There are things no mortal should ever see.
Technically, my lifespan was now indefinite as a result of my special abilities.
But I still had the mind of a mortal.
The tunnel leading into the Deep Abyss took over a week to pass. We ended up sleeping inside of it.
When we exited, the power of the abyssal flames allowed us to see everything...
I saw a horrid, warped landscape full of strange plants and monsters that looked like they would all kill me in some terrifying way.
The monsters varied in size...
Some were small, others were larger.
Some reached into the sky with their massive heights.
They were titans among titans...
It was hard to describe what I saw...
They had tentacles, eyes, mouths...some of them were like giant worms.
Others were twisted beings with multiple arms and eyes all over their bodies.
Cassandra clung to me as I once again felt my head hurting.
Something about these monsters was...wrong on so many levels...
The ones that had mouths seemed to continuously smile. Their eyes projected a vision of madness.
Looking at them made my own vision feel blurry.
"Ugh...what's going on...?" I said.
"Darling!?" Cassandra said
"Abyssal madness... You must...not look..." Valtheim said.
I closed my eyes to get away from the creatures appearance, but somehow...I still saw them.
"AGH!!!" I shouted.
"No!! Darling!!! Mizik, please!!!" Cassandra said.
She placed her hands on my head and I felt her do something to my mind.
A moment passed and I felt much better.
"Ah...Cassandra?" I said.
"You're okay...thank goodness!!!" She said.
"What did you do to me?" I asked.
"I...I'm sorry... I disobeyed you... I used my Illusionist Aspect on you... I-I hope you're not upset..." She said.
"No...I think you just saved me from actually going insane. Thank you. I'm in your debt," I said.
"S-stop that...please... You don't owe me anything, darling. I'm just glad to help!" She said with a weary smile.
"We...move forward. Find...The Devourer..." Valtheim said.
"Valtheim, Mizik might be in trouble. I can hold off madness for now, but it won't last forever. Do you think The Devourer is nearby?" Cassandra said.
"He is...deeper..." Valtheim said.
I was suddenly filled with dread.
"By the gods...I want to go home... I miss Avernia...I miss Ignitus... I hate the Abyss!" I wailed.
I clutched my head in my hands as I dropped to my knees.
Cassandra immediately began trying to comfort me.
I could feel tears falling down my face as she held me against her chest.
Valtheim simply waited silently.
"That settles it. You need a break, darling. You've been working too hard for too long... You need rest!" Cassandra said.
"I don't want rest! I want to kill that stupid Oracle and Difar! I JUST WANT TO LIVE IN PEACE!!! I HATE BEING A DAMN HERO!!! I NEVER ASKED FOR THIS!!!" I screamed.
"Mizik...my darling... Please just let everything out. I'm here for you," Cassandra said.
"I...I know... You're my only comfort, now... The only thing left in the life I worked so hard to build... I have nothing... All my relationships with everyone are hollow and meaningless... Vakra might have his memories...but I couldn't care less... I miss Isabella...I miss everything... Why is my life a dumpster fire...?" I whimpered.
"We'll get through this. I promise, darling! We'll beat the Oracle and then deal with Difar! Then we can spend the rest of eternity in peace! Doesn't that sound wonderful?" Cassandra said.
"It sounds...nice... I want peace..." I said.
"Let's keep going, for now. The sooner we defeat The Devourer, the sooner you can rest! I believe in you! And don't worry, I'll do my best to keep your mind stable," Cassandra said.
"Abyssal madness...already setting in...cannot be easily reversed..." Valtheim said.
"Be quiet, Valtheim! Don't underestimate me! I'll protect my darling Mizik as much as I need to!" Cassandra said.
"..."
"Let's...let's just keep going... I want to leave this wretched place..." I mumbled.
"Close your eyes, darling. I'll guide you through. Take us to wherever The Devourer might be, Valtheim."
"I...obey..."
I closed my eyes and Cassandra helped me to my feet.
For a long time after that...I did not open my eyes.
But...as I said before...
That didn't help much.
I could still feel the presence of these nightmarish abominations draining my sanity with each passing moment.
It was as if they radiated a field that caused your mind to melt.
I truly felt like I was losing myself in this place.
* * *
"We will descend...further..." Valtheim said.
"It gets worse...doesn't it...? Haha...Valtheim...you talk funny!" I said.
"I am...funny...? What is...funny...?"
"Darling...please wait a moment. I need to stabilize your mind," Cassandra said.
I felt her hands gently caress my head.
I felt a haze come over my mind and opened my eyes.
My mind felt significantly better.
Then I looked around, I saw more of the gigantic titans as we stood next to yet another doorway...
This one only took a day to pass, instead.
"I would rather be in the firmament..." I said as my head began to hurt again.
Cassandra took my hand in hers and created an illusion.
I could feel the madness still clawing its way into my mind, but it looked like we were in a regular cave, now.
"Thank you, darling," I said.
"Ah...n-no problem..." Cassandra said.
What did I just say?
We followed Valtheim into the tunnel and I could have sworn that she looked like Valtheim for a moment. I was relieved to find that it was only Valtheim and not Valtheim.
Nevertheless, we continued downward...deeper into the darkness...
* * *
Cassandra continued holding onto me and using her Illusionist Aspect to protect my darkening mind.
Unfortunately...it didn't seem to be as effective against this particular type of madness that was setting in.
She could only hold it off for so long. If I fell into insanity, it was a possibility that I may never recover. At least that was what I understood from her.
Or was it Valtheim?
I couldn't tell who was speaking anymore.
"Darling, are you feeling okay?" I said to Cassandra.
She looked worriedly at me.
"M-mizik...you're scaring me... Please just try to relax. I'll take care of everything!" Cassandra said.
