Sorry for the long absence! I basically no longer have access to computers TT So don't expect this fic to be updated often. At all. Oh, and sorry for the short chapter. I had to post it this way for ease.

A Revelation

Consciousness did not come softly to Manfred. It forced its harsh light through his eyelids, blaring his senses awake. Voices bloomed under the layers of incomprehension, pulling him into alertness.

After that, it didn't take him long to notice he was tied to a chair.

After a few moments of general chaos, the explanation was revealed.

"Are you telling me that I destroyed school property-- our front doors-- and the ruin? Never!"

Dr. Bloor coughed, not meeting his son's eyes. "It's true, Manfred. You almost attacked us as well."

"Didn't recognize us, did you?" Ezekiel rasped spitefully. "Your own family! Screaming that nonsense about Borlath. Nearly gave me a heart attack."

Manfred frowned. "Borlath?"

His father seemed to be having trouble acknowledging that Manfred was in the room. "You claimed that Borlath had... risen... and that-- well, that you were he."

"But that's--" Manfred froze. Like a dimmed flame, a memory had flickered across his mind. Intrusion upon his thoughts, late at night... Being inexorably pulled to the ruin, helpless to control his own actions... Making a pact with an invisible voice... Manfred groaned. It certainly sounded as if he was going mad. But then if he were, how would he tell?

A faint tugging at his subconscious reminded him of concrete proof otherwise. "Dad-- last night, did I have a weapon with me? A black sword?"

Ezekiel wheezed. "That you did, boy! Devil knows where it came from."

"The ruin!" Manfred broke out. "When Borlath spoke to me-- stop shaking your heads! It's true-- he told me how to find the sword. He's chosen me to be his heir; that's why I could break the stone that it was stored in. Don't you see what this means? With this we could--"

"It's possible," Ezekiel interrupted, his eyes glinting. "Why not? Stranger things have happened, after all. If I'm not mistaken, it sounds as if Borlath himself has possessed you."

Dr. Bloor frowned, still doubtful. "If that's so, we should be able to to communicate with him."

Manfred opened his mouth-- to say what he didn't know-- when suddenly his voice shut off abruptly and a different one entirely took its place:

"Indeed thou should. But art thou up to the challenge?"