Against The True Gods

"What am I even supposed to understand here?" Caine sighed, releasing the tension that had coiled tightly in his body.

"Having Elura here right now would've been perfect…"

The thought lingered for a moment, but he shook it away. Most of it was still maddeningly blurry, but countless deductions had already taken shape in his mind. None of them were positive.

WHOOOOSH!

The expanse around him blurred as the final dream vision began. This time, however, there was something different. Instead of being a detached observer, watching from a safe distance, Caine was pulled into the scene itself.

***

Fate moved in ways beyond comprehension.

Caine was forced to witness it, every detail etched into his mind, his heart an unsteady mixture of awe, confusion, and dread.

He had never felt this way before.

Now, he stood inside Jamie's carriage—the one Soran had brought him to after that brutal battle with Adari. His past self's battered body lay slumped on one of the carriage's sofas, swathed in bandages. Soran sat beside him, ever the vigilant protector.

The scene was frozen, every detail still and unchanging. Everything, that is, except Jamie.

Jamie turned to look directly at Caine, his gaze piercing through the illusion. It shouldn't have been possible—Caine was supposed to be a mere observer here. Their eyes met, and Caine couldn't help but laugh, a dry, humorless sound.

Walking over to one of the sofas, he sat down, facing Jamie. He shook his head, muttering, "You bastards truly are something else. I must applaud."

Jamie smiled, though the aura surrounding him was completely transformed. He still looked the same—long, curly black hair, thick beard—but his presence was far from the jovial and cunning old man Caine had once known.

His eyes, swirling with gold and azure currents, carried a profound, almost otherworldly weight. This was a man tempered by the trials of countless years, his soul baptized in blood and his resolve hardened by an unrelenting world. Jamie now radiated the presence of an ancient general, weathered but unyielding.

Jamie's gaze swept over Caine, appraising him. "I wasn't convinced when I first saw you, but it seems the future has tempered you enough. Enough to be worthy."

"I see potential—a blade sharpened by the world. Not sharp enough yet, but a blade is still a blade."

Each word Jamie spoke was imbued with potent True Will—Royal True Will. The air itself trembled under its weight, and even the frozen qi in the dreamscape cracked and shattered, unable to withstand the force of his presence.

But Caine was unshaken. Jamie's True Will, though mighty and regal, had not reached the Holy stage. It could not affect him. Still, Caine acknowledged its depth. Had this encounter happened before his last trial, he would have been crushed beneath it.

This man… He was powerful. Incredibly powerful.

But not powerful enough.

Jamie's aura faltered, shredded to pieces as a wave of dread washed over him. His True Will wavered, his composure cracking under the weight of an unseen force. His heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, he saw the reaper's blade glinting in the air, pressing cold steel against his neck.

Jamie couldn't feel anything from Caine—no aura, no palpable power—but there was no doubt in his mind. This oppressive presence came from him. Taking a deliberate breath, Jamie steadied his racing heart.

"So… speak," Caine said softly. His tone was calm, almost gentle, yet it carried an unshakable authority.

Hearing it, Jamie frowned, his unease only growing. He felt like a child standing before an adult whose gaze held the weight of eons.

It was like standing at the edge of an abyss, staring into the unfathomable void and realizing his insignificance. Like drowning in an endless ocean, his cries swallowed by the vast, uncaring depths. Like a mortal man confronting the infinite darkness of the universe, realizing the cold, lonely truth of his existence.

'I need to calm down.' Jamie clenched his eyes shut, forcing his turbulent thoughts to still. His attempt to intimidate Caine had not just failed—it had backfired in spectacular fashion.

Taking rhythmic, measured breaths, he allowed his True Will to envelop him, grounding himself in its embrace. Minutes passed in heavy silence. Finally, Jamie opened his eyes, his composure restored.

Rising to his feet, he offered a formal bow.

"I apologize. That was indecent of me."

Caine nodded, waving a hand dismissively.

"There's no need. Now, please—get to it. I doubt I have much time here."

Jamie sat back down, his movements measured. Without hesitation, he began to speak.

"When the time is right, come to the capital. Join the Pope's cavalry of Holy Knights. Through this, I will find you and lead you to the entrance of the Cult's remains. Be cautious, though. Many are wary of those like us, so conceal your appearance and identity if possible."

The dream began to blur at the edges, the vivid details dissolving into mist. Jamie's voice, however, carried on, growing fainter.

"If you can find Enya before reaching the capital, do so. If not, she will find you. Good luck."

The final dream vision ended.

Caine's body began to fade from the dark expanse as his true body stirred, waking from its slumber.

His mind, however, raced. Countless thoughts collided like stormy waves, crashing against the veil that obscured his deductions.

[You have vanquished the Deathly Echoes of the Past.]

Though he hadn't managed to piece everything together, reaching this point seemed to be enough to move forward.

But Caine wasn't satisfied. Not even close.

As the expanse shattered and his consciousness returned to his body, an idea formed in his mind. A dangerous idea.

BANG!

***

Caine's eyes snapped open. He was back in the rose-filled garden.

For a few moments, he remained still, adjusting to his body. The familiar weight of his missing arm tugged at his awareness, but he dismissed it quickly. It didn't take long to regain his composure.

Caine surveyed his surroundings, his mind still spinning with fragments of Jamie's words and the haunting echoes of the expanse.

"Let's see," he murmured to himself.