Leaning tiresomely against the rocky cave wall, Count Flamel rested hoping to find time to mentally fight against his flaw of nightmares. Ever since he was resurrected by God, Count Flamel has had an unpleasant curse of nightmares. Every night it seemed he would fall asleep and quickly, or so it felt to him, wake up screaming from the frightening vision he witnessed. He wished that tonight it would not happen like so. He hoped by resting during the day that he would not need to take his night time to the common event of sleeping. He hoped he would be able to stay awake this night. Hope is all he could conjure up concerning this matter.

And he spoke to himself: “Time and time again I have fallen asleep into a world of nightmares, but this night I hope this to not happen. By resting here I should have enough energy to last me the night.” But it was that Count Flamel was not looking too far ahead into the future to see that the next night it would be all the same.

Wart walked aimlessly through the Crystal Caves of Memphian Falls. He found this place fascinating. It had been day when Wart originally entered the caves, but he lost track of time as he wandered through the tunnels. Small crystals littered the walls of the cave, illuminating it with a spectrum of colors. What made Wart so happy to be here was that there were many caves to explore. His white cloak dragged along the floor of the cave as he walked, getting the end of it a little dirty, to Wart's dismay. A small price to pay, I guess. He thought to himself. The paladin noticed that the further he ventured down this particular tunnel, the more light the crystals seemed to reflect.

Wart, who always had his hand on the hilt of his katana, was quick to draw his sword, when he heard the sound of a voice in the distance. He wasn't purely assuming that this person was up to no good, but wanted to be on the safe side. As Wart got closer to the person talking, he could make out the words: "...I should have enough energy to last me the night.” The paladin sheathed his sword, realizing that this person was merely seeking shelter for the night. Wart could make out the silhouette of the man who spoke. "Having trouble sleeping, eh?" Wart asked, trying to sound polite. Whoever this person was, they seemed not to be evil-aligned, therefore, it was a fight that Wart was happy to avoid.

Hearing the voice of another being, Count Flamel lifted his head and looked towards the direction of the man’s voice. Slowly he lifted himself from the cave’s wall and walked a bit closer to the man to which he would be able to make out who he was. Count Flamel took a few steps and saw that this man wore clothing of white, which made Flamel feel somewhat better knowing that evil beings rarely wore white, and holy beings mostly wore white. He assumed that this man must not be evil, and thus felt safe that he would hopefully not engage upon Flamel.

And so Flamel answered the man politely: “It is not that I am having trouble sleeping here, Sir, rather it is that I wish not to sleep. Does that seem queer to you? If so, that is fine, for I am almost always thought queer, for my appearance frightens many, or at least it makes others feel uncomfortable. Many people flee from me, and it is rather tiresome. I hope to God that you are not frightened by my look and flee from me.”

Wart, who was a bit surprised by the man's appearence, was not fearful of him. "I have seen my fair share of undead and demons in my time as a paladin." Wart said. He wondered why this person chose to stay awake, when he was clearly tired. "May I ask, why you do not choose to sleep?" The paladin asked, letting curiosity get the best of him. "Perhaps someone is hunting you? If so, I'd suggest confronting them, or you will live your life in fear." He added, placing his hand on the hilt of his sword again, in case of an unexpected attack. Wart was now keeping an eye on his back. "If you need a hand, I will offer my help with no questions asked." He said, always willing to do a good deed.

The first sentence this man told to Count Flamel made him angry at first, but he controlled it and let it slide. Flamel is no demon or undead monster; no. He is, in fact, just an abandoned prince who had been raised from the dead by the Lord to have a second chance in life. And the wings that are bond to his back, those God gave him as both a curse and a blessing. They are a curse because it is that aspect of his appearance that frightens many who see him, and Flamel has emotions of sadness, grief, loneliness and anger because of these wings. But they are also a blessing because they, not only give him flight at times, but because it gives Flamel a sense of power and control over those that are weak. Some people become so afraid of his look that they would do anything to serve Flamel and hopefully keep their lives, but their thoughts are all mislead by prejudice. And these wings are a symbol of Christianity given to him by the Lord to show the world that God truly exists.

