CHAPTER FOURTEENDecadence & DeceptionIn the dream, I flew down to a pasture. I landed, searching for Sven, but the grass was so tall and dense that he would have remained concealed even right beside me. I knew I could remove the grass from the dream, but I didn’t. Sven wanted it this way. It was a test.The slash came swiftly from behind, chopping away some of my hair. I spun around, blade at the ready, only to find more grass, swaying in the wind.Expecting Sven to circle around me, I pivoted back and sniffed the air. The wind blew scents of grass, dirt, trees—and the sweaty, blood-thick odor of Sven’s body. His scent was more pungent to my left.I swung my sword.Sven ducked, then lunged towards me with his wristblades.I brought my sword up, stopping him mid-slash with a clang, but Sven did not withdraw. He pushed down against my blade, eyes glowing with wicked glee. We both knew that dying here would mean nothing more than waking up; he had no reason to hold back. By t
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