ACT 1: Apistefuan Sirenix

Dream (END)

CHARACTERS IN THIS (MINI) EPISODE:
Tiān Fēng, Human Ranger (Outlander)
Frida Auquene, Halfling Cleric of Eldath (Acolyte)
Zakariah Faunill, High Half-Elf Bard (Performer)
Rudmia Phlox, Demigod Wizard (Urchin)

CHAPTER: THALASSES DE MER
(3310 words)


Still deep in slumber, and yet eyes awake.

Fēng, Zakariah, Frida, and Rudmia, seems to have awoken in a different dimension. Resting, yet still conscious nevertheless. Minds asleep, but bodies are not.

As much as there's many stories to tell here, they can't help but wonder.. something feels off. But they're all certain they've never been to such a realm. Stars afloat, faces shown; and it feels as if they're getting massaged.

Some confused, while others tried to wake up, only to get pulled back in. Some feel odd, others feel suspicious.

ZAKARIAH: "AH! Whateveryournameis! You almost crashed into me; where were you.." Zakariah says after Fēng falls onto him.

Fēng was asleep during the time the new adventurers introduced themselves, so he knows not of their identity, nor their arrival. His mind has drifted like words in the wind, lost as his senses.

Fortunately, his teachings as an airbender quickly regained his train of thought.

FĒNG: "Wha- huh.." Fēng looks Zakariah up and down. "Oh- sorry buddy. Didn't see you there. I was...somewhere. Uh- may I know who you are?" he asks in confusion, of both the new faces, and this strange space.

FRIDA: "The important question shou-" Frida says before Zakariah cuts her off, to provide a quick answer to Fēng's questions.

ZAKARIAH: "I'm Zakariah, this one is Rudmia and the sweet granny is Frida- ANYWAYS THIS IS NO TIME FOR INTROS!"

Fēng only waves as Rudmia, Frida, and Zakariah, while greeting hellos with them. She only hopes they may get along.

But Frida was silent. Shooting a hum and a glare at him before continuing her previous words. Zakariah was perceptive enough to notice her, and bows as an apology while mouthing the words "Sorry.."

FRIDA: "...As I was saying, the important question currently should be: Where are we?"

ZAKARIAH: "I think.." Zakariah pauses, wondering if his next words would sound too absurd to say. "We're in dreamscape." with a sigh to finish it off, he provides the answer.

'Dreamscape' is a concept in Apistefuan Sirenix. It is where souls get transported when the holder sleeps, as their body continues to rest. Yes, it exists; but what a rare yet fascinating phenomenon it is. Some even doubt it's existence, before they experience it themselves. As to why or how this occurs, one knows not. But perhaps the answer isn't as far as they think it is.

Frida looks.. concerned. Her hands putting more pressure on her staff, plastered with worry on her face. It looked like she was anxious or nervous about something...

FRIDA: "I've heard some talk about this, yet never have I experienced it firsthand before." she states, before her gaze slowly turns to Zakariah with her brows furrowed. "Say, how do you know..?"

ZAKARIAH: "I'm a local here. Well, I used to live in Gorgona."

FRIDA: "..That will be handy." was all Frida responded before staring into the empty void.

Why does she have this lingering feeling in her heart that something is about to happen..

Suddenly,

RUDMIA: "HEYYA I'M RUDMIA!" Rudmia shouts, surprisingly energetic during this whole ordeal.

FRIDA: "We meet again, my fox."

RUDMIA: "What..? I am a demigod.." Rudmia expresses her confusion.

And after hearing the fact that she's a demigod, Fēng can't help but express his surprise in return.

FĒNG: "WOAH! A DEMIGOD? That's interesting."

FRIDA: "Oh, don't worry about it too much, my dear. I call you my fox as your name reminds me of my past pet fox! Before it.. disappeared.." Frida explains to Rudmia, the volume of her voice getting lower the more she spoke.

RUDMIA: "Ah, I see.. speaking of which, this place is the hits!"

..What exactly does she mean by.. hits? Physical hits? A 'place' has not even a single hand..

ZAKARIAH: "The hits?" It appears Zakariah shares the same amount of confusion.

One knows not of what this 'demigod' claims to say this place is. It doesn't look a battlefield, nor are there any signs of a struggle; which removes all logical reasons for her to call this place a.. 'hit.' In fact, there was nothing in the place they were kept in.

Nothing at all. It was simply a void of darkness. And yet, how were they still standing?

Why are they here at all?

RUDMIA: "The 19th century kids used to always say this back in C-666." Rudmia says, trying to explain what appears to be a 'slang' from whatever time he claimed.

