Chains of Vengeance

Chapter 165: Dream Meadow +

Narinder was on the verge of succumbing to sleep as he felt the enveloping warmth of Lambert and Goliath's embraces. The lamb was curled up against his chest, breathing softly, while the goat wrapped a protective arm around him, as if to make sure nothing could disturb him. The blanket covering them added a sense of comfort that, under any other circumstances, would have led him straight to a peaceful rest.But inside, Narinder struggled with a mix of emotions. The duel against the ram was still fresh in his mind. Every detail, every movement, and even the explosion that defined the outcome, assaulted him in waves, making him hesitate. Besides, he knew that sleeping was a risk he always had to calculate. Ever since he was released from the Veil, his dreams often became traps of his own mind: a dangerous game between rest and torture.Narinder sighed, feeling his chest rise and fall rhythmically, the sound mixing with the deep breaths of his husbands. He reminded himself that he didn't need to sleep, that he could avoid it if he wanted to. But he had learned, that the act of resting while free, without chains or pain, was a luxury he had to allow himself now. Besides, sleeping surrounded by those he loved offered him a security that had been unthinkable before.Gathering his courage, he closed his eyes and let out a barely audible whisper, "I'm safe... here, I'm okay." He settled in a little more, letting the warmth of Lambert and Goliath envelop him like a shield against his own fears. The shadows in his mind began to fade as he clung to the feel of his husbands' arms and the soft weight of the blanket covering them.Finally, Narinder let go, giving himself over to sleep bravely. In that moment, there were no weapons, no evidence, no echoes of his past. He was alone there, among the beings that mattered most to him, finding something resembling peace.As he slept, Narinder would watch the sky from the top of the hill, where the wind gently caressed his fur and made the tall grass dance around him. The azure blue of the sky seemed infinite, interrupted only by uneven clouds that seemed to have been randomly painted, as if an artist had let his imagination run wild. They were imperfect, but somehow, that very imperfection gave them a unique and comforting beauty.As he looked away towards the horizon, Narinder noticed how the meadow stretched out endlessly, dotted here and there by bushes of various shapes and vibrantly colored flowers. Bright yellows, deep blues, and intense reds decorated the landscape as if the ground had decided to dress up. Some flowers danced with the wind, while others remained firm, like guardians of that serene paradise.He decided to sit down on the grass, leaning down calmly, letting his hands touch the soft yet firm texture of the green leaves. The contact was simple, but somehow it made him feel more connected to that place. The air was charged with a pure freshness, with a light scent of freshly cut grass and wildflowers that seemed to wrap him in an invisible blanket of tranquility.There were no abrupt or disturbing sounds, just the rustling of the wind and the occasional song of some distant bird. Narinder was in no hurry, he didn't feel the need to move or think about anything in particular. Right now, existing in that place was enough.However, in the back of his mind, a slight sense of unreality was beginning to bubble up. Although it wasn't unpleasant, something in the perfection of the landscape whispered to him that this wasn't a place he had arrived at, but one his mind had created. But, for now, he decided to ignore that idea. If it was a dream, it was one he didn't want to leave.Narinder gazed at the landscape for a while longer, the wind caressing his face as his thoughts wandered between tranquility and a slight weariness of having nothing to do. However, a small smile appeared on his lips. With a soft, calm tone, he spoke out loud:"To be honest, I don't like the idea of ​​being here doing nothing either..." he said, as if he were talking to himself. But his voice was not filled with annoyance, but rather a slight happiness, an acceptance of the strange and relaxing moment.Suddenly, he heard footsteps behind him, soft, almost imperceptible, but enough to attract his attention. Without turning his head, he knew who it was. A dream version of Lambert appeared beside him, sitting down with a peculiar grace. The lamb's eyes were hidden under shadows, but his expression radiated an almost supernatural peace, as if he were an embodiment of serenity itself."But don't you think it can be nice from time to time?" Lambert asked in his sweet voice, tilting his head in curiosity as he looked at the horizon.Before Narinder could answer, a second set of footsteps joined the sound of the wind. It was Goliath, who arrived with a more imposing presence, his deep voice resonating with an unexpected calm:"Thinking about nothing... and worrying about nothing." He sat on the other side of Narinder, crossing his arms over his chest as he looked out at the vast grassland with a relaxed attitude. Like Lambert, his eyes were also covered in shadows, but the tranquility he exuded left no room for doubt: he was at complete peace.Lambert nodded slightly, adding softly, "Just relax."Narinder let out a small laugh, a mix of amusement and relief, as he looked at the two of them. "It's... very nice, actually," he admitted, letting out a sigh. "Being bored can be a nice thing."With those words, the