#suhokim

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The dark mages lay defeated, scattered across the battlefield. Javier hurried to Lloyd’s side. The aftermath of the battle left a chilling silence, punctuated only by the distant cries of those emerging from hiding.

Javier gently lifted Lloyd, his voice resolved. "We need to get you out of here."

With Lloyd’s battered form cradled in his arms, Javier navigated through the wreckage of the once chaotic scene.

The journey back was somber, the weight of the day’s events pressing heavily on Javier’s shoulders. As they approached their doorstep, Javier felt a mix of concern and weariness. He carefully carried Lloyd inside and settled him on the bed.

Looking down he was frustrated at the familiar scene “ … we are doing this again, My Lord?”

Wait a moment. He noticed the brooch Lloyd was wearing—a mana stone, though its original purpose was unclear. Javier could tell that the stone was actively resisting the dark magic surrounding it. However, the dark magic seemed to be overpowering the stone and having a significant impact on Lloyd's condition.

Before he could call for medical assistance, physicians arrived, accompanied by a royal messenger from Her Majesty Queen Alicia. Javier felt a surge of relief; he knew Her Majesty would be deeply invested in Lord Frontera’s well-being.

“The dark magic’s still lingering. We need a magician immediately. Whatever resistance this stone has, it won’t be enough to dispel this curse.”

The messenger nodded. “I’ve been instructed to take Lord Frontera to the castle if the situation requires more than just medical treatment. We’ll make the arrangements.”

And he remembered Julian studying at the academy in the capital. Javier hoped that with the Queen's intervention, they would find a way to resolve Lloyd’s condition without adding to the Fronteras family's distress as he did in Cremo.

—----------------

In the castle, the mages worked tirelessly around Lloyd’s unconscious form. The room was filled with the low hum of arcane energies and the tense atmosphere of focused concentration. The heavy door creaked open, and Queen Alicia entered, her presence commanding immediate attention.

"Report," Her Majesty’s voice was calm but firm as she approached the circle of mages.

The lead mage, looking weary and troubled, stepped forward. "Your Majesty, the situation is more complex than we anticipated. The Aegis of Reverie was meant to offer protection, but its enchantments have been compromised."

The Queen’s eyes turned toward Javier, who stood aside, his expression tense. The lead mage continued, addressing the Queen with urgency. "The curse placed on Lord Frontera is the cause. The dark magic affecting him has caused his mental state to deteriorate rapidly, and the Aegis has begun to use its full effect."

Queen Alicia’s gaze was fixed on the lead mage. "Explain further. What exactly is happening?"

The mage nodded and took a deep breath. "The Aegis of Reverie was originally crafted to stabilize the wearer’s mental state under distress. However, when it activates due to extreme emotional turmoil, it induces a dream state. This was intended to help the wearer sort out their mental conflicts. Unfortunately, due to the curse, this dream state has become highly unstable and distorted."

Another mage, adding to the explanation, said, "The curse causes the wearer’s memories to become fragmented and their perception of reality to blur. The dream state initiated by the Aegis is a sort of prison; once activated, the wearer cannot exit the dream until the mental state has stabilized."

Javier, standing by, finally spoke up with a concerned tone. "So, the dream state is meant to resolve the wearer’s inner conflicts, but due to the severity of the curse … ?"

The lead mage responded, "The dream state has become a complex labyrinth of distorted realities. The wearer must confront and resolve these inner conflicts to regain control; however, The curse has made this process exceedingly difficult."

The Queen interjected, "Given this situation, what course of action do you recommend?" The lead mage glanced at Javier before answering, "Javier’s familiarity with Lord Frontera, coupled with his deep understanding of his master’s personality, makes him uniquely qualified to assist.”

The Queen and Javier looked confused.

“We believe he should enter the dream to guide Lord Frontera through the distortions and help him resolve his conflicts."

Queen Alicia’s gaze returned to Javier. "... Javier, do you agree with this assessment?"

Javier nodded firmly. "Yes, Your Majesty. If it is possible … I will do everything in my power to help Lord Frontera."

The Queen nodded in agreement. "Then proceed. We will ensure you have the support you need."

