Rick sat up in bed, his heart pounding in his chest. The vision had been so vivid, so real, that for a moment he wasn't sure if he was still dreaming. The image of Elias standing before a burning city, his eyes glowing with the same eerie light as the curse, was seared into Rick's mind. He could still feel the heat of the flames, hear the crackling of the fire, and see the cold, knowing smile on Elias's face.
Rick ran a hand through his hair, trying to shake off the lingering sense of dread. He knew visions like this were not to be taken lightly—especially in a world where magic was real and ancient curses could wreak havoc on the kingdom. He had seen enough to know that such dreams were often warnings, glimpses of what might come to pass if the right steps were not taken.
Chick appeared beside him, his small form glowing softly in the dim light of the room. "You okay, Rick?" Chick asked, his voice filled with concern.
Rick nodded slowly, though the unease still gnawed at him. "Yeah… just had a bad dream."
"Bad dream, huh?" Chick floated closer, his eyes narrowing. "You don't look like you just had a regular bad dream. You look like you just saw a ghost."
Rick sighed, rubbing his eyes. "It was Elias," he admitted. "I saw him… standing in front of a burning city. His eyes were glowing, just like the curse."
Chick's expression grew serious. "That's not something you should ignore, Rick. If there's one thing I've learned, it's that dreams like that are never just dreams."
"I know," Rick replied, his voice tinged with frustration. "But what am I supposed to do? I don't even know what it means, or if it's something that's going to happen."
Chick tilted his head thoughtfully. "Maybe it's a warning. Maybe it's showing you what could happen if we're not careful. Elias might be more dangerous than we thought."
Rick stared at the faintly pulsing dagger on his bedside table, the vision of Elias's glowing eyes still fresh in his mind. "I'm starting to think you're right, Chick. But I can't just accuse him of something based on a dream."
Chick floated up to eye level with Rick, his expression serious. "Then we need to figure out what Elias is really up to. We need to know who he is, where he came from, and why he's here."
Rick nodded, determination hardening his resolve. "You're right. We can't just sit around waiting for something to happen. We need to take action."
He threw off the covers and got out of bed, quickly dressing in his simple, practical clothes. There was no time to waste—if his vision was a warning, then every moment counted. The kingdom might be safe for now, but the shadow of rebellion was still lurking, and Rick couldn't afford to let his guard down.
"We need to find Kael," Rick said as he fastened his boots. "He's already looking into Elias, but we need to accelerate our efforts. There has to be something in the palace records, or maybe in the old texts, that can tell us more about him."
Chick nodded in agreement. "And while we're at it, maybe we can find out more about that vision you had. There's got to be a reason you saw what you did."
Rick grabbed the ancient dagger, feeling the weight of it in his hand. The blade still pulsed with a faint energy, a reminder of the curse they had only just defeated. He strapped it to his belt, feeling a strange sense of comfort in its presence.
As Rick left his chambers, the palace was quiet, the corridors empty and dimly lit by the occasional torch. The silence was almost eerie, a stark contrast to the chaos that had erupted in the courtyard just hours earlier. But Rick's mind was focused, his thoughts racing as he made his way to the library where Kael often spent his nights.
When Rick arrived, he found Kael hunched over a stack of ancient tomes, his face illuminated by the soft glow of a nearby lantern. The scholar looked up as Rick entered, his expression a mix of surprise and concern.
"Rick, what are you doing here at this hour?" Kael asked, closing the book in front of him.
Rick didn't waste time with pleasantries. "I had a vision, Kael. About Elias. I need your help to figure out what it means."
Kael's eyes narrowed in curiosity as he leaned forward. "A vision? Tell me everything."
Rick recounted the details of his dream—the burning city, Elias's glowing eyes, and the overwhelming sense of dread that had accompanied it. As he spoke, Kael listened intently, his brow furrowed in thought.
"This is troubling," Kael said when Rick had finished. "Elias is a mystery, and now you're having visions of him connected to something dark and destructive. We can't ignore this."
"Exactly," Rick replied. "We need to find out who Elias really is and what he's after. There has to be something in the records, or in the old texts, that can give us a clue."
Kael nodded, already reaching for another book. "I've been looking into Elias's background, but it's difficult to find anything concrete. He seems to have appeared out of nowhere—there's no mention of him in the usual records, no ties to any known families or institutions."
"That's what worries me," Rick said, pacing the room. "He shows up just as the curse is broken, claims to know all about it, and then starts talking about other dangers. It's too convenient."
Kael flipped through the pages of the book in front of him, his eyes scanning the text. "There are legends of powerful sorcerers who lived in secret, studying ancient magic and waiting for the right moment to reveal themselves. Elias could be one of them—or at least connected to them."
Rick stopped pacing, his mind racing with possibilities. "If that's true, then Elias could be a lot more dangerous than we thought. He might even be behind the curse in the first place."
Kael looked up, his expression grave. "It's possible. But we need more information before we can make any accusations. We need proof."
"Then we keep digging," Rick said, his voice filled with determination. "We'll find out who Elias is, and we'll figure out what he's really after. The kingdom is depending on us."
Kael nodded, his resolve matching Rick's. "I'll keep searching the records. There has to be something here—some mention of a sorcerer like Elias, or a prophecy that might explain your vision."
"And I'll keep an eye on Elias," Rick added. "If he's planning something, I'll be ready."
As Kael returned to his research, Rick felt a renewed sense of purpose. The vision had shaken him, but it had also given him clarity. The battle for the kingdom was far from over, and if Elias was the threat Rick suspected him to be, then they would need to be prepared for whatever came next.
But even as Rick steeled himself for the challenges ahead, a lingering doubt gnawed at him. The vision had shown him a possible future, a glimpse of what could happen if they failed. And the image of Elias standing before the burning city, his eyes glowing with the power of the curse, was a reminder that the stakes were higher than ever.
The shadow of rebellion was growing, and Rick knew that the true test of his strength, his resolve, and his ability to protect the kingdom was yet to come.