Theo was asleep. His breathing was the only noise heard in his room.
It was known by everyone that in the dream realm a person couldn't dream.
Right now, Theo looked like he was inside a dream as he moved around. However, it wasn't the dream. It was memory which he was experiencing while he was asleep.
* * *
Inside his mindscape, most of the space was empty as light blue-colored clouds drifted around.
Sometimes rarely seen deep blue clouds could be found floating from time to time in his mindscape.
All of those clouds, regardless of their color, contained memories. The more intense its color was, the more memorable it was.
Other than that, any cloud containing memory could fade into nothingness if no one would visit it playing memory stored inside. From time to time, clouds would lose their luster, becoming lighter colored, which eventually caused clouds to become completely white and merge into the mindscape.
In the vast space of the mindscape, golden-colored cloud, which was never seen before, was displaying memory inside its vast body. Its body surged, mixed, and moved from time to time, creating a scene of memory.
* * *
Inside memory.
Theo opened his eyes while being half asleep.
He tried to get up, but his movements were restricted.
This caused Theo to panic. He was worried that something bad might have happened to him. But he found that his body felt strangely small and extremely weak.
Now, he opened his eyes wider to have a look at what was holding him back from moving. His eyes opened and he stared at his surroundings.
It was nothing like what was before.
'Was I captured by abomination? What happened? Why does everything look so blurry?'
His eyes indeed saw everything blurred for some reason.
In front of him, the massive building was standing imposingly. Its size was abnormally huge. the door, which was right in front of him, was also as gigantic as the house.
Theo was scared shitless by this scene.
What made him more fearful was that he could not even see and move properly.
His head was unmoving as he tried to move.
Soon, he gave up on trying.
Actually, he was in body of baby, who was wrapped in towel and placed in basket. He was definitely left here intentionally.
In moment of despair, he thought.
'Maybe, I'm in hex of some kind of abomination. I can't move. My body somehow feel so strange.'
Theo was still confused. He didn't know where he was and what was happening,
Door in front of Theo opened slowly, revealing human like titan being illuminated by the ray of light coming from house.
'Wallah. I'm finished.'
Theo thought as he saw glimpse of Titan.
Titan looked around. Then he looked down.
He noticed Thea and his gigantic hands stretched out reaching for area around Theo, grabbing basket.
'Shit. Shit! SHIT! I have to move. I have to get out of here.'
Theo was shocked as he moved frantically. His movements were chaotic. Still, it didn't give any results. He was still unable to move his limbs.
Titan finally lifted basket.
As Titan's face got closer and closer it became clearer.
Theo was dumbfounded by the time he fully saw face of Titan.
Titan looked like old man, who was supposedly grandfather of Echo, but younger much younger than he was when Theo first met him.
His looks were worse but younger looking than before.
Theo after a moment started to ponder on what might be happening.
'Old man? Why is he here and why being he so big? Is it some kind of hex?'
Looking at Theo, who was in body of baby, old man smiled with warm smile and took some time looking at him.
He knew that he was left here because he was either just a burden for his real parents or his parents were unable to take care of him. So, they took such measures to secure their child's future.
'Looks like fate bestowed us this blessing.'
He thought while turning back and closing door as he entered house, holding Theo.
***
The next second environment around Theo started to shift as colors mixed and produced new ones.
Their radiance flickered by intensity of their collision.
It was a chaotic scene.
Mind of Theo was as chaotic as scene right in front of him was. In his mind, new memories appeared as their contents were being instantly known to Theo as though he had already lived those memories.
Memories, which he never had before, flooded his mind, giving him an intense feeling of vitality and ecstasy.
Next moment, memories lived by other person but now known to him, assaulted his mind with overwhelming pain.
This pain was unbearable. But Theo could do nothing but endure, while screaming his lungs out.
His screams soon filled the whole place, making it shake violently.
Some parts of the scenery before him shattered, breaking into specs of light and mist.
This mist and light got up as they vanished into nothingness.
