A Vision

Upon the hills north of Stronghold, where the wind whispered ancient tales, the trio of Rage, Brick, and Flint ascended to a modest dwelling overlooking the city. Seated on weathered stones, two old men acknowledged their presence with serene expressions.

One old man exuding a regal air with a crown of silvered hair, acknowledged the trio's arrival.

"Greetings, seekers of wisdom. I am Aurelius, and this is Sage. What serendipity brings you to this humble abode?" he said.

The more casual elder with a mop of unruly gray hair, grinned with an easygoing demeanor chimed in.

"Hey there! What's on your minds, fellas?" he said.

Rage began, "Yes, we wan-"

"No need for long-winded introductions! Speak your hearts, and let the winds carry your words," Sage remarked, his eyes twinkling with a knowing light.

Rage, frustrated by the interruption, attempted to clarify, "We're not here for introductions. We seek answers about-"

Aurelius, the elder with a demeanor as serious as Sage's was laid-back, raised a hand, "In haste, answers evade. Patience, young ones, and the currents of wisdom shall flow."

Sage chimed in, "Yeah, chill out, dudes. Maybe grab a seat and enjoy some tea. Or if you're more into soda, we got that too. No rush here."

Aurelius turned to Sage, "Sage, I believe we've run out of soda. It might be time to restock."

Sage grinned, "Oh, my bad. I guess we'll have to stick to the tea for now. It's better for digestion anyway."

Brick, visibly disappointed, protested, "But I really wanted soda!"

Sage shrugged, "Well, you're in luck. There's a shop just down the hill. Run along now, and we'll keep your friends entertained."

As Brick started to descend the hill, Flint dashed after him, shouting, "Hey, wait up! We're not here for soda!"

Rage, left alone with the elders, sighed in frustration, "Can we get back to the important stuff now?"

Aurelius and Sage, turning their attention to Rage, exchanged glances before Aurelius spoke up, "Now, young one, what is it that brings you to us? Seek wisdom, do you?"

Sage, with a casual tone, added, "Or maybe you just lost your way, found us by accident. Happens all the time, you know?"

Rage clenched his fists, suppressing his frustration. "Enough with the cryptic talk. We need information. Tell me about the Nexus."

Aurelius raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Impatience clouds understanding. The Nexus is a convergence of energies, a focal point of balance. Seek its secrets, but tread carefully, for unraveling one mystery may reveal another."

Sage chimed in casually, "Yeah, man. It's like, cosmic vibes and stuff. You gotta feel it. Tea?"

Rage, increasingly frustrated, said, "Enough riddles! We need to know how to access its power!"

Aurelius, maintaining his calm demeanor, responded, "Power unchecked leads to chaos. Balance is the key, young one."

Sage, offering a cup of tea to Rage, added, "Take a sip and relax, my dude. Life's too short for too much seriousness."

Rage, resisting the urge to lose his temper, took a deep breath. "We're not here for tea. We're here for information. Time is running out."

Aurelius nodded thoughtfully, "Information is like a river, ever flowing. Seek its source, and you may find what you're looking for."

Sage, casually sipping his tea, chimed in, "And sometimes, my dude, you gotta go with the flow. Answers come when you least expect them."

Aurelius leaned forward, his gaze piercing, "Knowledge gained too easily is often underestimated. The journey, the struggle – that is what gives meaning to the destination."

Sage, still relaxed, added, "It's not just about what you know, but how you learn it. So, why don't you take a seat, friend? Enjoy the view, sip some tea, and let the answers find you."

Rage, losing his temper, shouted, "Enough with the riddles! I don't have time for this! Just tell me what I need to know about the Nexus!"

Sage grinned, "Impatience, my friend, is a hindrance to true understanding. But if you insist on answers, you might find them in the dance of shadows beneath the moonlight."

Aurelius added, "In the whispers of the wind, secrets unfold. Seek not the destination, but relish the journey."

Rage, seething with frustration, warned, "I've had enough of your games! Tell me about the Nexus or face the consequences!"

Sage calmly replied, "Consequences are but echoes of one's own actions. Seek not conflict, but harmony within."

