103

Jamal's POV

I watched helplessly as she conjured a sword from thin air and plunged it into me. The pain was surreal, the dream mirroring the brutal reality of our confrontation. As I gasped for breath, my vision blurred, and I saw the Dark Witch transform before my eyes.

To my horror, she morphed into Xander.

I jolted awake, my body drenched in sweat. The dream lingered, the echoes of the twisted reality playing in my mind. The room felt suffocating, and for a moment, I questioned the nature of my pursuit. Was the staff worth this torment, this descent into the surreal?

But determination surged within me, a fiery resolve that refused to be extinguished. I couldn't let fear dictate my actions. The staff held the power I needed, and I couldn't afford to falter.

With a heavy sigh, I rose from my bed, leaving the haunting dreams behind. The morning sun cast a golden glow on the world outside, a stark contrast to the shadows that clung to my thoughts. Autumn and Summer still slept pea