A/N: this is the beginning of the fifth and final arc. The first half is titled the Zeppelin.
I open my eyes.
I do not need rest, but my mind feels better.
Before me lay the frozen remains of four people, enchanted lighting crystals and that locked iron door. That same door.
I groan inside. Why am I awake? I swear, if I lose my ability to simply hibernate the time away, I will flex my muscles until I can move and bludgeon myself to death against the wall.
I do not even bother flexing at first, though. Not even my eyebrows or eyelids. If a noise woke me up, then I will just need to force myself asleep again. How annoying...this was a waste of...
...what...
...the...
...it is looking at me?
Not smoke...not a gas. The entire room is lit by those crystals, leaving very little shadow. Yet suddenly I see one pass ovee the floor. There is light shining there; nothing is blocking the light. Why is the shadow moving...wait...how did it slip in the gap at one corner of the door?
The shadows twirl and rise up off the ground...not solid, liquid or gas, yet they are no longer merely cast on a surface. The move into the empty space on their own and merge into a condensed blob of shade. Shade with no sun. From the ball, I see two balls hover on the floor among the twirling, but not smoky, shadows, and two more balls at the sides. Another ball forms on the top, with two glowing red dots on it.
And it is looking at me.
What sort of nightmare is this?
I seize up again when I hear more feet outside. Feet of different sizes and textures. What...is...this?
The voice of a westfall echoes in the hallway, giving me another shock.
"Ihsan, stop wasting time! What's in there?"
People. People here. People talking. Oh...what? Am I dreaming again?
The condensed shade levitates off the ground somewhat, hovering close to me...those red dots are eyes. There is no denying it.
Oh...oh! Oh my...! People! Please...please let this be real! Please let it be the sound of people that woke me up from my slumber! Oh Titans, oh Twisting Nether, even the Old Gods, whoever is listening, please, have mercy! Do not let this be a dream!
The shade floats around me, looking only at me, interested in nothing else. It is the most attention I have ever received.
"Barghash...I think you'd better see this.
"I think checking the final chamber hasn't been a waste after all...there's actually a destroyer in here."