Skysin Rillem-

Currently sleep, I came to be floating in some sort of abyss…utter darkness. It's strange really, I've never had a dream like this – until now, of course. Although, it doesn't feel as if I'm alone, oddly enough. Like another presence exists in this blackened space of nothingness.

However, the more I sat here, I caught sight of a spec of white light, similar to a tiny gem gleaming in the dark. This glowing ball began to quickly wisp around my vision, watching it take form of a snake, slithering through the darkness. As it did, the snake of light shot towards me. By instinct, I directed my arm before my face, covering my eyes as the luminescing reptilian drastically grew brighter.

Subsequently, I came to hear the harmony of birds chirping in the background. Removing my arm away from my eyes, everything was blurred. As my vision began to focus, I stared at a lucid pond…as for my face, this man isn't me. This man who I'm supposed to be, looks like he's in his early twenties. A chiseled chin, his skin tone is like a porcelain cup, having a sharp pair of light brown eyes, and short silver hair that grazed his forehead. Rugged muscles, but still slim like an athlete, maybe a bit larger than my dad's. His chest is wide with broad shoulders and has toned legs.

This man's attire is bizarre, however. Wearing what seemed to an elastic, full-body black suit, trimmed with glowing blue lines running down his arms and legs.

"Are you ready, Dranon?" A woman's high-spirited, yet soft voice had suddenly questioned.

I – or Dranon, had turned around, staring at a woman around the height of 5'5 or 5'4, walking from a line of trees with orange leaves. Having lengthy scarlet hair, tied into a high ponytail that flowed to the mesial of her back. Her skin is smooth, tone of a fair peach. Big, glistening light brown eyes with long silky lashes, plus a small scar under her left. Those pink lips sitting on her face are ample too. As for what she wore, practically the same as Dranon, tightly hugging onto her slim, hourglass-like body. Strapped to her back, it seems to be a long scepter with a red glass ball.

Dranon stood, walking over to the beautiful woman, "yep…do you still have that ring Alorerah?"

Alorerah nodded, moderately raising her arm and making rays of white light swirl around her hand. Causing a peculiar platinum ring with intricate, ancient runes appear on her small palm. "Of course, we should take this to Brigs though."—Alorerah stared at the ring— "It's…really odd."

Dranon sat a finger under his chin, "right, it may be a new artifact. It's weird, for it to just sit in a dungeon like this."

Dranon looked to his left, staring a vast terrain – a tundra. Gazing at the orange grassy plain with patches of dirt. Huge boulders of rock spread across the broad area. Coming to see a giant body of icy water, with humongous mountains of glaciers in the background.

"So, you still wanna explore this place?" Dranon asked with a chuckle.

Alorerah stepped up, standing by his side, "why not? It's very beautiful…" Alorerah remarked as the calm, chilled wind blew through her sleek hair.

As the two took a step forward, "well then, let's get moving." Dranon replied, walking out the wonderous area.

With that, everything had blackened out, and the so-called dream, ended. But this is weird, that woman Alorerah, her name sounds so familiar…and the ring, what could it be?

Why did I even have a dream like this in the first place? It's not making any sense, whatsoever.

"~Ahh~"

"~Mmh~"

Unexpectedly, I heard strange noises, like faint moaning. Taking this information in, I presumed there was an intruder. Ergo, I jumped out of my blue bed and grabbed one of my many sheathed swords that hung on the wall over my bed, like trophies. Quietly rushing out of my room into the indistinct hallway, I steadily prowled like an animal, hunting for its prey.

Descending the ivory-rug stairs, incidentally, there was a small creek from where I stepped trying to be silent. Therefore, I heard mom shriek quietly, "peaches…peaches...."

Puzzled more than feeling a threat at this point, I briskly ran downstairs to see mom and dad sitting next to each other on the white living room couch. I noticed that mom's wavy hair became untamed, like a lion's mane.

"Heyyy Sin, couldn't sleep?" Dad anxiously chuckled as he stood with his uniform unbuttoned, noting his hair had become the same as my mother's.

"I heard a lot of noise, so I came to check it out," I replied, revealing my katana from its grey sheathe.

"Oh, it's nothing son, we're just having a little session…sparring-session, hahaha," mom nervously laughed, using her fingers to comb through her long hair.

There was a rather awkward silence while I gazed at my unsettled parents. "Oh…ok, have fun," I waved it off and headed upstairs. Scratching my head with the sheathed katana, I can only wonder what type of sparring it is.

*****

It's been a good week since the tournament, right now, I'm sitting on my bed, using gravity to juggle a small ball in the air as I contemplated about that odd dream.

