As Li’Kallas eyes slowly opened, she found herself laying on her side, a granite bench underneath. The rock was tepid from her nap that she didn’t even know she had begun, but otherwise not the most comfortable bed. All around her was a dewey garden, fitted with dark green shrubs, well trimmed trees with gnarled roots and flowers that had yet to bloom. Strange birds tittered and the sky was a dark purple dusk. Cutting through the strange garden was a cobblestone walkway, wide enough for two but not much else, its destination hidden behind bends and rows of trees. [color=steelblue][i]Dusk, huh...[/i][/color] Li’Kalla thought as she shook her head and rubbed the sleep away from her eyes. She groggily sat up and yawned and stretched, letting out a high-pitched grunt of relief. [color=steelblue][i]I better get going… I don’t want to be late, right?[/i][/color] Right? Li’Kalla sighed and slouched over a little. The moment of weakness didn’t last long, however, as she was quick to straighten up and stand. Without hesitation, or a spare thought toward her own feelings, she set down the cobblestone walkway. Her attire was a simple yet luxuriously tailored white dress, designed with minimal frills and accents as per her Father’s request. It didn’t seem odd to her at the time that her feet were bare, and that her skin seemed a little bit paler than usual. In fact, being in the Garden reinvigorated her, and being near the young flowers gave her heart a feeling akin to a warm embrace. And yet, she didn’t want to be late, so she walked on, eventually leaving the small, secluded area of the Garden behind, ladybugs and butterflies and caterpillars grieving silently as she left them to their own devices. “Hinan,” a great voice rumbled. A large bullman suddenly walked beside her, only one of his hooved feet able to fit in the path, the other carefully stepping between shrubs and flowers. His face that of a bovine and was old and grizzled. Underneath was a large muscular body, now worn with age and wrapped in furs. Strapped to the great minotaur’s back was a book as easily as tall as Li’Kalla and perhaps twice as wide. He walked slowly, his guttural voice vibrating from his throat. “How are you this evening, Hinan?” Li’Kalla’s eyes shifted to the Great Bullman beside her and after flashing a look of anxiety for a split moment, they showed an absolute calm. [color=steelblue]”Uncle, how great it is to see you, I see you’ve added to your collection of furs,”[/color] Li’Kalla asked with a warm smile while her heart threatened to pound so intensely that it could jump straight out of her chest. She couldn’t let anyone know how she truly felt, that was true. But her Uncle? Maybe he… Just maybe… What could be described as a hearty yet soft laugh echoed from the bullman, “Oh, while flattered, I am not your uncle.” The minotaur looked over at the woman with his elderly eyes, “I am Freg Gerntef, Hinan. I hope I do not disturb your walk, but I think we are going to the same place and simply wished for some company.” Li’Kalla’s eyes glazed over, and then she shook her head, smiling sheepishly. [color=steelblue]”... Oh, my apologies. I must have seen the furs and heard the voice and mistaken you for someone I know, Mister Freg.”[/color] She looked at the darkening skies for a moment before gesturing down the path, [color=steelblue]”It’s getting late, isn’t it?”[/color] “Late is just the beginning of being early for something else,” Freg grunted. The great bullman stopped suddenly and shifted away from Li’Kalla. Bending slightly forward the minotaur let out a graveled gasp, “speaking of, Hinan.” Waving Li’Kalla over, there stood on a tiny bush a single bloomed flower of cyan and gold. At first she had tilted her head curiously at the bullman, but once she saw the familiar shape of petals and the bright, living colors, she had to walk closer and get on her knees before the flower. She bent over and took in its scent with closed eyes, a scent that reminded her of peaceful days playing around with her cousins in grassy plains. A few moments passed. [color=steelblue]”What does Hinan mean, Mister Freg? Is it something pretty, like this flower?”