When Micah came to Kakariko Village fifteen minutes later, it was still chaotic. Buildings burned freely, and the few survivors huddled together beside a pile of overturned crates.

Micah dismounted and came to the crates, averting his eyes from the bodies. There were less than half a dozen able-bodied survivors, and one of them was missing an arm. They weren't alone, but they would soon be, for there was a sea of moans coming from the fallen bodies.

The survivors glared at Micah, their faces covered in grime and blood. One of them, a man, ventured to speak. "What do you want from us?"

"I... I would like to go to the graveyard," said Micah quietly.

The man suddenly became furious. He stepped up to Micah, screaming in rage: "Do you mock us? Do you not see what has happened to our town? The whole place is a graveyard! Can you not see our grief? My newborn son..." A woman put her arms around him. He fell to the ground and held his head in his hands, sobbing uncontrollably.

"The graveyard is along this way," said the woman, pointing along the road. "But he will not let you go in."

"Who?" said Micah.

"Karod," she replied. "The grave keeper. He is very superstitious about grave robbing."

"So he is also alive?"

The woman frowned, and so did her companions. "I suppose," she said. "Strange that the army did not go into the graveyard. Grave robbing is common here. There are lots of rich people buried there."

"Thank you," said Micah politely. He turned, and walked off to the graveyard.

The woman was right. The graveyard was barricaded with iron bars. There was no way Micah could make it through.

There was also no way he could give up.

Micah set himself on the ground and began digging with his hands. It was difficult removing the topsoil, but he soon got the hang of it. By the time he had dug a hole big enough to fit him, the burning buildings had been reduced to rubble, just like Parapa. Micah tucked Belle into his pocket and squeezed through. On the other side, he hoisted himself up with his arms, proud of what he had done. He suddenly realized that he was under a shadow, and he looked up into the grimaced face of a man dressed in rags

Roughly, Karod seized Micah and forced him against a wooden post. Karod pressed so close to Micah's face that he could smell the sour breath.

"Why do you sneak under my fence like a Gerudo thief?" Karod growled. "Do you wish to plunder my graveyard as you did my town?"

Micah trembled in fear. "N-no sir," he said. "I came to learn about the World of Delusion."

Karod shook his head in confusion. "What are you, mad?" he said. "Why have you come to my graveyard?"

"I told you!" Micah protested. "Gardorous told me..."

Karod released him. He stared at Micah in horror. "You... you spoke to Gardorous?"

"Yes," said Micah. "He told me that if I wanted to find out about the Dream Caster..."

"Dream Caster!" cried Karod. The sky darkened, and it began to rain. "Young fool! Do you know who you speak to?"

Micah was confused, but frightened. He recoiled, pressing his back against the wall of a shed.

"I am Karod," Karod's voice boomed. He threw back the rags, revealing a jet- black robe of silk, and a hood that covered his solemn head. "Dark Lord of the World of Delusion and Master of the Dream Caster."

Micah gasped. "So you were the one whom Gardorous spoke about?" he said, stepping forward. "You are the one forcing that army to do those terrible things?"

"He who controls the Dream Caster," said Karod, "Has unbelievable power. I have complete control over everything involving dreams. I can even induce sleep. Do you understand the concept? When everyone is in a deep sleep, the world is yours. All yours.

"This is what I sought when I broke the seal. But when I succeeded, I got much more than I had ever wished. With the barrier between worlds gone, dreams became reality." He spread his arms wide, to the tombstones around him. "These souls were the pioneers of the Army of Minds. As they went about, destroying village after village, the dead left behind joined the Army."

Karod pointed across the cemetery, to a gravestone crumbled and consumed by weeds, and laughed. "That was the one who killed your friend. James E. Whitmore. Died eighty years ago. He was a dentist. What will you do, Micah? Will you kill him? Rob his grave? This is why vengeance is so vain. Alas, a lesson learned too late." Micah swiftly drew his sword. "No," he growled. "But I will kill you!" And with a yell, he charged, sword held high, stampeding across the graveyard with his sword no higher than the wizard's waist. Karod simply held up his hand, and the trouble ceased. Micah suddenly felt lightheaded. His sword fell and his knees buckled, and he knew no more.

That's it for Army of Minds. Next comes the World of Delusion, where Micah finally enters the dream world that the evil wizard has taken over. I hope you have enjoyed The Dream Caster so far.