As the mages began preparations for the ritual that would allow Javier to enter Lloyd’s dream, Queen Alicia observed with a mixture of concern and resolve. Javier took his place at the center of the circle, ready to delve into the dream world and aid Lloyd.

—-------------

As Javier prepared to enter Lloyd’s dream, the ritual’s energy surged around him, creating a dazzling vortex of swirling light and shadow. The air crackled with raw magical power, and the world around him seemed to fracture and disintegrate into a maelstrom of colors and fragments.

Shattered memories of Lloyd’s past flickered through the void—fleeting glimpses of the capital, Cremo, and other scenes of emotional weight.

Javier's vision blurred with the tumultuous swirl of imagery. He saw himself crying amidst the chaos. Flames consumed the covered bodies of the baronies' residents, their forms a haunting reminder of devastation. Were these nightmares conjured by the curse?

Among the fragmented scenes, Javier glimpsed Arcos Frontera apologizing to his son with an expression of sorrow. Yet something about him seemed different—his hair was darker, his features sharper. The image was unsettling and surreal.

In another flash, Lloyd practiced what appeared to be sword fighting with his signature shovel. But the shovel looked odd, almost like a speer, and had a crossbow handle instead of a regular grip.

Amidst this tumultuous swirl, the scene suddenly crystallized. The swirling lights dimmed, and the chaotic imagery faded away, leaving behind an unfamiliar, mundane setting. Javier found himself enveloped in darkness, but through the small amount of light, he could make out a figure before him.

—----------

Lloyd found himself Lying on a small bed in a small, sparsely furnished room—an ordinary goshiwon. The room was a stark contrast to the chaos he had just experienced. It was late, and the only sound was a quiet hum of a small, old-fashioned heater.

A voice broke the silence. "It's late. Time to get up, My Lord."

Lloyd blinked, disoriented. The voice seemed real, and the room, although dark, felt oddly familiar. He tried to move, but his body was stiff as if he had been lying there for an extended period. As he scanned the room, he noticed that everything was exactly as he remembered—a small bed, a tiny desk cluttered with textbooks, and a window revealing the dark cityscape outside.

Confused and on edge, Lloyd’s eyes darted around the room. The voice, although it seemed to come from right beside him, was now only a haunting echo in the quiet room. “How?” he muttered to himself. He always locked the door to this room, but there was no one else in sight.

With apprehension, Lloyd carefully squinted through the dark, trying to make sense of his surroundings. Despite the familiarity, a sense of unease lingered. He took a deep breath, attempting to steady his racing thoughts, and slowly got up from the bed.

What if she disguised the pendant as a common artifact from a distant land? Yes, that would surely divert any suspicion. The kingdom was known for its vast collection of relics, and this could easily be mistaken for one of them.

Queen Alicia summoned her craftsmen. They transformed the pendant into a brooch adorned with the shimmering gemstone. The piece was in a common style for upper nobles but it was especially well made. 

Satisfied with the transformation, Queen Alicia smiled in satisfaction. This gift would now be perfect for him. She decided she would personally present it to him after his next feat.

She imagined what silly face he would make, what he was getting up to in the meantime. She felt a surge of pride. He was not just a skilled architect but a loyal subject who had proven his worth time and time again. 

The broach caught her eye again … how could he of all people know so much about …

Her thought was interrupted by a knock at the door 

Queen Alicia quickly composed herself and called out for the visitor to enter. The door creaked open to reveal a hooded figure cloaked in shadows. A chill ran down her spine as a sense of foreboding filled the room.

The stranger approached, his eyes swirling with dark power. Queen Alicia's hand instinctively went to the brooch on her desk.

Without uttering a word, the dark mage extended his hand towards the brooch, his fingers crackling with dark energy. Before Queen Alicia could react, a wave of pure malice emanated from the mage, enveloping the room in a suffocating aura of dread.

—--------------

Well, as expected. Lloyd has done it again. There is now not only a new apartment complex to house those suffering in the slums but it also has a small school house and medical clinic. The nobles aren't exactly happy that so much effort is being put into the “slums of all places” but Llyod flagrantly said a few words about being as strong as one's weakest link (and she's pretty sure she saw him make prolonged eye contact with someone in particular … she should look into that later) 

It went relatively smoothly. So why does she feel so tired? Lloyd had dealt with the nobles largely on his own this time. She hadn’t even noticed them starting problems. 

