In the Northern region of Alteria, where it's always a perpetual winter, no one aside from the most vile beasts and the most mad man in the world would live here.
That man was in a cave formed from a deep crack in a mountain. The crack was at the very base of the mountain in a valley formed from proximity with the neighbouring mountain. Inside was a large cavern that didn't expel light with the exception of a bonfire formed somewhere deep inside.
In front of that bonfire was a man who was throwing different coloured stones into the fire. He was wearing a black cloak, with a steampunk top hat and googles laying on it as if a decoration. He had beautiful purple eyes that seemed like two flour petals and black hair with a light complexion.
Every time a stone came in contact with the flames, the flame would match the stones colour before turning back to normal as the stones turned to dust. The process continued untill the man stopped and took out a book from an exploration bag right next to him.
He opened it and began chanting.
"I summon the ruler of fears, untouchable bringer of horrors and the one death itself bows to!. I summon the Nightmare King!!"
The book lit up and the wood used to start the fire started to glow strange ruins on its surface.
The man smiled devilishly as he observed the display however something unexpected took place.
"Crackle!"
The fire began to start flaring up causing him to panic.
"Wait, that's not right something's missing!. What was it?, come on!, what was it"
In a hurried effort, he began flipping through the pages until he found the part he forgot.
"I summon the ruler of fears, untouchable bringer of horrors and the one death itself bows to. I summon the Nightmare King, fear of the Unknown!!"
Suddenly the flames roared furiously and grew in magnitude, turning pure black before spitting out a child onto the ground and extinguishing.
The boy had black hair, a pale complexion and eyes that could make anyone mistake him for a nightmare. Not only did they not have any eyeballs but it seemed as if were they should have been, was a constant dark river of black illuminated only by two pale glowing green lights somewhere deep inside.
He had seen some of the worst things to ever be put into existence in his life but those eyes where something foreign to even himself.
"Your not what I wanted"
Still nauseous from whatever had transported him here, Zeke took a minute to organise his thoughts.
"Where am I sir?"
"Far from home, I can assure you that." taking a moment to think for a moment, the man studied the child carefully.
"Let me introduce myself, I am Doctor Hector, a humble weapon scientist"
Standing up carefully, he looked at the man Infront of him and extended his hand in a handshake before answering.
"I'm Zeke Everheart, nice to meet you Doctor"
Hector paused for a moment before grinning.
'An Everheart, this may be better than I thought. Wait a moment... If I contacted those pigs about this, i could get quite the hefty sum. After all, it's obvious he's a mutation.'
Taking Zeke's hand, he shook it and considered Incapacitating the boy and just taking him directly to their doorstep, however he had another idea instead.
"Well if it's not too much to ask , where are we?" Zeke looked at the man with a hopeful light in his eyes that was soon to be stomped out.
"Were in the Northern Region of Aliteria. You know what that means right?" He smiled mockingly at the kid before him as his eyes lost their luster.
"Were in Death's Cage!" Zeke spoke those words through greeted teeth as fear found it's way to his heart.
"That's right and a newborn dreamknight is a delicacy nightmare beasts love to taste."
With every word that came out, Zeke's face showed more and more worry.
"You mean... Actual living nightmare beasts?"
"Yes.. oh and don't forget the hostile essence beasts of course" he added as his grin widened.
Sitting back on the ground, Zeke covered his face and mumbled something akin to almost a curse under his breath.
He let out a chuckle at the sheer terror the kid was showing and couldn't help but remember when he was around his age.
'Wait, what is his age?' Now wondering the age of the strange boy Infront of him, he asked.
"Huh?" Zeke took a moment to calm himself down before answering the question.
"I'm 9 years old, today is my birthday making me 10" he was left feelings bewildered by the indirect answer.
"Why not just say 10 then?"
"The birthday part is important" there was a smile so warm and touching he put on after saying those words, that made his eyes look less menacing than they seemed.
'Still eerie though' looking at those eyes, Victor found them nothing but unsettling.
"Okay, now that formalities are out of the way, I'll help you get back home."
Zeke's eyes lit up and he was about to thank him when Hector continued.
"Not for free of course!, plus it would take me 20 years to get you back the normal way."
20 years was way too long for Zeke since he would be 30 and there's no telling if his family would even still be there.
Just as he was about to tear up, Hector offered a solution and his price.
"I can take it down to 6 years if you agree with helping me in my research. Nothing too dangerous but a bit risky. What do you say?"
"What kind of research? " For as good as it sounded, he didn't trust Hector all that much.
He seemed way too... Different from everyone he has ever met.
"You'll find out if you agree" Hector gave a sinister smile that suggested a not so good future if the deal is accepted but Zeke had no other choices at all given his predicament.
"Fine, but what if I had refused?"
"Best possible outcome, you'll be outside taking your chances with the beasts. Worst case... The nightmares!"
Hector began walking deeper into the cave and Zeke started hurriedly followed behind him.
As they kept going deeper, it kept getting darker until nothing but footsteps was all that was guiding him behind Hector.
The footsteps stopped all of a sudden and he stopped too, waiting for something to happen
"Hector!" Hector said his own name which was quite unsettling in the dark, however a glowing line began forming a few inches Infront of him.
The line moved higher and higher before turning at a 180° angle for a while before going down again forming a door.
"Welcome to my real home, the fun starts now"
Hector pushed the door open and there was a bright light that blinded him for a few seconds. When he's eyes adjusted he was left flabbergasted with what he was looking at.