And so Count Flamel spoke: “No! I am no demon or undead as you say, nor am I an angel as many others presume. I am mortal, but it does not seem so by these angelic wings,” as Flamel said this, he pointed towards the soft glowing wings that raped around his body, “Am I right?” He paused for a short moment and continued: “And to make it clear to you how I felt when you stated that sentence about demons and undead as you presumed I was, that made me angry at first, for it has been too many times that others have called me things like demon, or undead. But luckily enough, I did not let my rage out. Please, Sir, it hurts me when you prejudge me so. Would kindly never do it again?”

As of then, Count Flamel had not answered the man’s question (“why you do not choose to sleep?”) He wished to move the topic of prejudice out of the way before he was asked such questions.

Wart now wished he hadn't said what he had earlier. At times he got ahead of himself, and spoke before he compeltely thought it out. "I apologize. I didn't mean to offend." Wart said. "And if it offends you, than I promise it won't slip my tongue again." The paladin added. This person was definately not a person of evil, if it hurt him to be called a demon. "Now, why exactly are you here, and choosing not to sleep?" He asked, hoping to change the subject. Wart was angry with himself for offending this person. A fight he did not wish to have, and this man could've easily drawn his sword against Wart, if angered enough.

((Bleh, srry its so short.))

Count Flamel felt relieved to hear the man apologize. And so, Count Flamel answered him: “Sir, I choose not to sleep because I am cursed with the flaw of nightmares. It terrifies me to fall asleep because I know that when I do, I will be consumed by the dream world into a fantasy of horrors. These horrors are not demons and monsters as many others normally have in their nightmare; no. These consist of terrible moments I had witnessed in my first life… I am sorry if I am getting too far ahead of myself,” Count Flamel had not told the man of his resurrection, but it would be only too soon when he would have to in order to not confuse the man.

And he continued: “Am I confusing you as of yet?” Count Flamel was sure that the man would be confused with the last sentence he had stated. Not many others are accustomed to have two lives. Talking to this fellow about himself would be an excellent way of staying awake for Flamel.

Wart arched one of his eyebrows. "Just a little... I'm afraid I don't quite understand the 'first life' part. You claim that you are not undead, yet you have had two lives? Or are you speaking of something completely different?" He asked. Most of what the man had said Wart understood, but when he mentioned about having a first life, this lead Wart to believe that this man was undead, but the man just didn't consider himself to be so. "I'm not sure I completely understand..." Wart said again. As Wart discovered more details of this man, they only rose more questions to be asked.

((Another short post by me... :( ))

This was thrown into shock that he may be considered undead. At times, such things are hard to see the difference between. Two beings that were raised from the dead are most of the time thought as the same.

Count Flamel walked over to his right and leaned back against the wall. He disliked to stand for too long. And so he explained: “The undead are, indeed, ones that have been risen from the dead, as I was, but they and I are not the same. Undead creatures are soulless beings that have been resurrected, and I too was resurrected, but unlike them, I have a soul. The Lord himself raised me from the grave giving me back my life and my soul, and I am grateful to Him. And thus, I am in my second life after being resurrected… Do you see now our difference? Do you understand now, or are you still puzzled?”

Wart now realized why he said he was not undead. "So I see, there is a difference between the two. Undead are evil and malicious, and you, are not." He stated, remembering all the undead he had slaughtered in the past. This man was right, they did lack a soul. They killed without remorse, and weren't afraid of death. "So, I suppose now you live a life of repentance? To make up for the pain that you caused in your first life? Or are these nightmares punishment for your sins in the past?" Wart asked. He understood that this man wasn't undead, but now questions arose on why he was brought back from the dead. "Or perhaps both?" The paladin added on to his previous question. This man had peaked Wart's interest.

