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Only In Your Dreams

They stood in a moment's silence. Each watched wearily for the other to move.

She kept her eyes locked on his. She couldn't read him, but somehow her instincts knew how to react. They had been locked in battle for over three hours. Both were bruised and cut.

He charged at her. As he closed the distance between them, she spun to the right. Spinning in the air, her heel caught his back. He staggered a few steps and turned.

"Not bad." His statement came out with a struggle.

They were both about out of breath. Her bones ached for rest, but her mind stayed alert.

He cocked his head to the side and gave her a half smile.

"That will do for tonight," he spoke. "I expect to see you again. When the moon resonates at full light, then will we continue."

-

Nel sat up in the bed. Her face was covered in sweat. Her whole body ached.

That dream. This is the third time in three weeks.

The dream was always the same. She found herself in a circular room of a cave. She somehow knew she was in the Barr Mountains. In each dream she fought…him. The fight itself was different each time, but the ending was always the same. His words were verbatim each time.

Nel got up and went to the washbowl on her dresser. She cupped cool water in her hands and splashed her face. Looking up at herself in the small mirror she noticed that her cheek was cut.

Her mind went blank for a second. Another thing about these dreams that stumped her was that she woke up hurt. In this dream he had cut her face…and now…her face bleeds outside the dream.

She used her runology to heal the small cut and proceeded to search for more wounds. She found each and every bruise and cut. The dream was still fresh on her mind and she recalled every blow he had dealt her.

On the other hand, she had done a bit of damage herself. She smirked knowing that he would have to resort to herbs and berries for a cure. He didn't posses her knowledge in runology.

She stopped herself. Just because she was hurt didn't mean he was. It was a dream after all. She could explain her wounds. Ever since the war, she had slept with her dagger. Old habits die hard and she still keeps a spare under her pillow. The wounds were only self inflicted. She got caught up in the dream and hurt herself...that was all.

She sat down on the bed and pulled the dagger from its place. She removed it from the sheath and inspected it. It was clean with no traces of blood.

Something doesn't fit. What is going on here?

There was something to this. She could feel it. She only had to figure it out.

A knock on the door brought her back to reality.

She looked up. "Yes. Come in."

Clair popped her head in and smiled. "Well, can't call you sleepy head anymore, huh?"

Nel turned and looked out the window behind her. She didn't remember the sun rising. Have I been lost in thought that long?

"Hello Clair." She stood and stretched. Her wounds were completely healed and she felt strangely refreshed.

"Time to start training already?" Nel asked.

Clair gave her a concerned look. "Nel? No, don't you remember? We have a few days leave."

Nel smiled. "Yeah, you're right. It's just hard to rest. Ever since the talks with Greeton started to go bad, I've been…restless."

Clair nodded. "I know. It looks like another war hovers on the horizon."

"Yes," Nel responded. By the Queen's orders, Aquaria had started extensive training. They needed to be ready if Greeton decided to attack.

"Well, breakfast is ready." Clair stepped into the room. "Do you have any plans for your days off?"

"Don't know. I have a question." Nel looked at Clair. She was her best friend and Nel knew she would answer any question. No matter how odd.

"When is the next full moon?"

"Tonight. Why do you ask?"

Nel shook her head. "Oh, no reason. Just had a strange dream last night."

Clair went to Nel and put her arm around her friend's shoulders. "Want to talk about it?"

Nel smiled. "Not really. Didn't you say breakfast was ready?"

Clair chuckled. "Just so full of questions this morning, aren't you?"

-

After breakfast, Nel told Clair that she had things to attend to and not to expect her back until tomorrow. Clair showed her usual concern but knew Nel could take care of herself. She didn't press Nel for a reason. She was sure Nel would tell her when the time was right.

Nel packed lightly. She stashed a mixture of herbs and berries into her pockets which hung from her belt. She didn't bother to pack any sleeping equipment. She had a feeling she wouldn't be sleeping tonight anyway. All she needed was enough supplies to get her through the Barr Mountain paths.

She left Arias shortly before noon. As she walked the dirt path, his words echoed in her head.

-I expect to see you again. When the moon resonates at full light, then will we continue.-

She suddenly felt like a superstitious child. It was only a dream. A concoction made by her mind. There couldn't possible be any meaning to it. So, why did she feel a pull on her inner being? A deep drive to find the cave from her dreams?

She kept walking. She knew she wouldn't be satisfied if she turned back. She had to keep going if she was to make any logic from it all.

She halted in front of the cave's entrance. It was the entrance to Bequerel Mine. This was the cave she had retrieved the copper ore from. That day seemed like years ago, and at the same time…it seemed like yesterday.

The mysterious pull in her grew. The cave called to her soul. This is where she was to go. She turned and entered the cave.

-

She didn't know how much time she spent wondering the cave. She let instinct guide her. With each step she knew she was closer to the answers she sought.

She came to a dead end. Nothing around her resembled any part of her dream, but she knew she hadn't taken a wrong turn. She examined the wall in front of her. The boulders didn't look stable.

Before he left, Fayt had given her the Ring of Disintegration. She had accepted it with gratitude but never imagined she would have a need for it.

She used the ring to disintegrate the rocks. She jumped back to avoid the rubble that fell. When the dust cleared, she saw an opening. Beyond that nothing was visible. It was completely dark.

She entered into the darkness. A chill crept up her spine. She had found what she'd been looking for.

She stopped just past the entrance and closed her eyes. In her mind she recreated the room from her dreams. It was circular. The walls lined with torches.

She turned slightly. "Fire Bolt!" The flame leapt from her fingers and found one of the torches that framed the door.

She pulled the torch from the wall and used it to light the second torch on the other side of the door. She then proceeded to light the rest of the room. When she had walked the full circle she returned the torch to its resting place.

The room looked as if it had been deserted for years. She knew she had never been here; not in her life. How can one dream of a place they've never been?

She moved to the middle of the room and turned a complete cycle. Leaving her back to the door, she stopped. She rested her cheek on her shoulder and closed her eyes. She had expected to find answers here. Instead, she found more question.

Time stood still as thoughts swarmed in her head. Her mind was a jumble.

Behind her came a rustle. She opened her eyes and turned to the door.

Leaning on the door frame, staring at her, was exactly the last person she wanted to see. But, he was the only one she expected to see. After all, if she were to really live out her dreams then he would have to be present.

"Humph. I didn't actually think you would be here." He spoke low and emotionless.

She shook her head. "What brings you here, Albel?"