INDIVA : ECHOES OF DESTINY William's Nightmare

William's POV

William lies in his bed, tossing and turning. His breath quickens, his skin damp with sweat, as he falls into a restless sleep. And then, he is thrust into the nightmare, a memory from a time when he was just a little boy, barely eight years old.

He stands in the middle of the battlefield—Indiva’s once-pristine land now a scene of chaos and destruction. The sky is an angry blood-red, filled with thick smoke rising from burning buildings. The ground shakes under the violent clashes of power—the sound of thunderous explosions and the screams of warriors. It’s as if the very earth is being torn apart.

The distance, his father, the king, stands tall, wielding his powerful sword. Beside him is Aaron’s father, the protector of Indiva, his mystical powers crackling through the air. Both their mothers, fierce and determined, fight at their sides. They move like the storm, cutting down enemies with a force so great, it seems as though they are invincible.

But then, the ground cracks. A dark, monstrous enemy general rises, his power dark and consuming. The air around him twists as he raises his hand, a wave of dark energy sweeping through the battlefield. William watches, helpless, as the Royal Family and the Hopes, who had fought so valiantly, begin to falter.

Suddenly, William is not alone. He looks down to see Aaron—only six years old—clinging to his side, trembling. Austin, his little brother, is hugging his other side, his face buried in William’s cloak. They are both terrified, their small bodies shaking from the terror surrounding them.

William Heart

Aaron, you guys have to hide.

William's voice is barely a whisper, but the panic in it is unmistakable.

William Heart

They'll find us. You both have to stay safe.

William looks around, his eyes wild, but everywhere he looks, the flames are growing, the battle moving closer. He can feel the weight of their parents’ sacrifices—they are fighting with everything they have, but they can’t hold on forever.

From the chaos, his father’s voice calls out, desperate.

Gerik Heart

William! Aaron! Austin! Listen to me!

William turns, his heart racing. His father, weakened but still standing, locks eyes with him.

Gerik Heart

You have to protect them!

His father’s words are urgent, filled with pain.

Gerik Heart

Take Aaron and Austin into the woods. Run—don’t stop! Protect them, William! You are the last hope.

Before William can speak, his mother—eyes filled with a deep sorrow—appears beside them. Her hand reaches out, touching William’s cheek for a moment, her fingers warm against his skin.

Lily Heart

Run, William. You are the future of Indiva. Protect them... no matter what.

The power of the Hopes and Hearts flares one last time. Their combined energy surrounds the three children, glowing bright and intense. Then, in an instant, everything changes.

William, Aaron, and Austin are lifted into the air, their feet leaving the burning ground beneath them. The world around them warps and distorts as their parents’ power forces them into the forest, far from the destruction.

William’s chest tightens as he looks at Aaron and Austin, both crying in his arms. He doesn’t want to leave. He doesn’t want to run while their parents stay behind, fighting and dying. But his father’s words are clear in his mind.

Gerik Heart

You are the last hope.

The moment lasts forever. Then, the nightmare shatters. The world goes black.

William wakes up, gasping for breath. His chest heaves, his body drenched in cold sweat. He feels the weight of the memory pressing down on him, the echo of his father’s desperate command still ringing in his ears.

Gerik Heart

Protect them, William. You are the last hope.

The images of that night—his parents, their sacrifices—linger in his mind. They will never fade. The nightmare is a reminder of the weight of his duty, of the responsibility to protect Aaron and Austin. And one day, to reclaim Indiva.