Light and Dark

Michael groggily woke up as the faint light from the sunrise pierced the curtains of his balcony. He looked towards his right where his wife was and delicately pulled the thick blanket tight to keep her protected from the biting cold. Michael slowly got up, making sure he didn't disturb her too much, and walked over to the balcony.

Of course, he didn't forget to grab his precious cloak.

The faint creak from the door was thankfully concealed by the gentle gush of wind entering the room. Michael stepped onto the balcony and leaned onto the railing, overlooking the empty plaza in front of the breathtaking cathedral. The sun's rays softly landed on the pale bricks and gracefully highlighted the dyed glass and vibrant decorations.

It was the most picturesque view to wake up to... well, second greatest view. First place was honored to his lovely wife.

Michael may have described many things as beautiful, but there was a difference between something that looked beautiful and something that was beautiful. One regarded the appearance, while the other was something much deeper. In his opinion, in order for something to be truly beautiful, it had to make him feel good whenever he thought of it.

His wife was the most beautiful thing he ever laid eyes on, leagues ahead of his second and third place. Just thinking of her now made him miss her, even though it was mere moments ago he was next to her... it felt like he hadn't seen her in years.

Second place was the view of this grand cathedral against the warm sunrise, and third place went to the view of the starry sky, something he rarely saw in the outskirts. An interesting thing he found was that the night sky was somewhat different compared to the waking world, something even he noticed despite never seeing it much. The sky here was considerably more vibrant with vivid colors of violet and indigo, it looked like a surreal painting that was purposefully exaggerated and dramatized. He could never really get used to the sight.

'Wait, what does surreal even mean?'

Thankfully, his thoughts weren't interrupted by the snow falling on his shoulders, all thanks to the wool cloak his wife gave to him as a present.

'How long ago was that? Would've been a couple months at least...'

Michael had spent around six months in the dream realm, specifically his First Nightmare, a name he didn't really like to use. He died around the beginning of autumn, and in a couple days, it would mark the end of winter. Michael couldn't wait to see the beautiful trees and vines - that once held tight to the buildings - once again silently bloom with flowers. Nature didn't grow in the outskirts, so he had no idea what he was missing out on his whole life until Oneiro, and now it was all around him, even inside his home thanks to his wife.

She was an incredible painter and the only reason he even knew what a painting was. Michael nearly cried after seeing her portrait of him, despite it not really being his true face. He was so touched that he decided to learn how to draw and paint, so he could truly capture the beauty of the world. He was horrible, but it was a start.

However, he didn't spend all these months just lazing about enjoying married life. No, he spent quite some time learning about this place and the Dream Realm as a whole. He learnt things that ranged from how these people lived their daily life and their culture, to how the Dream Realm was structured and the things they knew.

Apparently they didn't have the Spell, with most having no idea about aspects, attributes and the like. Instead, there was something called sorcery, often depicted as magic from the gods that performed miracles, but information on that was scarce. 

Michael did all of this for the sole purpose to escape this nightmare, because at the end of the day, it was the First Nightmare. For the first couple months, he thought it was heaven and called it his 'First Dream', unfortunately, it seemed like it wasn't the case.

He realized that the constant object that would always be on the edge of his vision, never moving or disappearing despite everything he did, was in fact growing closer. Every day, it would become just a tiny bit clearer.

Back then, he had no idea what it was and simply disregarded it as an eyelash stuck in his eye. Regrettably, it was something that creeped him out to no end.

It was a nightmare creature, a real one this time. It looked like the phantom of a corpse, slowly approaching him with a damned expression. However, he couldn't really make out any more details. If he waited any longer, he would probably be killed by it.

Just the thought of what it would do to him sent unbearable chills down his spine.

'What an insidious trial.'

Lure the aspirant into a false sense of security within a city beyond anyone's imagination? Good one, Spell.

However, Michael truly meant it when he said it was an insidious trial. A part of him, deep down in his being, truly wanted to leave and return to the waking world. Why wouldn't he? This is a nightmare in disguise of a dream. But, he really didn't want to.

