Another Dream?

On the battlefield, a grisly scene unfolds as different races clash with ferocity and desperation, wielding swords stained with blood and fueled by a lust for victory. The air is thick with the acrid stench of fear, sweat, and death. The once-pristine landscape now bears the scars of war, its lush greenery trampled and torn asunder.

The clash of metal against metal echoes across the desolate expanse as warriors engage in deadly duels. Armor-clad soldiers, their faces contorted with determination and aggression, unleash a symphony of violence. The clash of blades reverberates through the air, accompanied by the agonized screams of those caught in the relentless whirlwind of combat.

In another part of the battlefield, a particularly disturbing scene unfolds. Amidst a field of lifeless bodies, a teenage boy stands, covered in blood, a manic smile plastered over his face.

The once verdant landscape beneath his feet has transformed into a gruesome tableau of horror. No longer does the ground boast a lush carpet of grass and vibrant greenery. Instead, it is drenched in a macabre tapestry of crimson, a morbid testament to the unrelenting violence that has transpired.

A haunting sight greets his eyes as he surveys the battlefield. Limbs and body parts, torn asunder by the savage clash of swords, lie strewn about, their grotesque disarray serving as a chilling reminder of the brutality that has unfolded. The air itself seems tainted with the metallic tang of blood, as if the very essence of life has been drained from the earth, leaving behind only death's sanguinary footprint.

Amidst this nightmarish scene, the broken bodies of fallen warriors form a morbid mosaic, their lifeless eyes gazing blankly into the void.

Gazing at the body of a captain he has just butchered, alongside his army that continued to pour through the portal, the boy raises his head, taking in the sight of the incongruously green portal amidst this scene of horror.

The boy speaks out, his voice cutting through the air, "Such a nice welcoming party. And yet, it seems as though my time has run out. This is a good vessel for my being. Let us meet again, Cedric Ironhart."

Like a puppet whose strings have been cut, the now unconscious Cedric collapses to the ground.

***

"Poor child, you were never meant to bear such a curse," the crisp voice of a woman, like sharp needles piercing his mind, stirred Cedric from his sleep.

Cedric could be seen lying on a soft bed inside a familiar metallic room, surrounded by myriad devices checking his body's condition. Standing beside his bed was a beautiful silver-haired woman with a silvery stream of tears flowing from her left eye.

Observing the child's gentle expression, so alien to what she had witnessed a couple of hours ago while observing Cedric challenge the strength trial, she thought to herself, "That woman has resigned herself to a fate worse than death for doing such a thing, and to her own flesh and blood. What is the world coming to?"

A sound of a sliding door was heard, and in stepped a familiar figure, a female officer known for her prejudice against trainees.

Diana remained motionless, her unwavering gaze fixed upon Cedric's figure, displaying distinct indifference towards the officer standing at the entrance of the medical room. To her, the officer appeared no more significant than a mere ant, disregarded and inconsequential.

"Speak," Diana commanded.

"Yes, Madam Immortal. The medical staff stationed on the Star-Shatter have failed to find any irregularities in the slag's body."

"Cedric."

"Huh?"

Turning her head slightly to the side, setting her gaze upon the now sweating officer, she said, "His name is Cedric. He is a gem treasured dearly by the federation. If I hear another word coming out of your mouth, you shall quickly find yourself inside a devourer's nest."

Nodding vigorously, Officer Sarah could be seen sweating profusely, her teeth clenched, trembling.

"Dismissed."

The officer quickly disappeared behind the sliding door, as if she had never been present. Diana turned to Cedric, whispered a murmur, and then vanished from her spot. A silvery ripple appeared where she had stood before dissipating.

***

'Don't die.'

"Huh?"

As Cedric regained consciousness in his room, an intense and merciless headache assaulted his senses, akin to a knife being ruthlessly twisted within his skull. With a jolt of disorientation, he swiftly leaped off the bed, his mind swirling with confusion, desperately seeking to make sense of his surroundings. Darting his eyes around the room, he searched for any semblance of familiarity amidst his bewildered state.

Sitting back down on his bed and massaging his temples, Cedric pondered, "That was the strangest dream I have ever had." Feeling his headache subside, Cedric decided to take a nice hot shower to unwind.

"I remember passing through the green portal... hmm... the rest eludes me."

After dressing up, Cedric stepped out of his room, heading towards the diner. Still confused about the gaps in his memory, he failed to notice the green-haired elf waving at him from across the lounge.

Annoyed at the dazed trainee, Siegward shouted, "Cedric!"

"Ah," interrupted from his musings, Cedric looked toward the origin of the voice. Seeing Siegward drinking some strange white substance, he decided to humor his friend. He walked up to one of the holo-screens, only to be shocked by the discrepancy in the number of points in his account.

"Huh, since when did I have 280 points?"