Third Time's The Harm

Sentinel Island - Haven
JP with Lorem and Omni

Gonyaul, upon violently waking once again, groaned in agony. He just wanted to sleep. The lack of it was making it hard to cope with the onslaught of emotions that each night terror manipulated out of him. It was like the corruption knew just what to do in order to bringing about the most psychological and emotional distress.

Dreading the idea of attempting to go right back to sleep, Gonyaul used the wall to help climb up to his feet. He then began walking about the interior of the small confined space, using the cold stone on his hand to stabilize himself while his heart rate was returning back to normal. He felt more at equilibrium by the time the cold sweats had evaporated.

Determined to try again, he knew he needed sleep or else he would become unstable and useless. Gonyaul returned back to a fetal position on the floor. He tried to get comfortable, easier said than done. Now he had the anxious awareness that the likelihood of another nightmare was practically guaranteed; this wasn’t just some random occurrence.

With one last reassuring murmur to himself, he closed his eyes and began meditative breathing. “There are important skills in life that can only be developed by facing the struggle.” Already sleep deprived, the moment his invoked adrenaline surge faded, he was fast asleep once more.

The next thing he could perceive was laughter. A feeling of mirth and good cheer was being shared by himself and others. Gonyaul glanced about himself. It was a cozy scene, that hinted at friends around a campfire enjoying jovial conversation after a meal filled their bellies.

From the tall grasses, forming a perimeter around their campsite, and the clear starry night sky with a cooling breeze Gonyaul deduced he was back in the plains of the Odsier. He smiled as his ears made sense of another comment made in good fun. He looked to his company, assuming it to be familiar faces. He was instantly surprised.

It was Amu, his horse, and the giant Luger that had attacked him when they traveled to Aquila. The two animals were sitting like would a person. To make it stranger still they were speaking as clear as day. Gonyaul was in amazement, wondering how was this possible.

The horse and Lugar were obviously enjoying themselves as much as Gonyaul was feeling presently. As he eavesdropped, Gonyaul caught himself up to speed on what they were reminiscing about. The Lugar was retelling the time when he attacked and gave Gonyaul the slashing scar on his back. Amu, who always seemed to get a kick out of Gonyaul in embarrassing or compromising situations, was soaking up the comedic retelling.

Gonyaul had to admit, the presentation of the story was amusing and entertaining. It wasn’t long before he was joining them in the merry making.

After some time, their laughter had subsided and there came a sound of rustling grass in the dark past their bonfire.

“Out there… something stirs…” declared the Lugar in a fearful whisper and the hair on its back stood up.

A shadowy figure was slowly emerging from the darkness, stepping into the warm glow of the firelight. At first, Gonyaul's heart leaped with joy at the sight.

“An… Arbiter,” stuttered Amu the horse.

Tall and imposing, with hair the color of spun rose-gold pulled back into a sculpted knot, Arbiter Voah Sahnsuur of the Holy Office of Inquisition exuded an aura of authority as she strode forth, clad in sheer robes that billowed like ethereal mist around her form. With silver broadsword in hand and silver mask concealing her features, she embodied her relentless pursuit of justice.

Gonyaul’s smile turned south again as his beloved drew nearer, he saw the strange glint behind her eyes, the sword held close to her side, unsheathed and ready for action.

The scene reminded Gonyaul of the day they first met, when Voah had led him on a mission to hunt down cultists at Soliam farm. But now, there was a different kind of urgency in her gaze, a sense of purpose tinged with malice. Her presence became a harbinger of dread.

Voah's voice cut through the night air like a blade, her words dripping with evil intent. "Your bones!" she declared as she removed the mask, revealing a terribly scarred face. “I must have them!” her dtone left no room for negotiation.

Panic seized Gonyaul and his companions as they scrambled to flee, but their efforts were in vain. As they ran, the Lugar’s head came tumbling past Gonyaul.

“Run, Rabbit!” she mocked with a vicious laugh, her voice not her own.

Again his legs were sacks of lead that refused to take him any further and he tried to lay in the tall grass on the ground and turn onto his back to survey the scene behind him. He saw the horse fall to the ground. The Arbiter didn’t need to run, Gonyaul couldn’t get far if he wanted to.

“There is no escape…” came her odd voice, now an amalgamation of many into one. Then, like the dreams before, her eyes turned to those same glowing embers of Y’ghotan the Flame Shard.

Voah kicked him. It wasn’t as hard as he might have expected, more like a nudge or a love tap. “Vaux! Get up! she shouted. This time the voice was different, heavily accented and speaking in Vauxian.

“Vaux! I said wake up!”

The rabbit persona which emerged in his nightmare carried over into his waking self. He quivered reflexively, cowering physically as his mind had not yet completely left the dream state. His reaction was like lightning before the thunder.

And then, like a rolling boom seconds later, Gonyaul was cognitively present in the waking world. He looked up and recognized Draza. For a split second he had to do a double take to make sure it wasn’t the vengeful arbiter. His expression was easy to read. The fact that he didn’t get much sleep last night was even easier to discern.

“I’m awake.” He promptly inserted before another kick came his way. It almost sounded like an interrogatory statement.