Visionless

Ren came to a skidding halt, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. "Hah… hah… whew. We're here. Finally. Been a while since I've run like that… Hey, kid, you good back there?" He patted his shoulders to check if Adam was still clinging to him.

Adam groaned weakly in response, his voice muffled. "I'm fine… Actually, scratch that—I'm gonna vomit!" He scrambled off Ren's back and stumbled to the nearest tree, doubling over as he emptied the contents of his stomach.

Ren winced at the sound, stretching out his arms and rolling his shoulders. "Yeah… maybe letting you hitch a ride so we could get here faster wasn't such a great idea after all." He let out a deep exhale, his tail flicking behind him as he surveyed the path they'd sprinted.

Adam, pale and recovering, shot him a glare from where he leaned against the tree. "How the hell… can you even run that fast?" he gasped.

Ren shrugged nonchalantly. "Built different, I guess."

(Built different? What kind of answer is that?) Adam thought, scowling as he tried to shake off the nausea. (He ran for miles without collapsing, carrying me the whole time. That's not just fast—that's impossible. What the hell is this tiger even made of?)

Finally able to straighten himself, Adam glanced ahead. "So… this is Erak," he muttered, his voice filled with awe.

The capital of Erak was nothing like he'd imagined. Towering above them was a wall—no, the wall. It stretched impossibly high, so massive that the top blurred against the horizon. Its immense size made Adam feel like an ant before a mountain. He'd caught glimpses of it while clinging to Ren's back, but standing here, taking it all in, was another thing entirely.

Ren cracked his neck and motioned down the path. "Alright, kid, you've had your sightseeing. Time for our deal. But first, we need to backtrack a bit and find the main road to the entrance gate."

Adam groaned, still queasy but starting to follow. "Sure, because what I need right now is more walking..."

After a few minutes of retracing their steps, they found a cobblestone road leading straight to the city's main gates. Ahead of them was a long line—a mix of carriages and travelers, all waiting for their turn to pass through the imposing iron gates.

Adam squinted at the line. "That's… a lot of people. So, what's the plan, exactly? You said you had a way to avoid getting caught. Pretty sure I can get in with my adventurer's badge, but what about you? Are we just going to wait in line?"

Ren grinned, pulling something from the pouch slung at his waist. "Nope. Not waiting. Watch this." With a flourish, he slipped on what appeared to be an ornate mask.

Adam froze, blinking in disbelief. "Your plan… is a mask?" His voice rose an octave, teetering on incredulity. "You've got to be kidding me! That's the best you've got?"

Ren raised a finger to his lips, shushing him. "Relax. Look closer."

Adam frowned but leaned in to inspect him. At first glance, it looked like any ordinary mask, albeit intricately carved with swirling patterns and dark, shimmering colors. But as Adam focused, he noticed something strange: Ren's face beneath the mask was different. His fur was gone, replaced by smooth, human-like skin. The mask wasn't just covering him—it was altering his entire appearance.

"Wait a second… your face!" Adam exclaimed. "It's… there's no fur anymore! Is this thing… magical?"

Ren smirked, clearly enjoying the reveal. "Bingo. An enchanted mask. Makes me look human enough to pass a glance."

Adam tilted his head skeptically. "I mean, yeah, it works, but don't you think it makes you look even more suspicious? Like, who just walks around wearing a mask like that?"

Ren waved a dismissive hand. "Trust me. The less attention people pay to my actual face, the better. Worst-case scenario, I get caught. But don't worry—I won't rat you out. Deal's a deal."

Adam groaned again, pinching the bridge of his nose. "This feels like a terrible idea. You're going to get us both arrested, aren't you?"

Ren's grin widened, his sharp teeth flashing briefly before the mask obscured them again. "Relax, kid. I've been doing this kind of thing for years. Stick with me, and you'll be fine."

Adam sighed. "That's what I'm afraid of."

The line felt endless, stretching on for what seemed like hours. Adam shifted impatiently, glancing back at Ren, who stood a few paces behind him. Ren gave him an exaggerated shrug, as if to say, What can you do? Adam sighed, turning his focus back to the towering gate ahead.

