As I read Ezekiel's letter, a sense of determination filled me. I knew that things would never be the same again, but I had a newfound motivation to be better than I was before.
I refused to fall behind, for deep down, I knew I was stronger. And so, I decided to set out on an adventure alone, leaving Inzaghi at home just for today. Though Ezekiel wasn't with me, I was determined to keep the promise we had made to each other.
Today, I found myself standing at the edge of the forest, gazing out at the vast expanse before me. The unknown called to me, urging me to come forward.
As I made my way into the forest, whispers seemed to guide me towards a cave that I had discovered on a previous adventure. It was hidden away, barely noticeable, and I knew that there must be something rare and valuable hidden within.
As I entered the darkened cave, I was met with strange structures and paintings. One depicted a man fighting off a horde of monsters, another showed him dropping blood onto a stone, then coming after a gigantic beast with wings, and finally, the last painting showed him attaining a sword stuck in a stone.
My legs shook with fear, but my heart remained steadfast. The voices grew louder, calling my name and urging me to enter deeper into the cave.
"Enter, old soul," one said, "Blessed be the Creator who calls out our name." Another spoke, "Hail to the Primordial One of the highest thrones." A collective amount of voices spoke.
It was truly bothersome that I had the courage to even walk through the depths of this cave but fear will not get the best of me.
Approaching an ancient door, covered in overgrown weeds, I placed my hands on the handles and gave them a push. To my surprise, both sides of the door opened automatically, revealing a world of mystery and wonder beyond.
As I stood there, staring into the abyssal darkness, my heart began to race. The glowing eyes of the ancient monsters that existed only in the "Tales of Aiel" stared back at me, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. Yet, the thrill of such a discovery compelled me to take a step forward, and I passed through the gates. The door behind me shut with a resounding clang, leaving me stranded in this unknown place until I could reach the end of the cave.
The darkness was all-encompassing, and the air was heavy with humidity. My only option was to move forward, for there was nowhere else to go. Despite the fear that threatened to consume me, I steeled myself and focused on the task at hand.
As I made my way down the narrow corridor, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the darkness. I readied my weapon, preparing for a fight. The quaking grew louder, and I knew that I was getting closer to my quarry.
Finally, I emerged into a vast room that seemed to stretch on forever, with no discernible limits. Towering before me were monstrous giants, primal evolutions of orcs with skin as tough as leather and muscles that ripple with every movement, primordial orcs tower over even the mightiest of men which were said back in the Tales of Aiel. Their hair is a wild, unkempt mane, and their eyes gleam with a fierce intelligence that belies their primal nature. They move with a primal grace, as though every step they take is a dance with the elements,
The Primordial Goblin's skin was rough and scaly, like the bark of ancient trees, and their eyes glowed with an eerie, otherworldly light. They had long, slender limbs that ended in sharp, clawed hands, perfect for scaling sheer cliffs and grasping at prey.
Lastly the Primordial Bats these creatures are the size of small dragons, with wingspans that can stretch up to 30 feet. Their fur is pitch black, as is their leathery skin, and their eyes glow a fiery red. The primordial bats are known for their supernatural agility and speed, able to maneuver through the narrowest of cave passages with ease.
But my main concern in this battle was the single orc stood out from the rest, clearly the boss of this band of creatures the orc was a towering figure, standing at nearly ten feet tall with rippling muscles that bulged beneath his thick green skin. His eyes burned with a fierce intelligence that betrayed the primal ferocity of his kind. He wore a suit of armour crafted from the bones of his enemies and wielded a massive Warhammer that crackled with mana-like energy.
I was outnumbered and outmatched, but I knew that I had to keep moving forward. With a deep breath, I charged forward, prepared to face whatever lay ahead. At the end of the room, I could see another door, waiting for me.
Though I knew the only way to get passed them was to fight so I had to remain calm and take a few deep breaths in.