“Announcing her majesty, Alicia Termina Magentano.”

She looked  up and slowly looked over the crowd. “ … We are once again here to honor a man who has been a continuous help to this country. He has not only made great strides in the eyes of our neighbors but has now increased the standard of living for the entire capitol!” a cheer. 

… what was next? She looked around. A servant assumed that was his que and hurried over with the brooch in a small padded box. 

Queen Alicia gracefully accepted the small box from the servant. With a remembered sense of purpose, she approached Lloyd, who stood tall and proud amongst the gathered crowd.

"Lloyd," she began, her voice ringing out clear and strong. "For your unwavering dedication and tireless efforts in improving our kingdom, it is my honor to present you with this token of my appreciation."

With a sense of ceremony, Queen Alicia opened the box to reveal the shimmering brooch inside. The gemstone caught the light and seemed to glow with an ethereal brilliance. Lloyd's eyes widened in surprise as he gazed at the craftsmanship before him.

Lloyd's “gratitude” shone in his eyes as he bowed deeply before Queen Alicia. "I am humbled by your generosity, Your Majesty. I will cherish this gift always." As he fastened the brooch to his cloak. 

—--------------------

Javier had noticed an energy coming from the brooch that Lloyd had been wearing throughout the capital's “slums”. Almost conflicting with itself?  It wasn't enough for Lloyd to notice it seemed … 

“WAHHHH” They both jumped a little at a child suddenly crying. Their parents are trying to console them as best they could. “MY TUMMY HUUUUURT.” 

Javier pitied them all, honestly. 

… Why wasn't his master beside him? 

He looked back to see Llyod watching the family. It seemed to be one of those rare moment where he could go without making a fuss about anything … but why is this making javier uneasy? 

It seems less like Llyod is watching and almost like he’s zoned out. 

“Master.” 

A slow turn “hmm?”

Javier contemplated what to say for a long moment. The fact that lloyd didn’t make a fuss about that was just something else that was weird. 

“I’m so sorry baby.” Lloyd flinched as he heard the dad start to choke up. “I’m so sorry. I know your stomach hurts, and I wish more than anything that I could get you something to make it feel better.” He squeezed the child.

“ But the little bit we have isn’t enough. I’m doing everything I can to find us a way out of this, but until then, all I can give you is my love and a promise that I’ll keep trying. Please hang in there just a little longer. I’m so sorry I can’t do more.” 

"My lord, are you feeling quite alright?" 

Lloyd's gaze snapped back to Javier, his eyes unreadable. "... I am fine, Javier," he replied. But something about those eyes sent a shiver down Javier's spine.

Before Javier could respond, a sudden commotion erupted in the crowd as people began to scream and panic. Javier's eyes widened in alarm as he turned to see what had caused the disturbance.

A group of hooded figures cloaked in shadows had materialized out of thin air, their eyes swirling with dark energy. The dark mages spread throughout the crowd. 

Javier's heart raced as he realized the kingdom was under attack. He looked to Lloyd for guidance, but to his horror, he saw his master standing amidst the chaos with a blank expression.

"My Lord!" Javier.

Chaos consumed the crowds as the shadowy figures advanced, their intentions unclear as they violently rounded up the helpless residents of the slums. Families were torn apart, cries of fear echoing through the air.

In a moment of clarity amidst the frenzy, Javier saw the same eerie energy emanating from Lloyd, now amplified and swirling around him like a dark vortex. The brooch on Lloyd's cloak pulsed with an ominous light, as if fueled by the chaos unfolding around them.

With a sinking feeling in his heart, Javier realized that his master had been tricked. This was all planned. He watched Lloyd stand idly by, his expression devoid of any … anything.

As the dark mages closed in on the frightened family Javier had noticed earlier, he knew he had to act. But he also needed to protect his master. 

-end chapter one-

[Notes: they say 1,200 words is a good amount for a chapter right?

I've been working on outlining this fic for a while and really REALLY want to post the first chapter.

My goal is to get as close to canon characterization as possible so feel free to leave feedback on that.]