- DANGLEO!!!
Dangleo woke up with a start, his heart pounding in his chest... The image of the boy pierced by the sword was still fresh in his mind. The pain and anguish he felt were almost unbearable.
- Dangleo! Wake up! - shouted a voice from outside his room.
Dangleo rubbed his eyes, trying to erase the images from his mind. He sat up in bed, a little agitated, and looked around. He was in his room, which was a little messy... Everything was in order, there was no sign of anything out of the ordinary, yet his mind was still in the dream.
The nightmares again... Who were those kids...? My... My dagger was in the dream again too.../
- Dangleo!!! Everyone's at the table! - the voice shouted again.
Dangleo recognized the voice of Liz, his partner.
- Daan!! Hurry up, we're hungry and we can't eat without you! - another voice joined in.
It was the voice of Jack, Liz's brother and Logan's partner.
Dangleo got out of bed and went to the door, opened it, and found the siblings standing at his door, looking a little annoyed. Liz was a 22-year-old girl, short with short hair and a look that said she was going to scold Dangleo.
and Jack, her younger brother, 17 years old and eager to annoy Dangleo. However, Dangleo said with a somewhat forced smile on his face.
- I'm sorry! I'm sorry! - He looks at Jack and says - Jack, we don't have to get up early to train anymore, if we don't want to give your sister gray hair at such a young age, HAHAHA.
Dangleo and Jack laugh, but Liz notices that Logan is somewhat disoriented, forcing himself, and says to him.
- Another nightmare?
Dangleo looks away.
- Um... yes... again...
Liz looks at him with concern.
- You know what? I already told you, this time you should go to a psychic, a fortune teller, or something like that to clear up your doubts.
Dangleo looks at her sarcastically.
- And have them take the little money we have to tell me it's just a nightmare? - Logan smiles. - Come on, Liz, I'll be fine, don't worry about me, even so... Thanks.
Jack and Liz, although concerned, resign themselves.
- GUYS!! WE'RE HUNGRY, WHY ARE YOU TAKING SO LONG? - a voice shouted from downstairs.
- It's Vic... -said Liz.
- WE'LL BE RIGHT DOWN! - said Jack, then looked at Dangleo and said, - We'll wait for you downstairs.
Dangleo nodded and headed for the bathroom. He washed his face with cold water, hoping that the shock of reality would wake him up completely... When he looked up, he saw his reflection. His eyes were vacant, his expression tense, and the silence of the bathroom amplified the echo of his thoughts. He couldn't help but return to the dream.
Why had he dreamed that? Why the nightmares again?
Dangleo went downstairs and sat at the table, surrounded by his companions. The dining room was modest: wooden plates, stale bread, and a pot of soup... Despite everything, there was laughter, nudging, and the kind of affection that money can't buy.
The group of adventurers known as "Dreams of Margarite" had neither fame nor fortune, but they did have something more special: loyalty.
Victor, the leader of the group, watched him with a calm smile. He was a strong man, around 40 years old, with the air of a father who didn't need to raise his voice to be heard.
- Another nightmare, Dangleo? - she asked as she served him a bowl of soup.
Dangleo shrugged and slumped into his chair.
- I'm used to it now... - he replied as he poured himself a glass of juice.
Helena, Victor's white-haired wife, strict in situations but always understanding, looked at him with concern... She handed him a plate as she asked him.
- Nightmares again, huh... Did you get any information out of them? - she asked gently.
Dangleo shrugged again.
- No... but well, the usual, - he said, serving himself soup without much enthusiasm.
Jack laughed.
- Ever since we've known Dangleo, he's been living with nightmares, - he said with an amused look. - Maybe you should start sleeping with a teddy bear, see if that helps.
Dangleo returned his gaze with a knowing, crooked smile.
- Only if you lend it to me, Jack, - he said with a laugh.
Alexander, Victor's son-in-law and Dangleo's partner, spoke in his calm voice, as he had a calm demeanor unless the situation warranted otherwise.
