You find your resolve

Nude once more, stripped by the daemon's gaze, you let his temptation breeze right past you. If not for this abhorrent creature, you would be a paladin now. No, it's not this creature that has severed your ties to the Burning Rose, it is your own shame at your failure. You were a paladin already, if not in name, then in spirit, and by the goddess, somehow you will be again.

"Every breath you take is full of lies. I will not suffer your existence any longer, filth!" Your master - you cannot help but think of him that way, even now - seems genuinely surprised that you raise your sword and sink into a fighting stance. The lusty creature appraises the beauty of your raw spirit in this moment... slender body with ample curves and milky skin, bright blue eyes, wild and fiery hair that falls to your hips... you look the part of an avenging angel, or perhaps an avatar of the goddess herself. He licks his lips in anticipation. He sees you as a prize. You intend for that to be the last insult you shall have to suffer at his expense.

A moment later, you're locked in battle with the daemon. You're reminded that the dream experience is different than reality, certain moments are drawn out, or skipped entirely. Likewise, you're no longer in the laundry. Instead, you're outside in a blasted landscape underneath a starry sky. You don't recognize the place as anywhere you've ever visited.

The daemon ducks a horizontal swing of your sword and leaps away from your follow-up thrust. "Do you enjoy the view, my love? I thought we had enough of your home and could use mine for a change."

Your opponent rushes you, but you recover from your latest attack to fend off his claws. "Your home? This is my dream. How could I dream about a place I've never seen?" You work your holy sword back and forth, side-stepping around the demon in a circle until he begins to tire and you're able to press your counter-attack.

"It should be obvious. I know you've felt my presence. This is OUR dream."

The thought of sharing anything with the creature is sickening, but it would explain why you cannot simply manipulate the results to your satisfaction. If this were any normal dream, you'd simply have to imagine yourself winning...

Why can't you do that? Instead of fighting the daemon, you should be BEATING the daemon.

As quickly as that, you've cut your opponent several times and he's scampering away from you. "A quick learner, aren't you my love? But didn't I mention that this is my dream as well? You're not the only one with tricks..."

You should have realized it wouldn't be so easy, but what sort of trick is the daemon talking about? There's suddenly a presence behind you! You wheel about to confront this new challenge and see...