Everything was dark. Everything. Eragon stared into the distance, and instead of finding it dark, he found it merely empty. He stared into the void. One mile, one thousand, one million? More? He wasn't sure.

His lungs began to ache, then scream. But he could not draw breath. There was nothing to draw upon. He felt his body being pulled from all directions with increasing force, threatening to tear him apart.

Then, just as the pain became near unbearable, a light flashed in the distance. Then another, then another. The stars multiplied across the expanse, glowing brighter and brighter until a sudden haze dulled them, and Eragon found him staring into a familiar sky.

And still, he could not breathe.

With a sound like thunder, he felt something spring into existence beneath his feet. It spread, further and further, shaping into dark mountains, lit only barely by a crescent moon. Eragon felt the tickle of grass beneath his feet, and then it spread too, a light coating on across the barren world. Trees sprang into existence, then animals to feed from them, and Eragon felt the pulse of life cover his awareness.

Then, he lurched forward, and his lungs heaved. Nothing. Again, and a achingly painful wisp of air was pulled into him. Eragon coughed and heaved once more, and his chest was ripped with what felt like flame as his lungs finally filled.

His world span before him, and mercifully, he passed out.


When awareness came, it was all too sudden. Eragon sprang into waking, literally. He crouched, one leg knelt against the ground, as he took in his surroundings.

The ground was blackened and burnt, cracked like a desert, but shaped in an all too familiar array. It extended for a hundred feet in each direction, finally reaching a ring of burnt trees. Forest and mountain loomed beyond, and Eragon recognised the familiar peaks of the Spine.

That was good at least. He knew where he was. However, when was he?

Eragon coughed. His lips were cracked and dry. He could feel something pressing solidly against his back. Eragon turned, and the pressure went with him. Reaching around, he managed to extract a bow. Eragon's eyebrows furrowed. It looked familiar. But how he could not remember why. It was old and worn, but it showed signs of being delicately cared for. Still, it was not a weapon Eragon would have used. It looked far too fragile for his strength. He pulled on the string carefully, and was surprised at its resistance. Maybe not so weak after all. Any normal bow would shatter under his elven strength...

Eragon cursed, then pressed his hands to his ears. That was the issue then, he didn't have that strength anymore. His hands bore far too many calluses, his body felt too heavy. That meant... that the bow was his? The one Garrow had made for him three lifetimes ago. He was back in his weak human body. That was unexpected, had he done something wrong with the spell? He had no way of knowing, after all, he had done something impossible. He had reversed time, something without precedent. There could be any number of side effects.

At least the body was his though, he'd half expected to end up as a spirit in the ether. Having a body at all was lucky enough, and at least if he looked in the mirror he'd not find a stranger, merely a forgotten friend.

Still, when was he? The Spine... a hunting trip? He remembered those, back when they had struggled for food each winter. Eragon looked at his hands... trying for a moment to judge his age. It wasn't helpful. Angling his gaze upward, he took in the position of the sun against the mountains. Late autumn perhaps? Winter was approaching. A chill wind came by, confirming his suspicions.

Then, Eragon felt a sudden spike of energy, and he dived out of the way as a flames burst into existence above his head. The area was blanketed in heat, and Eragon let out a yelp as he protected his face with his arms and felt them burn.

And then, just as suddenly, the flames were gone, except for a slight smouldering in the cracks in the earth. Before Eragon, resting in a bed of ash, was a perfect oval.

A blue egg.