three of them let themselves fall back, lying down on the grass that welcomed them with its softness. The sky was still as vast and blue as before, with clouds drifting lazily about.Narinder didn't know if this was a dream or something deeper, but he decided not to worry about it. At that moment, betweenTime was passing in a peculiar way, as if it had no relevance in this strange but peaceful place. After what seemed like a long while of rest, Narinder, Lambert and Goliath stood up almost in unison, as if they shared a common impulse. Without saying anything, they began to run through the grasslands, laughing softly as the wind caressed their faces.Narinder, who had always been agile and fast, was surprised to see that both Lambert and Goliath could easily keep up with him, even when he was running at full speed. It was strange, but the strangeness didn't bother him; in fact, it filled him with an inexplicable enthusiasm.Soon, their fun evolved into simple games. They found a light, round ball that Lambert had picked up from some bush, and began tossing it back and forth between them. At first it was a simple exchange, but it quickly turned into a game of kicking and catching as they laughed and made friendly fun of each other.Goliath, ever the competitive type, managed to kick the ball hard, sending it flying through the air with such force that it seemed impossible to catch it. However, Narinder, with agile and precise movements, jumped to intercept it, catching it with both hands.She was more animated than usual:"I don't remember the last time I played like this!" Her eyes shone with an excitement she hadn't felt in centuries. Then, almost without realizing it, she added:"Maybe it was... before I ascended to God, when my brothers and I were mortals... millennia ago."The words escaped her lips before she could stop them. The momentary silence that followed was not awkward, but laden with a soft melancholy, like an echo of times past that resonated in her memory.Lambert approached and, with his usual sweetness, said: "Well, we can always do it again. At least here, nothing stops us."Goliath nodded, crossing his arms with a defiant smile. "Sure, but don't think you're going to beat me every time. It's only a matter of time before I get the upper hand!"Narinder laughed, relaxing the tension that had arisen. "Okay, okay. But brace yourselves, because I'm not going to let you win that easily."The game continued, and with it, the feeling of a pure, carefree moment, as if the prairie had given them back a part of themselves they'd thought long lost.The ball game had been intense but filled with laughter, and as Narinder caught the ball in the air, a strange flash transformed the object. He now held in his hands the relic he had immediately recognized: Leshy's Eye, but in a different form. It was not the corrupted relic he remembered, nor the version he had found long ago. This was the pure, shining version the ram had wielded during their fight.It was a curious, almost unnatural thing, for the relic seemed to emanate a serene energy, a harmony that defied the very essence of his chaos. Narinder felt no fear; instead, a sense of fascination ran through his body. He watched as the eye marks pulsed faintly, almost as if they were alive. How could something so chaotic feel so... balanced? It was a puzzle that mesmerized him.Before he could analyze it further, the dreamlike Lambert interrupted his concentration, leaning slightly towards him with his serene face and eyes covered in soft shadows. "Everything okay?" he asked in a warm tone, almost as if he could sense Narinder's concerns.Narinder blinked, and upon looking again, the relic had disappeared, leaving in his hands the ball they had been playing with. "Yes, everything okay," he replied with a smile that tried to hide his bewilderment. He decided to ignore what had happened, at least for the moment.Meanwhile, Goliath, always practical and full of initiative, had pulled out of nowhere a picnic basket. He spread a tablecloth with firm but fluid movements, as if the act was part of the very reality of that dream. "Time to eat something," he announced in his deep, relaxed voice.Without thinking too much, Narinder put down the ball and sat next to them on the spread tablecloth. The shadows that partially covered Lambert and Goliath's faces did not bother him; in fact, they made their figures look more ethereal, almost divine. As they shared a snack that seemed endless in flavor and variety, Narinder decided to let himself be carried away by the moment.The peace and warmth of being with them outweighed any other concerns, even the one that arose from remembering the pure form of the relic. This was not a time for questions, but for enjoying the now.Narinder, now grinning widely, hugged the ball to his chest and exclaimed in a moreNarinder reached into the picnic basket, searching for a bottle of wine to complement the moment. However, as he pulled it out, he froze. What he held was not simply a bottle; it was the manifestation of another relic that he instantly recognized: Heket's Throat. However, this version was entirely different from the corrupted one he had once wielded.The bottle shone with a pure radiance, its contours polished and majestic as if it were made of divine crystal. Within it, the liquid seemed to dance with a life of its own, radiating calm and power. Narinder watched in awe, his mind going back to the moment when he had first corrupted the relic, in his rage and thirst for vengeance. Back