Aurelius nodded and added, "In the grand symphony of existence, every note plays a vital role. Patience, young one, may unveil the melodies you seek. However, I shall tell you what you truly seek."

He extended his hand to Rage, "Take it, and enlighten yourself."

As Rage gripped Aurelius' outstretched hand, expecting insights into the Nexus, he was instead engulfed in a different vision.

In the ethereal vision, Rage stood in a dimly lit room, shadows dancing on the walls like wraiths of forgotten pain. Before him, a woman with a cold gaze and cutting words towered over him.

The woman, a spectral embodiment of scorn, had sharp features accentuated by the harsh light casting elongated shadows across her face. Her eyes, cold and unforgiving, bore into Rage's soul as if tearing down any remnants of self-esteem. Clad in an austere attire, she exuded an air of authority that mocked his vulnerability.

Her voice, cutting through the air like a razor, echoed with haunting precision. "You thought you could amount to something, didn't you?" she scoffed, the disdain palpable. "Pathetic. You're nothing more than a vessel for disappointment."

As her words lashed out, each syllable was a whip, flaying the fragile fabric of his self-worth. "Remember the promises you made, the dreams you dared to dream?" The scorn in her eyes intensified, a relentless gaze that dissected his very essence. "Foolish aspirations that crumbled under the weight of your inadequacy."

She reveled in every word, reveling in the cruelty that enveloped her like a shroud. "No one believes in you, and why should they?" Her laughter, a chilling cadence, mingled with the oppressive silence. "A walking emblem of failure, destined to be forgotten."

Rage, caught in the tempest of his own memories, felt the weight of shame pressing down on him. The room blurred, merging the haunting image of the woman with the suffocating reality of his past.

The vision unfolded further, unveiling fragments of a past that Rage had tried to bury deep within. He stood there, an echo of his former self, surrounded by a sea of judgment and scorn.

The woman's voice continued its relentless assault, each word etching scars into his consciousness. "You thought power would change your fate? Look at you now, a mere puppet dancing to the whims of your own delusions."

Rage's internal struggle manifested in his clenched fists, his nails biting into his palms. The vision intensified, revealing moments of vulnerability, humiliation, and a relentless pursuit of an unattainable ideal.

The woman's voice, a haunting refrain, whispered, "You can't escape the truth, no matter how hard you try. Your failures are etched into the fabric of your being."

As the vision played out, Rage felt a surge of conflicting emotions – anger, regret, and the profound weight of his own self-condemnation. The woman's laughter echoed, fading into the recesses of his mind as the scene dissolved, leaving him standing alone with the elders once more.

Sage's casual tone cut through the heavy atmosphere, injecting an unexpected lightness into the moment. "So, feeling all enlightened and stuff?"

Rage, still grappling with the vivid echoes of his past, shot a scowl at Sage, who just shrugged and took a sip of his tea.

Aurelius said, "Knowledge comes in many forms, young one. Sometimes, understanding oneself is the first step to unraveling the mysteries that surround us."

Sage, leaning back in his chair, chimed in, "Yeah, sometimes you gotta face the ugly truths before you get to the 'Nexus' of it all. Deep stuff, huh?"

As Rage tried to find words, Brick and Flint came running, carrying soda bottles.

"We're back!" Shouted Flint.

"With soda!" Shouted Brick.

"Ah, great!" Said Sage, turning to Rage, "Soda?"

Rage didn't respond, but turned and began to walk back down the hill.

"Hey wait!" Brick shouted, "We just got back!"

"Doesn't look like he's stopping," Flint said, "Quick, let's go!"

"But the soda?" Asked Brick, looking at all the bottles in his hand.

"You can leave it here if you want, or help yourself!" Sage said.

"We can keep them?" Brick asked.

"Sure, just gimme one." Sage smiled.

"Great! Thanks!" Shouted Brick as he tossed a bottle to Sage, and ran down the hill with Flint to catch up with Rage as the sun began to set.

Sage opened the bottle, and took a sip, "Say, when did we finish all the soda?"

Aurelius sighed, "We didn't."

"Oh," said Sage as he took another sip, and they watched the Nexus take on a brilliant orange hue, just like the horizon.