Darkness. You'd think it'd be a welcome sight by now, seeing as how it's all I know. But if you were to assume that, you'd be wrong. Yes, it's what brought my conscience to this world, it's maybe even what I am. But it's still something I don't welcome with open arms. There's times where I consider myself to have 'slept,' if I can sleep, as it seems like time lapses. Then again, I don't really have a very good grasp on how time works. I can't even begin to try, seeing as how nothing ever changes here. Oh, no. Darkness never changes.
I look down at myself, just a blacker shadow against the rest of the shadows in this ocean of darkness. I know not why I was expecting anything different; I've not changed since I awakened. How long has that been, now? It feels like a very long time, but I don't really know. Oh, yes, my questions. How long have I been here? Where is this here, exactly, and why am I here?
That's the one thing that strikes me deepest. Why? There's nothing here. I'm the only thing here. Am I supposed to do something?
That's nearly impossible, seeing as how moving around in this darkness is like swimming through tar. What is tar? I don't know. I just know that's a good analogy. I know what lots of things are, though I've never seen them.
I shake what must be my head, and try to move around. So slow. So cold. So painful. So dark. There's not a hint of light.
But the moment I think that, a bright blue light darts through the darkness around me, leaving me with a striking realization. Why I exist!
But... what? Such a terrible reason! To destroy myself? No? No, not myself. The 'light' me, apparently. I'm to snuff it out, like a candle. But I rather like light, I've decided. It had colour. That shimmering blue, even for the fleeting moment I saw it. It's made me love light more than I ever thought I would love it. So I'd rather be damned to swim here for the rest of eternity than to kill off this light!
Besides, do opposites not attract?
My vision goes white. Suddenly, the penetrating, wet, ice cold of the darkness no longer surrounds me, but rather, a warm dampness. Well, it's a small step up. I can't see yet, damn it all!
I rub my eyes, trying to focus.
But.. I can't. How could I focus, when there's so much light! No, no more darkness!
My eyes finally adjust.
I can't even begin to describe the incredulous joy I felt. Light surrounded me, and, and things! There were things in this new place. But, where is this?
I realize I was thrown onto the ground beneath a dead, blackened tree, surrounded by a plot of gooey wet sand. It's bark was shrived and dead, some flaked off and floating around me, coming from what looks like the spot I probably hit it at. I sit up, the cool water dripping off of my cold body, soaking through my clothes.
Clothes.
What? I look at my hands. They're.. not shadows. I have a physical form?!
Clothes, black as night drape over me, half soaked. A tunic, a thick, high collared white undershirt, tight breeches, and worn-looking boots. Thick gauntlets are around my wrists, and I feel something on my head, which I promptly shake off. Oh. A hat.
I kneel in the water, the wetness not really bothering me. I meant to just glance around at the room; infinite mist, infinite water, all a pale, hazy blue; but once the water calmed around me I saw a reflection. The water acted as a mirror, clear and clean. The reflection didn't ripple or fade as I looked at it, knowing it was my face.
Eyes. That's what caught me, first. The colour of fresh blood, a deep, dull red. They shone, but in a glossed, hazed way. The longer I stared, the more I saw the haze take shape and float in them like smoke. I shook my head, breaking the gaze.
Doing that caused my hair to obscure my view, long, black and layered. It reached the tips of my shoulders, partially wet from lying in the water.
My skin was pale as milk, making my eyes stand out even more. I inhaled, deeply. Had I been breathing before now? I'd never taken note. Since I'm breathing, am I... alive? I dare not say I was alive before. I felt like a ghost, but now... now was much different. I feel my form, inspecting my face. Little pale freckles dotted themselves across the bridge of my nose, which I found odd, seeing as I've never been in the sun.
'Sun.'
I stiffened up straight, loosing control of my vision as it was filled with images of someplace else.
A deep forest, full of dancing lights. An endless field. A crumbling stone castle, looking dignified and intimidating, and a mountain so tall you could surely touch the sky. I see it through the eyes of someone exploring it all, relaxing when they can, and being just terrified and in pain more than anything else.
And then, a vast empty lake that touches the horizon. The vision blurrs as they dive below what's left of the crystal clear water, towards a large entrance deep below.
My sight is returned to me, and I feel myself shake.
"What was.."
I stop. I didn't think that, did I? No, I spoke it. So I can speak now?
I chuckle, a melodic and deep sound. In the back of my throat it vibrates with a hint of roughness, but yet it's smooth, and flowing. Like water.
I stand, wobbling a bit. I trudge around the area, finding a small collection of items behind the tree, neatly propped there. A black and silver shield, some holy emblem embedded in the metal. A small leather pouch, which I tied to the back of my belt. But lastly, a sheathed sword. I grip it. It was as cold as ice, just like that darkness. I feel some sort of chill pulse through my arm, making it's way like a cold flame. It faded, then, reaching my chest.
I unsheathed it. Gleaming silver showed me my face once again, crisper, but more distorted. The guard fanned out like a bird's black wings, a red stone in the middle. Three stacked triangles are engraved in the metal closest to the hilt, and when I touch it, the center of it burnishes the metal, creating an emphasis.
I give it a confused look, and strap it and the shield onto my back, after much effort. I check the barred doors, but somehow I knew I couldn't open them. Not until the light was gone.
The doors didn't make sense. They looked so out of place, like they were just standing there in the middle of no where. But I felt it. I felt walls next to them.
"It's... an illusion?"
My thoughts are interrupted as I heard a faint thudding in the distance. I listen. I begin to hear the clinking of metal along with it, and then I realize they're footsteps. Footsteps heading directly for me.
I panic, hiding behind the tree. I stare at the door, ready, and waiting.
-end chapter-
Thank you all again for being patient with me- this is the final revision. c:
1/10/16
