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He woke up with a start after a loud explosion. The ground was shaking and he could hear the sound of ammunition and loud crashing mixed with animalistic growls and blood curling screams. Smoke filled the air, making it hard for him to see and breathe. He was shocked beyond belief to have woken up under such circumstance but he quickly pulled himself together, uttering a small prayer to induce calm. Panicking would only lessen his chance of survival. Curling in a fetal position, he covered his ears with his hands and remained perfectly still.

 

Amidst the chaos, he tried to figure out what was happening, his blue eyes scanning his surroundings. But with the thick smoke, he couldn’t see anything clearly. It was then that he realized something so obvious that he couldn't believe he actually missed it. He was still in his sleep wear, barefoot and lying on soft sand. He was supposed to be in bed! Master Jireh won’t be too happy if he found out that he had been sleepwalking, he thought. He should have control of it by now. He groaned, berating himself mentally for committing such a childish mistake.

 

Some of the smoke parted after some time and hearing no signs of danger nearby, he lifted himself from the ground feeling heavier than usual, his feet burrowing on the sand. His eyes having adjusted to the darkness and with the light coming from the explosion at a distance, he found himself overlooking the sea. He was relieved that he was nowhere near the commotion, despite the noises being so loud that it almost tore his eardrums.

 

Just when he thought that things would get better for him, he was proven wrong. His sapphire blue orbs swirled with mixed wonder and confusion at the deep red sky that loomed above him. It was the first time he had seen such color fill the heavens. Even though the great expanse was dotted with numerous stars, he couldn’t identify the clusters nor could he find any familiar constellation; he even failed to recognize the ringed planet that was so closely pulled by the planet’s gravity.

 

“Where am I?”

 

He was definitely not in the temple city of Jalgare, nor his colony, Nevaeh. He couldn’t be sure if he was in one of the other eleven colonies. Since Terra was destroyed half a millennia ago, the humans have been living in twelve different planets or colonies, each having their own kingdom. But based on his readings, none of the colonies had this distinct red sky.

 

Only one explanation seemed plausible. He was dreaming. But unlike the previous ones, this particular dream felt more real. Taking deep calming breaths, he sat on the ground with his legs crossed, closed his eyes, cleared his thoughts and focused on waking up. He felt the cold wind brush his arms, the grains tickle his feet. Then slowly he let the soft touches of nature disappear as he pictured Jalgare in his mind, then the temples inside the Sanctuarion and finally, his room where his bed was. He could see it, feel the hard wood floors under his feet, touch the softness of his bed, and hear the trickling of the water by the stream joined by the buzz of the insects…

 

… and then a high pitched shrill deafened his ears. He shot his eyes open, shivers running down his spine as he whipped his head around. He was no longer in the sandy beach but was instead faced with a different dilemma.

 

He just transported himself right smack in the middle of a war or rather, a massacre. A few structures still stood on the ground but more than half of the whole kingdom or city, he wasn’t sure, was burnt down into smoke and ashes. He could feel the intense heat of the surrounding inferno. Blood and dead bodies littered the streets, the stench was sickening. But at the thought of vomiting, he suddenly felt a strange presence. He whirled on all directions. But no one was in sight. His heart drummed loudly in his chest and his stomach was tied in knots. He knew he had to hide, for if those who caused this destruction found him, he would never wake up.

 

He half-walked, half-jogged through a maze, finding his way out of the place but instead, felt a pull leading him closer and closer to the center and not away from it. His breathing was labored and sweat was drenching his clothes but he pushed himself to move forward. He was convinced that he had to understand his dream in order to get out of it. His other dreams were vague and less life-threatening compared to this one that he just wakes out of it, back to reality without doing anything.

 

Crouching low and ducking behind solid structures for cover, he started searching for clues, for any symbol or word that would at least give him something to work with. He tried to remember what he has seen. He must not forget. He couldn’t explain why, but there was a strong urge or need inside of him to store everything into his memory.

 

He picked up every artefact he could find and miraculously reached the center buildings unnoticed. It was eerily silent, he wondered if the enemies left already but he couldn’t be careless as he blended himself with the shadows. Most of the structures were left unscathed and he felt strongly that whatever it was the invaders were after, it could be found inside these buildings.

 

Their facades have a recurring symbol embossed on top, an emblem, of a harp without the strings and a griffin on the center. The golden trimmings, intricate steel and iron designs and rare stones on each of the buildings were an indication of the kingdom’s wealth. A kingdom or even a just a city, with such status would have to be known all through-out the twelve kingdoms. It wouldn’t be hard for him to find out once he visited the Archives the moment he wakes up. The sophisticated architectural design reminded him of Atlantis, a place which he only saw in books and he grew excited with the possibility.