It just won't depart from my thoughts, and I've been thinking about it all day, basically. I've attempted to consider that it's nothing but a dream. Howbeit, it feels…real, like I had actually experienced it. But…as I kept trying to scrutinize about that odd instance, it just gives me a headache…

"Sin!" Mom called out to me, "Elaine and Ru are here, come downstairs!"

I hopped off my bed and figured that I'll just have to think about that dream later. I exited my room and headed down the hall, descending the stairs. When I got to the kitchen and looked to my right, I came to see Ru and Elaine, standing side-by-side with mom.

Ru wore a suede black robe with floral designs of pink blossoms around her chest, and lower area near her thighs. Elaine's also attired in one, it's color a royal blue.

Elaine had blushed, covering her eyes as she still bowed, "h-hello Skysin…"

I grew puzzled at first, showing a slight frown as I lifted a brow. Until I looked down at myself, realizing that I wasn't wearing a shirt…only a pair of baggy black pants.

Mom's lavender eyes shifted onto me, "Sin, go put on a shirt, we have company."

I lazily sighed, sitting my arms behind my head, "…but I'm comfortable mama…"

I could feel the atmosphere gradually tense, and mom's eyes had grown sharper, "son. I said, put on a shirt."

I anxiously saluted, "yes ma'am…" With haste, I dashed upstairs, unwilling to face mom's fiendish wrath. After slipping on a white shirt, I hurried downstairs, coming back to everyone in the living room.

Returning to everyone, Ru had patted my head, "it's nice to see you again Sin."—She turned to mom— "Where's Rellgis?"

"He's at the Valorrian headquarters right now. And I think he's bringing some food back as well, he'll be back later this afternoon," mom explained, taking a knee to share a hug with Elaine.

While Ru and mom conversed, I turned to Elaine standing next to me, "wanna go outside?" I asked, gesturing my thumb back at the window behind us.

Elaine nodded, and when we were about to leave, mom turned to me, "Sin, try not to cause any chaos, please…?"

I showed a strained smile, "ok mama…"

When me and Elaine exited the glass door heading out to the backyard, "and don't go past the dividend!!" Mom yelled out to me.

"Ok!"

And so, me and Elaine entered the vast woodland, walking on a makeshift trail I had made with dad when I was younger. The trees in this area are towering, brimming with large green leaves, tinged with a slight brown and orangish color. The branches are long, practically reaching out to each other, becoming a bridge for smaller animals to travel on with leisure. Grassy meadows here are lush, a fresh tone of greenery, and this place is also a resting area for Snigins.

Snigins are pig-beasts that roam around this place. Fat, stout animals with a pink and white fur coat. Having long snouts with stubby limbs and wide limp ears. Plus, a lengthy tail, spiraled like a slinky of the sort. They're at the bottom of the beast ranking, staying in the combatant rank, furthermore, these beasts aren't hostile at all. Although, they do squeal for a long period of time…

Elaine noticed this, observing the masses of pig-beasts oinking at each other. "There's a lot of Snigins here…" She remarked, bending down to pat a baby sniglet's back.

"Yep," I replied with a chuckle. "That's why I call this place Gammon Glades."

Elaine tilted her head, "why not Sniggy Glades?"

Making a grin as I stared at the sniglet, "because we eat them!" I frankly responded.

The baby sniglet seemed to recognize my words, and hastily dashed away, squealing like its life was on the line. Elaine paused, watching the sniglet run out of sight. She showed a dejected expression, lowering her head as she shook it, "poor…poor snigins."

Resuming our peaceful amble, we came across a large stream, withholding small red fish, box-shaped turtles, and white frogs sitting on lily pads. Including, a long, yet still healthy trunk of a tree that dad had hewed down some years ago, using it as a bridge for me to cross it.

Moving over the alternate side of the stream, I noticed a pair of ripe pink fruit, hanging on a tree branch over our heads. It seemed as if they'd fall any moment. Using gravity, I steadily floated off the ground, and grabbed them. I landed back onto the floor and handed one to Elaine, "these are napeles, they're pretty sweet."

"Thank you, "Elaine nodded, taking a bite out of it. "Mm, this is really good…" She stated, showing a smile.

"Right?" I chuckled from her words, eating mine as well.

While we ate, Elaine had politely cleared her throat, "…um, about your spatial kinetics…I heard that it's very rare, it practically doesn't exist, except for vestiges. What's it like?"

I scratched the back of my head, musing about her question, "it's pretty cool, although it's much harder to control than ice…" I replied in a confused tone, raising my arm to make wisps of purple flash and whirl around my hand and arm.

"Mom says it's not really based on control like other kinetics, but I have to sort of…feel, or direct it. I dunno, it's hard to explain…" I informed Elaine, releasing a wooly sigh.

"I see…" Elaine pondered. "Maybe you have to lead it in a way, like a stream of water?"