When it was finally his turn, Adam stepped forward, only to be stopped abruptly by a guard. The man's silver armor gleamed under the midday sun, the polished halberd in his hand blocking Adam's path with a deliberate motion.

"Halt!" the guard barked, his voice deep and authoritative. "State your business and identity, or there will be no entrance!"

Adam stiffened, instinctively drawing in a steadying breath. His hand fumbled for his wooden adventurer's badge, which he held out for the guard to inspect.

The guard eyed it carefully, turning the badge over in his hand before giving a satisfied grunt. "Adventurer, huh? No issues here." He handed the badge back. "Proceed."

Adam exhaled in relief, stepping past the gate and into the city. But the moment he crossed the threshold, his breath hitched again—this time in awe.

The capital of Erak sprawled out before him, alive with noise and motion. Towering spires and grand stone buildings loomed above cobblestone streets teeming with people. Market stalls lined every available space, their colorful awnings flapping in the breeze as merchants shouted over one another to advertise their wares. The scent of baked goods, roasting meats, and spices mingled with the faint tang of city life, overwhelming Adam's senses.

"This place..." Adam murmured, his voice barely audible amid the cacophony. "It's way too big… way too crowded." His legs wobbled slightly as the sheer scale of the city threatened to overwhelm him. He felt like a pebble lost in a roaring river.

Noticing a nearby fountain, Adam decided to step aside and gather himself. The fountain was an elaborate centerpiece, water cascading from the mouths of intricately carved stone beasts. The sound of flowing water offered a momentary reprieve from the chaos around him.

Adam leaned against the fountain's edge, his hands gripping the cool stone as he tried to steady his nerves. The city was magnificent, no doubt, but it was also daunting. How do people live in a place like this? he wondered, watching the endless stream of bodies pass by. He took a deep breath, trying to acclimate to the bustling energy of Erak.

He glanced back at the gate, waiting to see if Ren would make it through. If he gets stopped, that's his problem, Adam thought, though the idea of going into the city alone unsettled him. He drummed his fingers on the stone edge, giving Ren a few minutes to appear. "If he doesn't make it soon," Adam muttered to himself, "I'll just head to the guild. Can't wait forever."

He cast another glance around, trying to shake off the weight of his nerves. The bustling energy of Erak was almost too much, and Adam wondered if Ren had been stopped at the gate. Just as doubt began creeping into his mind, a familiar figure slipped through the crowd.

Ren strolled in casually, his sharp eyes scanning the throng of people before landing on Adam. His masked face split into a cheeky grin as he gave a wave, then motioned for Adam to follow with an exaggerated beckoning gesture. 

Adam pushed himself off the fountain, shaking his head with a faint smile. "Took you long enough," he muttered under his breath, falling into step behind Ren as they navigated deeper into the chaotic streets of Erak. 

Ren glanced over his shoulder and chuckled. "Hey, patience is a virtue, kid. And so is blending in. You don't even know the half of what I just pulled off back there."

Adam snorted. "Blending in? Says the guy wearing a magical mask. You look suspicious as hell."

"Suspicious? Me? Nah, this thing's flawless. They barely batted an eye." Ren tapped the mask with a clawed finger as if it were a masterpiece of craftsmanship. "Besides, you're lucky to have me around. Without me, you'd probably still be standing in line, shaking in your boots."

Adam rolled his eyes but said nothing, choosing to focus on the maze of streets ahead.

Ren walked with purpose, his strides confident and unwavering as if he knew exactly where he was headed. Adam struggled to keep up, almost losing him several times as they weaved through the crowded streets of Erak. Ren didn't slow down or glance back, forcing Adam to push through the throng of people, muttering apologies as he went.

After what felt like an eternity—and definitely more than an hour—they finally stopped in front of an enormous building. Adam blinked up at it, jaw slack. It looked like a hotel, but not just any hotel—this one was ridiculously grand. The structure towered over the surrounding buildings, its many windows gleaming in the sunlight, and countless floors stacked high with an almost intimidating symmetry.

"Is this... normal for inns in the capital?" Adam asked, his voice tinged with awe and disbelief.