 

He crossed to the building in a quick sprint, but not his usual speed since he felt heavier. Looking from left to right, he quietly entered the building which opened up to a very huge dome lined with shelves. What seemed to be ultra thin computers lay scattered on the floor and he lifted one up. He ran a finger across the screen and holograms appeared at every touch. He couldn’t recognize the characters. He picked one after the other, merely relying on the images that popped but he soon found his efforts futile.

 

He was about to leave the building when he heard vicious growls outside. He dropped to his knees in fear. He crouched low and crawled just behind the massive door to take a peek outside. The rational part of him was telling him to run and hide but another part was insisting otherwise. If he survived, he would be the only witness, his conscience urged. Besides, this is just a dream. He convinced himself although he was starting to think otherwise.

 

What he saw terrified him. There were hundreds of them, rounding up a few of the humans that survived. The humans were naked and were bound in shackles and chains, shivering in fear and looking so small against the massive physique of the monsters. He gulped. The captured humans would be turned into slaves.

 

They are definitely not humans, he thought, perhaps genetically altered amphibians. He was fascinated with the science of molecular genetics but it never crossed his mind, that humans would create such monstrosities. Their head has the slimy and spotted skin of most amphibians. Black irises dotted their deep set, yellow eyes that are framed by black lids and long, black whiskers arching the top. These hair extensions continue growing on the folded sides of their scalp. Their huge mouths reminded him of lampreys but with elephant tusks for teeth that could easily tear skin.

 

He was watching them intently when a sudden gust of wind ceased movement of the ferocious invaders. He wondered why but soon realized the reason. Their ugly heads turned towards his direction, baring their teeth at him.

 

Oh great! Just great! They even have a great sense of smell!

 

He scrambled on his feet but he lost his balance and landed on his bottom. He still wasn’t used to the change in gravity. He winced in pain but it was soon replaced by immense fear at the sight of the huge mouths gaping so close at him.

 

Wake up. Wake up. WAKE UP!

 

He chanted as the deep growls echoed louder within the walls. It was followed by shrieks as one lunged at him.

 

He closed his eyes. WAKE UP! NOW!

 

Then there was silence. He remained still and waited. Nothing happened.

 

I’m alive?

 

Slowly, he lifted his lids, the right one first. There was nothing; and then followed by the left.

 

He was in his room, the digital clock on his bedside table telling him that he only has three hours before his classes start; and in each passing second, he might lose an important detail from his dream.

 

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Droopy eyes shuttered open and close, as the owner slipped in and out of consciousness. The voice in the background was getting soft then loud until it became an echo inside a tunnel. He was slowly losing the battle to stay awake.

 

“Kel!”

 

The voice boomed and his eyes shot open, his startled blue orbs meeting the warm brown ones of Master Rohi.

 

“If you are tired, you should have stayed in your room. You know how I hate my students sleeping on me,” he stated, the lines of old age evident as he gazed at the boy worriedly.

 

Kel bowed his head in apology and excused himself from the class. They were discussing Astronomy, a subject which he wouldn’t want to miss, especially after his dream last night. But in fear of losing the dream, he stayed up until dawn, making the memory permanent. Kel always confided with the kind professor about his dreams, depicted them through his drawings. But showing it to him might have to wait.

 

Kel exited the learning halls through the back door and walked down the cobble stone path towards the main temple - a three-storey building with a flat roof and held by stone pillars. All the temples in Jalgare are situated inside a rectangular complex called the Sanctuarion. Although the construction of the temples was based on the same architectural design, striking differences could still be observed corresponding to their purposes. Despite the rigid appearance of the temples, the entire complex was still inviting to the citizens because of the green landscape and gardens that softens the hard concrete and marble stones.

 

On his way, Kel couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable with the wary stares directed at him by the temple visitors. He had the characteristic jet black hair and light brown skin common to most people in the kingdom. His cerulean blue eyes, though, were an exception. Not that there wasn’t anyone in Nevaeh with blue eyes; his was just different, more like glass. He always kept his hair neat and trimmed and sported shirts and jeans – a bit conservative compared to his peers.

 

Kel lowered his head and scaled up the marble steps as quickly and quietly as he could. Once inside the double doors, he let out a sigh of relief and climbed the stairs to his room, where he dozed off instantly the moment his back landed on his bed.

 

He must have been really tired that when he woke up, he felt relaxed and strange enough, he didn’t dream. Kel then went out of his room and strode towards the Archives. He was in a bit of a hurry but knew to respect the place he was heading to. It was the second largest structure in the Sanctuarion, with the largest collection of books in Jalgare. He entered the temple building and saw that the place was divided– the front tables were occupied by a few students and then there was Master Jireh, a calm expression on his face as he read a book in the corner table. Kel knew not to disturb the priest and thus, he proceeded to the section dedicated to civilization.