Just like with all the times I've had struggling to get better at all aspects of fighting, I feel confident in my abilities because Ezekiel taught me the secrets to magic and so I attempted to enter a state of nothingness in which he told me was the "Flow state" of the human mind he said in theory that if I was able to tap into that state at will nothing will ever seem impossible and so I think this would be the best time to try it.
The world around me fades away and my mind becomes hyper-focused on the task at hand. My senses sharpen and every movement feels effortless as if I am moving in slow motion yet with lightning speed. My thoughts flow smoothly and intuitively, like a river carving its path through the earth.
My body responds to my every command with perfect precision, executing each motion flawlessly. My muscles seem to have a life of their own, moving in perfect harmony with my mind. Time itself seems to bend to my will, slowing down or speeding up as I need it to.
As I continue in this heightened state of ability and prowess, nothing seems impossible. My creativity and innovation soar to new heights, allowing me to accomplish things that once seemed beyond my reach. I feel as though I have tapped into a wellspring of power deep within me.
The feeling that overcame me was pure madness. Even the soft threads of white light that had previously surrounded me had transformed into a blazing gold inferno. I drew my sword and prepared to face the horde of monsters that stood before me, consumed by a state of mind that obliterated all rational thought. My mind was blank, free of distractions, and open to infinite possibilities.
I could see everything before me, the movements of the monsters, the flow of mana, and the endless opportunities for attack. Without hesitation, I lunged at the towering green giant, leaping high above the primordial beasts that circled below. The orc raised its massive Warhammer, a weapon of tremendous size and power. But I could see it all, the gaps in its defences, the weaknesses in its movements.
The world around me shifted, and I was suddenly aware of everything. The orc brought its hammer down in a thunderous blow that shattered the earth beneath me, causing mountainous spikes to erupt from the ground. I used the force of the wind created by the orc's swing to propel myself even higher into the air.
As I hovered above the monsters, a swarm of bats descended upon me, their eyes gleaming with malice and hunger. Goblins clambered up the giant orc's legs, eager to spill blood. But I remained calm, knowing their fate was already sealed. I tapped into that special ability that came with perfect focus, drawing an immense amount of energy within me. My sword transformed, its blade turning pitch black and oozing with energy that wasn't mana.
I knew what I had to do. With both hands clenched tightly around the hilt of my sword, I unleashed a monstrous swing that consumed everything in its path. A black lightning bolt exploded from my blade, obliterating every primordial animal within the giant orc's scope. And still, I remained steady in the air, my balance unwavering.
The horde of monsters fell away, defeated by my prowess and determination. For now, at least, I had triumphed.
The Orc's eyes gleamed with bloodlust as he bore witness to the carnage I had just wrought upon the creatures before us. My hands trembled with fear, knowing full well that I was facing a formidable opponent.
The Orc lifted his hammer once again, a deep growl rumbling in his throat as he swung with all his might. I barely managed to dodge his blow, but the force of it scraped my side, sending a sharp pain through my body.
But the Orc was not finished yet. He imbued his hammer with a strange aura, preparing for another attack. I, too, summoned my own energy and watched as threads of light appeared before me. A vision of two possible outcomes flashed before my eyes, one where my slash met the Orc's imbued swing head-on, and the other where I managed to dodge it.
Without hesitation, I made my decision. I assumed a new stance, and allowed my energy to flow through me once again, imbuing my sword with a dazzling array of colors that seemed to mirror the night sky. The Orc swung his hammer with brute force, while I countered with grace and technique. Our weapons collided, sparks flying in all directions.
In that moment, I felt the full weight of the Orc's strength bearing down upon me, but I did not falter. My sword broke through the Orc's guard, slicing him cleanly in half. A brilliant flash of lightning erupted from my sword, reducing the Orc to dust in an instant. The room was quiet once again, save for the sound of my breathing as I surveyed the aftermath of the battle. I had emerged victorious, but the cost had been high.
I took a deep breath and stepped forward, ready to face whatever lay ahead.
As I stepped into the next room, it took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the grandeur of the arena stadium before me. The balconies and crowd seating lining the sides of the room were eerily empty, as if the space had been abandoned for centuries.
