Pain had become familiar.
This is what Deryus discovered on the fourth day.
Pain does not disappear. It just… becomes a part of you. Like breathing. Like your heartbeat. Present. Constant. But it can be ignored.
Kind of.
He stands in the circle. Nerveith in front of him. Same stance. Same cold gaze.
But today—something is different.
Deryus has not fallen yet.
Five minutes of fighting. Still standing.
Nerveith attacks—a quick punch to his face.
Deryus pushes it—his hand moves faster than before. Not fast enough. The punch scratches his cheek. But it did not hit with full force.
Improvement.
A kick—toward his ribs.
He steps back—one step. The kick passes—tearing the air.
Nerveith (raising an eyebrow): "Better"
Deryus (panting): "Thanks... for... the compliment"
Nerveith: "I did not compliment you. I said better. Better than a disaster... still bad"
She launches again—faster. Combo—punch, kick, elbow.
Deryus tries to defend. Pushes the punch. Barely avoids the kick. The elbow hits his shoulder—hard. He spins. Stumbles.
But does not fall.
Nerveith (stopping—looking at him): "Why aren't you attacking?"
Deryus: "I'm trying... to stay alive"
Nerveith: "Defense only… delays death. Doesn't prevent it"
Deryus: "And what do you suggest?"
Nerveith: "Attack"
Deryus: "I'll lose"
Nerveith: "You'll lose anyway. But at least… you'll learn something"
Deryus (thinking—one second): "Okay"
He lunges. Punch—toward her face.
Nerveith dodges—easily. Grabs his wrist. Twists. Flips him—over her shoulder.
Deryus flies. Lands—hard. The ground pushes the air from his lungs.
But—while falling—he grabs her arm. Pulls her with him.
She falls—beside him. Surprise on her face.
Deryus (smiling—despite the pain): "I learned… something"
Nerveith (laughs—short, genuine): "You… are foolish"
Deryus: "But a fool… is still real"
Nerveith: "You are on the ground"
Deryus: "And you are too"
Nerveith rises—gracefully. Extends her hand.
Nerveith: "Come. Today… we move to the next phase"
Deryus (grabbing her hand—she pulls him): "What is it?"
Nerveith: "The First Entry"
---
Different room. Smaller. Almost dark. A single candle in the center. Another circle—but this time, the symbols are more complex. Glowing with a faint blue light.
Deryus: "What is this?"
Nerveith: "A dream circle. Makes entry easier. Protects you… somewhat"
Deryus: "Somewhat?"
Nerveith (sitting—cross-legged—inside the circle): "Nothing is completely safe. But it… reduces the risk"
Deryus: "Risk from what?"
Nerveith: "From yourself. From your dream. From the things hiding in the depth"
Deryus: "Depth?"
Nerveith: "The lower layer. Where forgotten dreams live. Buried nightmares. The collective consciousness of millions of dreamers"
Deryus (sitting carefully in front of her): "Seems… terrifying"
Nerveith: "It is. But also… the source of true power"
She raises her hands. Palms up.
Nerveith: "Place your hands on mine. Close your eyes. Breathe—slow, deep"
Deryus: "And then?"
Nerveith: "Then… you'll enter your dream. I'll be with you. Show you how to control. How to shape. How to use"
Deryus: "And if I lose control?"
Nerveith (looking into his eyes—serious): "I'll get you out. By force if necessary"
Deryus: "How?"
Nerveith: "I'll hit you. Or stab you. Or do anything that makes you feel enough pain to wake up"
Deryus: "Very reassuring"
Nerveith (smiling—small): "I didn't say it would be nice. I said it would work"
Deryus places his hands on hers. Warm—unexpectedly. He expected cold.
He closes his eyes.
Breath. Slow. Deep.
One. Two. Three. Ten.
He feels something. A shift. As if the ground tilts—slowly. As if gravity weakens.
Nerveith's voice—distant, yet clear:
"Let yourself fall"
He falls.
---
Deryus opens his eyes.
Standing in a forest.
No—not a forest. Something closer. Huge black trees—twisted, leafless. Gray sky—no sun, no stars. Dense fog moving between trees—breathing.
Deryus (whispering): "Where… am I?"
A voice behind him—Nerveith:
"In your dream"
He turns. Nerveith stands there. But… different.
Her face—not a face. Literally. Instead of features—smoothness. Like an empty mirror.
