"Don't worry. I'm not the type of person who's hands wander around while I sleep Arrika." he said back, pulling the blankets over them. He closed his eyes and let her rest under his arm. "But to warn you, I have nightmares sometimes, and I can get pretty loud when that happens." Sovelis warned her, pulling her a little closer before drifting to sleep.

Sakiko cringed, and threw off the sheets and the blankets. She shook her head, and cursed silently. She thought to herself, Ugh, forgot I can't sleep with other people in aura-detecting distance. In mental being, Sakiko could sense people's dreams by a fine connection with the aura and emotions of others. The mage frowned at Russell's dream, and began to climb down the bed.

Sakiko began to pace around the room, the sounds of others' dream as loud as horns. The mage gripped her head, annoyed at not being able to sleep. She could tune out one or two dreams, but bordering around four people in near distance was too much. And besides, the abstract concepts of dreams were disturbing.

The mage pushed open the door silently, and slipped out into the hall. Noiselessly, Sakiko softly went down to the place where Sovelis had led her, and down to the dimly lit hall. Not wanting to make her leaving public, Sakiko made sure not to open any doors, lest they led to vacuum.

It was one of those dreams again. The same kind that Sovelis had been having ever since he became the living seal of the acursed demon, Sovel. The Tempest stood in an open field, the tall grass surrounded the area. A few stray trees and boulders dotted the landscape. "Hyrule Field? And odd place to torment me in my sleep, don't you thing, Shan'Terganasi?" he said out loud in this dream-world, calling the demon his true name. Keeper of the Shadows. A large figure seemed to grow out of Sovelis's shadow. It seemed to be nothing but shadow as it took a slightly humanoid shape. Its three, red eyes looked downward at Sovelis.

So, you have found out my true name? the demon said, even though its shadowy dream-body had no mouth. It matters not. Even with that knowledge, your will is not strong enough to contain me. Your mind, body, and soul are slowly being corrupted, from using my powers as a substitute for your own...

"So what. It will take you many, many years to fully take my body as your own. I will find a way to destroy us both permanently. Then we shall drift the endless void together, in an eternal struggle of our souls." Sovelis said back, tilting his head back so he could look the demon in its eyes. "And I will have passed my knowledge on, left a legacy behind. I might even have children someday. They will have my tenacity. My power, my blood. The Tempests will grow again, and become greater than the old Order was. A new Order will reign, and the void, and the others of your kin will be defeated. It is only a matter of time..."

Time you don't have boy. What do you thing your going to do? Have this girl fall helplessly in love with you? Give you something you cannot gain? You are indeed foolish, Shan'Tagetsu, keeper of the Light. Sovel said, calling Sovelis by his true name as well.Even if you can, what will you do? She will leave you, once she finds out what you actually are.

Arrika woke, being a very light sleeper. Sovelis seemed to be muttering and tossing slightly beside her. She raised her hand to shake him awake, but drew back, remembering Seth once telling her that waking one suddenly from a dream could have bad effects. Then again, he'd only said that because she'd interrupted a vision he'd been having in his sleep; the Sheikah never learned what it was about, and figured she never would. But didn't she know another, more gentler way to wake someone from a nightmare?

Arrika was drowning for the hundredth time. It was the same dream she had for years, but for some reason couldn't will her body not to walk off the pier and into the sea any of those times. It was probably the reason she didn't like swimming so much and only liked to look at the ocean.

The familiar shadow danced out of her reach, making her chase it along the wooden slabs of the pier. It stopped at the edge, seeming to look back at her. With a small step it plunged downward, and Arrika couldn't stop herself from following it again. As she entered the chilling water she felt something drag her downwards, away from the light of the surface. She struggled and kicked, feeling her lungs empty, her head spinning.

Through the years Kobas became concerned when Arrika couldn't sleep peacefully for days in a row. One night he leaned over her, putting his forehead on hers, closing his eyes and entering her nightmare.