..But I fear she's just throwing numbers and letters at this point. The others seem to have thought the same way, as they looked at him with open eyes and raised eyebrows. One had their mouth opened slightly, while the other sucked in their cheeks.

ZAKARIAH: "Right......" Zakariah says.

..There was only silence afterwards. Not much I can add to that fact..

Until suddenly, a hand reached towards Zakariah's face. Grabbing him until it pulls him into a hole.

Both Frida and Fēng shouts in distress, while Rudmia tries to run after Zakariah as fast as she may. Three of the remaining travelers try to reach for him, and yet they prevail not.

The winds came crushing, feeling as though a hurricane was upon them, despite the fact that there were no warning or signs of any breeze. As everyone tries to grab onto each other for support in hopes to save Zakariah, they were all pulled into the merciless black hole altogether.

FĒNG: "Welp- I guess we're all getting sucked in. Brace yourselves, especially you Madam Frida!" Fēng shouts, as they're all falling into oblivion.

Surprisingly, he is oddly calm despite the events ongoing. It's a trait most common in Airbenders. I'd imagine him being nonchalant about the wind.

FRIDA: "I only hope my items aren't to be lost." Frida says in response to Fēng's worry.

Although she may be a kind granny, one can't help but feel there is more to her than meets the eye.. perhaps something hidden in her past?

RUDMIA: "I'm surprised she isn't dust after that." Rudmia exclaims.

FĒNG: "She's a cleric if I'm not mistaken." Fēng adds.

FRIDA: "..Even I surprise myself, sweet fox."

And finally, they dropped. Awakening, they feel a slight tinge in their head. They've awoken in a place not so ordinary. It appears to be Gorgona! Well, they're in someone's home but they're most certain its in Gorgona. Apistefuan Locals would be familiar with the place.

As the others admired the place they were summoned to, Frida remembers that Zakariah mentioned Gorgona to be his previous home.

FRIDA: "My dear Zakariah, look! Isn't this your previous home?" the granny questions.
And yet, Zakariah is nowhere to be seen..

FRIDA: "..Zaka sweetheart, where did you go?" Frida questions yet again, still not a single answer.

Anxiety began surrounding her. Looming as her shadow. She looks all around her, trying to move her legs to wander but.. she can't manage to move an inch.

FRIDA: "Have you all seen him?" Frida then asks the two travelers alongside her.

Despite her best efforts to sound calm, worry still thickens in her soul, so much so it reaches the point of her tongue and words.

With Frida's question, Fēng and Rudmia start to realize that even they can't sense nor see his presence anywhere.

FĒNG: "Man, where did that bard go?" Fēng asks while looking around, frustration arising within the group.

RUDMIA: "Perhaps we should try to find the dude first!" an advice recommended by Rudmia but to her surprise, she too can't budge. "And.. find our way out.." she proceeds to add.

FRIDA: "Perhaps we should find whose house this belong to first.."

Frida has a reasonable point. It is disrespectful and rude at best to snoop around one's home without knowing who acts as a resident within.

Then, they see a young Zakariah, seemingly nineteen, running around the halls away from his parents. Short hair, yet still the same boy.

FĒNG: "Oh hey, it's Zakariah." Fēng points towards his direction.

FRIDA: "Zakariah! Where are you headed?" Frida exclaims in delight, happy to see his friend once more. Yet, she also can't help but feel as though something's.. amiss..

FRIDA: "And why has your hair become.. shorter.." She tries to call out to him, yet he doesn't hear; nor does he notice their presence. One can't help but wonder, what is happening..

RUDMIA: "It seems this may be a memory.. how fascinating." Rudmia comments as she rubs her chin, acting wise.

Her theory wasn't entirely ridiculous. They are in Zakariah's old house, they meet Zakariah's old self, so it's safe to assume a glimpse of his memory is what's being shown.

However, that only leads us to another question; who is showing us his memories and why? What importance does it hold?

Perhaps information about Zakariah's past may help them during their journey?

FĒNG: "I guess. His hair looks a little different." Fēng whispers to Rudmia, as Frida also agrees with her theory.

FRIDA: "Well, the black hole could've ripped his hair?" questions Frida, as she overhears Fēng talking to Rudmia.

And in a second, Fēng pulls out and wears his round glasses out of nowhere, before lifting his index finger and pointing it upwards.

FĒNG: "It's not possible, Madam Frida. One thing I know about black holes is that they aren't sharp. So unless his hair got ripped by someone or something, it isn't the black hole that changed his hair and...appearance." Fēng explains to Frida extremely politely, as he puts his finger down while the wind carries his glasses away.

