When I awoke, I found myself lying in a snowbank far out of view from the castle, in a storm, battered and bruised but still alive. The darkness had subsided momentarily, but the remainder of its presence lingered like a deep chill in my bones.
As I struggled to my feet, dusting myself off, my heart was heavy with despair. It was clear I had been sent north an incredible distance, and now I had no clue where I was. Cold and lost, it seemed as though all hope was gone. Elara remained enslaved by the darkness, and despite my best efforts, I had been unable to save her or uncover the truth behind our mysterious connection.
But then, just as I began to lose faith in my abilities, a glimmer of understanding broke through the haze of sorrow and doubt – a realization that perhaps there was more at play than mere coincidence.
Could the darkness within Elara be somehow linked to my own past? Was it possible that our fates were intertwined not simply by chance but because we shared some greater purpose? Why was the darkness so concerned about me getting my memories back?
Fiona had said that she was worried about how I would react to me as I am now when I got my memories back. I found it hard to believe that I would not like what I had done. I have been trying to get strong, and I came here on my own to do just that so I could protect the ones I loved.
I resolved to continue my quest for answers, no matter how long or difficult the journey might prove. Only by learning the truth could I ever hope to face the darkness head-on and defeat it once and for all.
The problem was that The castle was nowhere in sight, I had no clue where I was, and it was beyond cold. Looking around to the south, east, and west, I saw nothing but a flat snowy landscape. When I turned to the north, I was standing before a massive black snow-covered mountain.
There was something about the place that was called to me. That, and the fact that I was very cold. While I did have warm clothing on, I had been thrown into a storm, it seemed. I also wasn't sure how long I had been out, but some of the snow completely covered any signs of my impact.
"I really should have Galor with me," I mumbled as I started to walk towards the looming black mountain. It had been good to leave both him and Kya behind. I couldn't imagine putting them in this kind of danger.
As I pushed on, I tried a few things until I was able to create a wind barrier with magic. I still wasn't even sure how my magic worked, but it seemed to be commanded by thought. The problem was that the thoughts had to have shape and purpose. Not only that, but it was tiring.
I had tried to use fire to keep me warm as a barrier but immediately stopped because I had felt my energy being sucked away. When I use wind magic, I use the current wind without having to make a new wind to make a barrier almost effortlessly. This was a valuable lesson on the properties of elemental magic and how it reacts with the natural elements. Fire isn't weak to Ice magic, but creating heat in a cold environment would always take more energy, and the same was true and vice versa.
This was all fine and dandy, but the barrier didn't stop the ever-dropping temperature.
As I continued my trek toward the mountain, the cold began to take its toll on me. Despite my best efforts to stay warm using magic and physical exertion, the frigid air was relentless, sapping away at my strength and resolve.
Yet, as I struggled onward, my thoughts were occupied not only by the biting cold but also by a growing sense of unease – a nagging suspicion that this journey northward held some deeper significance.
As I neared the base of the mountain, the wind began to die down, replaced by an eerie calm that seemed to heighten the oppressive atmosphere surrounding me. The silence weighed heavily upon me, but it did allow for the wind barrier to drop, which saved me some energy.
Upon finally reaching the foot of the massive black mountain, I found myself staring up at a cavernous entrance, half-buried beneath towering snow drifts. Though the darkness within was foreboding and unwelcoming, I felt drawn to it – compelled to enter and uncover whatever mysteries lay hidden within its depths.
With a deep breath, I stepped into the yawning maw of the mountain, leaving behind the freezing storm outside. As my eyes adjusted to the dim light, I realized that I was standing at the entrance of a vast network of tunnels and chambers, twisted and labyrinthine in their design.
The air inside was still bitterly cold, but it lacked the bite of the outside world. Every step echoed throughout the seemingly endless corridors, creating a haunting dissonance that sent shivers down my spine.
Despite the ominous surroundings, I pushed onward, driven by an unshakable instinct that I would find answers here – about Elara, the darkness, and my own forgotten past.
Hours passed as I navigated the treacherous passages, stumbling across dead ends and crumbling chasms that threatened to swallow me whole. Eventually, though, my persistence paid off as I entered a vast chamber, the walls lined with icy crystals that gave off an eerie blue glow.
At the far end of the chamber stood a towering figure encased in ice, its monstrous visage contorted in anguish. Something about it struck me as familiar – a memory just out of reach, taunting me with its significance.
As I approached the frozen behemoth, my mind raced with questions, each more pressing than the last. What was this creature? How had it come to be here, locked away within these icy depths?
And then, as if in response to my thoughts, the ice began to crack and splinter, sending shards flying through the air. The frozen prison shattered, releasing the colossal beast from its bonds. As it turned its gaze upon me, recognition stabbed through my heart like the sharpest blade.
"You have returned, my king."
The creature spoke, its voice deep and resonant. My body trembled involuntarily, not from fear but from the sudden rush of memories that threatened to overwhelm me.
This creature had been a loyal companion in another life – a time before I lost my memory and found myself stranded in this unfamiliar world. It was a guardian bound by ancient magic to serve and protect me, a force to be reckoned with in battle, and a steadfast ally at my side.
"Your presence here is no accident," it continued, peering into my eyes as if searching for some hidden truth. "The darkness that binds Elara is intertwined with your past, my king. To defeat it, you must confront the shadow within yourself."
I nodded slowly, understanding dawning upon me at last. The reason why the darkness seemed so familiar, why I felt such a strong connection to Elara – it was all because our fates were linked by the same insidious force that had once held dominion over me.
As I stood there, face-to-face with an old friend long thought lost, I realized that I could no longer deny the truth or run from my destiny. If I hoped to save Elara and free these lands from the grip of darkness, I would have to embrace my forgotten past and learn how to wield the powers dormant within me.
"What would you have me do to regain my memories, old friend?" I asked, hoping that he would have the answer but the one I was given was not what I had expected, but I should of.
"I must kill you, my king."