Deryus (taking a step back): "What… happened to your face?!"
Nerveith (touching her face—as if it's nothing): "Ah. Right. In dreams… I am truly me. No mask"
Deryus: "This… is scary"
Nerveith: "I know. But you'll get used to it"
She walks toward him. Faceless, yet he feels her gaze.
Nerveith: "Look around. This is your dream. Reflects your mind. What do you see?"
Deryus looks. Dark forest. Fog. Heavy silence.
Deryus: "Darkness. Fear. Loneliness"
Nerveith: "Yes. That is within you. Now—try to change it"
Deryus: "How?"
Nerveith: "Think it. Imagine something different. This is your dream. It obeys you"
Deryus closes his eyes—in the dream. Thinks. Imagines.
Light.
Opens his eyes.
Nothing changed.
Deryus: "It doesn't work"
Nerveith: "Because you don't believe. Part of you wants the dark. Feels safe. Light reveals things. And you… are afraid of what it will reveal"
Deryus does not respond. He knows she is right.
Nerveith: "It's okay. We're not here to heal you. We're here to teach you… to fight"
She raises her hand. Something appears—from nothing. A sword. Made of pale blue light.
Nerveith: "In dreams, you can create anything. Weapons. Armor. Beasts. Anything you imagine"
She throws the sword. Deryus grabs it—with difficulty. Heavy. But not physically heavy. Something else.
Deryus: "Heavy…"
Nerveith: "Because your will is weak. The stronger your will… the lighter, stronger your weapons become"
Something moves—within the fog. Shadow. Large.
Nerveith: "Something is coming"
Deryus: "What?"
Nerveith: "I don't know. Your dream. Your nightmares"
The shadow approaches. Emerges from the fog.
A wolf. Huge—horse-sized. Black fur. Red glowing eyes. Fangs like knives.
It growls—the sound shakes the ground.
Deryus (taking a step back): "This… my nightmare?"
Nerveith: "Part of it. Fight it"
Deryus: "How?!"
Nerveith: "With the sword. With your will. Anything"
The wolf lunges—fast.
Deryus lifts the sword—hands trembling. Wolf leaps—fangs aiming for his throat.
Deryus strikes—randomly.
The sword passes through the wolf—as if made of smoke.
Its jaws clamp around Deryus's shoulder. Pain. Sharp. Real.
He screams. Falls. Wolf on top.
Nerveith (calm voice): "The pain is real. If you die in the dream… your mind dies in reality"
Deryus struggles: "Help me!"
Nerveith: "No. This is your test"
The wolf presses. Fangs pierce deeper. Warm blood.
Deryus screams—from pain. From fear. From rage.
Deryus: "I will… not die… here!"
Something ignites inside him. Pure rage. Hot.
He grabs the wolf's head—with his hands. Screams—with all his strength:
Deryus: "Get… out… of… my head!"
The wolf explodes—literally. Turns into black smoke. Vanishes.
Deryus falls on his back. Panting. Shoulder hurting—bleeding. Holds it with his hand.
Nerveith (approaching, looking down at him): "Good"
Deryus (panting): "Good?! I almost… died!"
Nerveith: "But you didn't. And you discovered something"
Deryus: "What?"
Nerveith: "Your rage… is stronger than your fear. When you truly rage—your power appears"
Deryus looks at his hands. Trembling. Yet on his fingers—a faint blue glow. Fades slowly.
Deryus: "What… was that?"
Nerveith: "Dream power. Imperial blood. When you want something—truly, with all your will—the dream responds"
Deryus (sitting slowly): "Can… I control it?"
Nerveith: "With time. And training. And pain. Lots of pain"
She extends her hand. Deryus grabs it. She pulls him—up.
Nerveith: "Enough for the first day. We leave"
Deryus: "How?"
Nerveith: "Like this"
She slaps him—hard.
---
Deryus wakes—violently.
In the real room. His hands still on Nerveith's—cold now.
She pulls them—quickly. Touches his shoulder—the spot the wolf bit.
No wound. But he feels the pain. Light. Like a memory.
Nerveith (opening her eyes): "How do you feel?"
Deryus: "Like I… ran a marathon. Then got hit with a stick. Then fell from a building"
Nerveith: "Normal. The first entry is always… hard"
Deryus looks at his hands.