Ren finally stopped to look at him, a smirk playing on his lips. "Capital life, kid. Get used to it."

He turned his gaze to the grand entrance—a set of double doors framed by polished brass and ornate carvings—then crouched down slightly so he was eye-level with Adam. His expression turned serious, though the slight glint of amusement remained. "Alright, listen up, kid. When we go in, you'll have to do the talking."

Adam blinked. "Wait, why me?"

Ren waved a hand dismissively. "Because I'm the mysterious, silent type. Besides, this mask might raise a few eyebrows if I start yammering. You, on the other hand, look like a perfectly harmless traveler."

Adam groaned but nodded reluctantly. "Fine, what am I supposed to say?"

Ren leaned in closer, lowering his voice. "Ask for a room for two. Make sure it's one of the premium ones. We'll need food, water, and, most importantly—" He pointed dramatically at Adam for emphasis. "A shower. Trust me, after all the running around we've done, we're going to need it."

Adam raised an eyebrow. "You mean you need it. You're the one who smells like a wet dog."

Ren's ears twitched under the hood, and he gave Adam a mock glare. "Keep talking, kid. See how far that gets you."

Suppressing a laugh, Adam rolled his eyes. "Fine, I'll handle it. But you owe me for this one."

Ren stood up, giving him a light pat on the shoulder. "Sure, sure. Just don't mess it up. I'm counting on you."

Adam grumbled under his breath as they pushed open the grand doors, stepping into the inn's rustic yet surprisingly elegant lobby. The warm glow of lanterns lit the room, revealing wooden beams that crisscrossed the high ceiling, giving the place a cozy yet polished charm. To Adam's surprise, this wasn't the quaint inn he'd envisioned—it was more like a small-scale luxury hotel.

Near the entrance stood a reception desk, behind which slouched a teenager who looked like he'd rather be anywhere else. His head rested in his hand, and his expression screamed boredom. Adam sighed and walked up to the desk, clearing his throat.

"Excuse me, can I get a room for two? With food, water, and a shower, please," Adam said, doing his best to sound polite.

The teenager didn't even glance up at first. He lazily shifted his gaze, and when he finally registered Adam's voice, he looked around as if searching for the source. His brow furrowed in confusion, and then his eyes finally dropped down to meet Adam's.

"Hey, kid... the hell you doing here?" the teenager asked, his tone incredulous.

Adam felt his patience already wearing thin. "I'm here to get a room for two. With food, water, and a shower. Like I just said."

The teenager blinked at him, clearly unimpressed. After a moment of silence, he heaved a sigh, got up, and walked over to a wall lined with keys. He scanned them briefly before pulling one off a hook.

"Oh, wait—make it premium," Adam added quickly, suddenly remembering Ren's instructions.

The teenager froze mid-step and let out a groan loud enough to echo in the room. With exaggerated annoyance, he put the key back and picked another one, only to switch it again moments later. Finally, he walked back to the desk with two keys in hand.

"Here," he said flatly, tossing the keys onto the desk. "One for the room, one for the showers. That'll be fifty silver a night."

Adam froze. Fifty silver? His stomach sank as he realized he didn't have a single coin on him. His mind scrambled for a solution, but before he could come up with one, the teenager narrowed his eyes.

"Don't tell me you're broke," the teen said, his voice dripping with irritation. He started moving around the desk, clearly intent on throwing Adam out.

Before Adam could stammer out an excuse, a small leather pouch landed on the desk with a satisfying clink of coins. Both Adam and the teenager turned to see Ren approaching the counter, his masked face unreadable but his towering presence impossible to ignore.

"He'll pay," Adam said quickly, stepping to the side as if to claim Ren as his benefactor.

Ren's golden eyes gleamed faintly behind the mask as he stood next to Adam. "Problem solved," he said smoothly as a whisper, his deep voice cutting through the awkward silence.

The teenager stared at Ren for a moment, weighing whether he wanted to argue with the imposing figure. Deciding against it, he grabbed the pouch, counted out the coins, and handed over the keys.

"Enjoy your stay," he muttered begrudgingly before slouching back into his chair.