- Maybe you should accept what Liz said a while ago... talk to a fortune teller or something similar about your nightmares, talk to an expert, it's better than continuing to lash out.
Dangleo shook his head without thinking too much about it.
- Nah, I don't trust those people. Believe me, I've met several con artists with that cover.
Akane, Victor's daughter and Alexander's girlfriend, a shy girl who shows her courage especially in combat, who until then had remained silent, lowered her gaze before speaking.
Her voice was soft, almost trembling.
- Um... Dangleo... I... if you keep refusing... I won't continue training you.
Dangleo looked at her, surprised by the change in her tone at the end of her sentence. Akane looked up, determined.
- I heard about a seer at the entrance to the kingdom. I think he can be trusted.
Dangleo sighed, without answering.
Then Sofia, Victor and Helena's youngest daughter, leaned forward from her chair with curiosity.
- What are nightmares, Dan? Are they like when there are monsters in my dreams?"
Dangleo smiled sweetly at her.
- Yes, something like that, Sofia. But you don't have to worry. We're here to protect you.
Victor settled into his chair, with his characteristic playful tone.
- Well, guys, we'll take the day off today... but tomorrow we may have one of the most important assignments yet.
Jack turned to Dangleo, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
- Finally! No more gathering missions and killing nearby Arkhais... right?
Dangleo looked at him with a mocking smile.
- You don't want to look for... Betty anymore? Your favorite cow. What will she do without you? - He burst out laughing. "HAHAHA."
Everyone laughed, and Jack replied between laughs:
- Ha! As if you didn't do the same thing..."
Dangleo gave him a "whatever" look, with that air of existential laziness that haunted him.
Victor watched them with a proud smile.
"We're ready to take the leap, guys. Climb another step among the adventurers... closer to fulfilling our dreams."
Dangleo looked down for a second, whispering to himself:
- Fulfill my dream... - His eyes lit up with determination - Of course I'll do it.
But he quickly returned to his usual state, letting out an internal sigh. But how lazy...
Jack looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
- He's already feeling lazy...
Everyone burst out laughing. Helena, with her warm smile, raised her glass of juice.
- Okay, okay, it's time to eat. Leave the errands for later, guys... Bon appétit!
Everyone looked at her, nodded, and replied in unison:
- Bon appétit!
The conversation continued between bites, with laughter and comments about the day's plans and ongoing projects. Dangleo, surrounded by the warmth of his companions, felt the tension of his nightmares begin to dissipate.
A little while later, the sun beat down on the courtyard of the house, where Dangleo and Jack were engaged in a friendly fight. Dangleo wielded two wooden daggers, light and fast, while Jack brandished a training sword, heavier but with greater reach.
- Ready? - asked Jack, twisting his wrist to loosen his grip.
Dangleo nodded, although his gaze seemed to wander for a moment as he looked at the sword. The nightmare still haunted his mind, but his body, accustomed to years of survival, moved instinctively.
Jack advanced with a direct strike, seeking to test Dangleo's defense. However, Dangleo dodged by ducking, parrying Jack's sword with his daggers. The sound of wood striking wood echoed like a dry echo.
- Are you distracted? Under other circumstances, you would have dodged it instead of parrying it, - Jack growled, pressing hard.
But Dangleo didn't respond. He just smiled. Dangleo's movements were erratic at first, and Jack continued to attack him with increasing force, but Dangleo just dodged him. Soon, Dangleo began to move with surgical precision. He jumped to the side, spun on his axis, and with a quick feint, disarmed Jack, causing his sword to fall to the ground with a dull thud.
Jack backed away, panting, while Dangleo remained on guard, breathing calmly. His eyes finally seemed to return to the present.
- I can't beat you like this, - Jack said, picking up his sword with a grimace of frustration - You're too fast... too unpredictable."
Dangleo watched him silently, wiping the sweat from his forehead with his forearm. Jack remained thoughtful, staring at the hilt of his weapon.
- Maybe... a spear. Or a longer sword. Something to keep you at bay - His voice was more reflective than complaining.
