Fixing the problem

Natalia dreamed again. She sat by the window sill, looking past the garden, waiting for the soft glow of the arriving lantern in the evening. The flowers were in bloom, and butterflies dashed between the blossoms. And the sword was there, waiting, anticipating her arrival. Natalia went out into the garden and found Will sitting on a stone bench just in front of the sword.

“Back here again,” He sighed.

“Yeah,” Natalia nodded.

“Your maid didn’t believe me, by the way,” Will said.

“She probably thought you were making it up to escape your responsibilities,” Natalia responded, walking over and taking a seat on an opposite bench.

“You do that often?” Will asked.

Natalia didn’t answer. Instead, she watched an ethereal butterfly flutter in front of her, watching it in its pale dance, before it flew off, disappearing into the white pale emptiness that surrounded them.

“Why didn’t you come find me?” Will asked a different question.

“Why would I?” Natalia answered.

“So that we can fix whatever this is,” Will shot back, standing up. “And get our bodies back. Where did you run off to?”

“What did they say at the S rank meeting?” Natalia changed the subject.

“That’s hardly…” Will started. “They want to know what to about the Forsaken King.”

“We can’t win against him,” Natalia told him. “I don’t think any of us could, even if all the S rankers fought together. He seems to have an endless amount of skills.”

“Well, we have to try,” Will said. “I uh, might have suggested a deep delve…”

“You what?!” Natalia leapt to her feet, face burning with anger. “Are you crazy? Didn’t I say we can’t beat him?!”

“I got caught up in the moment,” Will grumbled. “I kinda acted on my own, sorry for using your body for that.”

“I hope that’s the only thing you used my body for!” Natalia pointed, a faint blush on her face.

“Relax! I kept my hands to myself,” Will sighed.

“Your body is inconvenient, by the way,” Natalia pouted, crossing her arms.

“All the more reason we need to switch back,” Will sighed. “So, what do you think happened? A weird skill? Some sort of magic?”

“I don’t know…” Natalia shook her head.

“Any ideas where we can find answers?” Will asked.

“Liandra,” she stated. “If anyone knows anything, she does.”

“Okay, good, that’s a lead,” Will said, sitting back down on the bench. “I’m not sure what the situation is outside this weird dream place, but I think we dealt with most of the monsters. We’ll meet up, explain what’s going on to everyone, and then go to the High Priestess to try and find some answers. I think I passed out after killing the dragon. What happened to you?”

“I…” Natalia struggled to remember. Her head was foggy. “I don’t know what happened to me. I can’t remember.”

“That’s not good,” Will sighed. “What if something happened to my body? What if you killed me by accident? What do you think we should do then?”

“I’m not dead!” Natalia protested. “At least, I’m pretty sure I’m not.”

Vague flashes of what happened rumbled across her mind. She remembered she was running away.

“I think I was knocked out, but I can’t remember anything else,” Natalia stated.

“All right then,” Will began. “I’ll find you then. The moment I wake up.”

“Maybe we’ll switch back,” Natalia suggested. “I mean, the last time we were in this place was when the switch happened, right?”

“It’s possible,” Will considered.

The sword beckoned both of them. Natalia hesitated, trying to keep herself from looking at it.

“Maybe you try this time,” Will suggested. “We switched last time, when I grabbed it.”

“Yeah,” Natalia shuttered. “Sure.”

With hesitation, Natalia reached out and grasped the sword. A flash of unpleasant memories echoed in her head. First was her father’s death, then the expectations that crushed her. There was Will beating her in a fight, and finally her unsuccessful battle against the Forsaken King. She wanted to scream, but held it. She didn’t want to show Will any more weakness.

“You are no longer my chosen. I will not give you what is mine.” A voice reverberated from the void around the garden.

Natalia disappeared, leaving Will alone. He reached for the sword next, easily picking it up and gesturing it.

“True hero,” the voice softened. “You carry the will of my blade now. As long as that bloodline walks, I cannot truly bless you, but take my support. The heart of the dungeon will certainly belong to you, my true chosen.”