A Journey Begins In Flames
Chapter 1
The strangest mystery in life is understanding death, and if it is truly the end of our lives. Or if it's only the beginning of something more. It was all I could think of as I floated endlessly in this abyssal darkness that had consumed me. I couldn't even tell if I was seeing darkness or just imagining it and was only merely dreaming. Nonetheless I let out a quiet sigh, emitting my annoyance for not understanding my own question.
"Is this really how I will spend the rest of my life?" I quietly said to myself, "floating in this darkness forever until my soul goes hollow?" It's as if almost instantly after I said that, a sudden spark of light sprouted its form in the darkness. Welcoming itself, almost as if going against the darkness totally. The light hurt so much I had to shield myself from its incandescent glow. As if it got any closer I would be consumed by it and turned to cinders.
But as I unshielded my eyes to gaze upon this unknown light, I was brought to the realization that it was but a tiny flame. "Something this tiny could burn as bright as the sun that shines in the sky?" I couldn't help but think to myself, that if something like this could be born into this darkness, would I want to continue living here? It seemed like the two options were to stay here and watch this flame extinguish. Or take it, and make it my own within my body.
I made up my mind; I was going to embrace this small dying flame into my own soul. I made my way closer to this flame; it was so small… so fragile that I could breathe and the only source of light I knew would go out right in front of me. Then I would be consumed by the darkness and its cold grasp, I feared that terrible thought, knowing that if I didn't decide I would know the light no longer. This was my one and only chance to change the course of my fate. I gathered the miniscule flame in my both of my hands, and brought it closer to my body. Taking the flame within my very soul, wrapping my body in its warmness, it was almost as if you held paper over a fire, my body shaved off the coldness of being in the dark and accepting the fire that had made its way up my legs, my arms, and eventually my whole body was covered in this flame.
I was now a beacon in the darkness, the tiny flame I once saw then crawled from my body to the ground I was standing upon. Eventually every inch of the darkness was now consumed by fire. I couldn't help but stare in awe upon the flame, as if it was alive again because of me. Then, my body felt weak all of a sudden I collapsed on both of my knees. I was finding it harder to breathe, as if my body was going into shock or even a heart attack, my sight was getting blurry and I was on the verge of passing out. Dying… yes, dying is the word that sprouts up in my mind. I fell to my side, holding onto my senses until I could do so no more. My eyes shut, and I could only hope they would open again, as the fire faded from view… Yet I was met with light. It felt so warm, so beautiful; it was pure, and refined, welcoming me without hesitation. I let it take hold of my body, and set me to rest. Time slowed, as did my breathing. My life before is no longer a part of me; this fire will lead me down a new path, and a path I willingly follow.
When I opened my eyes again I was met with darkness but something felt strange. I wasn't floating in anything, it's as if I was encased in something, a grave maybe? There was light peeking its softness into this hard dark coffin I was confined in. I then heard the tolling of a bell in the distances and then the lid to my coffin was coming off on its own. The small tint of light I could see earlier now was everywhere it wasn't as bright as I thought of it to be. I gathered what strength I could and rose out of my grave, ash falling to the ground as I reached my full height. "Did I burn alive from the fire and turn to ash?" I then noticed I was cladded in a knight's armor, well worn but still usable for its duty and laying on the ground a shield, a straight sword, and my helmet. Upon further inspection the shield and sword looked in decent condition and the helmet rustic and covered in ash but servable. I then surveyed my surroundings, looking up into the sky and was met with clouds masking the appearance of the light and felt a chilling wind hit my armor and then my skin; it sent a slight shiver up through me.
I wasn't going to get any answers by just standing next to my now empty grave. I needed to find out what this place is and why I am here. I strapped the shield to my left arm, wrapped the sword and its sheath around my waist, bent down to pick up my helmet and put it on, strapping it to my head to be sure it wouldn't fall off. I took the sword out of the sheath and grasped it in my right hand, lifting up my outer face mask of my helmet, I took one last look of my grave where I arose and felt nervous but determined to go on and discover who I am and why I was sent here. I flipped down my front mask to put it back into place for me to see through the slots for my eyes. With a deep breath I gathered the courage and strength to set out on my journey, in this dark and mysterious world.