 

There was an enormous collection. Hundreds of books were on the database, so he narrowed the search based on language. He read once that modern languages were derived from ancient text. He opened his sketchpad once again and stared at the characters he wrote. He scanned the page and uploaded it on the computer in order to find a match.

 

He was stunned by his discovery so he quickly but quietly made his way out of the Archives to find Master Rohi. He trusted him with his dreams and often showed his drawings to him. Master Rohi was more like a father than a mentor for Kel. Eleven years ago, he found him outside the temple gates, wrapped in silk and placed in a basket, just a day after he was born. Without any leads on his identity and his parents, the priests gave him a name and a home.

 

Once he was in the clear, he bolted towards the back of the complex where the gardens were. He couldn’t wait to tell his master what he found out. It was indeed an old text but it was so complex that it was lost along with the people who used it. What intrigued the boy was that it was a language brought by the first settlers of Nevaeh.

 

He found the person he was looking for shortly. He had his back turned on him while he tended his drupes, berries, beans and herbs. The edges of his sleeveless emerald green robe were already smudged with dirt and Kel was guessing that his master’s white dress shirt and black silk pants were too.

 

Kel knew why his master frequented that place. It provided comfort and he believed that it was the plants’ doing. His master shared to him his knowledge on the healing abilities of the different plant species in the garden. He grew his plants in plots that were designed to surround the man made pond, where his floral plants floated. His garden was bordered with other species growing on trellises and plots.

 

“Feeling better now Kel?” the man asked without even looking behind his shoulder. Even though how light his footsteps were, his master always knew it was him.

 

“Yes. I’m sorry about earlier,” he said and his mentor, made a sound and waved his hand for him to come closer.

 

“I had another dream last night,” Kel continued, staring at the sketchbook in his hands then at the old man.

 

“Is it just a dream, Kel?” He lifted his startled eyes at the distant sound of his master’s voice. “Tell me, how do we know what is real from what is not?”

 

The question was left hanging as Kel tried to come up with a response. Of all the times for Master Rohi to be so philosophical and speaking in riddles, it had to be at that moment, he frowned.

 

“Things aren’t what they seem, it’s what they are. Perception, my boy, perception,” he continued and with that master left student pondering alone in the garden.

 

Master Rohi’s voice echoed loudly in his ears even after he was long gone. Kel was now sitting on the bench, his eyes focused on the ripples of water in the manmade pond as insects started to have their own dance in the liquid stage, while his mind was elsewhere.

 

Reclining on the bench, Kel started to relax his mind and clear his thoughts. The rushing of water from the nearby stream was slowly fading in the back of his mind, along with the rustling of the leaves and chirping of the birds. There was no sound, only silence. Then he felt light, weightless as a feather.

 

A light shown at a distance and he reached for it, floating. Suddenly, his neurons were assaulted by different sensations, bombarding his mind, body and soul until he could feel the three entities merge as one.

 

Then, there was peace and calm. He enjoyed reaching such state. But just as he was growing comfortable with where he was, he heard shouts of pain and anguish.

 

He opened his eyes. Destruction lay before him once again. No, no, no! This is not what I want!

 

Women carrying their children were running towards him, the fear clearly painted on their faces. Before he could even move out of their way, they passed right through him and the feeling was indescribable. He looked at his hand and it was see through. His breath quickened, panicked at the loss of his body but then calmed once again, remembering that he was still in meditation.

 

This is cool. He grinned at himself but snapped out of his reverie when another group of humans came rushing towards him. He saw one of the warriors bid his wife and baby farewell with a kiss each on their foreheads. He has wild, black hair that went past his broad shoulders and his toned chest. He was merely covered in a blue cloak and a lower garment that Kel had seen warriors of the Zelik tribe wore in the north of Ashur Kingdom.

 

The warrior charged back towards the battlefield, with his shield and sword. Kel followed him, barely keeping up with his speed. Then he felt the strange presence once again, the same presence he encountered in his dream making him stop. His eyes darted from left to right and he caught a movement, a mass of energy surging towards the warrior.

 

Kel wanted to warn the man, remembering the hopeful eyes of his wife and the baby. He opened his mouth but not a sound was heard. He forced himself to manifest his body but to no avail.

 

The unidentified mass is without form and invisible to the human eye; but Kel could see it moving. The foreign entity kept following the warrior. Kel looked at the direction the man was heading and saw the same monstrous beings in his previous dream wreaking havoc once again. Growling and baring their teeth, Kel cringed at the saliva that dripped to the ground.

 

In just a moment that Kel shifted his attention away from the warrior, the formless being fused with the man’s body and a surge of energy flowed through him. Strange blue markings appeared in his face and arms and his body grew larger in size. The power he received was so strong that it started leaking out of him in waves. His face was contorted, veins almost ripping out of his skin, from the change that was happening in his body. He was screaming but his words were unintelligible. Some of his comrades started helping him but they were just thrown away like dolls.