[/color] She asked while she gently caressed its petals. “Many generations have I walked, and many more have I called out Hinan, and yet very few have ever asked me what it meant,” Freg mused, his eyes bouncing off of the flower and to Li’Kalla, “Hinan,” He began, raising a finger to one of his horns, “is hornless, as I am Harnian, or with horn.” He paused, “however you bring up a point, now that I know you a little better I can see there is more to you than a lack of horns, and so Hinan is no longer appropriate.” The bull man thought for a moment, “perhaps I can call you by your given name?” Li’Kalla smiled sadly, her eyes focused on the flower, taking in its every detail as if afraid it might vanish at any moment. [color=steelblue]”My given name? Of course, it is Laina. Perhaps you’d like to give me a name, Mister Freg?”[/color] Freg stood up straight, thoughts flickering in his eyes, “Dova-bo, a graceful dawn.” [color=steelblue]”Dova-bo...”[/color] Suddenly a tiny droplet fell from the sky and struck Freg’s cheek, then another, then one on top of Li’Kalla’s head. With a loud jangling of straps and clasps, the great minotaur released his mighty book from his back and held it high above the two, “Shall we continue our walk, Dova-bo?” Li’Kalla watched in a mix of amusement and confusion as Freg used his book to shield them from the rain. However, before standing she had one last thing she wanted to do. She bent down and gave the flower a gentle kiss which left her lips tingling pleasantly. She smiled at it and finally stood and began walking down the path, with Freg guarding the both of them against the rain. [color=steelblue]”Mister Freg, are you afraid of the Rain?”[/color] She asked while sparing one last sideways glance at the flower, now basking in the fresh rain. “Mmmm,” Freg’s throat grumbled, “I can’t say that I am. Fear is rather expensive at my age, to spend it on rain would be rather poor of me, Dova-bo.” [color=steelblue]”So it is,”[/color] Li’Kalla said, and after a long while, continued, [color=steelblue]”I enjoy the Rain, Mister Freg. I would feel guilty if you ruined your precious book because of me.”[/color] “Do not worry, Dova-bo,” Freg let his book fall from above them, clamping it under his arm, “my book, too, enjoys the rain.” Rain was Li’Kalla favorite weather pattern, that was true. However, as the rain grew stronger and she became soaked, her expression turned from serene to sad, and an almost palpable change had washed over her demeanor. “What bothers you, Dova-bo?” The minotaur suddenly said, as the pair passed a roofed gazebo amid a sea of shrubs [color=steelblue]”O-Oh, it’s nothing Mister Freg,”[/color] She said as she wiped her face and walked past the gazebo, [color=steelblue]”I can’t help but be relieved for the flower now that it’s raining, that’s all. I-I was afraid it might not make it if it didn’t rain...”[/color] “Oh,” Freg hummed, “it will always make it, every flower here will. Unbeknownst to the tiny plants, diligent gardeners are always at the ready, much like in life.” [color=steelblue]”Then, Mister Freg,”[/color] She sniffled, [color=steelblue]”Who cares for the gardeners?”[/color] What could only be described as a bull attempting a smile formed on Freg’s mouth, “who does indeed. Then again, perhaps our own gardeners are as unknown to us as we are to the plants. I suppose all we can do is bloom, Dova-bo.” Li’Kalla clasped her hands close to her chest and sighed, [color=steelblue]”Then I suppose that’s all we can do, isn’t it? Bloom...”[/color] [color=steelblue]”Please excuse me if it seems incompetent of me, Mister Freg, but-”[/color] She bit her lip for a moment, [color=steelblue]”I-I seem to have forgotten our destination.”[/color] “I believe we have already made it, Dova-bo,” Freg hummed, “I was looking for a flower, and if I remember correctly, you were looking for-” He waved his hand in front of him, the path ahead ending at the steps of a grand palace that was colored like the night, yet sparked with life and tiny glowing orbs, “-here.” Li’Kalla stared in awe at the palace, admiring its strange qualities and most of all, the glowing orbs. She recognized them! So without a single moment of hesitation she started making her way towards the palace’s front doors. A few paces before reaching her destination, she turned towards Freg and waved. [color=steelblue]”Mister Freg, thank you for accompanying me, I hope your search was fruitful.”