Falling through massive cracks in earth, she fell and fell until she reached the void that had no end. Falling into Dizhen's domain, a flash of light brought her into another world. Shortly after being blinded, her eyesight returned. Not knowing that this was about to turn into a trip down memory lane, she thrashed around with the belief that something would attack. With massive metallic spikes destroying a gate not far from her, she finally opened her eyes.

A massive steel fence encapsulated a massive area. The sky was painted dark-blue while the earth was made of red sand. Turning around, she noticed the bloodred sea and the pitchblack sun.

"What's with this domain?", she thought as she turned around to look past the fence. "It's so-"

Something caught her eye. A white brick mansion from afar caught her attention. For others, this domain is just a rather simple domain with a few defining features. For her, it mirrors a safe haven: An orphanage.

This domain perfectly mirrors and warps a place Sylvia once called home. Here, she grew up and learned how to fend for herself. Here, she earned her dream. Here, she lost all that made her strong. This home was an orphanage she spent her childhood in. Created by a former lady of war, Dolos. Sylvia once treated her like her mother, someone she could trust in, someone she could rely on. However, nothing is permanent. Nothing remains a life of bliss and childish ignorance.

"Is this Demon... Was this person once a child at the orphanage?", she asked herself as she pushed open the gate. A brick path greeted her and was leading towards the mansion. Walking down memory lane, she looked back at the gate.

Suddenly, a strong gust of wind blew red sand towards the gate. The sand formed three individuals and adjusted to Sylvia's memory. Two children and a nun were standing in front the gate. As this was a memory Sylvia held, the world changed to reveal what had happened back then. Mort, Sylvia, and Dolos were talking to each other. Mort once was her best friend until he vanished. As both were proud Dream Catchers the last time they saw each other, Sylvia assumed he was dead. Seeing him as a child is both surreal and saddening. Wearing that white dress with a gray circle on her back while Mort wore a white shirt with a circle on his back and white shorts, they were matching.

"You can't just run off like that! What did I tell you about the fence, Sylvia and Mort!", Dolos would yell at them whenever they got too close to the fence. Concerned about them ever trying to mount the fence so that they can venture outside of it, she always had to run after them and drag them back.

"But why can't we just step outside? If there's nothing wrong with the fence, then why do you make such a huge deal out of it?", Sylvia always replied whenever they were questioned about the fence. Back then she was just six years old but also incredibly stubborn.

"Calm down, Sylvia. There's nothing to get worked up over, right?" Mort was seven yet shown far more emotional maturity than all of the kids Sylvia had met throughout her life. Incredibly charismatic, quiet, and caring, he was regarded as the sun child. Bringing a smile to anyone he ever talked to, they considered him the perfect child. Never made a fuss about anything. Never got in trouble because of wrongdoings he did. Never left anyone behind.

"But!"

"We've had this conversation before, right?", Mort said reminding her of something that Dolos had promised them.

Dolos let off some steam and gently reminded her of their promise. "I told you that I would let you go when you're old enough. Just wait a little longer, okay?"

These were common occurences to Dolos, Mort, and Sylvia. Sylvia and Dolos about to break out into a fight over Sylvia trying to leave the fenced off area was a weekly occurence. Mort would somehow get her to calm down almost instantly and Dolos would just remind them of their promise.

It always was sunny when this occured. A cloudy blue sky and warm rays of sunshine alaways blessed them whenever they would have this situation. Sometimes a breeze would accompany them.

However, obviously things wouldn't always be that way.

Going further, she noticed the little playground in red. Two sets of swings, mokey bars, a game of hopscotch, a slide, and a carousel. These swings were always reserved for her and Mort. They loved competing and therefore always tried to jump off trying to measure how far they can get. Though Mort always won, he'd always give in whenever she complained and let her win.

"This time, we'll have the winner decide what we do for a day!", Sylvia yelled.

"Fine, but don't cry when you lose!" Mort accepted her challenge.

Swinging valiantly, both Mort and Sylvia swung with all their might. However, this time, Sylvia would get further than Mort and finally win without having to rely on Mort losing on purpose.

Dropping a couple meters away, it was Sylvia that passed Mort. Though just by less than half a feet apart in distance, she won. Even Mort was surprised as he wasn't expecting it.

"I won! I won! And you lose! As expected, I win!", she chanted.

