[WP] "dream mages are mostly skilled in treating insomnia or nightmares. So when the arcane institute got attacked nobody thought they had a chance… how wrong we were"
Smoke filled the air as Keith ran down the grand hallway of the Telgrade Institute of the Arts. He and his fellow classmates had been milling about in the foyer for lunch. When all of sudden the building was rocked by magical blasts of ice and flames. Everyone had been frozen in fear, until finally a bloodied-sentry entered the foyer. This caused panic to erupt in the student body as they began to run this way and that. Not knowing what to do. The Institute being attacked? No one had ever thought about that happening.
As he ran down the hallway, he could hear the pained shouts and screams of agony. From both the Institute defenders, students, and whomever was attacking. This was a nightmare! He didn’t know what to do. To engrossed in his thoughts. He didn’t notice a part of the ceiling falling down until he was grabbed by a wizard. The ceiling crashed down in front of them. Now blocking the hallway. Keith just stood there in shock. Having just narrowly avoided death.
He turned toward the wizard in thanks. It was Wizard Vostok, a mage who specialized in Dream magic. A school that focused on the etheral fragments when one sleeps and also of the mind. “Wizard Vostok, what is happening? Why is the Institute under attack?” asked Keith. Wizard Vostok seemed to be lost in his thoughts. “I do not know, Keith.”, Wizard Vostok replied, “However, this seems to be a bit of a nightmare.” Wizard Vostok ruefully shook his head.
Another blast rocked the building. Keith and Wizard Vostok both scurried into an open doorway of a classroom. Several students were inside huddled together. Another wizard, was also in the room. Wizard Lyrus. “Ah, Vostok! I see you’re still alive!” Lyrus jovially greeted him. Keith in bewilderment wondered how exactly could Wizard Lyrus be so jovial in such a situation. “Indeed I am Lyrus” replied Vostok, “What exactly is going on?”
Lyrus looked out the window. Guards and other teachers were working together to combat the invaders. The battle was not exactly going good for the Institute. Several of the guards had already been slain and only a few of the combat trained teachers were out there. “It’s not going great, Vostok. You plan on going out there to help?”, Lyrus asked, “I’ll be here in the classroom and guard these students.” A nightmare indeed. Wizard Vostok laughed, “And what exactly could a Dream mage do, hm?”
Lyrus looked at him and shook her head. “Oh, I’ve seen what Dream mages can do.” she retorted. Keith went to the window and looked out. The battle was still raging but he noticed now that significant ground had been lost. The invaders were almost to the entrance of the foyer. What guards that were left and the few combat teachers had been pushed back. Keith wondered too, what exactly could a Dream mage do? Most of the spells they had taught related to dreams while sleeping.
This wasn’t a dream. It was real and a nightmare in the flesh. Keith’s eyes started to flutter. If only he could go to sleep and perhaps this nightmare would end. A nightmare? Keith blinked and now noticed that the ground had been retaken. “Strange”, he thought to himself. Keith’s eye felt heavy and he struggled to keep them open. He didn’t want to sleep, how could he while a battle raged outside?
Try as he might. Fighting to stay awake. Keith succumbed to it. He sat down and closed his eyes falling into a deep sleep. A battle raged in his mind. Flashes of flames and ice. The Institute being rocked. Classmates running in panic. Screams of agony. Invaders here and there. His eyes fluttered. Was this real or a nightmare? His mind wondered, he wondered. Wisps here and there.
Gong! Keith awoke with a start. His eyes looked wildly from side to side. What? Keith slowly became more awake, noticing he was sitting at his desk. He looked towards the front of the class. Wizard Vostok stood there smiling. Had it all just been a dream, Keith wondered.