[/color] She said with a nod of her head and a curtsy, before going up to the doors and knocking. “Don’t forget to bloom, Dova-bo,” Freg answered as he turned around, and as he did, the door to the palace opened wide. A flock of hovering orbs of light greeted Li’Kalla in the doorway. Behind them a great stretching hallway pushed onward into the palace, countless doors on either side with a myriad of decor and paintings between. A sweet nostalgic scent permeated from the familiar walkway, and the carpets, though old held a memorable charm. Li’Kalla smiled and poked one particular orb of light -- an orange, citrus smelling one. [color=steelblue]”Hello there, little stars,”[/color] She said softly while petting another one, this one green and smelling of grass. The orbs danced happily around her and she giggled, a light blush coloring her cheeks, [color=steelblue]”Oh, you make me feel welcome. Come, let’s go inside.”[/color] Once inside, the doors closed behind her, but she didn’t mind. Instead she walked down the hall with a flock of orbs following her. Some went into doors and others played with her hair or her dress’ frilly hems. Many different melodies played in the hall, sneaking out from the cracks under the doors and bouncing off the walls. Paintings of faraway places and familiar homesteads were showcased on the walls, alongside busts of unknown people and beings. Eventually the hallway came to a stop right outside a mighty door, and despite all its pomp and size, it was easily pushed aside by one of the tiny dreamweavers eliciting a subtle gaze of admiration from Li’Kalla. As she entered the great ballroom, she saw thousands of the weavers spinning and dancing, all to a single tune being played by a lone figure in a strange throne that centered the room. The smiling gentleman blew softly into a pipe of many lengths and sizes, little toggles on the sides allowing him to control the airflow as he did. The tune was light and magical, as if a spirit of the forest had written the notes especially for Li’Kalla’s ears. The melody flowed into her body and seemed to become a part of her, and she could swear that the very air in the room was saturated with music, beauty and art. The height of life. Li’Kalla, however, didn’t move an inch. While her whole body wanted and desired nothing more than to join the swarm of dancing dreamweavers, in her mind she knew something deeper was happening here. For this figure, the entity sitting on the throne in the centre of the room seemed familiar. Indeed, this entity had the same air about him as the gentleman from her previous dreams. Slowly, Li’Kalla remembered her waking life. Bits and pieces of information popped up as she racked her mind for any hint or clue as to who this entity might be. The first things that shocked her were when she noticed her different physical appearance. Right before her eyes, her skin went from fair to deathly pale. Her dress went from white to blue. Her skin was as soaked as it had been under the rain outside the palace, and her hair became shorter and blue, like the color of a lake in a cloudy day. After that, she remembered her old life, her old death, and finally her new life and all those that had come forth at the same time as her. She enjoyed the rain. However, the feeling of cold rain pelting her soft skin even when there were no clouds… Of being abandoned to soak under the tears of the heavens… The feeling that she had been feeling every single moment since grasping life for a second time. That feeling? She hated it. Feeling her stomach churn and her heart grow heavy, Li’Kalla’s ears stopped registering the melody. Her eyes ignored the swarms of beautiful dancing orbs. She walked past it all, past everything, until she reached the bottom step of the throne in the center of the room. She looked up at the figure, so blissfully playing his odd instrument. Pretending like a simple melody, a simple dance could wash away all the pain, all the filth that her soul had become. It felt like an eternity passed by the time she finally spoke. It was a soft, meek thing, her voice. [color=steelblue]”K’nell?”[/color] The Gentleman let go of his instrument, the many pipes floating away from him without ceasing their song. A grainy voice echoed around the pair, “yes?” [color=steelblue]”Oh…”[/color] Li’Kalla took a step back and looked around, at the dance and the joy around them, [color=steelblue]”What’s this? Why am I here?”[/color] K'nell leaned forward, his voice hanging between the pair, “this is the Palace of Dreams. You are here because you sleep.” The God of Sleep raised a hand and from thin air an oaken chair fitted with a plush crushed velvet cushion appeared next to Li'Kalla. He motioned for her to sit and so she did, making sure to do so in the most proper way she knew. Perhaps it was the music or the decor of the place, but she curtsied and sat slowly and deliberately, hands clasped on her lap. After a moment, she looked up at K’nell, her eternal blush somehow seeming more intense. [color=steelblue]”... How much did you see? In that dream, I mean...”