The First Dream
Nyr blinked lazily as he watched the ground roll away beneath him. He hated that he had to take a carriage ride, but it was at least better than riding on a chocobo. The moon was high in the sky and, even though he was nocturnal, he could feel sleep trying to take him. Maybe it was the sickness, or the situation, but he couldn't bring himself to resist. He drifted off to sleep, hand dangling just ilms from the ground.
When he next opened his eyes, he had to do a double take, before realizing what was going on. He was sitting in a pool of dark, ruddy liquid. It had been a while since he slept well enough to dream. It was strange, and almost nostalgic, though he couldn't help but wonder why it was happening now, of all times. He began to prepare himself for the sequence that always followed... But it didn't come this time. Instead, he heard a familiar voice speaking, muffled, from under the surface. Intrigued, he dipped his head under, and found himself falling, rapidly approaching a field. He closed his eyes and braced himself out of reflex, but he never hit the ground.
“It's a shame.” He heard the voice mutter, beside him. “There's no reason she should have died, right? You did everything perfect... It's almost as if it were magic.” The voice almost sounded gleeful as it spoke. “Who knows... Perhaps it was. Or maybe...” The voice began to chuckle, and Nyr swung out in it's direction, though finding no purchase. Turning, all he saw was the spot on the steppe where he had buried his wife.
“You know why it had to happen, don't you? Why you couldn't just settle down and be happy? You made a promise, Una'a. A pact, you willingly signed with your blood. I never said they were the only price you had to pay. I waited, oh so long, and my plan worked perfectly. You came back. You found me. You thought you beat me, but look at yourself. You're breaking.”
Nyr looked down at his hands, now trembling, and saw cracks and chips in his arms, as if he were a doll made of porcelain. He reached up to his face, feeling cracks there too.
“Just a little more, and you'll be perfect. I needed a new vessel, and I've spent so long making sure you would be the perfect replacement. You even went through the trouble of ridding me of my old one. It's only a matter of time now, and I think you know it. But... You can't just through me away, can you? If you want to accomplish your goal, you need me, Una'a. You can't do it without me. If you just give yourself to me, I can save him. Entirely. You are the final sacrifice. It's up to you. I'll be here, when you're ready. You just have to submit.”
Growling, Nyr rakes his hands out wildly, in every direction, trying to find Ghy, but it's pointless. He heard the ascian chuckle once more, followed by a disappointed “tsk tsk.” Nyr turns around, still hoping to catch something, but instead, sees the pool of liquid rapidly approaching. As he is submerged once more, he wakes up, gasping for air. Turning, he sees Vizha asleep beside him, and the sun rising in the distance. He clambers for a canteen to get some water, and tries catching his breath. As he tilts his head back to drink, he locks eyes with his bow, and nearly breaks the canteen as he clenches a fist around it. Wiping his mouth, he grabs the weapon, and holds it over the edge of the carriage. He considers letting go, ridding himself of it, but the ascians words ring in his mind.
“You need me, Una'a.”
With a disgruntled sigh, he throws the weapon at the back of the carriage, and slumps back down onto the floor, his motion sickness getting the better of him once again.
“We'll see who needs who...” He mutters as he sinks his fang into his bottom lip. Deep down, he knows the ascian is right. Knows that he has no escape. Knows... That his time is almost up.