Adam took the keys and turned to Ren with a sheepish grin. "Thanks for the save."

Ren gave a low chuckle. "You're lucky I've got deep pockets, kid. Next time, remember the money."

Adam rolled his eyes as they headed toward the staircase. "Next time, you do the talking."

Ren smirked under his mask. "Where's the fun in that?"

As they climbed the creaky staircase toward their room, Adam's curiosity got the better of him. "Wait a second," he said, narrowing his eyes suspiciously at Ren. "Where did you even get the money?"

Ren didn't break stride, casually flicking a glance over his shoulder. "Mon-eh? What's that?"

Adam blinked, momentarily thrown off. "The silver. Sorry, that's just what we call coins where I'm from."

Ren hummed in acknowledgment. "Oh, that. Don't worry—I always carry some with me," he said with an almost innocent tone.

Adam frowned, his gut telling him there was more to that statement than Ren was letting on. But before he could press further, Ren's smirk betrayed the truth he left unsaid: …and steal the rest from bandits.

Adam shook his head, muttering, "Why does that not surprise me?"

Ren chuckled softly, his tail flicking in amusement as they reached the hallway. "Relax, kid. The less you know, the better."

"Pretty sure that's what guilty people say," Adam grumbled.

"Maybe," Ren replied with a wink Adam couldn't see behind his mask, pushing open the door to their room. "But you've got a comfy bed and a shower waiting, don't you? No complaints, right?"

Adam sighed as he stepped inside. "You're impossible."

"And yet, here we are," Ren said, kicking the door shut behind them with a satisfied grin.

Adam crossed his arms, his brow furrowed in a mix of irritation and disbelief. "So who exactly did you steal from and when? We just got here!"

Ren chuckled, clearly unbothered by the accusation. "Like I said, don't worry about it. They won't be needing it anymore."

Adam shot him a sharp look, his suspicion growing. "That's... not reassuring," he muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose before sighing. "Fine, whatever. Just don't get us caught, alright? The last thing I need is to end up in a dungeon because of you."

"Relax, kid!" Ren laughed, a wide grin spreading across his face. "It's no big deal—just a little silver, maybe some gold. Honestly, it'll be like they never had it in the first place." He waved his hand dismissively, as if the whole thing was a harmless joke.

Adam opened his mouth to protest further but quickly realized he wouldn't get a straight answer. With a defeated sigh, he slumped onto the edge of the bed, muttering, "I can't believe I'm traveling with a walking crime spree."

Ren ignored the jab, plopping down into a chair and leaning back with a casual air. "So, what do you think about Erak so far? Pretty nice place, huh?"

Adam frowned at the sudden subject change but decided to humor him. "Honestly? It's overwhelming. Too big, too loud, and way too many people. I don't know how anyone lives here without losing their mind."

Ren smirked, his sharp teeth gleaming. "You'll get used to it. Or you won't, and that's fine too. Either way, you'll survive. Probably."

Adam rolled his eyes. "You're not exactly inspiring confidence, you know."

"Hey," Ren said with a shrug, "confidence is overrated. Besides, you've got me. That's all the reassurance you need, right?"

Adam groaned, flopping backward onto the bed. "We're doomed."

Ren just laughed. "Welcome to Erak, kid."

___________________

Adam's voice echoed softly in the quiet room. "Another fail..." he muttered, sitting cross-legged next to his bed. The dim light of the lamp cast long shadows, mirroring the disappointment weighing on him. Late into the night, while Ren was off on one of his solitary walks, Adam had decided to try his hand at magic again.

"Magic..." he sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't even know what it's supposed to feel like. Maybe I should just give up and try something else."

It wasn't just frustration that gnawed at him—it was the weight of repeated failure. Ms. Eldez had told him he had potential, but potential without progress felt like a cruel joke. He clenched his fists, staring at the crystal in his palm, willing it to do something, but it remained as lifeless as ever.

Resigned, he threw himself onto the bed and stared at the ceiling. "Why does this have to be so impossible?" he whispered. Closing his eyes, he waited for sleep to take him, but instead of peace, his mind was assaulted by a relentless buzzing. It wasn't in the room—it was in his head.