Arrika felt someone grab her hand, jerking her upwards and back up to the surface of the pier. She dangled on her arm, her legs still in the water, but at least she could breathe again and the pressure on her lungs and brain had lifted. Kobas looked down, hanging from the wooden railing of the pier, a concerned expression on his face until he smiled encouragingly.

Arrika leaned over the Tempest, pressing her forehead to his damp one and closing her eyes, trying to lose her grip on the world and enter his mind. He had so many mental barriers up, but she gritted her teeth and shoved her way through, falling from the dream's thin air and onto Hyrule Field.


Seth opened one eye lazily, having gotten tired of Russell's singing. The thief had heard of talking in your sleep, but singing? If you could call it that. He noticed the pale mage girl with silver hair creeping around the hallway, attempting to be silent. The green haired Hylian got up from the couch and onto the rug softly, following Sakiko with a grin on his face.

Sovelis spun around so quickly, that his dream-robes seemed to swirl around him like an inky shadow. Sovel looked over his host at the intruder of their...conversation. "Arrika? How the hell did you get in here?!?" he shouted as he ran over to his student's side, helping her to stand in the dream-Hyrule field. "Arrika. You shouldn't be here. Wait...are you even Arrika, or some trick Sovel is pulling?" he suddenly grabbed her arm and twisted it behind her back.

AH HA HA HA HA!!! As much as I'd like to mess with your pitiful mind,Shan'Tagetsu, That is the real one you have in an arm-lock. The demon said spitefully, laughing at his host and Arrika.

"She...isn't a trick..." Sovelis said, easing his grip on her arm, then letting her go.

Arrika stumbled, falling to the ground again, her eyes dazed. "Ugh... never... doing this .... again," she said, holdling back the urge to throw up. "Oh, this is perfect. Now I don't even know what to do. Probably cuz I didn't think I'd make it this far. Would you do me a favor and wake up? And what the hell is that?" The Sheikah asked, pointing at the glowing ball of fire that seemed to be able to talk. She looked around at the dream-Hyrule Field. "Not much of a nightmare. I guess I expected some version of Hell....?" She trailed off uncertainly, feeling very dizzy.

As if by some command, the entire field became hell-on-earth. It was just as it had been in Seth's vision of Hyrule's end. Eternally-burning black flames, scorched earth and trees, and Sovelis dressed in some strange, black robes that seemed to make him look like an angry, dark, and powerful warlord. "That better?" he said as Sovel slowly walked towards Arrika.

Hello girlie...I've been wanting to meet you do badly...and now you tread into my domain? The only place I have any power now, is in the dreams of my host, the Shan'Tagetsu,Keeper of the Light. I am Sovel, or you may call me Shan'Terganasi,the Keeper of the Shadows... he said, his mouthless, shadowy form seemed to be looming over them as it extended an arm to Arrika.

Arrika looked around, the flames flickering oddly due to her unfocused vision.
"Sovel?" Arrika had flashes of Seth's memory as he had gripped Arrika's arm earlier that night. Arrika heaved herself up with effort, trying to steady herself. Something told her to keep away from Sovel as she tried to back away, only succeeding in falling down again. "I don't suppose it's possible for me to die here?" She asked no one in particular, remembering the night she had met Paladin by the sea. She'd barely escaped with her life that time, and staring at Sovel seemed to be like looking straight at Death himself...

"Yes. We can die here. But Sovel will not attack you. If he does, and if he kills you, I'd kill myself, and him with me. He is tied to my life. But, I will always awaken the next day, no matter how many times I die." Sovelis said, picking Arrika up and closing his eyes.

Leaving already? I will be waiting for you to fall asleep again... the demon said as Arrika and Sovelis disappeared from the dream-world. He was walking along a foot-wide path of stone slabs, floating in an infinite void of stars and darkness.

"This, is the dream-path. Along it, one may travel between the dreams of others, even of someone in another world." he said, setting Arrika down on the stone walkway. "Every one of these stars, is another person's sleeping mind. Every one in Hyrule must sleep here, and thus, Is a part of this hidden place."

