Beginner's Luck: Liminal

When the memorial to the fallen came to a close, Fluke came to the side of the Librarian and offered him support. The stubborn man waved the boy away, and they slowly walked back to their prisoner. Q had been left to watch over their captive, and they could see the large golem still looming over him with a constant vigilance. Breaking away from his mentor, who now shambled back towards the village, Fluke went to check on his automaton friend.

"Will you be able to watch him all night?" Fluke was down on his haunches, poking at the now subdued combatant. The Derboul seemed to be in some form of meditative trance, for even when poked or prodded it refused to respond. If it weren't for the steady movement that followed the creatures breathing, one would think they were dead or in a coma.

"My batteries charge continuously inside rift worlds. If I were outside the rift, I would still have enough power to last up to three days of continuous use." The automaton stayed transfixed on their captive as it responded.

Fluke noted this for future reference, before responding, "Okay, make sure he's alive tomorrow. We will be back in the morning." Fluke turned and ran to catch up with the Librarian, now on his way back to the village. Slowly, they hiked up the trail to the village and got the Librarian to his hut. Inside the single room dwelling there was a simple bed, a trunk for storage, and a small oven with a kettle on top. The Librarian removed his boots, mask, and cloak, then laid himself down to rest for the night. Fluke found matches and kindling near the wood stove, and started a small fire for his friend.

"Do not worry about me boy... I have found that sleeping seems to help me heal faster than most. I will train you so you can do the same. I was able to help my lieutenants to gain this ability, though to varying degrees of success." The weary man was fading into the warm embrace of sleep quickly, when it dawned on Fluke there was a problem.

"Where do I sleep sir?" Fluke didn't have anywhere to go, and the cold night air was only getting colder.

"Inside the trunk, you'll find a sleeping bag. Tomorrow as you train, I will rally the troops to build you a proper home. Go to where you awoke this morning, the fire will still be burning." As if a spell was cast, the older man was asleep without another word. Fluke lifted the lid to the chest, and found a rolled up sleeping bag inside. Quietly he left to not disturb the recovering warrior that was now sound asleep. Fluke found the reed mat next to the fire and moved it so it was just far enough away to not be too hot from the flames. Unrolling the sleeping bag on top of it, he climbed inside, it smelled of leather and pine. Fluke removed his mask and felt the tension in his face and scalp finally relax. Looking up at the stars he found himself deep in thought, his mind whirling with questions.

Were those stars real?

Was this world a copy of another world?

Why had he been brought here?

Why was there so much violence against humans, when there seemed to be no reason for any of it?

Why did he know so many things, but at the same time know nothing?

He felt his eyes grow heavy, as he held his mask against his chest, he felt all those worries drift away. Future Fluke would have to deal with that, for current Fluke had no other care in the world at this moment.

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Opening his eyes, Fluke once again found himself alone and without answers. There was no sleeping bag. There was no fire. There was no village, or mask in his hands. All around him was shadow, and darkness. His emotions began to grow out of control, he could hear his heart pounding in his ears. Closing his eyes, he began to wonder if any of it was real, if it had all been a bad dream.

Dream.

Upon thinking the word, he felt his heart slow. He felt himself calm, and he opened his eyes once again. It was a dark world and still full of shadow, but now his mind told him that it was in fact... a dream. Fluke stood and steadied his breathing. Looking down he felt some relief to find he was still wearing his clothes. A lucid dream, that's what this was. Movement caught his eye through the dark shroud and shadowy veils around him. Something moved toward him, but in an unthreatening way. It's movement was in such a way that it seemed... curious. Fluke looked down at his bare feet, and found that he was now standing on sand, and littered through the sand were rocks of all shapes and sizes. Pain slowly started creeping upwards, so he decided to move some rocks and try and sit. Sitting crossed legged and hands in plain sight, he hoped that the being now coming towards him wouldn't be scared away.

Once he settled in, Fluke looked up to see a small white creature staring at him. It had long ears and white fur. The magnificense of it's blue eyes were like two sapphires on a mound of snow. His mind told him it had a name... it was... a rabbit? Just like the creature on his coin given to him by the goddess. Fluke felt himself to try and find the coin, but found nothing. The sudden movements didn't scare the rabbit away, instead it began to slowly walk and hop itself towards the boy. Stopping right in front of Fluke, it looked up at him and sniffed the air. Fluke reached forward slowly to pet the rabbit, hoping to feel how soft its fur was. The rabbit sat back on its hind legs and lifted its front paws up, as if to meet the boy halfway.

"Touchin' ain't free buddy." The rabbit said in a deep man's voice, as he slapped the boy's hand away.