Chapter 3

  The Formation of Stars

  (chapter preview)

  “Dreams are windows to the soul, into long lost memories. A separate world that many believe allow one to both relive and correct old mistakes. A nightmare is simply a past memory that is irreversible."

  - The Foreteller, keeper of secrets and knowledge related to dreamwalking

  A small hamlet set ablaze, burning away as a heavy cloud of black smog rose into the air. The sound of crows cawing as a lone shriek could be heard in the background. A dead world sat in the foreground, with no hustle that the village had only moments prior. “Mother!” A youthful voice screamed out, ashen and broken.

  Heavy boots stepping over stone and wood, crushing everything underfoot. Crackling of old wood snapping beneath with each step. Accompanied by a low-toned sizzling of fire engulfing the few remaining houses, the wood and straw turned to ash and dust, destroying everything within.

  Troley tossed and turned, his mind vividly imagining these events. A single cold tear pouring down his cheek as his eyes moved and twitched underneath his closed eyelid.

  “Let her go, please let her go!” A shrill voice shouted out, the sound originating from the small boy covered in soot and dirt. He stood there, faced against what appeared to be true monsters, demons even.

  A pale woman stood within the center of this group as violent looking men surrounded her, her tears had already dried down her face as the group of bandits laughed and grinned to themselves. They truly were the vilest of demons within the boy’s mind. He burned their faces into his memory. “Leave her alone!”

  Rushing forward as mud and blood soaked into his clothing, the woman could only watch on as heavy tears poured down her face at the sight of everything unfolding. The pitiable boy, the disturbing men, only reassured in her mind as she caught a glimpse of the world around her as massive towers of smoke built into the sky.

  One of the men who had been holding onto her, with the assistance of another, tied and restrained her arms behind her back.

  “Someone shut that damn kid up!” Another man ordered with a cold tone as he spat out into the dirt.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  “Please let her go! Let her go!”

  Right as the boy begged, he received a heavy blow against his stomach, landing him directly into the ground. His sight blurred for that moment as he felt his entire body twitch and recoil in pain. All he could do in turn was to violently cough and spit out his stomach’s contents.

  The woman tried to scream and shout through the cloth tied roughly across her mouth, unfortunately only muffled noises could come out. Seeing this, these cruel men seemed utterly pleased with the events that were transpiring as one of them approached the boy once again.

  He pulled at the boy’s hair as his teeth began to show, revealing quite a disturbing smile that only a mother could love. “This damn brat should just shut up if he knows what’s good for him…”

  However, the boy ignored the man as he twisted his head away from the man, once more toward the woman, shouting orders through choked coughs. “Let her go! You won’t get away with this!”

  “This brat…” The man sighed as he stood next to the boy, simply rubbing his forehead. “He really doesn’t know what’s good for him… seems he wants to die.”

  “Just do it and get it over with, he’s driving me mad.” Another man stated, so calmly sentencing the boy to death.

  “Yeah?”

  “Let her go! Take my life, just let her go!” The boy shouted once more, unafraid of the men while his full attention moved past them and fell upon the woman. He didn’t even spare a second glance at any of them as he locked eyes with her, her eyes overwhelmed with tears as she looked on in sorrow and pity toward this boy who so happened to be her son. Her dearest child.

  “He really is an idiot…” The closest man shrugged his shoulders, “Seems there’s nothing I can do about it. Hold still you brat.”

  Pulling the boy toward himself, the man lifted him up by the neck until he was at least equal in eye level with himself. As the boy struggled in his grasp, he brought his knife towards the boy's chest, not hesitating even in the slightest as the blade firmly pierced skin. The moment the knife had made contact, piercing what seemed to be the boy's heart, everything within the world shot to black.

  “Ah!” Troley shot up out of his cot. His eyes red and beady, snot accumulated under his nose as his cheeks were red and warm. The sound of morning birds chirping entered his ears as he was brought back to reality.

  “Oh… it was just a dream…” Troley murmured to himself as he wiped at his nose. “I’ve been having that same dream more often than usual lately…”

  With several sniffles, he climbed out of his bed and gave out a heavy sigh, yawning his stresses away. The morning sun-rays entered through his opened window, brightening the room with its natural light.

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  Inquisitor will continue in the foreseeable future.