Luke "Looming Nightmare"/Rewards

Story Summary

This story takes place in Year 2. Luke has confessed to the MC, and the two are a romantic couple.

In a medieval fantasy village, Luke -- a young knight -- asks local villagers for the location of an evil dragon. They respond fearfully, because the dragon has attacked their village recently, destroying many of their homes and loved ones. The village leader asks why Luke wants to find the dragon, and Luke recalls a Stargazer who told him that killing the evil dragon and opening the treasure chest it guards will reveal the way to the MC, who is missing. The villagers, hearing this story, agree that the MC has been captured by the evil dragon, who has captured many innocent ladies who were never seen again.

Reluctantly, the villagers offer Luke all they know about the evil dragon, and he sets off for its lair on a mountain peak after promising the villagers that he won't stop until he finds the MC. Luke makes the long trek through the forest, emerging in a burned wasteland beyond it, and notices the sky growing red. He recalls that the villagers told him the evil dragon would be weaker during an eclipse, which should be tomorrow. To pass the time, he builds a shelter and maintains his sword, speaking to the ruby in the hilt as if the MC can hear, telling her that he's coming for her soon and asking her not to be afraid.

Luke remembers his eight years away from the MC while he was in the army, during which the MC used to send letters and deliver large amounts of food to the camp. Alone in the forest, he speaks aloud as if she's there, telling her that he remembers each of her letters in detail. He weeps over how much he misses her, then prepares for battle as the eclipse begins. As he crosses the plains, the dragon swoops down with two captured villagers; Luke battles the dragon so the villagers can escape. After landing a major blow, an astrolabe the Stargazer had given him begins to glow; this was to be a signal to Luke that he needs to stop the battle, and he does so, assessing his wounds.

Back at his shelter, Luke is despondent about the gap in power between himself and the dragon. The Stargazer arrives unexpectedly and challenges Luke's resolve. Luke swears to defeat the dragon no matter the cost, and the Stargazer tells him to go to the mountain castle that was revealed by the eclipse and strike just as the ten-day eclipse passes, when it will be weakest. When she leaves, Luke speaks to the ruby again, recalling that the MC gave it to him when he departed and his intention to declare his love on his return. Ten days later, he confronts the dragon once more; the battle is close, with both Luke and the dragon taking great wounds.

Just as Luke is about to fail, he hears the MC's faint voice, which gives him the strength for one final blow that slays the dragon in a moment of hesitation. After verifying it's dead, he rushes inside the castle and finds the MC's mirror in its treasure chest. The ruby in the mirror interacts with the ruby in his sword, and Luke sees the mirror replay what happened to the MC: she searched desperately for Luke until the arrived at this very castle. The day she arrived, a black fog surrounded the castle, and the evil dragon emerged. Denying that the images could be real, Luke runs back to the dragon's corpse, which has transformed back into the MC.

The Stargazer returns, telling Luke that his destiny is to reunite with the MC only after her death. She offers Luke a way to revive the MC: exchange his life for hers, with the condition that she would lose all memory of Luke. Luke accepts, wishes the MC a happy life and tells her he loves her, then kills himself. The Stargazer becomes a witch, gleefully laughing about having tricked him. Back in the present, the MC awakens from her long nightmare in Luke's arms. He offers to sing her "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" to calm her down as the MC thinks about her dream, from its strange fantasy elements to its stark contrast to their current life. She observes a familiar-looking sword and mirror in the corner as she considers their happy future and the beautiful afternoon.

Illustrations

Born to Die"I wish you happiness in the years to come."
"I love you."

Story and ElegyThis is a maiden's story and a knight's elegy.

Video Call

Video Call		Luke: Looming Nightmare (After Story 6)

Video Call script

Luke: Hi, good morning. Are you up?

Luke: Ah... I bought over a medieval-themed game that's a lot of fun. Do you want to come to play it together?

Luke: It has a two-player mode. We could hit a new record together... just like we used to.

Luke: What's it about...? It's about a knight who embarks on an adventure to kill the dragon and find his lost love.

Luke: It's quite interesting. The scenes where you are fighting against the dragon are extremely vivid...

Luke: Huh? What's wrong? You don't look so great.

Luke: You don't want to play this game... Why? Does the story make you uncomfortable?

Luke: What!? You had a nightmare that was similar to the game? And we were the knight and dragon...? It didn't end well?

Luke: Pfft... you're being silly. It was just a dream. Don't take it so seriously.

Luke: Besides, don't people always say that dreams are usually the opposite of reality?

Luke: Your dream had a bad ending... so that proves we'll definitely have a good ending. Don't be afraid. Everything will be okay.

Luke: Hmm... If you are still so worried then why don't we join forces to beat the game?

Luke: Let's prove that we can have a happy ending!

Story Locations

Middle Ages
Forest

Middle Ages
Astrology Museum

Middle Ages
Plains

Middle Ages
Temporary Residence

Middle Ages
Stationed Camp

Middle Ages
Castle on the Mountain Peak

Middle Ages
Inside the Castle

Time's Antiquities
Luke's Residence 3F

Story Characters

Luke Pearce

Luke Pearce

Village Leader

Villager A

Villager B

Stargazer

Team Captain

Female Villager

Story References

The Luke "Looming Nightmare" story contains brief mentions or references of events that took place in the following:

• Luke's Story: Sweet Chapter 1