He didn't care if this was a nightmare, since he would only be returning to another nightmare. Why not stay in one that felt like a dream? At least he had something... someone, here. Someone that cared for him, someone that cried for him, someone that loved him. Those simple things made him so happy. Dare he say, even the city itself made him happy. The sky, the cathedral, the people, all of it.

It was a dream.

Yet a part of him still wanted to escape, and that part only grew more fierce. It felt like it even talked to him, influencing his actions to try to escape.

'Truly, an insidious trial.'

He was genuinely torn, it felt like it was tearing his entire being apart. Some nights he couldn't even sleep and laid there just thinking, imagining what he should do and what would happen. 

Unbeknownst to him, his arms were shaking for quite a long time. His body was fighting the push and pull effect of the nightmare, belligerent to budge in either direction. It took him a while to finally calm down, but his wife already noticed it.

She silently appeared beside him, shocking Michael quite a bit. Judging by the sun reflected in her mesmerizing eyes, it seemed it was no longer early morning. He glanced at the merchants setting up their stands before speaking.

"Good morning darling. Did you sleep well?"

She tightened the cloak around her after feeling the blistering cold bite into her soul and replied in an angelic voice. That was an amazing feat for someone who just woke up, or maybe her voice was just always perfect, who knows?

"Good morning honey. I had a pretty nice sleep, never even felt the cold."

"That's because you refused to let go of me."

"I did not! I would never do something so shameless."

"Oh yeah? What about the time you went -"Husband... it's so cold under the covers without you..."- that sounded pretty shameless, didn't it?"

She had a mean glare in her eyes before she leaned on the railing with Michael, leaning on Michael in the process. Her voice carried a hint of worry.

"Darling, is something wrong? I saw you shaking earlier."

Michael gazed down on her before looking at the distance. People were leaving their homes, saying goodbye to their families, and slowly walked to their workplaces. Some kids met up early and utilized the empty streets as an arena for their games, while a few elderly couples sat on benches, looking at them laugh with joy and play with envious vigor.

No matter how hard Michael wanted to keep the problem to himself and not bother her, he couldn't. Relying on someone wasn't exactly something he was used to and felt a little embarrassed, but he knew that his wife wouldn't mind his awkwardness.

"Yes, something is wrong. I'm just... confused."

"Confused about what?"

"About what to do."

She tenderly leaned onto him more.

"I see, that is quite a problem... what is it that you want to do?"

'I see, huh? That brings back some memories. I wish I could still make those jokes...'

"I can't tell you, I'm sorry..."

She squinted her eyes with a sight grin on her face.

"Oho? Are you confused on if you should start kissing me in the morning or not? Just so you know, I wouldn't refuse something more... daring."

Michael couldn't control himself and let out heartfelt laughter. It was always a joke with her... she probably didn't even know that those small gags eased his pain so much, but also made it so much worse.

"Haha, don't worry, I wouldn't be confused about something like that."

He turned away from her with a smile and stared at the rising sun.

"I'm confused about my future. I just... don't know what choice I should make."

"Do whatever feels right to you."

Michael grimaced at her words. Was he just overcomplicating everything?

"But I don't know how I feel..."

She hesitated for a few seconds before responding.

"Do you know why I enjoy painting?"

She looked towards the sun with him and laid her head against his shoulders.

"It's because it is the truest reflection of life. What I paint is a reflection of me, and I am the reflection of those around me, and those around me make up life."

She paused for a little before continuing. The clamor of crowds gathering before the cathedral grew louder, but the balcony remained in a peaceful quiet.

"The canvas, in a way, is life without darkness. An endless, blinding void of white. Not very interesting, right? In order to create a painting, you always have to start with the darker colors. In the end, the dark will compliment the light."

She stopped leaning on the railing and placed her warm hands on Michael's cold cheeks, turning his head away from the sun.

Half of her delicate face was dyed in a mellow glow, while the other was casted in dim shadows. The sunlight gracefully shined in her tranquil eyes and her skin sparkled. Golden hour was undeniably the greatest time of day.

"What I'm trying to say is... the path you choose may seem dark, but there will always be some light piecing through the cracks. In the end, the destination will be a reflection of you."