then, he had transformed it into a tool, filled with negative energy. But this version...It was superior, vastly more powerful, not in terms of power, but in its very essence. It represented something Narinder couldn't describe in words: a perfect balance between power and satiety, something he had never been able to understand in his state of darkness.As he studied the bottle, the dreamlike Goliath interrupted him with his deep but relaxed voice: "Are you going to drink that?"The question brought Narinder out of his trance, and when he looked again, the bottle had returned to being a simple bottle of wine. He blinked a couple of times, confused, before giving a resigned smile. "Take it," he said, extending it to his beloved goat.Goliath took the bottle with a satisfied expression, easily uncorking it and pouring himself an improvised glass. Narinder, for his part, decided to put his thoughts aside and leaned back slightly, watching his two loves.Lambert, delicate as always, cut small pieces of what seemed to be a cake and tasted them with an almost childlike tenderness. Goliath, in contrast, ate voraciously and energetically, but there was something about his posture that radiated comfort and confidence.Narinder took his time to admire the scene. There was something incredibly peaceful about seeing them like this, sharing together. For a moment, he forgot all his worries, all the shadows of his past and the unanswered questions that haunted him. He only cared about the present, the sight of Lambert and Goliath enjoying the moment, surrounded by the warmth of that dream.With a smile full of emotion and an energy he could not contain, Narinder lifted Lambert with one arm and Goliath with the other. Both protested with nervous laughter while Narinder held them tightly, holding them to his chest as if they were his most precious treasures. Without warning, he leaped forward and dropped down the hill, taking them with him in a spiral of laughter and chaos.They rolled uncontrollably, but the soft, spongy grass cushioned each turn and fall. Lambert clung to Narinder's neck, letting out small, choking laughs. Goliath, though he tried to maintain some dignity at first, ended up laughing out loud, hugging Narinder tightly to keep from being thrown off.The slope seemed endless, but the descent was more fun than dangerous. The three of them held each other carefully, as if even in the chaos of the moment they didn't want to let go. Finally, they reached the bottom of the hill and landed on some surprisingly soft bushes that gently stopped their fall.Lambert and Goliath lay there, breathing heavily, laughter still escaping their lips. "That was crazy!" Lambert said, bringing a hand to his forehead as he tried to catch his breath.Narinder, for his part, felt something strange under his back. He frowned and slowly sat up, reaching with one hand for what seemed to be an object that had fallen with him. When he held it in front of him, his expression changed from confusion to amazement. It was another purified relic: Kallamar's Ear. Its shape was elegant, almost artistic, as if someone had carved balance and wisdom into a physical object.The black cat stood silently, entranced by the beauty of the relic, until Lambert broke the moment. "How about we do something simpler?" he suggested, his tone filled with a mix of amusement and exhaustion."In favor!" Goliath added, still a little dizzy, but with a satisfied smile.Narinder looked at the relic once more, but blinking, he found that it was no longer Kallamar's ear, but a simple branch that had become entangled in the bushes. He let out a sigh, half amused, and let it fall."Sure..." he said with a lopsided smile, turning to Lambert and Goliath, "something simpler." He dropped next to them on the ground, hugging them again as the three of them enjoyed the moment, this time without rolling down the hill.Upon getting up, the three of them found themselves in an even more beautiful meadow than the last. The flowers spread out in an endless tapestry of vivid colors: reds, yellows, lilacs, and whites that danced gently in the wind. In the distance, a majestic tree rose above the horizon, its trunk strong and gnarled, and above it, an endless array of blue flowers that seemed to glow in the warm sunlight.Lambert, always curious, calmly bent down and began collecting camellia flowers as they walked. His agile hands selected the freshest ones, forming a small bouquet that he held delicately. His expression was serene, as if the simple act of picking flowers filled him with peace.Goliath, on the other hand, had a more leisurely pace. He would stop every so often, finding dandelions among the flowers. He would carefully pick them and blow hard, watching the tiny seeds fly in all directions, dispersing in the wind. A slight smile crossed his face as he repeated this simple but comforting gesture.Narinder, his gaze fixed on the tree, slowly moved towards it. The sight of the great blue tree attracted him in an almost magnetic way, as if it were a beacon in that dream. However, on his way, he stumbled upon something hidden among the flowers.He looked down and carefully pushed aside the petals covering the object. What he found stunned him: it was a skull, but not an ordinary one. It was adorned with flowers that grew on its surface, tangling between the empty sockets and forming a mosaic of colors. Although its shape was unmistakable, he knew exactly what he held: Shamura's skull, the last relic the ram had used. However, this