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autumnal winds dancing around him like children. I knew
that his proffered smile, though well-shaded from view, was
sincere—a friendly greeting, as well as a sign for our mutual
understanding that we should leave each other to their own
dreams. I stepped backwards into the enfolding shadows of
my father’s gallery, surrounded by a lifetime of art, offering
up my own smile, perhaps more recessed in darkness than
his own, though equally noticed and understood. We nodded
to one another just before piloting our respective visions
beyond the shared space of the Red Dream. Due to our
standing as finalists in the Shepherd’s Game, our awareness
of the other was unbothered by competing dreams—no more
Wolves to interfere with the clarity of our shared wavelength.
We were in no need of a dream to prepare for one another.
We were plain as two sunny days, histories like well-read
books, opened to the sun and recorded in plainest print. We
knew who we were dealing with. We would be ready.
While I am no pessimist, this fact did not stop me from
trying to wring as much wonder as possible from my
surroundings and the dreams they inspired, as one never
knows when they will be asked to leave the world—or
ushered out of it by persons wearing Halloween masks. I
had no plans to depart any time soon, but it never hurt to
have a bag packed, just in case. So, I spared no sight my
fascination, and no fascination its fuller realization within
dreams. The Deadworld never seemed rifer with hidden
wonder than the day I let fall those lists. My fascination
came to a head on my fourth day on the road, when the black
path veered close to a strange cemetery.
It was a forgotten place, likely due to its proximity to
nearby Obscuruum, of which there were many. It wasn’t a
particularly large plot, but more grandiose than one would
expect abandoned to the wilds. Something was amiss with
the place, something altogether enthralling. The mystery
that wafted from beyond, or perhaps beneath the tombstones
was nearly palpable, and would need to be to derail me from
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