"That…actually isn't a bad idea. Thanks Laine."

Elaine smiled, taking a step forward on the trail ahead, "of course, I'm sure you'll get better with it eventually."

While we walked, a question came to mind. "Hey Elaine, how'd you learn to move and fight like that?" I asked.

"Well, Ru, my aunt, and a woman I consider to be my grandmother taught me how to move in a nimble manner since I was little. For fighting, my father, and…" Elaine paused, showing a rather distraught expression. Deemed to be a little uncomfortable, blankly staring at the light brown trail below our feet.

I showed a gentle smile and patted her head, trying to comfort her, "don't worry about it…sorry if I was too nosey."

"N-no, it's fine…you don't have to apologize Skysin," Elaine replied in a saddened tone. After a moment of silence, we went on with our small travel.

Later on, around ten minutes or so, we came across a giant, chasmic ravine. On the opposite side, another line of tree's was in view, however, these are different. These widow-maker trees are much wider, as well as taller, standing around forty-feet high. Their branches similar to sharpened lances, all intwined with one another. On the ground, the grass altered to a color of white, mixed with a shade of grey. Plus, there's translucent, spirit-like entities floating around the vast area, shaped like a jellyfish almost.

Elaine looked a bit surprised, examining the grim-like woodland. "What is this place…?" She asked, her soft voice covered in a slight tone of fright.

"This is the dividend," I responded. "I don't really know much about this place. But dad told me that it's very dangerous…surprisingly, beasts don't roam in the dividend."

"Wh…What does…?"

I furrowed my brows from Elaine's question, "he said they're called Agnostics. They're supposed to be some type of humanoids. I'm not too sure though...my parents tell me I'm not allowed to venture there."

After I explained, an earth-quaking rumble had sounded deep in the dividend. A murder of crows had taken flight, soaring in the air as they all cawed in unison. I tugged Elaine's arm, turning back onto the trail, "we should head back home…I don't want mom to beat me…"

Elaine simply nodded, walking with me as we headed back home…

*****

Finally returning home and entering the house, we walked down the hall into the living room, coming across not only mom and Ru, but dad is back as well. Dad waved at us with a gleeful smile, "hey kids, did you like our little trail Elaine?"

Elaine replied as we took a seat on the other couch, "yes, it was very nice."—She lowered her head, making a sorrowful expression— "I only feel bad for the snigins there…"

Dad was quite confused at first, trying to understand what Elaine had meant. Until he finally understood what she said, "oh…haha, don't worry about them, we rarely hunt for them. And not a lot either kiddo."

Elaine nodded, then mom had spoken, "oh, Ru, you're going to be an intelligencer soon, right?"

"Yes, I'll be joining Rellgis' elite division in a month," Ru answered in the same monotonous tone.

Dad laughed patting her shoulder, "yep! She'll be going to the fourth planet, Ragnar."

"Um…isn't that where the Tellund, The Tyrant King lives?" Elaine asked.

Mom, dad, and Ru had all nodded, answering her question. Tellund – the king of Ragnar, had started a war against the three planets around ten years ago. With my curiosity continuing to grow, "what was the war like?" I asked.

All three of them had paused, then dad released a doleful expression, "something that should never exist…" He replied in a stern tone.

Silence crawled through the air, and I began to regret that question. That's how dad became a hero, helping the planets defend against Ragnar, and ultimately defeating Tellund. However, he never liked to be called such a thing.

As more conversations were made, time had flown by, and the afternoon altered into night. Ru stood, gesturing for Elaine to stand as well. "Well then, it's time for us to return to the castle," Ru voiced, sharing a hug with mom and dad.

We all exited the living area and walked down the hall, approaching the entrance door. After opening it, Elaine turned to me, "I had fun today, Sin. Thank you."

"Me too Elaine, let's eat some sniglets the next time you come by," I chuckled. Elaine lightly pouted from my suggestion, causing me to laugh aloud.

After mom gave Elaine a hug, Ru and Elaine walked downstairs and exited the threshold. When they entered their carriage and left, dad spoke patting my head, "I found somebody who can teach ya Sin."

"Really? Who??" I excitedly asked.

While we re-entered the house, dad replied, "his name's Alzar. Although he can be quite lazy at times…I can assure you that he's one of – if not, the best hand-combatant in Valorrey. You can learn a lot from him."

"Yes!" I shot my hands into the air. "When will I learn from him?"

"Alzar's busy right now, helping out some villagers at the moment. He said he'll notify me when he's ready," dad stated.

Nodding from his words, I could only wonder what type of techniques Alzar will teach me? Until then, I'll just focus on the sword, and what Elaine had told me earlier, figuring out a way to help further my abilities with spatial kinetics…

*****