Hero's Bane

Chapter 31: Don't Give In

"Nigel!" Steve screamed aloud in apprehension as he sprinted down deeper into the cavern, he stumbled a few times in his hasty dash; even at one point falling to the ground and scurrying back up in a rush. There was barely a trail of blood to follow this time around, but he knew that the old man wasn't too far away now. He could sense himself getting closer, like his sixth sense guiding him to the location of his missing and possibly dead friend. Even with the heavy sense of dread on his mind over the old man's fate, he just couldn't stop until he knew for sure; he had a sliver of hope he still clung onto. The miner dashed through the long winding cave and then into a small chamber, he carefully hopped over a small stone terrace and leaped over a short gap to see a faint light around the bend of a stone heap. He ran around it and into a more narrow passage. It was dark, everything was, but for some reason he could make out the hidden shapes and make the tunnel path ahead of him.

He entered an open cavern and on the other side of a small fissure laid the old man with a dying torch.

"Nigel?" Steve called out, breathing heavily from exhaustion. He stared with wide eyes as he approached the ledge. "I-it's him." He sounded with only a hint of relief and a deepening frown, still not knowing the elder's condition. As he stopped at the gap's end he took one quick glance at the deep dark obstacle in front of him, it was so deep that he couldn't even see the bottom of the ravine. The old adventurer was completely unresponsive and this worried the miner to no end, the longer he stood there staring at the old man's body the more worried he became; a mob could easily come around the corner and attack the defenseless guy. He wanted to get to the other side so badly, it was a large gap but not impossible to jump if he get's a good running start. "I'm coming Nigel, just hold on." Steve backed up and then prepared to make a dash and leap.

"Halt!"

Right before he could bolt forward; Steve immediately stopped and spun on his heels after hearing the familiar voice, he blinked in surprise as a man in silver armor approached him. "Lionel?"

"Don't take another step forward, don't even dare making a jump to the other side. It's pointless." He said blankly, now getting closer to the miner.

"Why not?!" Steve gawked in confusion while swaying his head from side to side lightly, making a quick glance over to his friend and then back to the sentinel.

The look alike man thought on it then moved his head back and forth before ending his stride a few feet away from the miner. "I have forgotten, you are not aware. This is a dream Steve, you may not be able to tell, but I can. You are dreaming all of this up, that man over there-" He nodded towards. "He's not even real."

Steve's eyes widened then lightly narrowed. He was wondering how someone so honorable and kind would say such a thing. "What?! He is real!" He defended, clinching his fists and looking away from the man. "He's hurt, I need to to- help him!"

Lionel cocked his head to the side with an expression of utter doubt, he then rested his hands on his hips. "I am afraid that you are mistaken with that false illusion, it's only what you 'want' to see."

The miner blinked and then scoffed in disbelief. "No! He's no illusion!" Steve moved his gaze back towards the old royal guard but he was now gone. "Huh?"

"Why do you feel so much guilt? It wasn't even your fault that he was attacked."

The miner spun around again to now see Lionel now kneeling at Nigel's side from the other end of the ravine. The man reached down to touch the explorer but stopped as he got too close. "How did you-?"

"You have also seem to forget about my abilities within your dreams. But enough about that and this- this delusion." Lionel held his hand out and the crumpled heap of an old man slowly broke into tiny particles that faded into dust that scattered across the floor.