Arrika often viewed the concept of death without much thought behind it, but when it brushed past her she was put into a state of shock for a few seconds. The fact that someone could one day die and disappear from your life in a matter of seconds...
"Anyone?" Arrika said, her mind clearing a little. "Even, I dunno, Seth?" She said instead, avoiding her first thought. "I always wanted to see what he dreamt about."

Sakiko shut her eyes tightly, stopping where she was. Her head spun dizzily, and she had the temptation to crawl on the floor with despair. Sakiko wrapped her hands around her pounding head, trying to block out the various nightmares. No, worse than nightmares. The mage could not distinguish the dreams very well, but a warped, gripping rope of darkness seemed to wind around it. It was nothing like she had ever experienced before.

Sakiko held back the vile taste at the back of her throat by stuffing some herbs in her mouth. Slowly, the mage walked across the room, avoiding the furnitures, here and there. The Hylian turned back slightly, so that her back was in an angular form. She shivered, imagining the unseen and unknown darkness lingering in the house. Pushing open the door silently, the mage stepped out into the cool, night air.

Stretching, Sakiko yawned, noting to herself that she'd come up with an excuse of her abrupt leave if anyone was to question her about it. It turned out be awkward if people knew of her dream reading abilities. The mage murmured a silent goodbye, tucking back her silver hair in her robes once again.

"Bad idea kiddo. Unless you have many years worth of experience, walking in someone's dreams can be deadly. Unless you'd rather be stuck in Seth's head until he wakes up. Anything can happen to you in someone's dreams. And I do mean ANYTHING..." Sovelis said as he looked around. "Lets see...where did I come in from? Its hard to find your way in here...gotta feel for my body." He looked around, trying to tell the difference between his star, and all of the stars that belonged to everyone else.

"When we're you going to tell me that you could force your way into dreams?" Sovelis asked Arrika, looking at her as he felt a familiar presence calling him. There I am... he grabbed Arrika's hand and smiled. "You can tell me when we wake up." the Tempest said as he pulled her close, and they fell off the pathway, into the eternal night sky of the dream-world, and back into their sleeping bodies...

The Sheikah felt as if she had been thrown from high up and back into her body, jolting slightly as she opened her eyes. She realized she was still pressed against Sovelis and slid off, rubbing her eyes. It had felt like hours, but from the angle of the moon from the window it seemed that only seconds had passed, as long as a regular dream lasts. She looked back at the Tempest beside her, unsure if he was really sleeping or just pretending. "Damn, he looks so peaceful when he's asleep... weird," she muttered, before laying back down and drifting off into sleep.

Sovelis lay there, holding Arrika close after she got back into the bed. "So beautiful...like a midnight lily..." he whispered as he wrapped his arm under her waist and pulled her as close as he could. "Sweet dreams, Arrika...get enough rest, tomorrow is another day, and you're gonna need all your strength." he said to her as he kissed the side of her cheek, and drifted into his own sleep again.
OoC: Lets say this is about a week before 'The Past Returns' okay? and a day before 'Arrika's training'...

OoC: Gah trying to make a real storyline out of HA2 is almost as hard as trying to put the Zelda games in order... I guess I can make it morning?

IC: Seth was disappointed as Sakiko left, hoping to have a little fun scaring her that night. He slumped against the couch instead, watching the moon and occupying himself with trying to make sense of the flashes of visions that came so easily to him.

Darn the sun and its evil rays. All it does is force you to wake up and begin another day of stealing and wishing you had something to eat. Arrika mumbled something under her breath, threw the rumpled covers back over her and shoved her head under the pillow. A bird chirped outside, and the Sheikah restrained the urge to get up and throw a rock at it. But no, that would require energy and that morning she felt oddly lazy. Her stomach rumbled and she groaned. She hadn't eaten anything filling for a couple days and it was starting to affect her.

Now's the time Seth jumps on me, another fish in his hands, maybe still alive, and he asks me to cook it for him. Maybe I'll put one of Sakiko's medicinal herbs in it and see if he overdoses, She thought evilly.