The Pillars
I opened the doors and stepped in cautiously
In case there was someone here other than me
It's been a long time since I stood on this ground
The doors quickly slammed as I peered all around
I had a grim feeling I wasn't alone
A voice that I knew called my name from the throne
I turned around, seeing none other than Kain
He views my appearance with caustic disdain
I had little care for his cold salutation
But now, as before, I am still his creation
He libels his work with his callous misdeed
Destroying me out of sheer envy and greed
His pettiness doomed Nosgoth far beyond mending
And still, he was not any less condescending
He murdered my clan long before my return
I cursed him for having so little concern
His enmity caused him to wreak genocide
And still, he believes he should be deified
He killed me for what he perceives to be treason
And then my descendants without any reason
Of course, he reacted quite petulantly
Ignoring the truth he refuses to see
He finds me audacious to speak of compunctions
While he has harmed Nosgoth in all of its functions
The fury could not be denied in Kain's voice
He said I've not felt the full burden of choice
I had little right to oppose his volition
Until I had been in his wrongful position
My life was too brief to envisage his trials
Although he was simply excusing his wiles
Mortanius turned him away from the light
He said his curse gave him a new sense of sight
I hadn't faced any of Kain's "hardships" yet
Not knowing his lifetime of doubt and regret
The fate of the world depends on his deeds
But all he has done is assuage his own needs
Would I even know what to do in his place?
At least I would treat all our kind with more grace
My rule would be noble, but none of it mattered
Our empire fell and the clans have all scattered
The Pillars have simply outlasted their use
Unable to take any further abuse
He said that I, too, was no longer essential
To be at that moment was quite consequential
He then drew his sword and he held it my way
For what I had suffered, I felt no dismay
The Soul Reaver, Kain's fabled weapon of old
It strikes fear in many, no matter how bold
According to legend, the blade was possessed
Its hunger for spirits could not be repressed
When Kain drew this sword, it elicited dread
It always meant someone would shortly be dead
He suddenly vanished without any trace
I had little doubt he was still in this place
He stands at a distance, apparently waiting
I tried to approach him without hesitating
Attempting to strike him, my efforts would fail
His sword discharged lightning, which rendered me frail
The bolt from Kain's powerful sword overwhelms
It forced my return to the darkest of realms
Though weakened, I won't allow Kain to prevail
A wraith tried to kill me, and he, too, would fail
So that I could settle my earthly dispute
I vanquished the wraith, and his screams, I would mute
The soul of this creature is all that I need
And then from this realm, I would shortly be freed
So, then I returned to the physical plane
Determined to finish this fight against Kain
And this time he stands at a much greater span
Not seeming to make any change to his plan
I greatly enjoyed every blow that I struck
And seeing him writhe as he ran out of luck
I struck him once more as he lingers in place
He grunted in pain as he clutched at his face
He suddenly powered the Reaver once more
Its vigorous bolt brought me down, as before
He then raised the sword for a finishing blow
But why the strike failed, I didn't yet know
The blade was destroyed when he struck for the kill
However, this seemed to be part of Kain's will
The Reaver is vanquished, and so, it unfolds
We're slowly approaching what destiny holds
I fell into limbo: my strength dissipates
Before me, an unearthly weapon awaits
I knew not the motive Kain has for this act
Although I knew just how the cards had been stacked
I slowly reached out with a sense of alarm
The Soul Reaver suddenly cleaved to my arm
The Voice then informed me of what I have done
This weapon and I are eternally one
He said that our futures were now intertwined
No force or occurrence could sever the bind
This weapon, now free from its physical shell
Has taken true form and would serve me quite well
As long as I wield it, my strength would not wane
Prolonging my time in the physical plane
Because it is not a corporeal sword
My power would need to be fully restored
The blade would sustain me as long as it stayed
But if I am struck, even once, it would fade
A female specter approached suddenly
A tormented spirit I didn't yet see
Although I had not met this tortured ghost yet
We both knew Kain well, so she poses no threat
She knew not my form, and it seems, not my name
And yet, from Kain's evil, our agonies came
I wasn't intent on disturbing her rest
But peace was a thing that no spirit possessed
She said that a body is needed for sleep
Without flesh and bone, there's no leisure to reap
Now all she can do is watch over the world
Observing as Nosgoth's bleak fate is unfurled
Her past and her future had little division
Beginning when Kain made his selfish decision
I then questioned why she was stuck in this place
This world's corruption affects every race
She's bound by Kain's petty refusal to die
I wouldn't expect any other reply
These Pillars now stand, rotted down to the core
Portraying the world he wouldn't restore
They now only stand as her prison and home
And in this domain, she would endlessly roam
One side of her face is completely decayed
She suffers because of the choice that Kain made
With all that she said, I could only agree
That bastard can claim no allegiance from me
My loathing for Kain caused her then to decide
That if I have need, she would act as my guide
For Ariel knows what all others forget
She seems like the most truthful one I have met
For now, I have done what I came to achieve
Approaching the portal before I would leave
I've now reached the earthly dimension once more
Possessing the means now to open the door
I thrust the sword in, then the doors were ajar
I shifted again before going too far
So that the barred gates would not stand in my way
Inside of this place, there's no reason to stay
I passed through the gates and I made my way out
This Reaver will grant further passage, no doubt