Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Third Dream Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Forwarded to late night

[byakkoyagirl]

[Written; Near night time (Paprika isn't visible as she isn't imposing her image)]

I hope everyone has a good dream tonight.

[It ends there. She won't be answering anyone who tries responding. If anything it's only a precaution, so no one can say she didn't warn them. Even if she didn't make herself obvious - it wouldn't be much of a surprise if

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[fallenambitions]

[Paprika will find herself amidst a crowd of people. A Colosseum. It was a very lively atmosphere of people that lived in the city of Zaphias. They were here to see a competition of various fighters that the Empire was hosting. Eventhough it was open to all, it was more like the Empire's way of showing off what their knights could do.

Alexei was down there right now, fighting against just another regular person like him. If he won this, he could challenge some of the Empire's best knights. He was young, in his late teens in this dream. He was equipped with at least the bare minimum required for this tournament, whatever the Empire would supply. He was not exactly the most fortunate person during his early years, but that didn't seem to cause him problems in this battle. He seem to have a good handle of the situation.]

[destinetofall]

You did? [What warning? He totally must have looked over it as nothing.

There's the sound of a horn being blown somewhere within the arena.]

...That's the signal. [He moves towards the door.]

[byakkoyagirl]

Oh, okay! [She says quickly, not getting the chance to explain her warning before the horn.] I'll be back in the stands watching!

[With that she leaves the door and quickly runs around the corner of the hall. If Alexei goes the same way he won't even see her there, as she phases back to the other part of the dream.]

[fallenambitions]

[Sure enough, he lost sight of her...but he didn't seem bothered by it.

Back at the arena, the crowds were starting to feel anxious and excited at the continuation of the tournament. The announcer starts rallying up the audience and starts explaining the rules during this part of the tournament ]

"Our challenger needs to stand up against three opponents, and not just any opponents, three of the Empire's finest knights! If he wins against each one of them, he will become our Champion!"

[The crowd cheers loudly as Alexei enters the arena, wary but ready to face whomever was going to come out from the other side. He scans the crowd...searching for Paprika. He turns away from the crowd a moment later.

Meanwhile in the stands, someone will have joined Paprika.]

Don't let this stop our previous conversation. [It was Alexei, again. Only much older than the self down below. He was in his uniform, but without all the armor and watching himself down below. He was now an observer of his dream.]

[byakkoyagirl]

[Paprika is ready to wave to the boy in the arena when he searches for her, but then feels another presence approaching. Not just something that is part of the dream. Her head then turns to find Alexei, sitting by her.]

Oh...[she turns down to the arena and then back to him, recognizing him instantly.] Oh it's you!

[fallenambitions]

[He grins, nodding.

Lex down below had drawn his weapon as his first opponent entered the arena. The match soon begins.]

So how do you exactly go about this? And for any purpose?

[byakkoyagirl]

I just do it. Do I really need to explain? As for my purpose...ah, no real purpose. I just get bored and wander around. I haven't done this in a while though.

[fallenambitions]

Well, I'm not sure if it's normal in your world, but dream travelers certainly aren't in mine. I was simply curious.

[Lex was doing well so far down below...at least avoiding being hit. It's hard finding a weak spot when your opponent is covered in armor. Alexei was watching this fight intently while speaking to Paprika.]

[byakkoyagirl]

It isn't normal in my world either. I come from a plain ordinary world actually. This is the result of overusing the therapy devices.

[What those are she doesn't immediately explain, her eyes still on the fighting.]

[fallenambitions]

Therapy...

[Is that what this is?

Lex knocks the knight down by his knees. They were not protected and it was enough for him to gain the advantage and finishes the round. He doesn't have much of a chance to rest though, the announcer was already introducing the next guy. He was a big guy and probably a Lieutenant, instead of a foot soldier.]

They purposely made this contest unfair.

[byakkoyagirl]

[Usually it is, but not tonight. Tonight she's just enjoying the sights.

Paprika blinks at the sight of the giant coming in, before any sort of break, and frowns a little.]

Guess they didn't like the new kid taking down the regulars.

[fallenambitions]

[He smirks] Something like that. They never did have this competition again after this one.

[Size doesn't always means victory. The guy may have strength behind him, but he was slow and Lex was agile. So he played a waiting game, get him tired just a little bit...]

[byakkoyagirl]

[Paprika nods, still watching the battle.]

So I'm guessing the outcome is pretty obvious, right?

[fallenambitions]

[He glances at her for a moment, as Lex down below is knocked back by his opponent's weapon due to his miscalculation.]

Not that obvious. [Welp, dear Lex is somewhat dazed from that hit and is totally not mortified that the guy was now charging at him. So let's do something reckless and stupid. Let's charge back at him! The moment he swung his sword, Lex quickly ducks and kicks him hard in the back. He's hoping, just hoping it'll knock him down. If not, maybe a hit by the hilt of his sword ramming into his side will. Isn't it sad to know he still has one more opponent after this one?]

It came close.

[byakkoyagirl]

[She turns to him for a moment curiously and then turns back, just as the younger one is trying to make a knock down.]

Don't tell me how it turns out then. I want it to be a surprise!

[fallenambitions]

[He leans back in his seat.] It's more interesting this way.

[Yes, watching yourself standing up against people that should be out of his league is totally interesting. The knight is forced reeling from Lex's thrust with his hilt, but he wasn't finished. Lex grabbed for his weapon as he was falling. He's going to take his weapon as his own and points them both at the fallen knight.

That was the end of that. And now he was confronted by the final opponent. An unnamed Captain. The captain chuckles, seeing the state Lex was in and says-]

"You ready for this, pup?"

[Lex was scared, scared he wasn't going to make it. That last fight really did a number on him. But he couldn't stop here. This was the last match, he had to keep fighting. He's going to change this Empire for the better. He straightens up and readies both of his blades. He's going to fight for what he believes in or die trying.]