"No, you didn't!", another kid claimed as they were used to Sylvia not winning and lying.

"He probably lost on purpose again, right?"

"You lost, idiot."

She wouldn't take it and simply would accuse them of being jealous allowing this to break out into a huge fight.

Still on her merry way down memory lane, she'd spot a sculpture of a german shepherd. It was their beloved dog. Always friendly, energetic, and responsible for herding the kids and cattle. Sylvia often would try to lead it away and have her time alone with it but return on second thought as she believed it would be unfair to the other kids.

"Benny! Come back!", she yelled as she chased after the dog. As the fenced area was rather massive, there was a lot of space to run off to. Once, she had gotten him so far away that they were completely alone. Believing this to be a game, the shepherd would continue running without a care in the world.

Mort had caught on and with just one command got him to stop. His serious tone heavily contrasts with his rather gentle and kind mood but would emerge when necessary.

"See! That's how you do it, Sylvia," he told her in a mocking tone. He laughed at her inability to get the dog to do as she says. Laughing as she's pouting, they head back home.

Sylvia's journey down memory lane would finally reach the next stage. Finally reaching the doors that would lead into this pristine mansion, she had to marvel at it first. A smooth concrete area was put up around the house so that the kids don't scrape their knees when they fall. Snapdragons somehow were planted into the concrete and remain healthy within it. The mansion was rather massive with a bunch of yellow flowers making it a lot more colorful. Somehow rooted within the brick walls of the mansion, Sylvia should have known that they were a symbol of lies. Still, she knew that this place was why she's alive in the first place.

"Sometimes this thing truly disgusts me," she thought. "Only holding me here just because I have massive magical potential is just cruel. But I do appreciate the great memories that came with mansion."

A wide staircase led towards the doors keeping her out of the mansion. It was there that they took nice pictures whenever one of the kids was forced to leave. It was there that a graduating kid would have their last moment as an innocent child.

A memory manifested and presented her and all the other kids in fancy suits and dresses to congratulate that someone had reached the age of ten. Always holding that persons favorite flower, they'd send them off to have their own family and go to a prestige school. Usually, a few of them would be holding back their tears but this time all of them were smiling as Mort had asked them to do so. Promising to meet them again when they graduate, and being the first one to hug them when they finally get to their families, no one would cry until he had left.

"Mort was a wonderful person. Kind, caring, mature, and strong he was beloved by everyone. But he had to disappear and I think I know why he disappeared."

Dizhen was none other than Mort. Somehow their target had found out about their past and could tell what my trigger them. That's exactly what Sylvia deemed unforgiveable as she'd rather be in denial and never find out about her friend turning into a Demon.

"Have you turned into one of these grotesque monsters as well, Mort?"

The house grumbled in response. With her greatsword in one hand and now in knight armor, she swore to take her former friend down out of respect for the person he once was. Finally opening these doors she was blinded once again.

Inside likely lies Dizhen as he's nowhere else to be seen. Still wishing to keep her occupied with memories, she's forced into another one. They called this room the study hall. Within it was one round table every kid would sit at to study. On it were PCs that would assess their intelligence and teach them accordingly. Wearing headsets as a means to keep them isolated from noise and have them listen to lessons without disturbing the others, Dolos had perfect oversight over all of them. Notepads would be provided to have them learn how to write. Miracoulously, she always was able to answer their questions despite dealing with a class full of kids.

One day, Sylvia and Mort took off their headsets to chat with each other while the other kids were glued to the screens.

"I can't believe she can't tell that we're not studying! And here she's supposed to be our allmighty teacher!", Sylvia joked believing that they haven't been noticed yet.

"But what if we get in trouble? I don't wanna land in time out just because of you," Mort worried as he had no idea whether or not Dolos was aware.

Glancing over at her, they could tell she was occupied with her own PC.

"Relax! There's nothing to worry about. Look, she's still-"

She wasn't there.

Turning around, they got a glance of Dolos being truly angry. For some reason she stared into their eyes with dissatisfaction, disgust, and pity. As they hadn't seen her like that before, they weren't sure how to react. Both of them were dragged out still wearing their headphones as she berated them with intense screaming. It was a unique experience as no one else had seen that side before and had stopped them from ever doing this again. They didn't know back then, but apparently several kids had been treated that way when they stopped studying.

