When we fell from Earth

The blinding lights

However, if I do remember correctly, you said that they were eleven rulers, how come that twelve made it to your world? This means that something is wrong with the prophecy, which entails us reassessing our sources for this...it's either Aragai Chartai lied or the Imagination Creator himself was mistaken. Both, however, make it even more interesting for me!

Messages between Remy and the unknown Traveller, year 19882, Era of the Returned Kings and Queens.

Again, Youssef heard the voice in his dream. The voice that had told him that she was there; already dead.

Youssef didn't wake up with a jolt this time, but he went on with the dream, wanting to know where it led. He stood in a dark place that was cold and foreboding. He looked around, searching for anything to recognize the place he was in, but it was only the voice that kept repeating the same sentence over and over.

She was there; already dead.

Youssef marched forward the black expanse before him, trying his best to master his own fear, even though he knows he's in a dream and cursed as something went into his shoes, ticking him. He closed his eyes, trying to summon that kernel of power inside of him, but then he wondered how he can summon light that's inside him, if he was already inside himself. But, when his hand started glowing a little bit, he shrugged away the paradox forming in his head (and that dirty thoughts about being inside). Youssef walked–

Youssef stopped as his light expanded, illuminating his surroundings like a second sun.

The sky was grey as he looked up, the sun dimmed, and its light was greyish yellow that his own light shone brighter than it. He looked around, seeing remnants of what must have been a world that existed before. Building, destroyed and crumbled, scattered around him. The ground beneath him was filled with sand. He bent down and took a handful. Grey sand. He looked at the buildings, and now, as he looked closer, he could recognize few of them. He blinked multiple times, not convinced that he was seeing something real.

He ran, this fabrication has gone on for too long. This fuckery with his mind must end. He–

Youssef bumped into an object and cursed colorfully. He took a step back, rubbing his abdomen and looked at the object, and he cursed again. He had bumped into a car. He went to the front plates and found the car's brand.

BMW...

He fell on his butt, his light dimming out. Where the hell was he? He turned to the looming building behind him and cursed again. He recognized the building almost immediately as he breathed, "Cairo's tower."

Youssef stood, willing the light to come again and, reluctantly, it did. Why is his world left like that? Is this a dream? Is this his worry projecting? Is this the future?

"This is how he left his world," A voice said from behind Youssef. Youssef gulped for he knew what this was. In every novel, the hero would meet either his mortal enemy or best friend in a dream, and from the sound of it, this wasn't any of his best friends.

Youssef turned to see a girl no older than ten looking at him with big blue eyes. Her blonde hair braided and dangled over her shoulder. She wore a simple white dress that floated behind her on a phantom wind. Youssef's light made her illuminate, as if she was a saint.

Then Youssef noticed...he saw her colors. She wasn't grey like the rest of the world, she was colored. Youssef said, "And you are?"

"He used to call me the Maiden, though I know it isn't my name. However, I have forgotten mine, so long ago." The girl said, walking to stand just mere inches from Youssef, her hair following her like a spot of bright color on a black canvas. "He did this to his world, and his powers will do the same to yours." She looked at Youssef's hand as he shone, and she shook her head. "This power...it will consume you, just like it did to my dear Stephan." She extended her hand, "I warn you, Youssef. If you follow him, you will only fail." She smiled, "Give it up and go back to your world."