I updated it, so please review! My life line is reviews, be it good or bad.

In fact, should it not have been for reviews, I'd have shut this down a long time ago. Luckily, I've been hit with a huge burst of inspiration. Our heroes are about to face adversity like they've never seen before.

We are reaching the end of the beginning.


-Unexpected Arrivals-

Scattered sand scraped my smooth and dry skin. The merciless arid wind whipped around me, howling in delight at my agony. So much suffering...Suffering...So much pain...Pain...Why is this the answer to everything I must face? Just an endless torrent of pain. Pain, a signal sent to the brain in response to activities harmful to one's self. Commonly attributed to misery and anguish. It was the only thing I knew of, ever since I came to be. I say came to be, because I don't recall anything before being stranded in this god forsaken desert. How did I even exist to begin with? Every time I try to recollect memories any normal person should possess, I am immediately rebuked with immense mental pain. My fortitude is immense, but there is only so much even I can take. Eventually, I stop bothering to think about it. It really didn't matter at this point. I mean, my priorities only seemed to consist of it. It and walking aimlessly through this place, devoid of life. Am I even living? Or am I just part of "it", a cog in the endless machine that we call life? What is "it"? What was I thinking about again? Do I even make sense? I don't think I'm even being coherent at this point. I keep using the nouns "I" and "me", but do I have the right to use those words when I don't even know what they really mean? Who am I? Why am I? Where am I?

"What am I?"

I finally succumbed to the desert, sand washing over me as I dropped to my knees and kissed the sand.

I dream.

There is nothing but an empty void. It's black all around. I can't even see my own hands. In the darkness, I find that it's actually quite comforting. Away from the pain, the mind numbing memories, the lifeless desert. It's cold, but it is also welcoming, and it has been the only thing that is welcoming. I embrace it, curling up into a ball and contemplating. I could stay here forever in this reassured state of mind. Forget about everything else, I was content just thinking in the dark recesses of my mind. The thought that I was dying did make it's way into the back of my head. But I found that it really did not scare me, nor create any sense of urgency. If this is what death was like, I wouldn't mind keeping it company.

"But are you really satisfied?"

A mask materializes from the darkness. It is a strange looking thing, an eye hole scooped out of one side and bolts holding together the left and right halves of it together. It was very plain, very dilapidated...Very eerie. Was it speaking to me? Of course it was. I'm dreaming. I lackadaisically reply to the mask.

"...Of course-"

"You are not."

I am taken aback by the simple and dry remark, and raised my head.

"...Come again?"

"Need I repeat myself, fool?"

"You don't know me!"

"So you know yourself?"

I'm immediately silenced, completely shocked from the brutality of the mask's words. Not to mention they held implications that were spot on.

"I have more wisdom than you could ever hope to possess, fool! You will never possess more than I will...But at the same time the opposite holds true."

"That makes no sense. And I thought I was talking nonsense in my bout of hallucination in reality."

"That's only because your sense of relativity is incredibly skewed. You'd only understand if you could see things the way I do."

"Imagine how many people have said exactly what you said and still not have things go their way."

"I hold more hope that you'll eventually come to see things the way I do."

"And why is that?"

"Because…"

The empty eye socket had a fire lit in it, flickering brightly.

"'I am you."

"Wait what-"

"Well, time to wake up, Aaron Palmer."

"Is that my name? How do you know my name? What am 'I'?" What are you?"

"Reality beckons."

"Wait, I'm not done with you-"

The roaring sand blasts me in the face, and I cough out as much as I can. The dream...Was that real? Wait, why should I even feel inclined to believe it was real? It was a dream, for crying out loud. But I realize suddenly that the sand below me was a dark shade. Before me, a shadow loomed over, carrying a staff. It bent over, and revealed the face of a young girl. She adjusted her spectacles and sized me up.

"Why is a runt like you catching some sleep out here? What's your name, child?"

"...I don't…'I'..."

She glanced at me quizzically.

"Spit it out already!"

"...My name is Aaron Palmer."

"Well, Aaron, it's time to wake up!"

"Alright...Wait, I'm already awake?"

"Aaron, it's time to wake up!"

"Okay, I get it! What's that beeping noise?"

