Solar Knight: Star Dust -book 2-

Chapter 8: friendly stranger *

After fighting Pandora, I blacked out. I remember falling and being in pain. However, once I seen black, I felt nothing, like i was asleep. During my so called "sleep" I would sometimes feel ice cold and numb, but most of the time, I felt a lingering chill. However, there was this one time I felt so cold and numb that I actually went to a strange place in my dreams.....

I woke up in a vast plane of sand and Egyptian looking structures. It was empty, not a soul in sight. I looked around and seen a large building structure in the distance.

My body was fairly transparent and of course was semi nude. My genitals weren't visible and neither was my butt. I was weirded out either way.

I followed the street and took note of the wild life as well. However, these were semi transparent too, as if they were phantoms like me. They didn't seem bothered by my presence. I could have probably walked up to a birda and pet one without any effort at all.

As I came closer to the building, it was difficult to take in the majesty of the place. From what I guess, it's a palace for a Pharaoh. Columns with hieroglyphs that tell a story I assume, lager than life statues of gods, pyramids in the distance, all of it. It was hard to soak all this in.

As I climbed the stairs and entered the main Chambers, I seen people seemingly  float through the corridors. These individuals must be servants, because they didn't bat an eye my direction. They wore these white gown looking things, as well as weird masks that depicted the gods in the courtyard. It was very surreal to me, but yet not so threatening or alarming.

As I poked around, being curious and nosey, I heard a light chuckle as I looked around. Eventually, dummy me seen the stairs and I looked up, their king chuckling as he looked at me. He had long black hair, dog ears and tail, shirtless, fit, black pants and shoes to match his hair, and was decked out in jewelry and a little face paint under his eyes. He was clearly in charge.

"Oh god I am so sorry for not noticing you!!" I said, immediatly kneeling.

"Hahaha relax, oh white haired one of earth. I have been expecting your arrival, young man." He said, sitting on the throne.

"Wait, you knew I was here?! " I said, surprised.

"Yes, I have strong ties to the spirit realm. You see, my brother is Seth and my sister Tia. Your books of Egyptian culture depict of us. I am Ramesses II, my birth name is Anubis, but I changed it when I became a new man. Now my daughter bears his soul, some day she'll inherit all this." He explained.

"Oh, I see....my name is-"

"San Manfred, the human of earth that took on an entire demon army and slain their leader Pandora, fell in battle, trying to make up for accidentally unleashing said evils unto the world, through sheer foolishness......When a flux of demonic energy is spotted on earth from here, one tends to do their homework on what's going on with it.... We almost sent in our forces to help, for we are tied to your kingdom, however, my wife seen a shining light in that darkness... That was you." He said with a smile.

"Our kingdom? Ties? This a lot to soak in... " I said, sitting in the floor, trying to wrap my head around things.

"Hahahah! Yeeeessss, your feline advisors are how we're connected. Well to my wife's side of the kingdom that is. Luna and Artemis are good friends to my wife Mau, who is a queen and senshi of her planet." He explained as he snapped his fingers.

A few servants brought me a table and chair, that I reluctantly sat in. They then brought me a goblet and poured a sweet smelling liquid in it.

"Ever had genuine herbal tea before San? " he asked.

"No, I always got the bottled kind. " I said shaking my head.

"A hot cup of genuine tea is where it's at! I use herbs for just about anything, pain, sickness, tea, aroma therapy, the list goes on!" He said as the servants poured him some as well.

"So.... I guess this is the end of the line for me huh? " I said.

"No, your journey is far from over. I forsee a long journey ahead of you. In fact, i am in need of your aid." he said, taking a sip.

"My aid?" I asked.

"I forsee a grave danger ahead that threatens my family. I had a vision...." he said, taking a sip.

I took a drink of my tea, it tasted of peppermint and sugar. The warmth filled my spiritual body with comfort.

"Tell me San... "

"Y-yes your highness?"

"You don't fear death or impending doom, do you?"

"No sir, I don't."

He would chuckle with a smile, before he looked restless and changed position. He would be hunched forward in his throne, cupping his goblet in his hands, probably staring into the tea.

"Sir knight.... I am not one to be frightened or to worry, but something is coming.... Something that worries me to the core..... "

"Oh? What is it?"

He shook his head and sighed.

"As i said, I had a vision....a celebration  in shambles....my children stolen by a man i have never met....a grand pyramid falls and a monster of great terror rises...but then a warrior of unimaginable power that wielded the power of the sun and vanquished the night with a large, mighty blade.... Almost every night, young San..." he said as he looked at me.

"That sounds terrible and ....er...very vague." I said honestly.

"What do you make of it, sir knight of the crystal kingdom?" He asked with sadness in his eyes.

"I.... I don't know, your grace.....Have you sought counseling over it?" I asked.

"Yes, but they all have different views on them, or they're like you, and have no clue what to make of it. " he said with a deep sigh as he sat up.

"I'm sorry I'm of no help, your majesty..."

"It's alright, completely understandable haha....you seem to have burning question on your chest." He said with a smile.

"Yes, ah... Am I dead? " I asked.

"Well.... You were, now you're in a half-way state, as your people of earth describe as limbo, if you will." He explained.

"So I did die..... Is earth okay?" I asked.

"Yes, your efforts didn't go in vain. Pandora has been defeated as well as her army of darkness. You bravely sacrificed yourself to fix what you've done!" he said with a smile.

"What a relief, I mean I know you just told me that earlier, I just needed a double take... " I explained.

"It's alright! Well, we're going to be here for a while, a toast to your bravery! Facing many horrors head on and fighting valiantly!" He said, as servants brought in another goblet for me and Rammeses. This time, they poured dark purple wine in it.

"This is my first drink sir....will I get drunk? " I asked.

"Nonsense, you'll only taste its splendor! Now....to your bravery and valiance...cheers!" He said raising his goblet.

I would do the same and we would both drink. We would then spend time talking about this and that, so long as I remained in this spirit state...... I can't help but feel like this is a dream, but then again it feels so real.... Just where exactly am I?

"Another vision troubles me, young knight...." he spoke again.

"And that is?" I said.

"When i return to sleep after hours of restlessness. I forsee another vision, fire and panic everywhere.....large, beasts of men rampaging kingdom.... towering and unstoppable forces.....but yet the warrior i described before would strike at one, but would be felled in one blow.....confusingly though, the beasts of men would flee. What do you make of it?" He asked.

"Not a clue, but i don't wield a sword! Not ever!" I said plainly.

"You don't?......hmm....perhaps in the future you will! Alas, for now, rest and share me stories of earth!" He said, filling up my cup of wine.