I awoke, drenched with sweat. I got out of the bed and dressed myself, wondering, whether the sun was going to rise soon. Once out of the tent a cold strong wind assailed me, near freezing the sweat droplets on my face. It was a North wind, a bit too cold even for this time of the year. I looked around, all seemed to be quiet, yet you could never tell if such things were true indeed this far North, the Mountains were only few leagues away and beyond them lay cursed Ice Wastes, where once ,aeons ago, lived our kin, before the creatures of the ever-cold drove us South. The wind pressed even harder, what were we doing this far North, I wondered, it was hard to recall anything after the Dream, only the Dream itself was clear in my mind.

I started to move towards the fire, it was well kept, burning ever so fierce. I could almost hear the ice cold air scream when the warmth touched it. By the fire sat two figures, one unhooded himself and turned to me, revealing his short red hair and round face with eyes piercing through the darkness. This was Kenneth a'Lethabar, although he rarely used that name and wore mantle of Ken Shinobi, Master of Thorilionian Thieving Guild. He gave me a sign of greeting and I answered back in the same manner, then he turned back and continued his conversation with the second figure. I felt tired, this nap was first in days, I wanted to go back and lay on my bed and sleep, yet I could not force myself to do it. I slept rarely nowadays and every time I did I hoped that it would be like falling into the Void, that I would be filled with nothing and yet that never happened. I glanced at Kenneth's companion, he had long golden hair, yet some light brown could be seen now and then. He wore a thick coat made from Wild Opar. Talor Sharpblade was not in any way liking this cold, he sat as closely as possible to the fire, yet I doubted it made him any warmer. These two were one of the last of our Age, not many survived the Last Duel. Not any of us really survived, we are only shadows of our former selves, waiting in vain for return of our glory, I was not really bothered by this, maybe even relieved, nor were my friends for that matter. Yet regardless that, I felt this emptiness in me, will it ever disappear? Probably not, not until the world shall be as before, before the breaking of the Powers that maintained it, but that shall not be soon, even by our standards. Finally I reached the fire, sitting myself beside Ken and Talor.

“What keeps you awake, my friend?” – asked Kenneth.

“'Tis probably the Dream of his, is it not so?” – said Talor, you could see a small smile appearing upon his face, which quickly disappeared once the wind blew again.

“Talor!” – objected Ken – “There is no real need to mock our friend.”

“Sorry, but this cold makes me mad.” – apologised Talor – “I hate cold! I do not know how you can endure it. I would rather be sleeping in the Shadowsand Desert now!

Talor Sharpblade stood and spat out a power word, instantly the fire rose high into the sky burning with blinding light.

“Calm your fire, Talor.” – I said calmly.

Ken burst into laughter, the fire went normal again and Talor laughed too. We sat in the silence once more.

“But really, what is this Dream that brings you such distress, is it a nightmare, is it about…?” – continued Ken.

“No.” – I cut in sharply – “It's not about that, neither it is a nightmare, it is somewhat different, something more disturbing than that, it is something I cannot block, something I dread and something I want at the same time.”

I could see a great worry on my friends' faces, they had right to it, for I acted strange for seasons now, this Dream…

“Why not you tell us about this Dream it may make you feel better.” – proposed Talor.

“Not yet, I wouldn't able to tell you much about it, I never saw it all through, I do not think I could.” – I said slowly – “Let's not talk about this anymore now. The sun is going to rise soon and abominations of the Ice are just waiting for our arrival. Today they shall feel our steel, we shall go to the Ice Wastes if needed but none of them shall escape, no longer they shall trouble nearby towns and villages.

***

It was two days since we assaulted another Icy Castle , a place of Evil, it won't be soon that the creatures of the Ice shall come from the Ice wastes. We finally reached the nearest town. Fortel it was called and it was surrounded by high stone wall as were all towns in this region. We came to the main gates, the watchers instantly recognised us and our men and opened the gate. We stayed at the best inn in the town, Hammer of the Ice, it was a nice establishment and it had all us and my men needed. I sat on the bed in my room, yet I did not lay down, I just sat there staring at the wall.

