You stood in the middle of a vast plain.The wind blew hard,carrying the scent of dry grass and dust through the air.
When you lifted your head,the first thing you sawwas a city.
A city stood far away—high stone walls,layered rooftops,thin trails of smoke rising from chimneys.
It looked… alive.Alive enough to be a placewhere "answers" might be hiding.
You didn't know where you had been sent.You didn't know how far you were from where it all began.But you knew one thing—
If Nightmare man wanted you to "find him,"that city was the first place to start.
So you began walking.
The first step was heavy.The next, even heavier.Not because of your body—but because of your heart.
With every step,images of the rabbit…the princess…kept haunting you.
You wanted to scream.
You wanted to let it all out.
But you couldn't.
"If you win, I'll return your friends."
Those words kept repeating—not encouraging,but suffocating,like chains wrapped around your neck.
You wanted to kill him.
Your anger burned,hot enough to sting your chest—but there was nowhere to release it.
As you approached the city,sounds began to rise—
Voices.Footsteps.Life moving onas if nothing had ever happened.
People looked at you.Some avoided your gaze.Some looked right through you—as if you were just another "lost dreamer."
You asked.
About Nightmare man.About the shadows.About a way out.
The answers you gotwere vague.
"Don't look for him," one voice said."Those who do… never come back the same.""And if you really find him, it's not called 'winning.'"
Those words didn't stop you.
They only made you more certain—
This path…was not meant for anyone to survive easily.
You left the citywith only a few clues—
The name of a land,a direction toward a forest,and warnings that meant nothing.
The journey stretched on—long and silent.
The sky slowly changed color,as if the world itself was stalling for time.
Sadness gnawed at you.The anger never faded.
The two mixed togetheruntil you no longer knewwhether you were moving forward out of hope—or because you had nothing left to lose.
Then—
A voice called out.
"Hey~ grumpy human."
You froze.Your hand instantly gripped your sword.
On a rock nearby,something sat.
A white horse—large wings,fur too clean for this world.
Pegasus.
It tilted its head…and smirked.
"With a face like that,either you're lost in a dream—or lost in yourself."
You tightened your grip on your sword."Move."
"Wow, feisty."It flapped its wings lightly,a soft feather drifting down in front of you."Walking alone like this…hoping to find a happy dream?"
You didn't answer.You walked past it.
It followed.
Not too close.Not too far.
"Hey, hey, don't ignore me.""You look like you're about to snap.""Or already did?"
You stopped.
Turned.
Shouted—
"If you don't want to die,shut up!"
Pegasus paused.
The smile faded.
For just a moment,it looked at you seriously.
Then—
It laughed.
"So you are angry," it said softly."That means… you're not just wandering."
You didn't respond.
But you didn't walk away either.
It landed in front of you—keeping just enough distance.
"This land," Pegasus said,"doesn't like people who walk alone while angry."
You glanced at it."Then what does it like?"
"People who haven't given up yet."
This time—no teasing.
Silence settled between you.
But not the suffocating kind.
You let out a long, heavy breath.
"I have to find Nightmare man," you said.
Not sure if you were talking to it—or yourself.
Pegasus didn't ask more.It simply nodded.
"Then… we're going the same way."
It smiled—not mocking this time.
You didn't accept.
But you didn't reject it either.
Because at least now—
You weren't walking alone.
Even though the anger remained,even though the sadness still weighed on you,the sound of wings beside youmade it easier to breathe.
The search for Nightmare manhad only just begun.
And you had no idea—
that this strange friendship,born from irritation,might become the one thingthat keeps you from getting lostin the dream world.
The journey continued.
The grasslands slowly turned into dirt paths.The sky dimmed—as if the world was listening to something unspoken.
You and Pegasus walked side by side.
It didn't fly—as if deliberately lowering itselfto match your pace.
"Can I ask you something?" it said.
Its voice had changed—not teasing,not heavy—just… careful.
You didn't answer right away.But you didn't refuse.
"Before you came here…what was your life like?"
The question was simple—but it pulled something from your past.
You stayed silent for a while.
Then—
"…normal," you said."So normal it didn't even feel important."
Pegasus glanced at you,but didn't interrupt.
"Wake up. Work. Live.""Some good days, some bad days.Nothing special.No one expected much from me."
You let out a dry laugh.
"And then suddenly I'm here.Forced to fight.Forced to choose.Forced to lose people—without ever asking for it."
The wind grew stronger.
You looked at it.
"I'm not brave.I'm not a hero.I just want to go back.But now people are stuck because of me."
Your voice lowered.
"And I hate myself…for being more angry at himthan afraid of dying."
Pegasus said nothing.
It just stayed there.
After a while, it spoke.
"No wonder you're this angry."
No judgment.No comfort.
Just truth.
Then you asked—
"What about you?"
You looked at its clean white wings.
"You know Nightmare man too well."
Pegasus slowed…then stopped.
It looked straight at you.
For the first time—completely serious.
"I used to be his."
The words fell heavy.
"Nightmare man used to ride me…before he became what you see now."
Your heart tightened.
"Back then…"Pegasus looked at itself.
"I was black."
Not dirty black—but pure darkness.Like shadow.Like a starless night.
"I flew with him through nightmares," it said."Took him to places no one wanted to go…saw things no one wanted to see."
"…Then why did you change?" you asked.
Pegasus smiled faintly.
"Because I ran."
"I left him…on the day he needed someone the most."
"And when I turned away—my wings began to change."
"That doesn't sound like redemption," you said.
"It's not."
"It's a mark… of a choice."
"White doesn't mean I'm pure."
"It just means…I can no longer fly in the darkness with pride."
You fell silent.
Then—
"Why come with me?"
Pegasus looked at you for a long time.
"Because you're angry at him," it said."But you're not like him. Not yet."
"And if you're going to face Nightmare man…"
"I should be there."
"Not for him," it added."But so I won't run again."
The wind blew.
A white feather drifted downand landed near your feet.
You picked it up.
Held it tightly.
"Then let's go together."
No thanks.No promises.
Just resolve.
Pegasus smiled.
And the journey continued—
Two lives,both carrying their own guilt,walking toward the same nightmare.
To be continued…