The Eternal Conflict

Chapter 1: A Strange Dream..?

(Inside a cabin, a person writhes on their bed, sweating profusely. Their eyelids flutter rapidly, eyebrows furrowing. The sound of their breathing intensifies. It seems they are in the midst of a dream.)

Strange Voice: You... You... (The man hears a woman's voice ringing in his head...) Listen carefully to what I'm about to say. (He focuses his gaze towards the source of the voice but can't see anything. It's pitch dark. He screams...) Who is this? The Strange Voice: The long-awaited event is about to happen—the child who will change everything is about to be born. Man in the Dream: A child?! What child are you talking about, and who are you? Where are you? I can't see anything. Where am I? The Strange Voice: The child is your child. Therefore, protect him. He has been chosen. He is the beacon of your future hope. Man in the Dream: What do you mean? I don't have any child... The Strange Voice: You don't have one now, but in the near future, everything will change. Your wife has been chosen to bear this child. Man in the Dream: What about my wife?! And why her, out of everyone? The Strange Voice: There are things that must remain secret until the veil is lifted. Now, wake up. Wait a moment. Wake up... Wake up... (He wakes up to a familiar voice that startles him...) Get up, Marcus. (He quickly separates from his strange dream and wakes up in his bed in the middle of the night.) What happened? Why were you screaming? Was it a nightmare? You were talking in your sleep; it scared me. Tell me quickly. Marcus: I don't know what happened, but it wasn't just an ordinary dream. It felt like a real place, as if I was somewhere else, but it was pitch dark. I couldn't see anything. Maybe it was a vision from the gods, or perhaps just a nightmare. But I heard a woman's voice in this dream. Wife Marina: A woman? What are you saying? Marcus: Yes, as I just told you, it was a woman's voice. Wife Marina: Did you hear anything? Did she say anything to you? Marcus: She told me that I will be blessed with a child in the future and that you have been chosen to bear him or something like that. (Marcus has a wife named Marina.) Wife Marina: Are you telling me that you heard a woman telling you that I will give birth after all these years, despite our countless attempts to conceive, and after visiting numerous priests in different villages on this island who all told us that we wouldn't have any children because of me, as I am the main problem, unable to conceive? Marcus: Please, don't speak of it, Marina. You are not to blame for this. You are my hope and my only love. I don't care if we don't have children because you will be with me always. (Marina starts shedding tears from both her eyes, pouring down like rain on the ground. Marcus embraces his wife, holding her tightly, on their bed in the middle of the night.) Marcus: Don't cry. (Marcus wipes away his wife's tears with both his hands while holding her in his arms. Marina lifts her head towards Marcus, saying,) Marina: It seems... it's a joyful piece of news. Finally, the gods have answered my prayers, Marcus. We must go tomorrow morning, early, and inform the high priest in the village about your vision. Marcus: I don't think it's the right thing to do. (He recalls the words of the Strange Voice he heard in his dream, "You must protect him. He is the beacon of your future hope...") Marcus: We shouldn't rush, my dear. It might just be a passing nightmare. Marina: What are you talking about? It can't just be a nightmare. It's clear. The gods have answered my prayers. It's a gift. Finally, I will be blessed with a child, and I will become a mother. How long I've dreamed of this...Marcus: Please, let's not jump to conclusions, my love. It could be just a fleeting dream. We shouldn't make hasty decisions based on it.

Marina: What are you insinuating? It cannot be just a nightmare. It is clear. The gods have answered my prayers. It's a gift. Finally, I will be blessed with a child, and I will become a mother.

Marcus: I understand your excitement, Marina, but we need to approach this with caution. Dreams can be deceptive, and we shouldn't rely solely on them. Let's wait and see if any signs manifest in our waking lives.

Marina: But Marcus, this feels different. It feels like a divine intervention. I can't ignore this strong intuition that it holds significance. We must trust in the guidance we receive.

Marcus: I don't doubt your intuition, my dear, but we have been through so much disappointment and heartache. It's hard for me to accept this sudden change. Let's gather more information and seek counsel before making any decisions.

Marina: Very well, Marcus. I understand your reservations. Let's seek guidance from the village's high priest tomorrow. Perhaps he can shed some light on this matter and offer us wisdom.

Marcus: That sounds like a reasonable plan. Together, we will navigate this journey and embrace whatever destiny has in store for us. But let's remember to approach it with a tempered optimism and an open mind.

(They hold each other tightly, finding solace in their love and the prospect of a future that might hold the fulfillment of their deepest desires.)