Age of Darkness

Chapter 16: You're Getting Sleepy...

I'm on a hill. There's a tree at the top. You know, classic dream hill place. I'm dreaming, I think. The Oracle waved his hand and I dropped, out cold. I look around, and see the Oracle waving to me at the top of the hill.

''Is this real?'' He nods. Okay, so I'm not crazy.

''Why?''

''To keep you in control of your dreams, you need to learn.''

''How?'' Suddenly the Oracle disappears and the sky goes dark. Black wisps circle around me, suffocating me. I can't do nothing. I don't have my sword. Then everything goes back to normal. The Oracle reappears.

''Because Zirkon will take control of your dreams, and take control of your mind. He will unhinge your mind, your sanity piece by piece, until you are nothing but an empty version of yourself. You must learn to defend yourself.'' Two men then rush at me. They have swords. I manage to dodge one, but the other cuts me. It hurts like burning fire, and I scream. This is a dream! I kick one in the chest, knocking him over, and prepare to blast the other with magic.

Nothing... Crap..

He kicks me and I fall down. Then just before he can slice me in half, he disappears.

''How did he hurt me?''

''How is one to tell what is dream and what is reality?. Concentrate, Nicholas. Focus. It's your mind. Control it. Make a sword.''

I focus. Nothing.

''Imagine it in your hands.''

''Wait. If we're in my mind, how are you in here?...''

''You're getting distracted. Focus. Imagine a sword.'' I do, and a feel a sword appear in my hands.

''Imagine magic. Hit me with the magic. Release your anger at my not helping on me.''

''That's what Zirkon does.''

''Indeed. It's what he will do to you.''

I blast him. He holds up his hand, and it dissipates.

''Good job.'' Good job? He just made it disappear!

''I am a master of magic, Nicholas. I can easily destroy it. Don't confuse yourself.''

''Now what?'' I get answered with a blast of magic, not from the Oracle, but from Zirkon!

''Zirkon!'' I swing at him and he dodges. He pulls his sword. I blast it out of his hand. I charge at him, and swing, but he ducks and kicks my feet out from under me. I jump up and kick at him. He jumps back and I imagine myself filled with raw magical power. I blast him with a force so strong, he does little to stop it, and he disappears. Did I kill him?

''Is Zirkon dead?'' The Oracle chuckles and claps.

''No. That was a creation of mine. Well done. Well done.''

''Are we done?'' He smiles.

''For now.''

I wake up, and see Elizabeth flipping out...