[/color] “I see everything,” K'nell answered, “from the first dream to now.” “The irony of it all, is in some dreams I see more than the dreamer,” He paused, letting his voice fade away into the echoes of the ballroom. It was a long silence. Li’Kalla didn’t know what to do. She didn’t remember dreaming of anything too bad, but… It was sudden. A single sob pierced through the veil of joy and entertainment in the room, and everything seemed to freeze. More were quick to follow as Li’Kalla desperately tried to wipe her eyes and hold herself together. She failed, and soon she was bawling like a lost child. Some dreamweavers approached her, perhaps out of curiosity or maybe annoyance, but she ignored them. She felt sad, indignated, she felt violated, but most of all, she was ashamed. [color=steelblue]”W-Why- I don’t- I don’t want y-you to… No one… So shameful- To see me like- Like t-that...”[/color] She muttered amidst sobs and whimpers, her tears mixing with the rainwater on her skin and dripping off her chin onto her dress. A low hum seemed to cover K'nell as he thought and then finally the God's voice returned, “Shame… insists that in knowing, one would despise you for it.” “I perhaps know more than I should,” K'nell continued, “and yet my respect for you grows.” The dreamweavers seemed to cover her, almost like a soft blanket as the God spoke his grainy words, “I admire your strength.” Li’Kalla shook a bit each time the dreamweavers tried to cover her body, and after a while had calmed down enough to respond to K’nell. [color=steelblue]”Y-You… You do? But...”[/color] Li’Kalla took in a deep, shaky breath and, after a moment, exhaled. [color=steelblue]”I see. You must have not… Seen all there is to see. I’m glad. However-”[/color] Li’Kalla paused, stood up, grabbed the cushioned chair and started climbing the steps up to the throne. [color=steelblue]”You may know that I...”[/color] She grunted as she reached the same level as K’nell and set down the chair in front of him, taking a seat in the same formal way she’d sat down before, [color=steelblue]”... Am in fact rather weak. Letting myself be deceived, enduring lies and abuse, being just… Afraid. I am not worthy of your admiration, Master K’nell.”[/color] Li’Kalla said gloomily. omeThere was silence, and then all at once K’nell stood up, his throne flickering out of sight as he did. The God extended his right arm perpendicular to his side, his left staying stiff against him. There was a soft rumble and suddenly two emerald green stalks gently grew from the floor. The one to his left grew unfettered and quickly reached his shoulder, the bud at the end blossoming into a quaint red. The stalk to his right grew gently, up until it was blocked by K’nells hand. The plant was forced to divert, only for K’nell to block it once again. The plant swerved but eventually made it past the God’s hand, reaching his shoulder, the bud standing ready atop it’s squiggly body. “There is but one thing left for this plant to do,” K’nell echoed, “to show the world that despite its journey, it is strong.” He looked directly at Li’Kalla, “It just needs to bloom.” As his words faded the flower blossomed, it’s colors radiating the ballroom in a wash of beauty. Colors from all over the spectrum glossed it’s pedals, and as K’nell sat back down on a sudden reappearing throne, his voice hung between the two Gods, “without a little rain, there can be no rainbow.” [color=steelblue]”I… Suppose you’re right.”[/color] Li’Kalla pursed her lips as she took in the sight of the new flower, [color=steelblue]”Thank you, I’ll try, but-”[/color] Li’Kalla bit her lip. [color=steelblue]”What is it you want from me? You’ve been too nice to someone like me. You must desire something, right?”[/color] “What could I possibly desire,” K’nell answered, “but for the world to see what I do.” Li’Kalla tilted her head curiously and scooted her chair closer, now sitting on the edge. [color=steelblue]”There’s one more thing. Hermes. You are her creator, right?”[/color] “I am,” The voice answered, “and she’s shown me the great kindness you’ve showed her. For that I am grateful.” Li’Kalla frowned and looked away, [color=steelblue]”She is too innocent, she’ll be trampled and soiled like a flower in the path of a herd when the time comes… Like me. You know this, don’t you?”