Fading to black, Sylvia would recall a long repressed memory. Remembering was painful as this was rather traumatic. Following the events of them disobediently talking as if they had the right, they were locked into dark rooms connected to each other. As those were somewhere underground far from the mansion but still within the confines of the fence, the only thing that would show them what time it was, was the sun- and moonlight shining in through bars.

"I'm sorry," she'd cry on these dark nights. "I'm sorry!", she'd repeat over and over again while looking at the moonlight. Whenever it was time to eat, she'd have to shackle herself and wait until her food was carried towards her on a platter. Dolos wouldn't even look at them and just leave without saying a word while Sylvia profusely apologized.

"It's alright, Sylvia. I'm right here." Mort's kindness would fill the prison with warmth and instantly calm her down. Not allowing her to feel alone, he'd always comfort her despite struggling himself.

Having nothing to say about this memory, she moved on to the next one. This memory was a fun one she could use to forget the one she just saw. Dolos, always spending three to four hours every two days within the gym or the massive pool, taught the kids various things. From things like keeping yourself fit to how to treat wounded people, how to swim, and how to row a boat, she taught them various lessons that could help them later in life.

The days before a kid would have to depart, the kid that is supposed to graduate the day after, gets to choose what they'll do for the day and whether or not that day will be spent in the gym or the pool. Molly was the one responsible for choosing and that day she had chosen to spend time in the gym for a cartwheel competition.

"Do you really think you can win this?", Mort aked Sylvia. "She's won against everyone else so far and done like a hundred cartwheels! Do you really think-"

"That's exactly why I'm going to win! She must be tired by now!", she declared as victory was within reach. Surprisingly Sylvia can be rather smart at times. Mort would be the deescalator with his emotional maturity, empathy, and his ability to read and manipulate other while Sylvia would be smart in situations like these and often have spontaneous bursts of smartness.

With just a few cartwheels, Molly struggles to pull off another one and falls. Sylvia wins and claims victory. Not revealing what had gotten her to win, the others simply came to the conclusion that Molly just wasn't tired and instead just slipped.

Once again, no one would recognize that she was victorious.

The next memory showcased them within one of the bedrooms. As bedrooms all were along one corridor and shared only with the same sex, a girl and a boy within the same bedroom was strictly forbidden. With Sylvia having claimed that she's just retrieving a book she had forgotten there. However, she had her own devious plan that may get them in trouble.

"Look!", she said as she pulled a book out from under her pillow. "I stole it from her forbidden section!"

The forbidden section were a bunch of books that Dolos had under her desk within the library. Some of them weren't permitted because of secrets she was trying to hide. Others were... her personal stash of books that were inappropriate for children. Telling Mort to act out a scene she had read about she slowly read out the contents of this book.

"Wearily but longingly, she sat next to Matt and awaited the long awaited kiss.", said Sylvia as she had read this passage before.

"I awaited his loving and lustful gaze that would devour my lips and battle for dominance. We're getting to the part!"

"I closed my eyes and revealed just how shameful I am. ‘‘Just do it Matt’’ I said waiting to be devoured. He closed in and kissed me on the lips trying to get into my mouth. I wouldn't resist and just let him dominate me."

Sylvia closed her eyes and waited for Mort to do as the book said. Nervously but with passion, he tried to french kiss her only for both of them to pull away and cough as they were disgusted by the kiss.

"Why'd you want me to reenact that in the first place?!", he yelled as he kept trying to get her spit off him.

"We always reenact scenes in books! I thought it wouldn't be that bad!"

Wiping her tongue off with her blanket she hid the book and ran out of the room.

"MORT KISSED ME!", she yelled as she ran out to get him in trouble with Mort following after her to mitigate damage.

Sylvia chuckled at the memory as she moved on to the next scene. It took place within the mansion's library. Therein were an abundant amount of books that would make it impossible to read it all within one lifetime. While it got Sylvia into reading, the only time she'd ever be quiet as a child, Mort would get bored and try to get her to cause mayhem.

"Don't you think Dolos looks kinda..." he hesitated. "She looks like a dumb witch!", he whispered into Sylvia's ear to ease the pain of boredom. Dolos, just like Sylvia, was submerged within smutt she was reading. However, this caught Sylvia's attention.

"Isn't her nose kinda big and pointy?"

