Lucius found himself on an island.
The air carries a gentle glow, creating a surreal atmosphere on a landscape of meadows, lakes, and streams. Everything looks beautiful, but there's a feeling of sadness in the air. Even the trees and flowers seem to be weighed down by a hidden sadness.
The weather, though calm, has a haunting touch. Soft, translucent clouds drift across the ephemeral sky, casting a faint glow on the landscape below.
Elegant ghostly trees stand tall, their branches adorned with spectral blossoms that radiate a soft, melancholic light.
Faint echoes of formless birdsongs mingle with the gentle rustling of the leaves.
In the island's center stood a majestic castle, but rather than exuding a welcoming aura, it emanated a sense of cruelty. The island's inhabitants, resembling faint memories of life, moved about in a state of distress, engrossed in various activities.
'What on earth is this place?' Lucius pondered. The palpable sadness in the air seemed to seep into him, as if the ghosts of his past pain had come back to haunt him.
[Aspirant! Welcome to the Ethersphere. Prepare yourself for your first trial.]
"What? Where in the world is this? Who are these people?" Lucius inquired, observing people meandering with weary and lifeless expressions, just like his mother.
Could these people be mere illusions? He speculated silently.
Step. Another step.
As Lucius traversed the sandy terrain, his surroundings shifted, and he found himself standing before the castle as if drawn toward it. Suddenly, a hand yanked him away from the piercing scrutiny of guards who eyed him suspiciously.
"You look different,"
Lucius gasped, meeting the gaze of the person who spoke in shock. The man, looking a bit older than him, eyes were hollowed and his hair was disheveled and soiled, his clothes were tattered and weathered — everything about him was the embodiment of a slave.
"How different do I look?" Lucius responded with a flat tone, glancing at himself and realizing he mirrored their appearance. Clad in the same worn-out attire, the pervasive sadness he sensed seemed to engulf him more profoundly.
The unknown individual shook his head. "Truly, I am uncertain. Do I even possess knowledge of what I speak? If thou wishest not to be caught by Lord Sorrowshade, I implore thee, follow me."
"Lord Sorrowshade?" Lucius queried in confusion as the unknown guy dragged him out of the castle and toward the bustling society of the inhabitants.
Amidst the bustling activities, there was a palpable absence of smiles on their faces. People engaged in the exchange of goods, the selling and buying of items, while others simply wandered about.
They were all slaves to — sadness.
Armored figures patrolled the area, casting a watchful eye over every action, intensifying the atmosphere of control.
Then it dawned on Lucius finally.
This wasn't the modern age.
This goes far beyond the nineteenth century where slavery was real.
"What in the world is this place?!" Lucius exclaimed in disbelief.
The unknown companion swiftly turned around, a stern expression silencing Lucius with a cautionary "Shhhh!"
He scanned their surroundings before offering a deferential bow to the armored sentinels whose attention had been piqued.
One of the guards approached them, causing Lucius's heart to skip a beat.
"Pray, what dost thou both there?! Go hence and assist in catching a fish for Lord Sorrowshade, or employ thyself in some other task!" the armored figure commanded.
The unknown guy immediately nodded in compliance, bowing respectfully before walking and dragging Lucius with him.
Did Chief Karigal ever mention the prospect of becoming a slave, or the notion of confinement in a place where joy seemed an unreachable concept, overshadowed only by an overwhelming sadness?
As they reached the river, Lucius found himself among other men engaged in the task of catching fish. The unknown guy casting a cautious glance at Lucius, uttered a solemn warning, "If we fail in our labors, the punishment that awaits us is more gruesome than death itself. Here, death is deemed a luxury."
WHIP!!
A resounding crack echoed through the air, causing a collective flinch. An armored figure, wielding a whip, mercilessly lashed an elderly man who had inadvertently dropped a fish onto the sandy ground.
"How darest thou be so reckless?! To let fall Lord Sorrowshade's fish is an offense most grievous! Bind him forthwith and dispatch him to the mountain!" the armored enforcer bellowed.
"No, I beseech thee, have mercy! Spare me, I implore you. Condemn me not to the mountain. I am an old man, frail and —"
The old man's plea was cut short by another cruel lash, sending him crumpling to the ground. Lucius winced, fear coursing through him.
"What is in the mountain?" Lucius had to ask.
"You would not wish to know." The unknown companion cast a grave look upon Lucius. "I comprehend not why thou ventured into the castle, but that was the gravest folly one could attempt here on the Island of Sorrow."
Lucius arched an eyebrow in response. "The Island of Sorrow?"
The unknown guy furrowed his brows. "Well, of course. The Island of Sorrowshade. Lord Sorrowshade?"
Lucius swallowed hard, forcing himself to acknowledge that what unfolded before him was a trial—an illusion, just as Chief Karigal had emphasized.
Recalling the chief's assurance that these were trials, not executions, Lucius clung to the hope that there existed a way out of this bleak scenario, especially if he possessed a formidable Aspect.
Drawing upon the teachings he had received, Lucius firmly smacked the side of his chest. In response, an array of shimmering symbols materialized in front of him, eventually settling into the recognizable characters of the English Alphabet.
As he began to describe his Aspect, Lucius recoiled in shock, stumbling backward as his composure slipped away.
"What? This doesn't seem right."