"This place is too... loud," he groaned, pressing his hands against his temples. The constant hum of the city outside seemed to amplify the noise in his mind.

He sat up with a sigh, rubbing his face. "Maybe a shower will help," he muttered. Padding across the room, he turned on the faucet in the bathroom and filled the tub. The sound of water splashing against the porcelain was soothing, and as he sank into the warm embrace of the bath, he let out a long exhale. The heat eased his tense muscles, but the buzzing refused to go away.

Adam tilted his head back against the tub's edge, staring at the ceiling as the steam rose around him. His eyelids grew heavy, and before long, his consciousness began to fade. The incessant buzzing seemed to shift, growing into a deep, resonant hum, pulling him further into a strange and surreal state.

When Adam opened his eyes again, he was no longer in the bathroom. His chest tightened in panic as he flailed, realizing he was submerged in water. Jade-green water stretched infinitely in all directions, its clarity unsettling and unnatural. He thrashed for the surface, his lungs burning with the need for air—

But he wasn't drowning.

Adam froze, his arms going slack. He could breathe. He pressed a hand to his chest, taking slow, deep breaths. This is a dream... it has to be, he thought, calming himself.

As his heart rate steadied, he began to take in his surroundings. Around him, colossal chains drifted in the water, their jade-green hue blending with the ocean. Some were small, others impossibly massive, their links as large as buildings. They stretched endlessly in all directions, creating an eerie labyrinth.

Far in the distance, Adam spotted something. Some of the chains were hooked to enormous anchors, while others formed spheres around shadowy objects he couldn't quite make out. One sphere, however, caught his attention—it was larger than the rest, pulsating faintly with a dim, otherworldly light.

Drawn to it, Adam swam closer, the water parting easily around him. The buzzing in his mind intensified as he approached, becoming a low hum that resonated through his very being. He reached out toward the sphere, his hand trembling as he felt the pull of something ancient and powerful.

"What... is this?" he whispered, his voice oddly clear despite being underwater.

Adam's hand froze mid-reach, trembling as an unshakable chill ran down his spine. A presence loomed behind him—silent but oppressive. His skin crawled, and every instinct screamed at him to run. Slowly, he turned, dread pooling in his stomach like lead.

Far in the distance, four glowing yellow eyes pierced through the jade-green waters, unblinking and merciless. They stared at him with a focus that felt ancient, primal, and overwhelming. Adam's breath hitched as the weight of those eyes bore down on him.

Fear seized him. Not the ordinary fear of danger or pain, but a fear so deep, so all-consuming, that it crushed every thought and feeling. It was the kind of terror that shattered minds and silenced souls. His heart thudded painfully in his chest, then seemed to forget how to beat.

The eyes drew closer—or was it that they grew larger? Adam couldn't tell. His sense of space unraveled as the figure attached to those monstrous eyes came into view. It wasn't swimming toward him. It wasn't moving at all. It was simply growing, consuming his entire field of vision.

The creature's face became clearer, and Adam wished it hadn't. A triangular head, reminiscent of both a deep-sea fish and a whale, emerged from the void. Its skin shimmered like oil on water, dark and shifting, while rows of needle-like teeth jutted from its gaping maw. They were perfectly aligned, each one as sharp as a blade.

Adam's mind buckled as the creature continued to grow. He could barely comprehend its size. It didn't stop. Its teeth alone dwarfed him now, and as it loomed larger, he felt his own existence shrink in comparison. He was nothing but a speck, then a grain, then an atom in the shadow of this impossible being.

The water around him felt heavier, suffocating him despite his ability to breathe. His thoughts scattered like leaves in a storm, leaving behind only raw, unrelenting terror. He couldn't scream. He couldn't think. He couldn't even exist properly under the weight of this thing's gaze.

The creature wasn't just massive—it was infinite. It defied reality, eclipsing the very fabric of the dream. Adam's sanity frayed, unraveling thread by thread as his mind struggled and failed to grasp what it was seeing.

And then, it spoke.