***

“Do you know what he is doing in there?” – said Talor, entering the room.

“What? Who? What are you talking about, Talor?” – asked Ken.

“John, of course, who else? I mean he is just sitting on his bed staring at nothing. You think I do not care what is happening to him, do not you? Well I do. He hadn't any real sleep, for, for, I actually do not know when was the last time I saw him really sleeping.” – burst Talor.

“Keep your voice down, we don't want to bring any unnecessary attention to this. As a matter of fact I did think that you didn't care, I see now that I was wrong. Do you have any ideas how to help him? Talking didn't help.” – said Ken.

“Yes, I do.” – said Talor as he pulled one of his proud faces on.

“What is it then?” – asked Ken, he was more interested than moment ago, perhaps he himself had no ideas.

“It is a sleeping spell, yet not your ordinary sleeping spell, it should send John into natural sleep but there will be no dreams. That is what John really needs a dreamless sleep.” – answered Talor.

“I have to agree this is a god idea. But won't he notice you casting it and repel it?” – asked Ken.

“This is where you coming into this. I know you could make it so he would not.” – said Talor.

“I feel like we shouldn't be doing this.” – said Ken.

“But we are just trying to help him.” – said Talor.

“They all said that.” – said Ken –“Oh, what the heck, you are right we are only trying to help him.”

***

It was midday . I was still sitting on my bed, I don't think I moved a bit since I sat on it. Suddenly I could not keep my eyes open, I fell on the bed and surrendered to the sleep.

I opened my eyes. This was not my room. This was the Dream. I got out of the bed, the instant I did, it dissolved into nothing. This was a large room, a library by the looks of it, the room was filled with shelves with countless books on them. I took a random book, I opened it about half way through, I could not understand the text, but there was an illustration drawn on one of the pages, it was a tall winged figure with grey skin and mirky eyes. Suddenly all disappeared, the book, the shelves, the room, only a door remained. I opened it and walked through. As I closed the door, it dissolved, like the bed before. This was a bright room with huge windows that had a mosaic like artwork in them. Crystals of different colours and shaped were embedded there. At the back of the room there was a large crystal. It started to grow bigger and bigger, shinning brighter and brighter, until I could see no more. Darkness fell. This was a different room, it was a ruined room, once it was the most glorious place on the Haeron, for this was the Halls of Glory, abiding place of the High Gods. The table in the middle of the room was shattered only few sitting places remained intact. Something made me sit on one of the thrones, on my throne, at the head of what used to be a table. Suddenly the floor went under into darkness and so did I. This was the last room, one I dread, one I want. There was me, filled with darkness, chained by shadow. This was my Past.

Soft woman's voice – “Rise. The anointed one! Rise! Mightiest of all! Rise! Shake the shroud of shadow around you! Rise! Break the grip the Emptiness got on you and rise! Feel! Feel the life around you!”

“It's slipping. It's fading.” – was faint whisper from my lips.

“Open your eyes and fell!” – continued the voice, even more soft, even more strong – “Feel the light! Breathe in the air and feel! Let not those whose ambition is to destroy prevail! Let not the fools whose minds are filled with grandiose of power prevail! Lt not the one whose heart is filled with light be destroyed! Rise Chaos Lord, the anointed of the Light, the mightiest of all! Rise and feel what you are!

I rose, no longer chained, no longer held, no longer deluded. Yes I was the most powerful of all, I shall show it.

“Kanar! Kanar!” – boomed my voice, a strong voice – “You hear me! I live yet! I am free now! Free of your lies, free of doubts! You will feel my wrath! I will cleanse you with power beyond your comprehension!