From outside, golden-colored cloud got smaller as small part of the cloud separated from cloud and flew away, shining with golden light.
In memory, Theo finally calmed down as his pain eased. His brain still hurt, though.
'What in the hell??? Echo? I'm Echo?'
Memories made him not only scream in pain but also doubt himself. Whether he really was himself.
It was because memories infused to him were from Echo, a previous owner of body he possessed at nightmare.
Those memories were infused to his mind so well that Theo even felt that he was actually Echo. But the next second, he crossed this thought in his head and reminded himself.
'No. I'm Theodore Grant. I'm not Echo. I'm Theo.'
He could not let himself sink into self-doubt at nightmare. He still remembered that he was Theo as he collected his mind.
'From the looks of it I'm into some kind of dream inside nightmare or even hex. When scene finally finished, I got part of Echo's memories. It seems like I get Echo's memories every time scene inside this imaginary space ends.'
Right at the second he was able to collect himself, scene, which was forming for a long time, finally manifested itself.
***
This time scenery changed into lake. Theo was sitting at the edge of dock, while his feet was almost touching water. Next to him same old man, who was older than old man from last memory, was sitting with fishing rod in his hands, trying to catch a fish. Theo didn't even notice old man.
At the moment, he was in body of Echo, who was around 7 years old here. Before Theo's eyes were shining with vigorous resolve to change world. Right at that moment, this vigor disappeared, replacing it with dimmer eyes filled with contemplation. His mouth unlike his eyes didn't change a bit. It stayed in same neutral state.
'So, I'm at lake. Isn't it same lake I had visited with old man today? It didn't change much. Heh, old times. Stop, I'm not Echo. I'm Theo. Do not think about it.'
Theo found himself thinking of this place in warm light as Echo would do. Hence, he dismissed this thought reminding himself again that he was Theo not Echo.
Seeing all of this, old man was a bit puzzled on why Echo was thinking so much. And soon idea on why it was happening flashed in his mind. So, he lightly put his hands on Theo's shoulder, telling him.
"I know that it may be hard for you to do all of it. It is hard to carry hope and hate of people."
This made Theo scared and he subconsciously wanted to jump back. However, he stopped himself after looking who was it.
Old man noticing change smiled softly at him and patter his back. Getting back to fishing, he continued.
"Don't worry Echo. You will become as strong like me or even surpass me in strength and go on an adventure as you always wanted."
Hearing voice of old man somehow triggered feeling of warmth and familiarity inside Theo's heart. It made him feel comfortable and relaxed.
With Echo relaxing old man was relieved. Old gold memories of Echo being baby resurfaced in old man's head. He remembered how he first found Echo. He remembered his argument with his wife on name for Echo. He remembered getting back from hunt earlier just for Echo. They were golden memories, which old man held preciously in his heart.
Coming back to reality, old man looked at Echo.
"Do you remember story, which I always tell you before bed?"
Logically, Theo could not have any idea on what kind of story was that. But he had Echo's memories. So, he knew it and responded.
"You mean story of The Knight?"
"Yes Echo. Story of The Knight. Do you remember first chapter?"
"Yes"
Old man paused for a moment and continued their conversation.
"Do you want me to tell it again?"
Hearing those words, Theo thought of rejecting old man's offer. But something in him told him to say yes.
"Yes."
Hearing it, old man looked enthusiastic and spoke.
"Once upon a time, there was a knight.
He was born in a humble village called Vinale.
It was a lovely place with lots of good people.
Knight was raised well. As a kid, he always wanted to save world from evil. His resolve was unstoppable. It was almost indestructible.
With his resolve Knight trained his whole childhood and teenage years to become stronger. Unlike other kids who played among themselves and built relationships and friendships.
Knight was unsocialized because of his focus being only getting stronger. It caused him to be isolated.
But it didn't discourage him. He still kept training.
However, one day his village was besieged by abominations. Knight tried to save everyone. But he was unable to save even one person. All people of village died by the hands of abominations.