Not in words, but in a vibration so deep it shook him to his core. The hum that had been buzzing in his mind all night now roared, deafening and all-encompassing. It wasn't a sound meant for mortal ears, yet Adam felt it echo through his very bones, his soul.

Whatever this thing was, it wasn't just watching him. It was judging him.

As the creature's gargantuan form loomed over him, its yellow eyes like two burning suns in the endless dark, Adam's mind felt as if it were being torn apart by a force beyond comprehension. His heart raced, his breath came in ragged gasps, but even the most primal parts of him couldn't escape. The terror that suffocated him was unlike anything he had ever known—a cold, gnawing fear that devoured every sense of reality, erasing his very existence with each passing moment.

Then, from the depths of his consciousness, came a voice. At first, it was nothing more than a discordant hum, an alien vibration that rattled through him like a storm of whispers. It wasn't a voice in any sense he could comprehend, only a presence that surrounded his thoughts, pressing into them from all sides. It was as if the very air around him spoke—and yet, as he strained to understand, the voice began to shift.

Slowly, agonizingly slow, the alien tones began to align, wrapping themselves around his fractured mind. It was like hearing an ancient language for the first time—completely unintelligible at first, but somehow, with each passing moment, it became clearer.

"You found me..." the voice echoed, a deep, resonating hum vibrating through Adam's skull, like thunder in a distant void. "...I will return what is yours."

The words didn't make sense—at least not at first. Adam's mind, battered by the creature's overwhelming presence, couldn't grasp them entirely. But there was something in those words, something that seemed to resonate with a forgotten piece of him, a memory buried so deep it might have been lost forever.

His terror didn't fade, but it began to shift, bending around this strange sensation. For the first time since he had woken in this bizarre world, something felt right. A missing piece, a fragment of himself he hadn't realized was gone, began to return. It wasn't just a memory; it was a sense of wholeness—a strange, almost peaceful feeling that washed over him despite the horrors before him.

Adam's heart pounded in his chest, and the overwhelming pressure around him began to feel—tolerable. The eldritch nightmare that had towered over him seemed just a little less oppressive, its monstrous form no longer quite so vast and incomprehensible.

And as he slowly began to understand that the voice was not coming from the creature, but from somewhere deeper, darker, he realized that this was not a simple dream. He wasn't just in a nightmare—he was being touched by something far older, something unfathomable.

"You found me..." The voice repeated, as if knowing something Adam did not. "I will return what is yours."

The sensation of returning memories flooded his mind like an avalanche. It wasn't just the physical memories of his time in this world. It was something else. Something… wrong. Something that had been suppressed, buried beneath layers of forgetfulness. A deep paranoia that he had once carried with him, but had somehow lost. It came rushing back now, flooding his senses with a chilling clarity.

This… is all wrong.

The realization hit him like a cold wave. His interactions with others. The way things had unfolded. It had all felt off from the beginning. Like he had been playing a part in someone else's game. The pieces never quite fit. The moments of clarity, of free will, seemed few and far between.

"Was it the fish?" he thought, the voice in his mind now twisted with a sense of dread. "No, yes… maybe. I don't know."

The pieces of his fragmented memory clicked together, revealing a terrifying truth: He wasn't the master of his own mind. He had been guided. Puppeteered by something—or someone. And now that his memories were returning, so too did his paranoia. It gnawed at him, a dark truth lurking in the corners of his mind.

He felt exposed, like a puppet whose strings had just been cut, only to realize that the hands controlling him were far more insidious than he had ever imagined.

"This… this is too much," Adam whispered weakly, his voice trembling as the weight of his revelation crushed him. His thoughts felt like a whirlwind, spinning out of control. Too much, all at once.

The fear that had gripped him earlier began to fade, replaced with something far more profound. An existential dread. The sense that nothing was real, that everything was a lie.

And with that, Adam collapsed onto his bed, the world spinning around him. His body ached, his mind screamed for respite, but there was no escape from this new, terrifying awareness. Slowly, mercifully, he sank into unconsciousness, the harsh whispers of the eldritch voice still ringing in his mind as sleep claimed him.

And when he awoke, he was no longer sure if he was still dreaming, or if the nightmare had just begun.