But the center of the room was anything but abandoned. Three towering statues, each representing a different king, stood proudly amidst the open space. They were all crowned, a symbol of their status and power. The statue on the left held a cross like a sword, while the one on the right held a skull in their left hand. But it was the one in the middle that caught my attention the most. Clutched tightly in its two hands was a black and white ball, a symbol of balance.
As I gazed upon the statues, I couldn't help but wonder if these were the ancient kings of the "Tales of Aiel." My curiosity deepened as I approached the center of the stage and the cheers of a phantom crowd echoed in my ears.
In an instant, I was no longer myself. It was as if I had become another person, transported to a different time and place. I watched in awe as the person I had become waved to the adoring crowd and stood before the three kings.
Suddenly, the king in the middle spoke, his words booming across the arena. "Oh praise to be, the hero of the world Aiel Panthero, The man righteous above all he who had defeated the evils that walked across this earth is the deserving of a title. Blessed by the kings of every nation we announced to you as the Emperor of our world."
With a blink, the vision ended, and I was back in my own body. It was clear that these three kings had once controlled the world when Aiel was still around. But something was different. In the vision, the statues had not been holding anything in their hands, yet now, the ball in the middle statue's grip had turned into a clear, transparent item.
Without hesitation, I laid my hand on the item, feeling my mana being drained away as it filled the orb. As I watched, the colors shifted and morphed, transforming into a brilliant blue sky speckled with shining stars. The statues surrounding me faded into the ether, and a door materialized in their place, its symbol an endless loop etched into the center.
My curiosity was piqued as I gazed upon the door. From the back, it appeared as though there was nothing behind it, despite only the front being visible to my eyes. I pushed the door open and was instantly transported to a place that felt otherworldly.
The scene before me was nothing short of mesmerizing. Soft, verdant grass swayed gently in the breeze, leading to an endless waterfall that cascaded into a shimmering pool within the depths of a cave. I felt as though I had been disconnected from reality itself, transported to a different realm altogether.
As I took in my surroundings, my eyes were drawn to a sword that had been thrust into the ground. The hilt was adorned with gold that bore the mark of stars, while the blade was as black as the void, with shimmering stars embedded within it.
There had to be a reason why this sword was here. It felt as though it was the being that had called out to me, beckoning me to its location.
The moment I wrapped my hands around the hilt, an immense surge of energy coursed through my body, filling me with all manner of mana. My muscles strained and ached as I slowly lifted the sword out of its stony sheath.
With each passing moment, I felt as though I was becoming more and more worthy of the sword, which I suspected had belonged to Aiel himself. Finally, the weight of the blade lifted, and I was left holding it in my hands.
To my surprise, the sword was much lighter than I had anticipated. It was incredibly agile, and I was able to wield it with ease. As I marvelled at its form, I realized that I was becoming more and more exhausted by the second.
As the world around me faded to black, I could feel my body slowly shutting down, like a machine powering off. My limbs grew heavy, my eyelids drooped, and my mind became foggy. And then, with a jolt, I collapsed onto the ground.
When I came to, the first thing I noticed was that the sword was gone. In its place was a rough-hewn stone, similar in shape to the one that had held the weapon captive. But more unsettling was the fact that the entire dungeon had vanished, as though it had never existed in the first place. My heart raced as I tried to make sense of what had just happened.
Slowly, I took stock of my body. To my surprise, the injuries I had sustained during my ordeal were gone, as though they had never been. The only sign that anything had happened was a mark on my wrist, a faint scar in the shape of the sword I had pulled from the stone.
It occurred to me then that the sword's physical form may have been an illusion, a figment of some powerful magic. But what did that mean for me? And how had I managed to survive the encounter?
With a deep breath, I realized that I needed to return home as it was dark already and figure out what to do next. As I set off, my mind raced with questions and wonderings, the memory of the sword and the stone burned into my consciousness like a brand. I had no idea what the future held with this mark, but I knew one thing for certain - there had to be a way to summon this sword into existence since the experience felt so real.