It was dark.
Something about this reminded me of the void that I had seen multiple times now.
However, I now knew that it was not a void at all, since other beings resided in it and interacted with things that were always just beyond my grasp.
The last thing I remembered was that I tried to sleep again, but at that moment the whispers and shadows came back. but looking back at it, the shadows were more like a corrosive smoke.
I remained unmoving. If I was really back in that other reality, it was best not to anger the being that I had seen in the world between worlds of which I assumed lived here.
I suddenly heard a loud chackling laughter from my left. And then the glowing crimson eyes appeared in front of me.
It was like those eyes reflected an entire world that remained unseen in this darkness.
"I finally found you again!" the being spoke in an echoing tone consisting of multiple voices speaking at once.
Something about the way this thing spoke awakened a fear in my heart unparalleled by anything I had encountered before.
It gave me the feeling that this encounter was something that should not happen.
"You should not be afraid. The creator would not allow me to bestow any harm upon you. And tough this is indeed somewhere closer to the other reality than you should be, there will be no consequences. For the creator itself has desired this encounter."
This made me feel even more uncomfortable. Not only was this being incredibly powerful, but it also knew of things that should not be known.
The mass of voices and shadows laughed.
"That is indeed the case. But there are things even more terrible than me out there especially if you wander too far. There is chaos with a hint of order and the answer to mysteries that no one is meant to solve. But these things are hidden by the creator and guarded by four projections of its mind. I advise you to not look for the things that are not meant to be found, for the price you pay then is far greater than your life."
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. This was my chance to find answers.
"You keep speaking of the creator. Is it a god?"
The being in front of me hesitated for a moment. I became afraid that I might have offended it with the question, or that I was not meant to speak at all.
"No. I don't think so. It is not a god; it is nothing close to being one. It is as I said, it is the creator."
"But is that not what the gods do?"
"You do not have to be a god to create, and a god does not have to create."
I realised that I was not going to get a better answer just by asking further about this subject.
"Why have the gods not interfered with the creator nor the things that are happening in the worlds?"
"I am not meant to answer that question, yet. But I will tell you one day."
The being slowly circled around me.
"Come on. Ask something else instead. That was the reason why I was sent here anyways."
"Then, what do you know about my mark?"
It smiled. I did not know why, but it was a happy smile.
"Oh. I know a lot actually. From whom created it and how it works to why it is there."
"Can you tell me?"
"I can. But you will not like the answer."
Suddenly the being froze in fear. Somewhere in the distance was a dripping sound along with something that sounded like it was being dragged over the floor.
I could see two sets of glowing green eyes positioned right above each other. The foul breath of the thing sounded like it had swallowed sandpaper.
As it slowly came closer, I could see it more clearly.
It walked on all fours and it had a long bony tail with some fur at the end of it. The creature had armour covering nearly its entire body. On the places where the skin was shown, I could see that it was an unnatural blue. It was thick and leathery but despite that it looked extremely fragile.
The creature had holes in places where something normal could not live and the muscles around its drooling mouth were exposed. It had four horns of with two pointing forward and two pointing up.
The hairs on its head and neck were thick and long I did not know it these truly were hairs or tentacles.
I could see the black blood flowing through the veins that laid just beneath the skin. It opened its mouth, only just a little. And behind its teeth I could see it, it was a thousand shapes of horror beyond anything that could be named. It was a maelstrom, a pit, an abys.
The being of smoke and shadows backed away.
"I think you should go now. We will meet again."
With a gasp I nearly jumped up when I awoke.
I could see the dwarf standing in front of me with a concerned look on his face.
"Are you okay?"