My body lit with pure Flames of Chaos, sipping into every bit of my essence…It all stopped, there was no room, no light, only darkness. She appeared. She was glowing with soft silver light. And she was moving further and further away, into the darkness. I tried to go after her, yet I could move at all. I tried to scream to her, to stop, yet no word came out of my mouth. I could only watch. It was then, when I could see no more of her, the world went wild. It span and span. Images appeared. Here was the bed again and the book, and the strange flying creature, there was the bright room and the Halls of Glory. It was all in one spinning around me. And there was the scream, her scream, agonising scream. It was getting louder and louder, and louder. Her face appeared, smiling at me and yet the scream was getting louder. I could take it no more. I wanted to wake up and I couldn't. The scream was getting louder, I could hear no more only feel the vibration. That face I dream, I want, the dream I want and can never have. It span around me faster and faster, I could not register it any more.

Her voice – “Feel, be numb, whisper, shout, fly, fall, see, be blind, hear, be deaf, be, disappear, live, DIE!”

And it repeated again and again, and again…I do not know when it ended, was it days or months, I could not tell. Did I pass out? How could you pass out in a dream? Or was it a dream at all? All seemed so real. I saw a shadowy figure, I sensed great power within it.

“Be what you are. Accept what the Past was. Accept what the Present is. Accept what the Future holds.” – was the voice. I could not make it out if the voice was male or female or was it both?

The figure disappeared. There was the crystal again. It shone bright, as bright as anything I ever saw and it was getting brighter or just closer? Soon there was no darkness, only light, her light.

I awoke. I felt good, rested. I felt different. Beside the bed my two friends stood. They noticed that I awoke.

“How are you feeling, John?” – asked Talor.

“Do you need anything?” – enquired Ken.

“I feel alright, thank you Talor for asking. And yes I would like some food and rink, if it isn't any trouble.” – answered I.

I drank, I ate, I had a bath, I slept again, this time with no dreams.

***

“How long did I…sleep?” – I asked in the morning.

“Well, the usual.” - said Talor uneasy.

“No, I mean before.” – I pressed.

There was a long pause. Both Talor and Ken hesitated to tell.

Finally Kenneth said – “Two seasons, my friend.”

“Was it all?” – I whispered, yet neither of my friends caught it.

“We feared the worse, I knew we should have never cast that forsaken spell!” – said Talor.

“Spell?” – I asked.

“Yes, a sleeping spell, the one that was supposed to make you sleep with no dreams. Well it only made things worse, didn't it? We are very sorry, John. We didn't know it would have such effect on you.” – said Ken.

I sat silently for a moment, and then I stood up and walked to the window. This was not Fortel. This was Lefirol, I just noticed that the room was entirely made out of wood.

“Gleaming Forest ?” – I asked.

“Yes, King Quentis was glad to take us in. We did not know what to do so we brought you here. My kin are good healers, yet they could not help you either. But we stayed here anyway.” – explained Talor.

“Quentis!? You don't really mean it, don't you? I mean he lived even before us.” – I said in astonishment.

“Non, no. This is Kind Quentis a'Keionaria the Second, Quentis' grand, grand, grandson.” –said Ken, near laughing – “We are going to stay here until you are fully recovered.”

“No, I have to go and I have to go now.” – I said calmly.

“Go, where, what now?! – said Ken, Talor nearly fell of his chair.

“Yes, now, where I know not, to another world. This Dream, was not Dream at all, it was a calling. I feel that I have to follow it, I do not know why but I have to. I thought of this last night, I shall go tomorrow.” – I continued in calm voice.

“Don't you think it could be work of the…” – said Ken.

“Call not its name!” – cut in Talor – “But John, Ken could be right.”

“It matters not whose work it is, I have to go and that is final.” – said I with the same calm in my voice.

“Then we shall come with you, me Talor and a dozen of trusty men.” – said Ken, Talor nodded in agreement.

“That is a good idea, we cannot leave you alone now, not after all we been through together.” – said Talor.

“Fine, then it is settled, I shall go thank King Quentis and tell him about our departure.” – said I. as I was walking towards the door.

***

The morning came, I was already up. All was ready - supplies gathered, men assembled. We were standing in the forest. My hands were moving in perfect harmony, performing circles in the air, my mouth was whispering arcane words.

“Do you know what you actually doing, John?” – asked Talor.

I did not answer, for I have completed the last movement and said last power word. The portal opened, we stepped in and golden light consumed us.