 

After completing his transformation, his face grew dark and cold; it lacked the warmth and love it had before. He was no longer the protector of his people, no longer the husband of his wife, and neither the father of his son nor the comrade of his fellow warriors. He was the enemy. He flung his sword and the fallen warriors didn’t know what hit them.

 

Kel helplessly watched as the man killed dozens of his friends and relatives. His eyes were dry but his heart was crying for the man. His young heart couldn’t bear to watch the massacre and the destruction that he closed his eyes and numbed his ears.

 

Kel embraced the darkness and the silence. Detaching himself from the world he was in and ventured deep in the recesses of his mind, just like he always did when he was sad. He was safe there. In the silence, he tended his broken heart until his strength drained and he completely surrendered himself to the calm.

 

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Kel woke up under a grey sky. He groaned in frustration as he pushed himself off the dry ground. He wasn’t truly awake yet. He was in another dream, right in the middle of ruins. At least, there was no fire, formless beings, growling monsters and suffering humans.

 

He was about to walk away from the wall remains but he had this inkling that the he had been there before. It was like the place was calling out to his very being. He decided to look around; the geography and contour of the grounds were oddly familiar. There were only a few trees around the area but he could see the dead roots sticking out from the dry soil. He knew that it was once filled with trees and plants. He then noticed a circular patch of ground. It was like something was placed there before that prevented the growth of weeds.

 

He continued walking and stopped right in front of a walled structure when the image of the temple’s dining hall flashed in his mind. Kel ran around towards the other side of the wall and what he saw brought him to his knees.

 

He could never forget that time when he was six and he carved a small section of the dining room wall with his name right next to Masters Rohi’s and Ezer’s signatures. Shaking, he got up on his feet and ran towards the open fields shouting.

 

“Master Rafah! Master Ezer!”

 

Silence.

 

“Master Jireh!”

 

Silence.

 

“ABBAH ROHI!!”

 

Kel shook his head in denial as his body racked with sobs.

 

“No, no, no, NOOOO!”

 

This was the place where he grew up. This was place where the temples once stood.

 

This place was home.

 

Tears streamed down his red cheeks, pouring endlessly.

 

He cried for he would never see Master Ezer’s small chinky eyes that would disappear into crescents every time he smiles or his long braided hair that would move like a whip during training. He would never get to spar with his small lithe body that moved with grace and agility. He would never hear of his stories filled with so much wit and humour.

 

He cried for the gentle giant that was Master Rafah, who carried him in his broad shoulders or crushed him in his strong chest whenever he was lonely. He would never get to spend time with him inside the meditation hall or assist him in making medicines. He would never see that smile that always painted one in his or hear that laughter so contagious, his stomach would hurt.

 

He cried for the quiet Master Jireh, who spent time with him inside the Archives. He may look intimidating with his aristocratic features but his master is really kind and soft-spoken. He would never see those beautiful hazel eyes that spoke a million words to him. He would miss that small smile in his face even though he had only seen it once.

 

He cried for the man he called father, the person whom he shared his dreams. He would never see those pair of warm brown eyes looking back at him with such acceptance and understanding. He would never get to spend time with him in the garden where he would hear his words of wisdom. He would never see Master Rohi.

 

Kel cried endlessly for the family he lost until he had no more strength to cry.

 

The image of his family smiling back at him was the last thing he saw before slipping out of consciousness. It was almost dark when Kel came to. Dried tears streaked his cheeks and his eyes were red and swollen. He limply carried his weight, dragging his feet until he reached the temple gates. It stood proudly on the vast expanse. What once guarded the temples can now be likened to the gates that led to a graveyard.

 

He stopped, not knowing where to go or what to do. He was about to cry but no tears came. He was tired and hungry and he needed his strength if he wanted to survive.

 

But what’s my purpose in living? I don’t have a home…no family….to share my life with.

 

Depressing thoughts flooded his mind. He was sinking deeper and deeper into the abyss of misery, heading into the darkness and away from the light. He embraced the cold and the darkness, succumbing to the peace it offered. He wrapped his arms around his knees and rested his head between them. Inside the black void, there was nothing. No pain or sadness. He liked it there.

 

Is this the reality you wanted, Kel?

 

The voice was just above a whisper, gentle and kind.

 

Is this the reality you perceived?

 

He heard it again, this time a little louder.

 

Don’t give up my boy. Live!

 

Kel opened his eyes, the words of Master Rohi alive and vibrant within him. He could feel his strength and his warmth. He will live. His parents abandoned him, gave him up but Master Rohi and the other priests stood by him. That’s how important his life is.

 

He got to his feet and stepped out of the temple gates.

 

 

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