Chereads / From Here to Eternity / Chapter 9 - Nefarious Sanctuary

Chapter 9 - Nefarious Sanctuary

Neebo was taken away by the King's Guards and into the infamous forbidden land of Hazel Grove kingdom.

Deep within the enchanting kingdom of Hazel Grove, hidden amidst the serene beauty of the Amber Tree Forest, lies the ominous and foreboding Nefarious Sanctuary. This prison, veiled in darkness and shadow, stands as a stark contrast to the harmony and tranquility that surrounds it.

The Nefarious Sanctuary is a place steeped in violent energy, emanating an aura of corruption and malevolence. The very air within its walls carries an unsettling heaviness, permeated by the anguish and despair of those unfortunate enough to find themselves confined within its confines.

As one approaches the imposing entrance of the sanctuary, the chilling whispers of lost souls seem to echo through the halls, leaving an indelible mark upon all who dare to step inside. The architecture itself is a testament to its sinister nature, with twisted corridors and grim cells that twist and turn like a labyrinth of torment.

The prison's dark enchantment has a sinister purpose. Those imprisoned within its walls are subjected to a relentless onslaught of mental and emotional manipulation, designed to shatter their minds and extinguish their very essence. The corruptive energy that saturates the sanctuary feeds upon their fears, doubts, and vulnerabilities, transforming them into hollow shells, stripped of their humanity and reduced to soulless beings.

Inside the cells, the conditions are bleak and despair-ridden. Cold, damp walls dampen any remaining glimmer of hope, while iron shackles and chains bind the prisoners to their wretched fate. The air is heavy with a sense of hopelessness, as the malevolent energy of the sanctuary seeps into every crevice, amplifying the torment experienced by its unfortunate inhabitants.

The prison's purpose within Hazel Grove's justice system is twofold. Firstly, it serves as a deterrent, instilling fear in the hearts of potential wrongdoers and reminding them of the consequences that await them should they transgress. Secondly, it is seen as a means of punishment, an ultimate condemnation that seeks not only to isolate, but also to eradicate the very essence of those deemed irredeemable.

Yet, even amidst the darkness and desolation, there are whispers of resistance. Some within Hazel Grove question the methods employed within the Nefarious Sanctuary, feeling a pang of empathy for those ensnared by its malevolent grasp. They seek a more compassionate approach to justice, one that allows for redemption and the possibility of healing.

While the Nefarious Sanctuary remains a stark reminder of the kingdom's darker nature, there are those within Hazel Grove who strive to challenge its existence and seek a path that upholds both justice and mercy. They yearn to restore balance and find harmony even within the depths of despair, aiming to build a future where compassion and understanding prevail over cruelty and corruption.

Inside the Nefarious Sanctuary, Neebo could feel the suffocating weight of the dark energy that permeated every inch of the prison. As he stood in the dimly lit cell, an icy shiver ran down his spine, and an overwhelming sense of dread settled in his heart.

The corruptive energy within the sanctuary whispered maliciously in his ears, its tendrils of darkness worming their way into his thoughts. Images of past misdeeds and the consequences of his reckless actions played out before him, tormenting his mind with a torrent of guilt and remorse. The once vibrant and mischievous prince was now a prisoner to his own conscience, trapped in a labyrinth of self-condemnation.

As the dark energy continued to seep into his very essence, Neebo struggled to resist its influence. He could feel it gnawing at the edges of his mind, tempting him to succumb to its darkness. The weight of his past mistakes bore down upon him, threatening to consume what little remained of his resolve.

But amidst the suffocating darkness, a flicker of determination sparked within Neebo's heart. He knew that if he allowed himself to be swallowed by the nefarious energy, he would become nothing more than a soulless shell, stripped of his humanity.

Inside his cell, Neebo focused his attention at resisting against the dark energy. Already, his body had been through a lot of pain; and now, as Neebo resisted his physical pains with his mental fortitude, his mind is on a brink of mental collapse from the pervading dark energy.

The King's Guards that had brought Neebo inside his cell mocked him of his perseverance, "You think too highly of yourself brat. There is a reason the Sanctuary is tagged as a forbidden land, the kingdom of Hazel Grove itself nurtures harmonious energy. The people of the kingdom are enriched with this harmonious energy that had placed them atop the martial world. Even they, wouldn't last a week here in the Sanctuary." advised by one of them.

