I woke up and it was dark. Despite the lack of light it wasn't cold, I could feel a dull pulsing heat comfortably from below.

I took a second blinking and looking around realizing this wasn't a dream. I was here, in some kind of dark nothingness?

Click

The sound of my single footstep reverberated throughout the space, the silence felt like it was shattered by gunshot as something, pulled off the ground beneath me and took off into the unending absence.

Suddenly it was bright and I was covering my eyes, the heat from earlier much more intense but still comforting in an inexplicable familiar manner.

Beneath me was a large pillar, it was coloured in purples, grays, and whites. It showed me asleep.

It felt incomplete for lack of a better term, there was a ring around the piller a little ways in from the edge with multiple empty circles filling the space inside. another circle came out from the middle a quarter way out nothing but stars spattered inside. upon the left side of the platform was me?

My eyes were closed, I must've been asleep. I moved towards the center looking around the place to see a light shine down from unfathomably far. reaching the middle I was met with three flashes of light.

To my left? A large square pedestal appeared made of some form of marble. upon it hovered some mix of staff and wand, a green hourglass shaped handle lengthened with a light blue crown sitting atop a large darker blue sphere connected to the handle.

I looked to my right this time seeing the same pillar but it held a shield, large with a square top half that met in a point at the bottom. it was accented with black painting the front a red crown outlined in gold embellished it.

I stared to the front, an almost irresistible pull as floating above the last pillar sat a sword, it was larger than a longsword with a golden elongated semi circle guard, a handle made for two handing and a red circle in the middle of the guard on both sides with a black crown outlined once more in gold.

Click

...

Click Click

...

Click...Click...Click...

I stood before the sword a hand reached out to grab it, my own voice reverberated in my head. but it was different in a way I couldn't put a finger on.

"He who conquers all stands below none. He who has the strength to obliterate that which opposes your desire. This is the path that lies before you should, you reach out and grasp it."

Stopping myself from grabbing the sword I step back and look towards the others. I walk towards the staff, some form of strange feeling starting to emanate of it. Reaching the pedestal my voices echos once more.

"He who understands the way the world works is destined to twist and turn it's rules. He who has the intelligence to bide his time, and strike opportunistically, shall win what they desire. This is the path that lies before you, should you reach out and grasp it."

stepping away I look to the final pillar, my feet already halfway there. For a final time marking thrice the voice has rang out, this time "I" stated.

"He who protects that which he holds close will show the world a stalwart will that shines hope upon those who need it. He who has the an ironclad will to endure will see that which they desire through to the end. This is the path that lies before you, should you reach out and grasp it."

I follow my instincts, I walk to edge of the platform and close my eyes I reach my hand out and walk, I reach where I assume the middle is. Rotating in place I obscure my knowledge of location following the urge in my mind, pushing me towards that which I desire.

I step once, then another, and a third, then a fourth, I reach out and grab the item atop the platform and it shatters. the pedestals gone, the world gone dark.

Suddenly there is light, I'm standing upright in what looks like a living room, the sky outside is an overcast gray, light rain trickling from the sky.

I turn around to see a guy, he is tall. at least six foot. before I get to open my mouth, he asks "That which is most important to you shall empower you beyond words and cripple you beyond comprehension. Heed these words, engrave them in your heart or pay the price when fate's hand is forced."

The man shatters like glass before the shards crumble to a dust not unlike a reflective sand. I only get the chance to stare for a second as a nonexistent breeze blows it away.

Turning to sit on the couch I see another figure, it's a woman this time, she's the same height causing us to lock eyes immediately. "Question yourself with the intensity of life and death, know yourself with intimacy unrivaled and you shall know no fear. "Heed these words, engrave them in your heart or pay price when fate's hand is forced."

She too meets the same fate as the last, a shattering crumble lost between a breeze.

An instinct wriggling in the back of my mind knows its not over yet, proven right by one more figure to my left, while not as tall as first, he still had some height on the second. "Desire proves a shackle which none shall ever see the key to. know what you desire and live accordingly and you shall attain that which you want most from your life. "Heed these words, engrave them in your heart or pay the price when fate's hand is forced."

His warning imparted he vanished the same way the others did, however this time the world around me went with it. I was once again devoured by the impenetrable blackness, I could feel myself falling.

falling

falling some more

I met my stop at a final platform similar to the first a large steel gray door in front of me, it was marbled with white, purple, and pink crystal, with ornate handles.

I investigated the door from a few different angles, before setting my hand on it, one final time not my voice penetrated the silence. "A path of strength, the conquerer, he who takes what he desires and lets no opposition deter him from his ideals. This is the path the lie before you, it shall be full of struggle and hardship, trust your instincts, follow your heart and you shall never wander astray."


My eyes flew open as I fell out of bed with a loud thump. I look around to see a room, it takes me a second to realize it was my room. confusion poured through my head as I tried to differentiate dream from reality. I look out the window to see the same weather.

I step out of my bedroom into the living room, the same apartment from my dream. it's my apartment right? the walls are fairly barren, there is a purple two seat plush couch in one corner and a medium sized table across from it with a tv screen sat on top.

I looked through the to see what else was here, a small bathroom, a small kitchen and a balcony just in front of and to the left of the couch.

aving finished exploring my apartment, I sat on the couch trying to figure out what that dream meant. did it mean anything? was it just a just a dream? it felt just like sitting on this couch or drinking some water. just as real as anything else I say, do, or think.

That's strange as well though? I don't remember...well anything to be honest? no name, no family, I can't even remember my face.

I should definitely be more panicked about this, but how does one get emotional over something they never saw? Never experienced? How do you explain to a fish what breathing air is like, when all it's ever known is life beneath sea?

I got up from the couch, maybe there is something around to point me in a direction? An ID maybe? Might have a phone somewhere around here I think.

wandering back to the room I woke up in, well my room I guess. I notice the smartphone on the desk immediately and snatch it opening lock screen with muscle memory. I open the camera and look at myself, the same person seen on the pillar.

Long jagged black hair grew from my head in some form of imitation mane almost. a clean shaven face adorned slate gray eyes. I wasn't the tallest, wasn't the shortest either.

With a hum I poked through the phone looking for personal information, it was pretty barren, no friends, no family, no social media, just a name. "Alexander."

The name felt both equally foriegn and yet so dear? It was confusing and I had no answers. What am I supposed to do? I look around the room for anything else helpful, finding only my house keys and a wallet.

Deciding to get to know my surroundings better, I pocket my phone and prepare for a small walk around the block. I tug some socks out of a drawer packed too tight, and grab the only pair of black hiking by the closet door.

Wearing a pair of black joggers, a white T-shirt with a golden crown outlined in black on it, a black sleeveless zip up with a hood and two thick chain bracelets hang from either wrist.

Checking my pockets one last time I walk towards the door, I look back towards the house with a strange feeling before laying a hand on the knob. With a deep breath I open the door as my vision is engulfed in white.