Her slight smile turned brighter.

"I may only be an amateur painter, but I believe that painting will be the most beautiful thing I will ever see."

Michael feebly raised his shaking hands and touched hers, seemingly calming all his nerves.

"What makes you say that..."

She tilted her head to the side as her soft hands caressed his cheeks.

"Because I love you. In all futures and pasts, no matter the dreams or nightmares, that will never change. If the gods forbid it, what's stopping me from defying them?"

The plaza before the heavenly cathedral began to populate with crowds as more and more attended the service. Hundreds of people were flocking to the center and moving past the grand doors. The children playing were rowdy, and the conversations between the adults were deafening.

But on the balcony, all that remained was silence.

Michael finally decided his path and he wouldn't regret it, because he believed that no matter the decision, he'll be with her again.

But before that, he was going to enjoy his wife's company, even if just for a little longer. He didn't care if it was the most mundane things, anything with her was like a dream.

=====

It was late into the night and the streets were empty, masked with a thick mist that chilled Michael's thoughts. He had his precious cloak on, shrouding his face from the ivory moon above.

He walked on the main street, between the houses full of incandescent warmth and hearty laughter. A thin layer of snow blanketed the ground, muffling his footsteps and cleansing his thoughts. Michael was torn between liking and hating the repetitive sounds.

After around an hour of walking, he made it to the outer edges of the city, a gargantuan wall constructed from a mix of grey and pale stone. Because of the 'divine sorcery' in this city, there were no need for gates or guards to patrol the walls, so nothing was stopping him from leaving.

He discovered this long ago, but wanted to make sure that it wasn't a trap constructed by the Spell to lure him into death. But, after leaving the city with his wife a couple times, he concluded it was safe.

Beyond the wall was vast, emerald grasslands and deep forests. He was going east, but apparently there were tranquil farmlands and a gigantic ocean to the west, a pity he never got to visit them with his wife. Michael could still vividly remember the feeling of having a picnic with her under a lonely tree in the meadows. The food was simply to die for.

'That was when I first tried waffles...'

He slowly walked beneath the towering walls and nearly made it under... until he stopped.

'What?'

Michael tried to take another step forward, but he couldn't. There was something preventing him, something he couldn't see. There was nothing in his way, so why couldn't he move? Was there a barrier, or was he unknowingly hesitating?

No, no, no...

'Was this really a trap? Is it a boundary set by the Spell? Then why could I leave before and not now?'

'Kill her.'

Michael turned around after hearing someone's whisper. The snowy streets were empty, the only around him was an ever prevalent chilly mist, yet he saw no one. Was that just his imagination?

'What do I do? How do I get rid of this barrier?'

'Kill her.'

Michael turned around again after hearing the same whisper, but just like last time, there was no one there. The streets were eerily silent and cold, but nothing could've produced that whisper.

'There's no one there, why am I hearing-'

'KILL HER!'

Michael yelped in pain and fell to the ground, clenching his ears in fright. When he looked at his hands, his palms were covered in blood.

'Wha... what was that!'

Michael stumbled up and yelled, looking around his surroundings.

"Who's there! Who are you! Show yourself!"

Yet again, there was no one there.

'Why can't I see anyone... oh no...'

Michael finally realized where the voice was coming from and froze in terror. It's not that he couldn't see them, it's because he could always see it. The nightmare creature on the edge of his vision.

'Kill her. That's how you escape.'

"No! You're wrong!"

'You know I'm right...'

Michael fell down to one knee clenching his head aching in pain. His fingers grew numb from the cold and dread.

"No, no! No! You're just a nightmare creature!"

'You're wrong you know...'

Michael suddenly became paralyzed with fear once he noticed the phantom disappear. That was, until he saw the feet of the illusion walking towards him, stopping right beyond his vision. It finally came out of hiding. His anxiety was telling him to run, but his curiosity said otherwise.

He slowly looked up to see who it was.

'What...'

It was a frail-looking woman with long, brunette hair and hazy eyes. Her cheeks were sunken and her wrinkly, pale skin was decomposing and rotting under her rags. 

It was his...

"Mother?"