Dangleo raised an eyebrow, saying nothing, but with a slight smile barely visible on his face. It wasn't mockery. It was recognition.
Jack noticed and let out a short laugh.
- Don't think you're invincible, Dangleo, I know I can beat you. I'm just recalculating."
Dangleo twirled one of his daggers between his fingers.
- I wasn't. I was just thinking that you should use that stuffed animal you mentioned earlier to attack me... ha ha ha ha."
Jack laughed, not bothering to hide his contempt.
- Ha ha ha, shut up, - he said.
Dangleo twirled the dagger between his fingers again, and for a moment, the blade transformed. It wasn't the dagger he was holding, but his own, the one he had seen in his dreams. When he returned to reality, Jack was still talking.
Suddenly, Victor appeared in the courtyard, smiling as he watched the two young men.
- Hello, guys, - he greeted them, approaching them with a calm stride - How's the training going?
Dangleo and Jack stopped what they were doing. Dangleo approached Victor, scratching his head.
- Fine, - he replied - Just practicing a little.
Victor nodded, but his gaze lingered on Dangleo with that expression that only someone who has lived too long knows how to use: a mixture of concern, patience, and affection.
- How are you, Dan? - he asked in a soft voice. - You seem a little distracted, down, and it doesn't seem like it's because of laziness, ha ha ha."
Dangleo looked away.
- I'm fine, Vic, - he replied. - Maybe a little tired... or bored, that's all."
Victor nodded, placing a firm, warm hand on Logan's shoulder and saying,
- All right... but if you need to talk about something, you know I'm here, okay? Not just me, but this whole peculiar family.
Dangleo looked at him, amused, feeling a wave of gratitude.
- Peculiar above all else, ha ha ha... Victor. Thank you.
Just then, Liz appeared in the courtyard, carrying a couple of baskets full of food, fruit, and water.
- Hi, guys, - Liz said, approaching them. - Dangleo, can we talk for a moment?
Dangleo nodded and approached her.
- What's up, Liz? Is something wrong?
Liz carefully set the baskets on the ground and turned to face him.
- Uh... no. I just wanted to ask if you'd like to come with me to take some food to the refugees... Since you have to meet Akane later at the kingdom entrance, we'd be close by."
Dangleo looked at her, somewhat annoyed.
- Liz, I think it's nice that you want to help the refugees, but...
Liz looked at him, resigned, expecting rejection.
Dangleo sighed.
- Aish... fine... fine... I'll go.
Liz smiled, relieved.
- It'll only take a moment, and after that we can go see Akane so you can talk to the fortune teller, - said Liz.
Dangleo looked at her with resignation.
- Ash... what a pain... But okay, fine.
Liz picked up her baskets, and as they headed toward the house, Dangleo asked,
- Akane is with Alexander, right?
Liz walked behind him, adjusting her pace.
- Yes. Alexander said he would go see his brother to give us more information about tomorrow's possible assignment, and Akane went with him.
Dangleo stopped on the stairs.
- Give me a moment, okay? I'll go get my things.
As he climbed the stairs, Helena called out to him from the dining room.
- Hurry up so you can help me carry some things to the armory! Since you're on your way... - she said with a smile.
Dangleo nodded resignedly and continued upstairs.
- Don't be too long, okay? - Helena called from below.
Dangleo went up to his room, taking a deep breath as he headed for the closet.
He opened the door and took out his combat gear: the breastplate, the daggers, and a small bag with the essentials.
As he checked his weapons, his gaze fell on one of the daggers. It was the same one he had seen in his dream. He picked it up carefully, feeling its weight, the shape of the handle, the blade.
It wasn't the first time he had dreamed about it. In fact, ever since Victor had recruited him, that dagger had been with him... And the strangest thing was that he couldn't even remember how he had gotten it.
A chill ran down his spine. For a moment, he thought about leaving it behind. But he didn't.
He shook himself, put on his gear, went downstairs, and with a sigh, hoped that his day wouldn't be any more complicated than necessary.