In the moment of despair, hero appeared out of nowhere. He was clad in shiny armor. His looks were unmatched. And, his strength was out of this world for Knight.
Hero was able to save Knight and treat his injuries. Though, he wasn't able save others.
Seeing hero's strength, Knight was deeply fascinated by the hero.
So, Knight decided to follow hero.
Hero wasn't bothered by his presence. Instead, he favored it.
In their journey, he thought him swordsmanship, fighting techniques, ways to survive in particular environment and so on.
While they spent their journey together, 3 years already passed since they first met.
In their journey, they saved people in need and punished evil.
In one particular day of their journey, Knight was sitting on top of stone as he was lost in thought.
Seeing Knight in such state, hero asked him.
"What is the matter Knight? Why are you so deep in thought? What is bothering you so much?"
Knight looked at hero with smile and responded.
"I have been thinking on where to go, what to do, and who do I want to become. I'm unsure on whether I should continue our journey or just settle somewhere quiet. Whenever I think about it, I have strange feeling arising from my heart. For the 3 weeks this feeling made me uneasy. I don't know what it is and what to do."
Listening to Knight's words, hero understood him and gave a word of advice.
"Do you see that centipede?"
As he said it, he pointed at particular tree.
On tree, centipede was crawling to top.
Knight looked at centipede. He was questioning why did hero told him this in his mind. Nevertheless, he responded back.
"Yes. What it has to do with me?"
Hero smiled slightly and explained.
"Centipede has its own journey. It has its own way. You too have your own journey and your own way."
He paused for a moment and continued.
"Just as centipede follows its path. You follow yours. You should not follow path of others and to follow your own path listen what your heart tells you. However, remember that in your path your biggest enemy is yourself. Think about what you want. I will be in camp."
Finishing, hero left Knight for a while.
Knight was bewildered. He was baffled. He didn't know on what to do.
So, only thing left was to listen to his heart as hero said.
So, he started to meditate and put all of his attention to his heart.
For a few moments, nothing happened. He didn't feel anything.
Suddenly, from his heart a feeling of desire rose. It felt ancient, unprecedented, yet known at the same time. This feeling materialized itself in front of Knight and told him.
"Knight, I'm your deepest desire. I'm one you have forgotten, following path of others. Do you remember what you wanted as a kid?"
Knight was more baffled right now. Still, he answered plainly.
"I wanted to protect everyone around me. But it still does not answer my question."
The next moment, desire in his heart gleamed with light as it erupted into dazzling specs of light, covering his whole body.
A sudden realization hit knight. His eyes were filled with enlightenment.
He finally understood what lingering feeling he felt and what to do. He was finally able to hear voice of his heart.
He stood up and walked to the hero.
When he was just 2 meters from hero he stopped for a moment.
He took a glance at area where his heart was located.
Then, he came near hero with bright smile and shining eyes.
He looked at hero and said, confidently.
"I have decided on what I want to do. I want to travel alone, while spreading hope and protecting people all around the world."
Hero was surprised by Knight's response.
He clearly didn't expect it. But he still smiled at Knight while accepting this.
"If it is what you would like to do. Then, go. You are free to do whatever you want Knight."
Knight was enthusiastic at first. However, sudden feeling of longing grew in his heart as more distance he traveled from hero.
He had spent so much time around hero that leaving him felt emotionally painful to Knight.
Throughout their journey hero thought Knight not only survival and fighting but also how to keep oneself sane in any situation. So, he surpassed his yearning and took a step forward into a new life.
A life decided by himself and controlled by himself.
After some time, he was far away from hero. All he could see was a small dot in horizon of his vision.
He was finally on his own.
"This feeling of self and freedom is one of the best feelings I have ever felt. Even though, I still have longing towards hero, I want to do what I want, alone and free. So, I guess it is my last time seeing him."
After saying his final words for hero in the back of his mind, Knight started his own journey. Journey of uncertainty and selfish selflessness."
Old man finally ended story telling and looked at Theo, who was attentively listening.
Then looked back at river and spoke.