version did not radiate darkness or corrupt power. Instead, it was filled with peace, as if each flower that decorated it told a story of healing and redemption.Narinder held it in his hands for a moment, marveling. But as he blinked, the skull vanished, leaving in its place a pile of multicoloured petals that the wind began to carry with it.Without saying a word, Narinder let the petals fall from his hands and continued on his way to the tree. Lambert and Goliath, seeing his determined step, followed him in silence, sharing the tranquility of that moment. The great blue tree awaited them, promising something even more significant in the depths of that dreamlike landscape.Narinder quickly climbed the small hill, driven by curiosity and the inexplicable familiarity that the blue tree conveyed to him. Meanwhile, Lambert and Goliath were still below, chasing each other like two children in an endless game, laughing and enjoying the meadow.When Narinder reached the top, his gaze immediately fell on a figure leaning against the trunk of the tree. There, sitting with imperturbable calm, was the ram. His relaxed and confident posture radiated an almost contagious serenity as he held a book in his hands, reading in complete silence.Ramael's royal blue cloak cascaded around him, the fabric looking flawless, as if the wind itself had woven every thread. His sky-blue bell shone with a soft glow, reflecting the warm sunlight that filtered through the tree's blue blossoms. The ram's perfectly curled horns added a touch of majesty to his figure. But what captured Narinder the most was his wool: a grayish brown that looked so fluffy it was tempting to the touch.Unable to contain himself, Narinder murmured in disbelief,"Ramael..."The ram slowly raised his gaze from the book and fixed it on Narinder. His eyes were mesmerizing, with a unique beauty that only a goat's eyes could have: a warm, deep gold, with a horizontal line that looked like a horizon, creating an intriguing contrast. That peculiarity did not make them any less beautiful; On the contrary, it gave them a unique intensity, a window into a mind full of secrets and determination.Ramael closed the book with an elegant movement and set it aside. His eyes met Narinder's, and a soft smile appeared on his face. That smile was exactly the same one Narinder had seen in the last instant of their confrontation, the one that was engraved in his retinas as a permanent echo of that ram that had so intrigued him.Narinder felt his mind fill with questions. How is it possible that he is here? What really happened to him after our fight? How can his relics be so impressive? What material is that bell made of? And... is his wool as fluffy as it seems?But before he could formulate a single word, Ramael extended a hand towards him, calmly and unhurriedly, as if he were inviting him to something deeper than a conversation.Narinder, his heart beating rapidly, raised his own hand, wanting to touch the ram's. It was an almost instinctive action, driven by a mix of curiosity, attraction and that spark of uncertainty that Ramael awakened in him.But just as their fingers were about to meet, the sound of a rooster echoed in the distance. The scene began to fade, the tree, the ram, everything.Narinder woke up suddenly, his heart still racing as reality slowly returned to him. He found himself between Lambert and Goliath, their warm bodies still embracing him. But his mind could not get away from the image of Ramael, from that smile, from those eyes and from the mysterious feeling he had left behind.Narinder's initial anger was visceral. That dream, so vivid, so perfect, had left him with a void that he now felt like a persistent buzz in his mind. The desire to hold on to that vision, to that moment of calm and mystery, filled him with frustration. His mind quickly settled on the culprit of his awakening: the rooster that was now crowing in the distance.Why did he have to be so loud? he thought, a flash of fury in his red eyes. For a moment, Narinder imagined marching to the rooster's house and offering the rooster up as a sacrifice, as a small revenge for taking away his dream experience.However, a loud, drawn-out snore from Goliath interrupted his thoughts. Narinder turned to the goat, who was sleeping soundly, his expression so placid it was almost endearing. On his other side, Lambert was breathing softly and calmly, a slight smile on his face even in his sleep.Narinder felt a warmth in his chest and was surprised to notice a slight blush on his face. And then, he stopped thinking about the rooster or the dream. Instead, he focused on the scene in front of him: his husbands, so different but complementary, resting beside him, fully trusting in his presence.He sighed, this time not in frustration, but in resignation. It was impossible not to feel lucky to see them like this. He allowed himself to listen to the sounds around them: Lambert's calm breathing and Goliath's thunderous snores that, strangely, did not bother him at all. In fact, they seemed almost comforting to him, like a constant reminder that they were there, alive and next to him.Without thinking too much, Narinder tightened the shared embrace, letting his arms wrap around both of them tightly. He closed his eyes and allowed exhaustion to claim him again. This time he did not think of dreams, or roosters, or even the ram.What I didn't know was that that day, despite its peaceful beginning, would turn out to be much more different and significant than I expected.