Disillusion

"You aren't going to kill ANYONE that way." the swordsman scolded as the boy fell to one knee, "C'mon, get up. Run a few laps before I cut off your pathetic head."

Yet as hard as he tried, he couldn't leave the ground. Perhaps it was the weight of a dream, as he'd felt this dragging before. Even so, not even his lucid state would permit his movement.

"Kol! Get up!" he was finally helped to a stand, the contact between himself and the dream-Albel accelerating time to its normal speed. Realizing that he was unable to continue training, he was led out of the training facility. They passed what looked to be a crater as they headed towards the horizon. Kol's focus remained on the crater until a field of green grew over it, expanding as quickly as the rays of the sun.

Albel lied opposite him, acting as something of mirror as the boy gazed into the starless sky. Although Kol recognized that he was dreaming, the moment reminded him of a very real incident in the Duggus Forest, when the two had spent the evening lying in the field of flowers.

"...This is a little stupid..." the swordsman uttered, issuing a small giggle from the flower-admirer, "Remind me not to take you anywhere again."

"Haha! Well we've been fighting monsters all day! I thought it'd be a treat."

"...That's one word for it." Kol rolled his eyes at Albel's inflexibility.

"What do you do to relax, then?"

"...Sleep."

The boy sighed. He should've known.

"So put me to sleep with one of your stories, brat. You never finished that one about the star kingdom."

"You actually remember it?!...Well..." his voice trailed off as he thought back on the tale, "...Let's see...where did I leave off?"

"Prince Caelestis was just about to kill to Queen."

"Right! Well, as the rebels make their way into the inner wall of the castle, Prince Caelestis led them into battle against the Diamond Gates, the Queen's final line of defense. It was an absolute blood bath, the pure white canvas of the castle walls now soaked with crimson. Both rebels and Diamond Gates lied upon the battle field, limbs missing and heads decapitated. Prince Caelestis walked amongst the casualties, muttering a prayer to bless the lost souls as he made his way to the castle gates. He pressed upon their glassy surface, but was expectedly denied entrance."

"Does the Queen's personal guard fly in?"

Kol chuckled at Albel's involvement and decided to go along with his idea.

"That's when Tinira appeared, the Queen's personal body guard. She was the best swordsman in the kingdom-"

"Sounds like someone we know."

"Oh? Who?" Kol teased, earning a light punch to the shoulder. It was then that he realized that Albel had moved to his side and was propped up on his arm as he stared down at him admiringly.

"...W-What?—Oh, um...So Tinira was the best swordsman in the kingdom, but it just so happened that Tinira had mentored Caelestis in his youth. It was friend vs friend and only one of them could come out alive. Tinira, reminiscing their time spent, tried to talk the young prince out of his rebellion. She wanted him to turn himself in for treason, but Caelestis knew that, even if he were to die, the Queen's tyranny would have to fall one day. No empire could rule forever..."

"...And?"

"...U-uh..." the boy massaged his temple, "...Um...so...swords clashed and..."

"Don't you remember the rest of the story?" Kol eventually raised his torso and confessed that he couldn't, "Aww...well it's impressive that you're able to recall that much. Maybe you'll be able to remember your own story one day."

A gentle smile stretched along his lips, but was soon wiped clean at the approaching darkness. Albel suggested they get going, but it was no use. His body was nailed to the fading surface until he was sitting on darkness itself, only to eventually fall right through it.

He reached out for Albel's disappearing figure and then landed on a throne. Fiery demons danced around him and chanted "Revolution! Revolution!"

The horned creatures seemed to increase in numbers until the room was completely filled. The door that'd allowed them to floor in suddenly shut closed and the beings began to march his way carrying blazing swords and pitchforks.

Kol tried to run, but his dream let him down yet again, but this time it wasn't the mere gravity of his thoughts, but literal restraints! He let out a scream as he noticed the spikes poking through his wrists and ankles, the surrounding red river being supplied by his own blood.

"Suffer the torments which you've inflicted! Long live the revolution!" a demon screeched as it impaled Kol with its emerald sword, "Taste the blade of justice! Bleed for your crimes! Feel the wrath of the people! Feel our rage! We shall serve you no more!"

Crimson poured from the boy's trembling lips.

"I-I'm innocent..." he weakly defended, "I...I have done nothing."

"You won't be able to do anything anymore." the demon spoke as he rested the point of his weapon on Kol's neck, "You will die, just as I have died for you."

A pair of silver eyes flashed in his view before a warm liquid splattered in his face. It was the blood of victims, their cries sharp in his ears.

"Stop! Stop!" he cried, "Just get me outta here! Wake up! WAKE UP!"