"That is end of first chapter. Now, Echo d…"
The next moment, world around Theo started to blur again. Colors mixed, creating new ones.
Whole world around Theo seemed as though it was made out of Ethereal liquid, which was soft and hard at the same time.
It was second time Theo saw it. Still, it made him awe in amazement.
However, his amazement didn't last long. Same throbbing pain assaulted his brain, making him scream top of his lungs again.
His head felt like it was stabbed, chewed, melted, burnt, and crushed couple of times at the same moment. It was a miracle that he was still conscious right now.
He endured it as much as he could, twitching around as his face twisted into nightmarish expression one after one.
Finally, pain stopped as another part of Echo's memories flooded his brain with pleasure and life.
***
Although, he felt such a pleasure, Theo didn't relax even for a moment.
As soon as colors around him stopped their chaotic dance, Theo looked at himself first.
He was in body of Echo. However, he was much older than in previous scene, at around 12 years now. Compared to Echo in nightmare, who was 17 years old, he was still young.
When he looked at himself, he saw blood.
Blood, so much blood was covering Theo's hands and ground ahead of him.
When Theo looked ahead, he discovered that he was in the forest.
Ahead of him, bloodied abomination was bleeding out as chank of flesh hang from around its face.
Abomination was doglike creature. It was 2 meters tall. Unlike dog, it didn't had fur on its skin and fur on its head. Instead, two holes were in two side of its head and its skin was completely naked without anything to conceal it. Its skin was black colored and its eyes white. Its whole body looked skinny and its claws were as long as fingers, being able to penetrate skin easily. Its head had giant scar. It was located in left bottom side of the face. It had chunk of meet cut open with big chunk dripping slowly to ground. It was clearly made by person. It looked like huge chank of meat was about to fall to ground at any moment.
Despite its injuries, the abomination didn't retreat. It stood its ground as it looked ferociously at Theo. From its mouth, saliva was dripping. It was clear that abomination was hungry for meat.
This made Theo step back and loose hand of weapon on his hands.
It was simple cross sword. Even though it was simple it looked special in some way to Theo.
Theo was lost in this situation and first thing that came to his mind was to flee.
To run as fast as possible and escape from whatever was standing in front of him.
So, he turned back to the abomination, running with all his might.
Theo couldn't look back as it would reduce his speed and might cause him to fall. Theo naturally didn't want it.
'Shit. Shit. Shit. Why this has to happen to me? I don't want to die. Even if it is some kind of dream or hex like space. I'm most likely to die here. Since, you can die in nightmare. I have to run. I have to run. That thing definitely won't welcome me with cup of tea and invite me to sit together. I will most definitely become his meal if I don't run.'
As his chaotic thoughts occupied his mind, something sharp pierced Theo's back. It runs deep as it nearly reached his heart. Feeling it, Theo was terrified of thought on what it was.
'I'm dead.'
His last thought was produced in his mind as the abomination, who was able to catch up to him, opened its mouth and bit its teeth into Theo's head.
In that instance Theo's head was crushed into meat paste. His pinkish white brain matter scattered everywhere. His bones flew as they pierced into ground. His eyes popped as blood inside flowed out. Around his neck, blood was pouring like a fountain.
With that, Theo collapsed onto the ground.
His corpse fell while the abomination started to shred it into pieces and eat.
***
Inside the mindscape, golden cloud shrunk continuously. Its size soon reaching size of normal cloud around it.
Suddenly, normal clouds gathered around golden cloud. They circled it and then started to fuse with it, draining the golden cloud as it dispersed and turned into a blue cloud.
Eventually, only a small amount of it was left.
This golden cloud, unlike previous one, had intense color.
Consciousness of Theo was left inside that small cloud, drifting with it.
[A/N: Iknow there are a lot of articles missing her. But i don't care at this point. I will add them later. Right now, I'm tired and I want to sleep. This took me so much time to write and I have lost so much time just procrastinating alone. I really feel like fors incarnate.
Anyways, enjoy meal guys. Thanks for support. See you in next centuary :]