Deryus: "The glow… is gone"
Nerveith: "In reality, yes. But in dreams… it will return. And get stronger"
Deryus: "How… long were we in the dream?"
Nerveith: "Ten minutes. Maybe"
Deryus (shocked): "Ten minutes?! Felt like… an hour!"
Nerveith: "I told you. Time is different"
She stands. Stretches—her muscles crack.
Nerveith: "Go. Sleep. Tomorrow… we enter again"
Deryus: "Every day?"
Nerveith: "Until you master it. Or die. Whichever comes first"
Deryus: "Very motivating"
Nerveith (smiling—faintly): "I didn't say I'm a good teacher. Only… effective"
She leaves. Deryus remains seated.
Staring at his hands. Thinking.
Deryus (whispering): "My rage… is stronger than my fear"
Clenches his fists.
Deryus: "Then… I will rage. A lot"
---
Outside the room, Raven stands—back against the wall. Waiting.
Nerveith exits. Sees him. Stops.
Nerveith: "How long have you been standing there?"
Raven: "Since the beginning"
Nerveith: "Why?"
Raven: "To protect him"
Nerveith: "From what? He is in a closed room"
Raven: "From anything"
Nerveith looks at him—long, trying to understand. Fails.
Nerveith: "You… are strange"
Raven: "Yes"
Nerveith: "Do you do everything you are told?"
Raven: "Yes"
Nerveith: "Why?"
Raven (thinking—moment): "Because… it's easier"
Nerveith: "Easier than what?"
Raven: "Than thinking"
Nerveith laughs—short, bitter.
She walks. Stops—after two steps.
Nerveith (without turning): "Take good care of him, Raven. We… need him"
Raven: "I will"
Nerveith walks—disappears into the darkness.
Raven stays. Watches Deryus's room door.
Hears a faint sound—Deryus talking to himself.
Raven does not move. Just… listens. Protects.
---
Night passes. Slowly. Heavy.
Elsewhere in the city, in a luxurious room lit by crystal chandeliers, Casper sits behind a massive desk.
In front of him—a 3D map floating in the air. Shows the city—every district, every street, every building.
Small red dots scattered in specific locations.
Casper (touching one—the dot expands, shows details): "The resistance… is moving more this week"
A man enters—the same man as before. Kneels.
Man: "Sir. We have information"
Casper: "Speak"
Man: "Deryus Kraith Val. Rumors say he started training. With a woman. Named Nerveith"
Casper stops—turns slowly.
Casper: "Nerveith? The Face-Stealer?"
Man: "Yes, sir"
Casper (smiling coldly): "Interesting. So Farrel is really betting on him"
Man: "Do we move?"
Casper (thinking—looking at the map): "No. Not yet. Let them play. Let them hope"
Man: "And why, sir?"
Casper: "Because hope… makes them reckless. Recklessness… exposes them"
He touches another dot—the building expands. Old structure.
Casper: "Is this their hideout?"
Man: "We think so. But not confirmed"
Casper: "Check. Take your time. Don't rush"
Man: "Yes, sir"
He leaves—silently.
Casper returns to the map. Stares.
Casper (whispering to himself): "Deryus Kraith Val… grandson of the old enemy"
He laughs—quiet.
Casper: "Your grandfather was a monster. Let's see… did you inherit his blood? Or just… his name"
He turns off the map. Room sinks into partial darkness.
Casper: "The game… moves forward"
---
In his room, Deryus lies awake. Not sleeping. Staring at the ceiling.
Thinking of the dream. The wolf. The pain. The rage.
Deryus (whispering): "If I die in the dream… I die in reality"
Closes his eyes.
Deryus: "Then… I must not die"
Simple. Obvious. But saying it… easier than doing it.
A voice—faint, in his head:
"You won't succeed, Deryus"
He opens his eyes—suddenly.
No one there. Only… the voice.
Voice inside: "You will die. As they all did"
Deryus: "I will not die"
Voice inside: "You will fail. As you failed to save Alina. Thousands of times"
Deryus (sitting—shouting): "I will not fail!"
Silence.
Deryus breathes—heavily. Wipes his face with his hands.
Deryus (whispering): "I… will not fail"
Lies down again. Closes his eyes—forcefully.
Forces himself to sleep.
In the dream—the wolf waits.
But this time—Deryus holds a sword.
And he fights.