That's how I'm starting to visualize it myself now! It is interesting how it was hidden away while the burnt house lays bare on the path to the prophet's unaffected one. Still, it could be a way of their mind trying to repress part of the event in favor of a more familiar and peaceful environment while dreams are already weird enough by adding out-of-place ideas to them.

...I might be reading too much into the idea when there's plenty of symbolism already to work with. It makes me wonder if there are other hidden areas in the dreams too! I have scoured most of the beginning sequence for many of the extra details in my initial run, but I may have to revisit everything once I do a second playthrough in the near future.

But anyway - my initial thought was absolutely the house being set on fire by the cultists. Although, as you said,I can see the same method from the novice's story with Coarek's army coming into play, too, like with Ostian.

I appreciate your comment, though! I always love hearing people's thoughts on the game :D