[/color] Another silence conquered the ballroom, only for the grainy voice to reappear in time, “She is on her path, freely, and she is not without those who care.” The Goddess took K’nell’s hand in hers in the blink of an eye, stared at him with narrowed pupils emitting an anger that could rival Sartravius’ Muspellheim in heat. The intensity and touch causing K’nell to shift towards her as she spoke, [color=steelblue]”I care for her, and I will destroy anyone who dares lay a finger on her. She’s-”[/color] Her intensity faltered, [color=steelblue]”She’s… Special, and important,”[/color] Li’Kalla said with a small dreamy smile sneaking onto her face. The aggressiveness with which she’d grasped K’nell’s hand turned to gentleness, [color=steelblue]”And I want her to have fun. That’s it. And, you know, I was wondering if you were bad or good, what with basically violating my privacy, but-”[/color] “Then it would appear,” K’nell began, shifting in his throne to the position of a thinker, “she has four Gods who care for her.” The God hummed, “As for whether if I am good or if I am bad, I cannot say. I see myself for who I am, and to contrast my life against another’s never brings good tidings.” Li’Kalla slowly let go of K’nell’s hand and clasped hers on top of her lap once more, [color=steelblue]”... I wouldn’t call you [i]bad[/i]. You did create Hermes after all, so… And well, that dream was… Nice. All things considered. I wouldn’t mind having more dreams like that… Back in my old body, wearing my usual clothes. How did you find out all of these things? I’ve never told those things to anyone.”[/color] “Even a God’s mind sings loudly in the land of dreams,” K’nell answered cryptically, “I listen. I listen to thoughts, memories, things forgotten and things that never happened. I take it all and then I create with it. I make truths, lies, possibilities and endings as well as beginnings. Anything can happen in a dream, and anything can be used for such a dream.” “And only after all this, does the dream happen,” The God leaned back in his throne. [color=steelblue]”Can you create dreams upon request? Custom dreams. I-I’d like to try one of those one day.”[/color] K’nell sat in thought for a moment, “I suppose I could.” “It could be interesting,” The God of Sleep slowly stood up, circling around his throne in a thoughtful pace, “yes, I think I rather like the idea.” “For you,” K’nell turned to Li’Kalla, placing his hands on the back of his throne “I will allow a custom dance to be orchestrated in the palace.” Li’Kalla perked up upon hearing the words, wide-eyed and with a sparkly look to her gaze. She grinned widely and brought up her hands to her chest, [color=steelblue]”Yay- I mean, Yes! Not right now, though. Later! You’ll know when, I’ll make sure to think really hard of it before going to sleep next time. You have to make sure I don’t realize it’s a dream, though. Maybe distract me with cute animals or children when I start getting too nosy!”[/color] At that, Li’Kalla jumped up from her seat and smiled smugly. [color=steelblue]”Don’t get all weird about it though, Master K’nell! It’ll be a fun dream I promise. We’ll be doing things I always wanted to do back home!”[/color] “You have my word” K’nell tilted his head ever so slightly, “I look forward to the experience-” [color=steelblue]”And now, I wake up!”[/color] She shouted energetically, pumping a fist up in the air. Nothing happened. A moment later she cast a ‘help me’ glance at K’nell, not wanting to be embarrassed in front of the dreamweavers. A low rumble came from the Sleep God, his eversmile making it difficult to discern what it meant, but in a mere moment he was snapping his fingers and- Li’Kalla’s eyes opened. She was lying on her side next to a moss pond. A lone ladybug was crawling over her neck and she went to swat it away when she noticed she was holding something in her hand -- A flower with petals of every color. At the same time, the top of her ear itched and she found a gold and blue flower neatly perched on her ear. [color=steelblue]”Mister Freg and Master K’nell...”[/color] Li’Kalla muttered to herself after sitting up. [Hider=might cost] K’nell materializes a dream flower, discounted to 0 [/hider] [Hider=Summary] Li'Kalla finds herself in a strange garden and decides that she is late. On her journey from the garden she bumps into a bullman named Freg and they chat for a while. Later Li'Kalla comes upon the Palace of Dreams where she interacts with K'nell. The two agreeing in the end to do a custom dream. Li'Kalla then awakens with two presents. [/hider]