She had been trying her best to fight back tears. I couldn't fully tell.
But I thought I had heard her crying over me at some point when we laid down to rest.
The monsters...I could still hear them.
Howling. Screaming...
Even past the illusions, I knew they were there.
I saw their eyes bleeding into the things Cassandra made. Their smiles were everywhere.
And the Illusions wouldn't last forever. When channeled power ran out, I saw them again in full detail.
Horrifying nightmares.
Creatures whose very existence could rend the mind.
"I want to go home... I wonder if Isabella could cook something for me. I love her cooking..." I mumbled.
"Darling...please try not to think about anything. Isabella isn't around, anymore. She's gone. And her cooking is dangerous. If you'd like...I can make something for you soon," Cassandra said.
"Sure...just don't chain me up... I don't want to go back in the box... But the box is so much fun...we can be happy there... They won't stare at me anymore... I hate their eyes," I mumbled.
I felt her hands on my head again as she tried to restore my mind...
Unfortunately, channeled power wasn't active. She didn't have that ability bright now...
"Damn this madness... My darling Mizik needs me! Valtheim! Where is The Devourer!?" Cassandra said frantically.
"Nearby... I sense...his presence..." Valtheim said.
"He has presents? What kind of presents...? Whose birthday...is it...? Does he smile like the others?" I mumbled.
"N-no one's, darling. Please just think about...ehm... What makes you calm, darling?" Cassandra said.
I turned to Cassandra and smiled.
Then I placed a hand on her chin and leaned close.
"Why...you, of course. My sweet Cassandra. You are my everything. And only you hold the key to my heart!" I said happily.
"Haaah...d-darling! Now is not the time for such...r-romantic words! I-if I can calm you, please think of me!" She said.
Suddenly, I froze in place.
"What was I doing?" I asked.
She frowned and hugged me.
"We're close...let's just get this over with..." Cassandra said.
Eventually, we passed into a large ruined structure. It looked like it had been abandoned.
"Danger..." Valtheim said.
"Umm...where are we, Valtheim?" Cassandra asked.
"Uzakaath...deep realm... Home of The Insanity... It should not...be here... Why...?" She said.
Before she could respond, I saw a creature unlike anything I had ever seen before.
It was a sort of floating entity that seemed to shift its physical form rapidly.
Actually...just looking at this thing made me feel sick... I vomited as soon as I saw it and my head started throbbing in agony.
I could almost feel my sanity melt away.
"Look...away...!" Valtheim said suddenly.
But it was too late...
Looking at this creature for even a moment... It destroyed my mind.
I collapsed.
* * *
"MIZIK!!! MIZIK NOOOO!!!!" Cassandra wailed.
"Keep him...safe...!" Valtheim said.
She stepped forward and faced the creature that had appeared.
"Ah. AnOtHeR hAs FaLlEn To My MaDnEsS. DeLiGhTfUl. SuCh A dElIcIoUs MiNd!" The creature said.
"Insanity... Why are you...here...?" Valtheim asked.
"I lIvE hErE. iS tHiS nOt UzAkAaTh? ThE dEvOuReR iS aLsO hErE."
"Uzakaath...sealed. Why is it...unsealed...? Answer...or face me..." Valtheim said.
"We OpEnEd It FoR yOu. FaR bE iT fRoM uS tO iMpEdE tHe PrOgReSs Of HiS dArK mAjEsTy AnD hIs VoId SlAvE, lAdY vAlThEiM..."
"You disobey... Uzakaath...remains sealed...by order of...Lord Difar... Why Is it...here...?"
"We MoVeD iT hErE. isN't ThE vIeW lOvElY? nOw...WhO aRe ThEsE hUmAnS? oNe Of ThEm SeEmS tO hAvE cAuGhT mY mAdNeSs... I wOuLd Be DeLiGhTeD tO dEvOuR iTs MiNd!"
Cassandra was having trouble following the conversation...
She had heard Difar mention Uzakaath. That it was a deep realm and had to be sealed off...
But Difar had not been this far down before...or had he?
Regardless, this abomination had both unsealed Uzakaath and moved the entire realm to this location. Cassandra couldn't help but be confused.
Regardless, she was also incredibly worried about Mizik, who had just collapsed and was now foaming at the mouth as his eyes rolled back into his head.
Before the strange entity could continue speaking, Valtheim changed her form and devoured it without warning.
It screeched violently as it tried to get away, but ultimately, it wasn't fast enough.
"Insanity...eliminated... Will find...The Devourer..." She said.
"Valtheim!!! Mizik might be in trouble!!!" Cassandra shouted.
"He will...need attention... Abyssal Madness...can kill..."
Cassandra felt goosebumps on her neck and shivered as every creature in the general area turned to them.
Normally, Cassandra had a difficult time being afraid of anything after experiencing the pit.
However...
Even the most fearless and brave individuals couldn't escape the horror of the Deep Abyss.
"Eh...ehhhhh..." Cassandra whimpered.
She shook Mizik as the creatures began approaching.
Titans...floating amalgamations of tentacles and eyes...
They smiled.
"LADY VALTHEIM HAS BROUGHT US A TRIBUTE FROM HIS DARK MAJESTY!?!? SPLENDID!!!!" A voice roared.
Then the ground split open all around them and a figure rose out.
It had a massive abdomen like a giant maggot with tentacles and insect legs coming off of it.
It had many worm-like heads splitting off from both ends. All of which had enormous gaping mouths filled with rows of teeth. The entire thing looked to be rotting, somehow.
One head seemed to resemble a human face. Its mouth split apart in multiple sections and it had two eyes.
"Devourer...Uzakaath...?" Valthiem said.
"GWAHAHAHA!!! OF COURSE, BEAUTIFUL NOTHINGNESS!" The Devourer said.