"Aaron, wake up!"

Suddenly my eyes shoot open, and I find myself being shook by Elsword. I laid in my bed, and slowly readjusted myself to the "real" reality. I glanced over to the alarm clock, happily making noise. It was a dream...Huh. The idea that I had dreamed I was dreaming gave an unsettling feeling in my stomach. Not to mention I dreamed of my encounter with her...It all felt so real. It was also then I realized what a long way I've come. It was such a distant event, yet such a vivid memory. I kind of missed that old coot, actually. I would never admit it to her, however.

"Vapor…"

Elsword stopped shaking me.

"What was that? Did you say something?"

"Nothing."

"Alright, let's get to work then!"

Ah yes, today we were going to attack the cave. Banthus had another thought coming if he really thought he was getting away with the shard. I looked over the bed, where my apparel laid. Next to it, my mask and weapon. The very same mask from my dreams, mind you. Elsword left, presumably to wake up everyone else, as I got out of bed and dressed myself. We had relayed all of our information to Hoffman, to which he had given promise to provide aid. The doorbell rang. I assumed that was said aid. I slinked my way downstairs after making my bed, and since nobody was around, I also opened the door.

"Who is it?"

Behind the door stood Echo and a burly man the size of a bear. I stumbled back slightly.

"Oh...Uh...Echo...Is this a friend?"

"Yep, his name is Lenphad!"

Lenphad grunted.

"I'm here for business, kid. Let's get this over with. I hate bandits even more than I hate Luichel, and I still haven't forgiven her for hiding my mallet."

I nodded slowly.

"Uh...Okay…"

Echo aimed a soft punch at my arm.

"Don't worry about him, Lenphad talks rough but he's a real softie inside!"

"Call me a softie and I'll pound you into mochi, got it?"

"Yes sir."

I instinctively saluted, back straightening and body stiffening, as Aisha came down the stairs, yawning.

"Who's it?"

Immediately she was besieged, sent sprawling to the ground by a pouncing Echo.

"Hey Aisha! Aisha, I got you what you wanted!"

Aisha's eyes lit up.

"Really?"

"Really really! Here you go!"

Echo handed her a tiny box, which Aisha gleefully took. I took a peek as she opened it, revealing the contents inside. It was a pendant, small yet beautiful. Aisha caught me looking.

"It's from my mentor. He forgot to give it to me before I began my journey."

Ah, that explained it.

"It's supposed to serve as a protective charm as sorts when I really need it."

With that said, she placed it around her neck. Elsword soon popped up with Rena in tow.

"Hey, Elsword, do you see anything different about me?"

The kid swordsman scrutinized her carefully, looking up and down.

"Uh...You put on weight?"

When I thought about it, technically the pendant did add on weight. But the pummeling dished out to the poor kid by a beet red magician told me that the freedom of keeping my thoughts to myself was one of the many virtues of life. Echo and Lenphad looked on, unfazed.

"Come on, we don't have all day for your lover's spat."

I winced. Lenphad certainly didn't pull punches. Off to the side, Rena was giggling and Echo gave a blank look. The two did cease, only to furiously deny Lenphad's statement.

Once the ordeal was over, I decided to ask about the aid Hoffman had promised us. Echo was jumping up and down excitedly, so I looked at her quizzically.

"We are your aid!"

"...Wait, so you mean we don't get any guards or soldiers?"

Lenphad growled.

"This is all completely voluntary. They don't want to work if they aren't getting paid. Typical."

Rena raised a hand.

"Aren't they supposed to be protecting you guys?"

"In name only. In reality they just fool around and boss us. They're under protection of Lord Wally, so they're basically free to wreak havoc wherever tbh please. It's disgusting!"

Clearly Luichel and bandits weren't the only thing Lenphad disliked. It probably wouldn't be the last thing he didn't like.

"Alright, fine. How are we going to fight an army with six people?"

"We aren't."

The four of us shouted in unison.

"Huh?"

"Echo, show them."


And cut! As always, read and review!

Echo: Gee, we are getting such major roles for NPC's

Lenphad: You're not supposed to let them know we are self aware

Echo: O-oh, oops! Beep boop...I make potions!

Lenphad: Ughh...