Fever Dream

[Alric Lysane]

19th Fall 521 AV Alric jumped out of bed, ready to fight and feet apart for stability, a few moments passing with hands raised in defensive posture before he realised there was nothing to be concerned with. He was standing in his shack and everything seemed as it should. Faded memories of him rolling around in bed, sweating and thinking about ghosts attacking him whilst he was weak tickled at the back of his mind before it faded further and eventually vanished. He couldn’t tell what time it was, the light seemed to be slightly off colour and both dulled but also all encompassing. He turned around with raised eyebrow with the feeling that something was off. Nothing seemed out of place though and so he shrugged and stepped out into the streets of Sunberth. They seemed the same, the same dirt and grime. The same mould, rotting wooden walls and the occasional age encrusted stone foundations. He was making his way towards the Castle Commons looking for someone to lighten of their burdens. As he got to about halfway he started knowing something was definitely wrong – there were no people. Even at the slowest of times he’d have seen at least a few. He picked up the pace as his mind raced as to what he could have missed and entered the Commons. No one…no one?! he thought to himself frantically, feeling the heat under his shirt collar rising for some reason. He began to sweat. He eyed the stalls that were there but were vacant of produce or merchant. It took a few moments t truly sink in – the city was his alone. But that was impossible. He started to run, at first in random directions but then shifting to a methodical pattern, searching every street, plumbing every warren and delving into every dreaded area of Sunberth in his search for company. He found none of it. Neither did he tire, or his breath get ragged from the constant running. He eventually ran to the Temple of the Unknown, slamming the doors open and skidding to a halt in the place he usually found so peaceful. “Gods and Goddesses what is happening to me? I don’t usually prey but…where is everyone? Bring them back!!” he shouted, at one moment pleading and the next defiant. He wasn’t sure how he should feel. Except hot…and getting hotter. He started to sweat profusely and staggered, a roaring beginning in his ears. His breathing started to get tighter, bands of iron creeping across his chest. He coughed and gasped air in equal measure as he clutched at his throat and stumbled out of the forsaken temple devoid of help and into the street. The roaring was growing now and he saw what it was, it’s orange glow filling the horizon – fire. It crackled all around him, wooden beams falling into the streets. He ran for it once more, dodging and weaving around falling debris until one finally clipped him as he came towards the docklands area of the city. Smacking him in the back it sent him sprawling and he suddenly couldn’t breathe and all he could do was curl up and hope he suffocated before the flames seared him painfully. Another rushing crescendo started and he opened his eyes to see a tidal wave making its way down the street towards him. “What the bloo-“ was all he managed to get out before he was submerged, sped along to hit what felt like everything in the city before he started to drown. And then he hit softer ground, thrown onto some golden yellow earth as the waves retreated around him and he crawled forwards a while until he couldn’t crawl anymore, instead rolling to the side and onto his back to look up into the blazing sun.