FRIDA: "Ah I see.. it seems like the gods have blessed the youth with impeccable wisdom."

FĒNG: "Hehehe...thank you, Madam Frida." Fēng blushes at the granny's compliment as he bows politely.

Then again, how does an Airbender possess such knowledge?

RUDMIA: "It's like those flashbacks in those Marvel/DC movies!"

..Huh? What's.. what's a Marvel? Or a Dc..?

FRIDA: "Who? When was this invented? I know not of what the youth is accustomed to nowadays.." says Frida as she tilts and scratches her head a bit in confusion.

..What even is a movie.

RUDMIA: "I think its Earth 137 if I'm not mistaken."

..One ought not to waste their energy solving this demigod's puzzles.

Then, a woman shouts out to Zakariah. It appears to be his mother?

ZAKARIAH'S MOTHER: "Zakariah Willowment Faunill, if you ever speak about that bard stuff again- you'll be homeless!" his mother skrieks. Her voice projected as her face is distorted to rage, looking like an angered bull.

Many of the travelers jump when they heard her, her shout resembling that of an elk. They were all but speechless, only managing to awe and say words of onomatopoeia.

FRIDA: "Reminds me of the past.." Frida says to herself, planning on having a talk with him regarding this topic.

Her face is unreadable, yet those with attentive eyes can see slight changes of her face. Such as her eyes slightly sharpening, and her eyebrows furrowing a bit. She doesn't look worried, but regretful and sad. As if she had just experienced Deja vu.

(YOUNG) ZAKARIAH: "Why do you care so much?! You never cared about me before so why now? Let me do what I want to do. You're not even my real mother!" the young Zakariah retaliates, leaving everyone's mouths hang wide open after the last sentence.

FRIDA: "What an unfortunate soul.. one can only understand."

Has Frida experienced similar things?

As thoughts began circling around our dear adventurers, a sudden sharp noise snapped them back.

The 'mother' had slapped Zakariah.

ZAKARIAH'S 'MOTHER': "Slut. Just because I married your father doesn't mean I should be nice to you. Be grateful you're even in this house."

While the others' eyes widened with their mouths dry and left speechless at the mother's words,

Rudmia pulls popcorn out of nowhere, and began treating the situation as a movie.

Unfortunately for him, that only led to a quick scolding from Frida, and she puts away her beloved snack.

Another man seems to join the frame. He shares very similar features with Zakariah, so it was easy to guess that he was his father. Still, his appearance doesn't bring much comfort into the three's hearts. The more they hoped things would begin shining some light, the more they feel darkness lingering around their soul.

ZAKARIAH'S FATHER: "You heard what your mother said, Zak. Listen to her. If you still won't listen to reason then leave. Be a sad bard or uphold the Faunill name." Zakariah's dad butts in, making the travelers' fears come true.

(YOUNG) ZAKARIAH: ""SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP! OH HELLS, YOU ARE ALWAYS IN MY BUSINESS. ME BEING A BARD DOES NOT HARM YOU. I'M MAKING A LIVING, MONEY-" were the words of Zakariah Faunill before his so-called mother pulls his golden hair and throws him out of their back door, swinging effortlessly as he did.

FRIDA: "A dream so bright; only to be outshone by a selfish sun. One feels but pity.." Frida somberly admits, her voice low as if she hadn't intended for the words to escape her mouth.

FĒNG: "We can't do anything to help, can we?" Fēng asks, clinging on to hope as he watches the scene unfold. His face stern, yet his heart drowns in sorrow nevertheless.

FRIDA: "The past cannot be written once more. Whether the ink has settled in or is freshly wet, covering it up would still be pointless; as it is so strong it bleeds through the pages. Leaving stains on other chapters.." Frida tries to explain wisely, only wishing to comfort Fēng as she reads him like a book.

Fēng doesn't retaliate on Frida's responds, but instead looks at her sadly.

FRIDA: "Come now, child. None shall hurt you as long as I am here." Frida clasps her hands together with Fēng's, yet he just sighs and looks in the eyes with such sympathy within his depressing expression.

RUDMIA: "..Actually, how did we get here in the first place? How did that black hole make us go into Zak's memory?" Rudmia says, wanting to distract Fēng from the cruel truth of his question, as well as remind the others just how strange all of this is.

FRIDA: "Perhaps.. someone wishes for us to know." suggested Frida, looking off into the distance once again.

Now that Fēng thinks about it, ever since he joined this adventure, things have been.. odd.
None of it made sense.

