Heresy Itself.

The Void Calls.

1852, Month of Wind.

  It's happened again. The dream of the Void and him standing in the center of it. Before him a vortex threatening to suck him in. Fissures appear all over where the physical world meets the Void. The cries of whales can no longer be heard for they are dwindling. The deafening silence of the Void is all that remains.

  The Void begs for him. It yearns for its latest deity. Its latest prisoner. The boy born from the lineage of a forgotten trickster god. The man who grew in the dark womb of the Ritual Hold stuck in stone. His cursed genetics passed to his daughter who experiences similar nightmares.

  A year from now the physical world will start to slowly be engulfed by the Void. Just like in his time. The dread and anxiety he feels make him yearn for fresh air. He gets up from the bed he shares with Hans and goes outside careful not to disturb his sleeping daughter and partner.

  Michael sits outside on the rickety metal balcony overlooking the town of Whitecliff. The sun is just beginning to rise. This small town placed along a strip of road has grown to mean a lot to him. This is where his home is. Even if it's a cramped apartment on top of an orphanage.

  He takes a deep breath and exhales slowly. He doesn't know what to do. Does he set out on an adventure to close the fissures? Or does he retake the mantle? Or is there another way entirely? Or does he simply let the world die? Nothing lasts forever.

  No, NO he won't simply stand by and let the world perish. He looks over his shoulder and sees his child still sleeping. She's the reason. He won't let her be in a world that is dying. He also won't let the Void take her. He won't turn his back on all of the people who will suffer since he was rescued.

  He looks back towards the rest of town and then towards the ocean. He half expects a fissure to open swallowing up a part of the water like before. Old memories bubble up to the surface. He and the cultists taking a longship from Gristol to Karnaca. All around them as they sailed were hollows and fissures where the Void opened up. The strange hissing and howling the portals made as they drank away the surrounding water. It made his young mind almost shatter.

  Just as he's remembering more lost memories he feels something nudge him. He looks down and sees Brahm resting his head on his knee.
"Good boy," Michael says as he pets the albino wolfhound gently. Brahm always has a way of picking up on what people are feeling. The wolfhound whines and licks his face before sneezing.

  Michael recoils and wipes his face.
"Oh how nice Brahm." He now feels the urge to scrub his face.

  The wolfhound perks up his attention and twists his head around. Michael follows the direction and sees Hannah getting up from their bed. Brahm gets up and jumps on the bed as she smoothes out her nightgown.

  Michael watches as she makes her way to him gathering a blanket around her shoulders. Going by her expression she's concerned for him. She has been for a few days now. His dreams have woken her up before.

"Another dream?" They ask him.
"Yes." He replies. He stands up and pulls them into an embrace.
"You're hiding something." They state as they rest against his bare chest.
"I'm not sure how to explain it. I don't want to frighten you or make you worry about Lily."
"Are you frightened?" Hannah asks shifting their head up.
"Yes."
"Then tell me what your dreams hold Michael."
"I will... closer to time." He kisses her on the forehead.