This man had understood well enough, and now more questions arose. Count Flamel answered the man: “Yes; you are correct on both of your presumptions. In my first life, I was abandoned as a child and walked the northern ice land with grief, despair, and hatred. My parents were the rulers of a small city and left me to die. Because of my older brother, he who was chosen as the heir to the throne, my parents thought me futile and decided to make rid of me, but alas, I had lived my life eating birds, rats, insects, and other such vial. And when I became older, I found refuge in the City of Balefire as a homeless man living in a box and begging others for food, clothes, money, anything I could get my hands on.” Flamel closed his eyes and paused for a moment, for what he was about to explain, he had never told anyone before in both his life times.

Slowly, he continued: “After a decade of being a beggar in the city, a sudden urge for revenge overwhelmed me. After too many years of living a life of poverty, remorse and prejudice, after the many times I was treated so horribly, not because I was poor and begged so much, but because I appeared to them as a monster due to my… ugly appearance,” He had trouble admitting the fact that he is ugly. It is a hard task to admit such bad qualities about yourself. And so, Count Flamel continued: “For that is way you see not my face because I hide it from the world so that I may be equal to everyone,” A moment of silence overcame the cave, but it did not last. Flamel had not finished.

He continued: “This urge of revenge overwhelmed me, as I already have said, and it made me do terrible deeds. I killed all those who had apposed me and treated me unjustly. And so it was that I killed my parents and my brother, for he also treated me so horribly when I was a child… Do I sound like a monster to you?”

Wart listened with interest. When the man had finished, and asked if he was a monster to Wart, he had to think for a second. "You were a monster. But one could only presume that someone would turn out like that, after being treated in such ways. But now, that you lead a life of repentance, you are no monster. I mean, if I was thrown out by my parents and left for dead, I probably would have gone after them too." The paladin stated. "Also, there are much worse things than nightmares to fear. Although I have never had ones such as you, I would imagine demons and the undead much worse. They lurk in the shadows of Imythess, everywhere. The scum of this country. They are the ones you should fear, and hate. This is just my opinion." Wart added.

Wart, although deep in the cave, could feel that it was getting late, and there were many things for him to do. "I am afraid my time runs short. I have enjoyed your company. But before I leave, my I ask your name?" He asked. It would be rude for Wart to just leave without giving his name to this stranger.

Listening most respectfully to the man, Count Flamel was not feeling the least bit sleepy. As of yet, his plan for staying awake was working quite well, but hearing that this man wished to leave, Flamel felt a bit of sadness knowing that his company was leaving so soon. The man had just arrived, but it was only reasonable because it probably was getting late. And so, Count Flamel answered the man: “Yes, I do not know your name Sir, nor do you know my name. I presume that we shall share our names with each other; yes?” Without letting the man answer to this most futile question, Count Flamel continued to speak: “I am know as Count Flamel, but I am quite certain that it isn’t my birth name, for I have forgotten it while roaming in the snowy lands of the North. And who might you be Sir?”

The paladin smiled. "Most call me Wart. It isn't a typical name, but I guess I'm not your typical person." He said. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Count. I shall remember your name, and until we meet again." Wart said, ending the conversation. He bowed to Count Flamel, and turned to leave. "And if you ever need help with any undead or demons, I'm always willing to help." He added before he left. The paladin then started walking down the illuminated tunnel, hoping that he would again meet Count Flamel in the future. And now to find a place where I can wash my cape... He thought to himself, looking down at the white cape, noticing that the bottom part of it was almost completely brown from the dirt. He let out a sigh, and continued on.

Count Flamel bowed as the man did to him and watched him walk away into the darkness of the tunnel. He sat there thinking. He knew not what to do now, but he did know that he still wished to not fall asleep and witness another horrifying nightmare as he almost always has had. And so, he stood up and walked in the opposite direction of which Wart had went to spend the night within the tunnels wandering them with no thought of where he was going.