"Don't compare myself with the likes of you!" Neebo annoyingly answered.

"Well, suit yourself. If you really are half as great as you claim to be, then I'll be seeing you after a month. That's when I'll be bringing the yearlong provision ordered by the Queen; it would be a waste to be bringing it this early if you wouldn't even be able to last that long right? Hahaha" the other King's Guard said.

"Hahaha that's a good idea!"

Neebo who was already sitting cross legged doesn't have the energy to argue with these two King's Guards. He had too much to handle with, calming his mind against these mental attacks coming from the dark and eerie sanctuary.

"Well, I look forward to seeing you next month then! Now stop bothering me and get out! Or have you ever thought of accompanying me here?" Neebo interjected.

"Haha good luck with that!"

As the King's Guards left the sanctuary, Neebo was left to focus in maintaining his composure. Without maintaining it, he would be bombarded with thoughts of his guilt and regret. He doesn't have all the answers to his questions now, all he could do is to take this step; and focus on what is before him. Heck, he isn't even sure if he could survive this predicament.

After a day of resisting, Neebo felt light minded and dizzy. He lapsed into sleep, and in his sleep; he was attacked by the violent energy within the sanctuary. His mind was filled with malevolence, and in his sleep, he was experiencing his most tragic defeats. Neebo awaken by the assault of the dark energy within his dreams sweat in nervousness, it almost gave him a massive heart attack.

"I will never waver! This is just the beginning! One day, I will escape this hell hole; and I bring forth an even more destruction to this kingdom!"

"I will never waver!"

"I WILL NEVER WAVER!!!"

Neebo fought against the dark energy with these words. This was for him to focus himself and to remind him of his intentions.

It had been a week now since Neebo was placed inside his cell. He has slowly strengthened his resolve through his thoughts of revenge. On this day, Neebo can take a quick nap for 5 hours per day. And although time is essentially undeterminable here within the sanctuary. Neebo had kept track as to the number of hours that he had stayed here, and to what time he was taken away from the inner ward of the Amber Palace.

With his strengthened mental status, he has been unconsciously counting to keep himself from boredom. There is just nothing he could do here other than to stay still and await for your soul to be completely dried up of its life.

After taking his quick nap, Neebo felt bored. He stood up and tried to figure out a way to get out from this hell hole. As his fingers laid touch to the prison bars, it made a schreeching sound. It seems that the gate in his cell had been open all along. Neebo felt funny and stupid from this discovery.

It seems that those King's Guards never really had any thoughts that Neebo would be able to survive a week or so here within the sanctuary.

"haha well I guess I myself is stupid as well. I could've done this from the start." Jokingly, Neebo said to himself.

"Since I'm all alone in this forsaken prison, why not I explore and find a way out of this place"

Neebo left his cell, and took a stroll around the confines of the Nefarious Sanctuary.

Despite its creepy and austere appearance; the sanctuary looked classy and regal. If only the dust could be cleaned around the place, it should be able to change the impressions of the people of Hazel Grove towards this corrupted place.

Although the dark energy here is truly heavy, it isn't to the point where a person couldn't fight it. Neebo also thought that maybe his Qi Condensation stage cultivation had enhanced his own mental fortitude. And that is the reason why he could be this comfortable walking around the place.

Still, Neebo didn't underestimate the Nefarious Sanctuary. He could still feel the poisonous energy inside this place. He wondered, "This dark energy should have a place of origin within this sanctuary. Maybe, if I could find it and harness it; maybe, it might help me survive from this place."

Neebo surveyed his surroundings and after some time, 8 hours to be exact; he estimated that he had already surveyed 40% of the Nefarious Sanctuary. He found out that there is a large training hall inside the sanctuary. And since it was named a sanctuary, there must be more to it than just a forbidden prison.

Neebo was very excited, yet he couldn't expend his energy all into exploring. He must also keep on meditating and keep the balance of control within his mind. He sat cross legged at the centre of the training hall and began to resist the dark energy that he had accumulated within him.

As time went by, it had already been three weeks since the King's Guards left Neebo inside the Nefarious Sanctuary. By now, Neebo had truly enhanced his mental fortitude to a very high level; meditating and training his body in both combat arts and his ancient breathing technique.