Brad cautiously glimpsed through partially unveiled orbs, a fleeting awareness seizing him. The diminutive dragon figurine, imbued with a resplendent gilded hue, appeared to transcend its stony confines, an illusion that caused his eyelids to flutter in disbelief. Seeking solace, he inhaled deeply, seeking equilibrium. In that very moment, a dense plume erupted from the dragon's fissured maw, its serrated teeth partially bared. Brad involuntarily breathed in the swirling mists, a fit of profound coughs ensnaring him, and his senses swiftly succumbed to an enveloping abyss.
"Under no circumstances, unveil thine eyes. Not yet," Caleb cautioned, his voice firm and unyielding. "Thou must trust me implicitly, for I shall be thy guide, propelling thee steadfastly upon the correct path."
A profound relief swept through Brad's being, akin to the lifting of burdensome worries and taut anxieties. As Caleb's touch made contact and pressed downward, a gentle tingling sensation enveloped him. His corporeal form began to oscillate with an escalating frequency, akin to quivering gelatin. Yes, this was the curious sensation he experienced—an inexplicable hollowness, akin to an empty vessel of gelatinous nature. Gradually, he became cognizant of an anchor, tethered to his feet, exerting a dragging force, pulling him inexorably earthward. It seemed as if he descended through an undulating temporal current, sluggish in its progress. Evident pressure besieged his ears, a weighty presence of rock. Coldness, incessant and growing, infused his senses, causing involuntary shivers to ripple through his being.
"Why has the air turned frigid all of a sudden?" Brad inquired, suspicion etching his words.
"Unveil your eyes now, and the realm surrounding you shall appear peculiar. Yet, you shall grow accustomed," Caleb replied.
Brad obediently unveiled his eyes, and there stood Caleb, but the world had transformed. His vision now beheld a fusion of ethereal hues, a melange of azure, verdant, and snowy white. The enchanter's domain blurred and danced before his eyes.
"Why am I immersed in this enigmatic tapestry of colors?" Brad queried.
"Are you akin to a nocturnal creature, bestowed with the gift of seeing through darkness?" Caleb mused, his smile radiating with an even brighter gleam, unveiling teeth as white as polished ivory.
Brad endeavored to move, yet an inexplicable weight held his feet hostage, akin to being mired in a treacherous quagmire.
"Before mastering the art of ambulation, or rather, gliding, introspect upon thyself. Converge thy focus upon the environs and the visage that defines it," Caleb imparted. "At this moment, we find ourselves beneath the library, amidst ancient tunnels shrouded in impenetrable darkness. In a corporeal state, the absence of a torch would render the surroundings invisible. However, thou gazest through the eyes of thy astral form, unbound by the need for an alternate light source. Acclimate thyself to its essence, akin to employing a telescope. Fixate upon a focal point. Rectify thy vision, noble knight."
Brad grumbled, a tinge of discontent mingling with his voice, as he endeavored to heed Caleb's counsel. His attention fixated upon the tunnel walls, exploring the surroundings with an inquisitive gaze. They found themselves within a meandering corridor, stretching three meters in breadth. The ceiling bore an uncanny smoothness, resembling more an architect's masterpiece than a rugged cavern, bereft of any coarse irregularities.
"In ages past, this very place stood as a haven, a sanctuary for those seeking refuge. Conceivably, it holds the secrets of an escape tunnel as well. Let us press on, for soon we shall emerge into a chamber," Caleb revealed.
"Allow me to conjecture. Ilberius awaits us there," Brad ventured.
"A distinct possibility. As the conjectures go, it is believed to be the very site where Ilberius met his tragic end. Years he spent delving into the labyrinthine depths, desperate to discover an exit. In his final days, they whisper, he forsook the higher realms of the library," Caleb shared.
"And who spins these tales?" Brad inquired.
"None other than the historians who have delved into the annals of Ilberius's journals," Caleb replied.
"Why does this man hold such significance? Is he not merely another sorcerer?" Brad queried, his tone tinged with disdain.
"The answer eludes simplicity, does it not? For he did not succumb to death's embrace. In some manner, he unearthed the very truth he sought," Caleb chuckled.
"The deceased shall remain entwined in the embrace of the eternal slumber. What endures shall be the domain of the living," Brad declared, revealing his unwavering perspective.
