubbornness got the best of him now. "I didn't asked to be your errand boy! I don't even know you!" he screamed at no one.
"Ah... You are... Correct..." She answered. "But know this, child... If you let the growing darkness win today... Then what you see here in this hellscape will be brought upon your world... The Dominator will see to it... As he have seen to my demise..."
He took in the terrifying scene in front of him. Her words of warning slowly fueling fear inside of him. "But why me? I didn't ask for this!" Gusion asked, opening his arms wide.
"I'm not a hero!" he pressed on.
.
.
.
No answer...
He sighed aloud. Adding a rueful aside, "I don't even know where the bloody orb is!" He said to himself.
Just then, the scenery changed again. Synthesizing another vision. This time, he prepared himself to be transported in another dimension. He closed his eyes from the blinding incandescence - opening only when he felt his feet touch solid ground.
Gusion took a moment to discern his surroundings. It seems he was back at the Land of Dawn. He scanned as far as his eyes could see. Mountains and forests only blocked his view from afar.
But what surprised him most was the ground where he landed when he arrived. He stood there in the middle of a long emerald path, stretching beyond the mountain range.
Gusion shifted his foot and tapped on the pavement. He can't believe someone made a road out of precious stones! To think this must be worth a million gold coins...
He followed the highway towards the distant mountains to see where it leads. Only to be stopped in his tracks by the sudden bellow of a creature from afar.
"ROOOOOOAAAAARRR!!!!!!" The sound of the beast reverberated through the sage trail.
He planted his foot on the ground to prevent being blown away by the sheer force of the shockwave produced by the bellowing roar.
The earth trembled and heaved as if a giant has awakened....
"Gusion!!!" called another voice.
He struggled to hold on to the vision. A sudden blackout knocked him down.
.
.
.
.
.
"Gusion!!!" He awakened suddenly wet and shivering from the cold water someone has chucked at him.
He immediately saw his guardian holding an empty bucket. "Harper!" He got up and tried to catch the fleeing creature.
"It was Lesleyyyy!!!" Harper cried while he tried to run away from his grasp.
He stopped and noticed Lesley calmy standing by the window. Her hands crossed in front of her. She rolled her eyes and casually replied, "You were sleep talking."
"Ha!" He couldn't find the words to say. So he just laughed it off. "Hahaha! Thank you for waking me up! That was a terrible dream!"
"Hey! What was that about?! You were gonna strangle me earlier!" Harper protested in the corner, still holding the bucket.
"Do you want me to continue?" He hissed.
"No..." The blue blob squirmed further into the corner.
He clicked his tongue and proceeded on removing his damp shirt, revealing his perfectly sculpt body.
Lesley being taken aback by his actions, veered her eyes from the sudden display. She cleared her throat and tried to change the subject, "Why were you screaming like a girl, anyways?"
Harper snickered at her remark. Clearly enjoying the tension between the two.
"What? I was not! I was not screaming! Like a girl! Ha!" He marched toward her, clearing the gap between them.
"You were so... Screaming like a girl." Lesley still not setting her eyes on him, managed to suppress a laugh. "You heard him too, right?" She faced Harper.
Gusion turned his attention back at Harper. Glaring at him while the other laughed in response.
"AHEM!" He cleared his throat. "As I was saying. I was not screaming like a girl! I had a nightmare. But in my dreams I wasn't even scared or screaming!" He said defensively.
"Yeah. Sure." Lesley shrugged still trying her best not to laugh.
"Ugh!"
"But, my lord! Why were you even having a nightmare? What did you dreamt of?" Harper asked while he now bounced on the bed that Gusion vacated.
He tried to remember the visions in his dreams. But the more he grew aware of his awakened state, the more the dreams were escaping from his mind.
It's been a day after the incident on the forest nearby. And they've only had a proper rest on this shabby village inn where Lesley took them.
He furrowed his brows trying to make sense of his dreams. The surrounding atmosphere in the room was not helping him for the task.
"Well? What is it?" Lesley's voice brought him back to reality.
He pursed his lips before looking at his two companions. "I think... I might know where the orb is."
Harper gasped in excitement while Lesley held her breath for Gusion to continue.
"I had a vision of a road filled with green precious stones before you woke me up..." He glanced back at Lesley. "I think it's where this Lady of the Light want us to go."
He didn't mentioned the other visions before that one though. Even the beast roaring in the distance, remained unspoken. He thought of keeping that to himself first. Since it was after all, only a vision.
Harper clapped, clearly contented with his auspicious pronouncement. "At last! I told you we'd find the way soon!"
Gusion's face says otherwise. In fact, Lesley found it more suspicious. Something in her guts tells her there was much more in Gusion's dreams than he was disclosing.
Their eyes both met in yet another awkward staredown. Neither one budging from their stance.
Finally, Harper unknowingly intervened the strain between the two. "Come on now, my lord! You should get dressed! Time's a wasting! We should get on our way!" He urged and jumped from the bed, towards Gusion.
"But I don't even know where this vision I had is! I only saw this emerald road." He replied.
"Isn't it obvious?" Lesley chimed in. "Haven't you heard of such a road before?"
He looked utterly confused. Not knowing what the two of them apparently realized from the vision.
Harper answered for him, smiling widely. "My lord, we are going to The Jade Path!"
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