Why does he have this necklace and why can't he take it off?

Why does he feel like he NEEDS to join this group and why should he stay?

Why were they all sucked into a black hole just to uncover their friend's traumatic past?

What is the importance of all of this?

Their minds were like jigsaw puzzles trying to think of theories. Countless of questions left unanswered. All wishing to seek the truth, yet afraid of the cost they might pay for it. Most of the time, knowledge like that doesn't come without a hefty price.

Alas, Fēng's voice became dry as he admits,

FĒNG: "I don't know.." answering Rudmia's question as he rubs his head, looking down at the sandy grounds; both guilty and frustrated.

Frida notices Fēng, empathizing with him. Thus, she hands him a cupcake from her basket that she pulled out of thin air with the magic from her staff.

FRIDA: "Would you like to indulge in a treat, my sweet? Or perhaps you would prefer a hug?"

FĒNG: "I" Fēng reaches out, but hesitates before deciding to decline Frida's kind gesture. "I don't need any of that, thank you." he continues his sentence, politely turning down her offer.

Dusting himself and recovering from his outburst.

Zakariah stood up at the doorway after being pushed. Defiance burning in his glossy emerald eyes. His mother's face, once a source of comfort, was now twisted with anger.

(YOUNG) ZAKARIAH: "I'm not going to be what you want. I won't spend my life trapped here, doing what YOU think is right. I'm going to be a bard, and nothing you say will change that!" determined passion illuminating from his aura, hands curled in fists to show rebellion, yet his eyes still screamed for hope.

Hope that his parents could finally accept him for who he wants to become, instead of molding him to a statue of their dreams instead.

But no matter the bliss scenarios you make in your head, the hurtful truth still remains. To be a star is to be burned. And to be unique, is to be challenged.

A slap came out of nowhere, sharp and stinging. Zakariah's head snapped to the side, a fiery pain blooming across his cheek.

He had expected this outcome, but the sting in his heart hurts more than any bruise inflicted at this point. Before he could react, his mother's hand grabbed a fistful of his braided hair, pulling him close.

FĒNG: "HEY! LET HIM GO!!!" Fēng shouts at the mirage angrily.
He uses his airbending to attack the mirages, but it leads to no avail; as he forgets that this is but a fragment of a memory.

FRIDA: "No child is deserving of this punishment. Putting water into fire only makes it bigger, how come no one sees that.." Frida exclaims disappointedly, spewing metaphors left and right. Most expected from her age and wisdom.

ZAKARIAH'S 'MOTHER': "You ungrateful child! After everything we've done for you, this is how you repay us? With your foolish dreams and disrespect?" the 'mother' shouts as fury trembles on her tongue.

She dragged him out the door, her grip unyielding. With a final shove, she pushed him onto the cold and hard ground.

Zakariah stumbled, catching himself before he fell completely, yet the damage was already done. His mother's voice cut through the night air, cold and final.

ZAKARIAH'S 'MOTHER': "If you walk away now, don't you dare come back. You're no son of mine if you choose that lyre over your family."

Zakariah seems to have inherited his mother's persistence.

He looked up at her, his heart pounding, but words came not. He knew they were too angry to listen, and he's too tired to convince them any further.

The door slammed shut, the sound echoing in the silence that followed. Alone, with only the lyre and clothes on his back, Zakariah turned away from the only home he had ever known and began his journey down the darkened road, the sting of the slap and his mother's words still fresh in his mind.

As Fēng clenches his fists, resisting the urge to meaninglessly attack, Frida opens her mouth to spew yet another metaphor for this sight. She appears to have a habit of doing that whenever she feels lost or any negativity.

FRIDA: "Alas, there's only so much rain a flower could take, before it drowns and loses it's petals. How I wish I could've done something.."

Before the travelers could even respond to Frida's words, they all get transported to another time.

The night breeze was bitterly cold, biting at Zakariah's skin as he wandered aimlessly through the darkened streets. The slap still echoed in his mind, a painful reminder of what he had just lost. He clutched his lyre tightly, the only thing he had left of his old life. As he plucked on the strings of the lyre,

Everything stopped.

The flight of birds frozen, the sky's clouds static, as the effect seem to cast Zakariah as well. Luckily, it doesn't seem to stop the travelers, so they try to inspect the boy.
Only for everything to dissolve.

The whole area is eerily pitch black. Before they're all finally awake.

FRIDA: "..Zakariah? Sweetheart?" Frida asks meekly.

They look up as the slim light that radiated of the rising sun blinds their eyes for a moment, realizing it's already been the next day.