The Dream of the Ancient One

Steven lay in a simple bed within the stone walls of The Falcon's Roost, the day's events weighing heavily on his mind.

Darkness enveloped him, and soon, he found himself in a strange, ethereal realm. The air was thick with the scent of despair and the cold grip of sorrow. Before him stood a young boy, trembling and wide-eyed, his small frame hunched in fear. Around the boy, shadowy figures moved with malicious intent, their hands holding ladles filled with molten metal.

In the distance, a haunting voice echoed:

"In shadows deep where darkness feeds, 

Lies the curse of endless needs. 

A hunger gnawing, never sated, 

In hearts where light has long abated."

The figures forced the boy's mouth open, and as the molten metal poured down his throat, his screams pierced the air, a sound of unimaginable pain and torment. Steven's heart ached as he watched, powerless to intervene.

The boy's eyes met Steven's, pleading, desperate. The voice continued:

"Gold and jewels, a glittering hoard, 

The soul, a slave of its own accord. 

Greed, a beast with a gaping maw, 

Consuming all it sees in raw."

The boy's screams faded, replaced by silence. His body collapsed to the ground, lifeless. But then, something extraordinary happened. A soft, radiant light enveloped the boy's body, lifting him gently from the cold earth.

Steven felt a presence beside him, an ancient and powerful force. He understood the thoughts conveyed to him by the Ancient One without a single word being spoken. This boy was Shade, the Ville Lord, whose blood he had attained. Once a kind god, Shade could not stand the suffering of the world and, in his despair, decided to join the forces of evil to end it all.

Steven turned to face the Ancient One, feeling the weight of this revelation. "Why show me this? What can I do?"

The Ancient One's gaze was full of timeless wisdom, and Steven understood his silent message. This child's suffering and transformation into a demon were the results of mankind's endless hunger for more. But now, Steven had the power to change that.

The boy, now a radiant being, stood before Steven. His eyes, once filled with fear, now shone with a divine purpose. Steven heard the boy's thoughts as if they were his own. "I will not let others suffer as I did. I will use this power to help those in need."

Steven felt a surge of determination. "I understand now. Greed can destroy, but it can also be the catalyst for change, for redemption. I must find a way to bring balance, to protect those who cannot protect themselves."

The Ancient One's silent nod conveyed agreement. Steven carried the power to make a difference. The dream began to fade, and Steven heard the final lines of the haunting poem:

"For in its grasp, all hope is torn, 

And in the abyss, we're all forlorn."

Steven awoke with a start, the memory of the dream vivid in his mind. He could still feel the boy's gaze, the determination in his eyes. He knew what he had to do. He rose from his bed, his resolve strengthened, ready to face the challenges that lay ahead.

As he stepped out of his room, the first light of dawn casting a warm glow over the fort, Steven whispered to himself, "I will not let greed consume us. I will fight for those who cannot fight for themselves."

With a renewed sense of purpose, he made his way to the courtyard, ready to meet Sid and prepare for the battles to come. The road ahead was uncertain, but Steven was determined to forge a path of hope and justice, no matter the cost.