"It is not as straightforward as you perceive, noble knight. Even death abides by its own methodology, its own sacred tenets. The departed soul traverses the realm betwixt realms, known as Araphia, ere making its passage to Etheria. Such is the sacred decree. Yet should one falter upon this path, an anomaly manifests. It falls upon the wizards and priests to probe its origins," Caleb expounded.
"Yet is it not the very wizards and priests who engender this quandary? This relentless fixation with usurping life and beguiling death," Brad contested.
"Usurpation and deception are the domain of thieves, though your sentiment holds merit. Formidable wizards have forever posed a quandary. The solutions they contrive unfailingly harbor perils, even to the very gods themselves."
Caleb commenced his ethereal glide, traversing the path with an air of effortless grace. "Fixate your focus on my lead, envision yourself gliding like a seagull, surrendering to the whims of the wind rather than mundane steps," he instructed.
"The wind?" Brad inquired, and in that very moment, he sensed the gust's resonant roar and chilling tremor.
The subtle current within the tunnels danced elusively, yet as Brad directed his unwavering attention towards it, the presence of the atmospheric flow became the centerpiece of his consciousness. Indeed, he perceived a delicate sensation and endeavored to propel himself, relinquishing control to the gentle currents. Drawing upon his brief experiences toiling on seafaring vessels, he harnessed that knowledge and embarked on a glide akin to commanding a billowing sail. Another skill unravelled swiftly before him. Perhaps adaptability to the environment's caprices was the hallmark of Brad Silverhilt.
Caleb held a profound admiration for the knight who deftly surmounted the trials of astral travel and pressed onward. Silently, they wove through the serpentine corridors, minutes stretching into an eternal hush.
"How did we descend to this place?" Brad shattered the tranquility. "Surely, mere desire cannot bring us here."
"No, I guided your astral form through solid walls, descending in a seamless vertical trajectory," Caleb replied.
"I comprehend. Why then do we not continue in a similar manner?"
"Exercise patience, noble knight. Undoubtedly, you have exceeded all expectations in this accelerated tutelage, and I applaud your progress. However, navigating through formidable barriers presents inherent perils. Let us advance methodically, one step at a time."
Brad brushed aside the wizard's cautionary words, yet with unwavering resolve, he declared, "I shall proceed under your sagacious guidance. Fear not, for I am resolute. However, I do harbor one inquiry. Do we presently traverse the threshold of the liminal realm or remain tethered to this corporeal domain?"
Caleb, sensing the need for elucidation, responded, albeit with a trace of hesitancy, "Verily, the answer lies betwixt affirmation and negation. Permit me, noble knight, to expound upon the matter."
"Convey it with brevity," Brad interjected firmly.
"Envision the dominions of Aerkha and Hatteria as interlocking circles, whereupon we find ourselves at the nexus, akin to Aerkha assuming the guise of a sphere in the realm of tangibility. As for the form of Hatteria, I beseech thee to abstain from further inquiry, as its nature is entwined in enigma. In essence, this juncture wherein temporal and spatial threads intertwine, we denominate as Araphia."
"Thy elucidation resonates within me. Pray, continue. Might it be that Ilberius, the sorcerer in question, is spared from the clutches of mortality owing to his ensnarement in this interstitial expanse?" Brad sought to unveil the truth.
"In my estimation, such supposition holds true. Theoretical discourse reveals two, nay, perchance three paths that lead to the liminal realm. Yet, let us not plunge into the abyss of intricate particulars. The safest avenue lies in astral sojourn, whilst the remaining conduits necessitate entwining oneself with magic, a treacherous gambit indeed."
"Unveil further secrets, dear Caleb."
"At these pivotal confluences, it stands as a supposition that one may traverse corporeally into the liminal realm by invoking the spell of incorporeality. Alas, the temporal span of such enchantment is but fleeting. Should the sorcerer, by ill fate, fail to find the path of return ere the appointed hour..."
"I apprehend the peril. Life forsakes its corporeal vessel."
"A semblance of that ilk. These ventures embody trepidation and jeopardy. Not every sorcerer dares to embark upon such perilous odysseys."
"And that's the time they speak of a delicate thread that separates the realms of folly and brilliance."
Caleb chuckled at Brad's remark, yet his courteous gesture signified his concurrence. "Undoubtedly."
"I am gratified that you grasp this concept, albeit partially. Some endeavors, driven by the thirst for adventure, transcend the boundaries of foolishness and surpass expectations. Thus, at this juncture, I felt compelled to deliver a stern warning," Brad asserted.
"Message duly received."