"Oh my god... It is!", Sylvia responded nearly catching the attention of Dolos. The other kids told her to quiet down but it was already too late. Mort's plan was already in motion. Starting a small cult of whispering kids telling each other that Dolos is a witch, all of them snickered and got louder and louder.

One of them, teary-eyed, approached Dolos ruining Mort's plan.

Lily asked Dolos, "Are you really an evil wicked witch?"

"Huh? Why would you ask that, Lily?", Dolos responded.

"Sylvia said that you're a witch. Does that mean you're a bad person?", Lily asked just about to tear up.

"Sylvia!", Dolos yelled. "What's gotten into you! You've always been starting rumors lately to get out of library time, haven't you?!"

"It was Mort! He started it!"

Mort pretended to read a book and instead was left alone by Dolos.

"I think a little talk is necessary. Come here."

One memory was incredibly interesting to her considering that she never got to the bottom of it. Despite being afraid of acting out at certain times because of the memory of the confinement room, she still tried to sneak into a room that was forbidden to everyone else. Dolos had a room, her very own office, full of paperwork.

"Look, Mort! I knew that there was some kind of hidden secret here!", she exclaimed as she got a hold of something within the hidden compartment of some shelf. It was a simple diary documenting all the children that ever lived there. Mort wouldn't look at it but Sylvia was intrigued by the contents of this book.

"Come on! There's some kind of secret language within it!"

Even Mort couldn't contain himself and wanted to take a glance.

"What does it say?", he wondered.

"No idea."

Neither could decipher the runes that hid secrets. All of the kids within this book were older than anyone else within this mansion. Two of them stood out. One was a smoker while the other had pink hair.

"That pink lady looks kinda cool! Do you think she was a kid here at this mansion?"

"I don't think so. We should probably leave before Dolos gets here."

Leaving it at that, they put everything back in place and fled the scene.

It was a rather strange memory indeed, one that Sylvia would recall quite often.

The next two memories took place within a farm. Punished by having to tend to the cows for Sylvia hitting another child, Mort followed trying to help her. However, this got Mort thinking. For the first time since they had known each other, Mort had shown vulnerability.

"I've been wondering," he said. "What do I do when I graduate?" Fearing the day he graduates, he had him and Sylvia being separated in mind. Not wanting to leave her behind, he had no idea what to say and what he should do to keep them happy. How can he help someone when he's not there?

She listened and waited until he could be honest with himself.

"I don't want to leave without you!", he stammered. "I don't want to be alone! I just want to be with you and everyone else here! And I don't know how to say goodbye to everyone else without having to cry!"

Surprisingly, Sylvia knew how to handle the situation.

"Don't worry. You're stronger than anyone else here! And we'll meet again as soon as possible. I promise I'll greet you with a smile when we do meet again."

Mort nodded. Looking up to supress tears, he held them back with all of his might.

"Sure!"

Directly moving on to the next memory without getting time to comment on that scene, Sylvia thought back to the last memory she deemed important. It was a promise to herself and a promise to every other kid at the farm. One day, she too would create an orphanage where she would raise kids.

"It's been half a year since he left." Tending to the cows once again, she smiled as she thought about her graduation day. "Soon... We'll meet again soon, Mort!"

Cherishing the memories they created and believing that they'll make many more, she wasn't aware of the fact that this would be the last time they get to dream like kids. She wasn't aware of the fact that she'd never again not be bitter because of hardship and struggles.

"It's decided then. All of the kids here, all of the kids that will be here, I promise that I'll make it up to you!", she said as she held her hand up as if reaching for the stars. "I promise that I'll create even more places like these where we can have fun. With Mort, Molly, and everyone else that's left!"

That conciction would die not long after that. Her whole life was just meant as a way to cultivate superior Dream Catchers purposely bred for all sorts of tasks only they could handle. Indoctrination, oppression, and discrimination would follow after ten years of bliss.

"It was cruel," she thought. "I never had the chance to truly live out that dream of mine."

22 years old and hopeless, she stopped believing that this was possible. However, now that she's in front of Mort once again, she can't help but dream once again. The illusion shattered and revealed a humanoid but also incredibly starved torso wrapped in bandages. Consisting of just sand trying to hold itself together, it was massive. Its gaping mouth was ready to devour Sylvia as it hoevered behind her.

"It's okay now. I'm putting an end to this."