Klein awoke in an endless expense of oppressive darkness. The very darkness had a tangible presence, like a smoky veil that hung heavily in the air, greedily devouring any hint of warmth or light. It cast an eerie silence over his surroundings, as if the very sound itself had been swallowed whole.
An icy shiver ran down his spine as Klein remembered where he was. The Tenebrous realm. The combination of the all-swallowing darkness and the bone-chilling cold was omnipresent here.
"No, this can't be!" Desperation clawed at him as he let out a scream, yet there was barely a sound. The all-encompassing darkness swallowed his scream the moment it came out.
His boots scuffed against the rough, uneven terrain as he made a frantic dash, seeking to escape the clutches of the ever-present blackness. It was all in vain, but he didn't stop.
It wasn't merely the darkness he was running away from, but the Unknowns that lurked within the darkness.
Abruptly, he halted his mad dash and shut his eyes tightly, though it hardly made a difference in a world without light. With his eyes closed, he could, at least, concentrate more effectively.
His thoughts were a jumbled mess, his mind refusing to cooperate, again and again, coming with depressive thoughts and regrets for coming into this forsaken place.
Wait, why am I in the Tenebrous realm again? Realisation dawned on him as he burst into laughter. There was a madness in it, but relief too. He had already found what he sought in this realm and escaped.
I'm dreaming. There was no doubt in his mind.
The world of darkness stilled with that realisation, as if some Great Cosmic being holding its breath. The tangible dark properties evaporated as if they had never been there before, as a deep sense of relief washed over Klein.
He gradually regained his consciousness, though his vision remained dark, his eyelids shut tightly. Yet somehow, he managed to discern faint shapes in his surroundings. Another dream? No, it didn't work like that. Then a vision?
Obscure outlines of all kinds of things came into his mind's eye, faint but distinguishable the more he looked into them. Among them, a human-like figure stood out, radiating an intense golden-red glow. Klein couldn't quite fathom what it was, but it exuded a profound and resonating power, beckoning him to reach for it.
He did not.
Because you don't do weird things when you're not in your right mind. Xin in would be so proud of him.
Before this radiant figure lay something else. It was far less radiant but in a constant, undulating motion.
Klein focused his attention on this peculiar, flowing entity as a deep warmth surged through his core. Fire, he concluded.
As he continued to scrutinise the environment, he discovered he was surrounded by solid stone walls. His peculiar senses were unable to penetrate the thick stone wall. Each attempt sent a prickling sensation through his mind, eliciting a groan out of his lips.
The humanoid figure reacted to his groan. They approached him and stroked his forehead with something cool and soothing.
Soon, the weird episode of the vision ended, much to his relief and confusion.
Gradually, the prickling sensation subsided, but the warm feeling continued to linger on one side of his body.
It was only some time later that Klein realised it was Elowen clinging to his left side. Her body pressed gently against his, sharing her warmth in the cold night with the blanket draped over them. Her head rested on his chest, one of her legs nestled between his thighs, and her arms wrapped around him as far as they could reach, trying to keep him warm.
The air was still, the only sounds were the faint crackling of the fire and their steady breathing. Klein flexed his muscles slightly, finding he could move again. The poison, thankfully, seemed to be nothing more than a strong paralysing drug that was gradually wearing off.
He tried to shift her into a more comfortable position, but even his smallest movement caused Elowen to stir in her sleep. She rubbed her palms against his skin, as if instinctively trying to create warmth. Her fingers slid beneath his clothing, brushing against his bare skin. A shiver raced down his spine at the contact.
Her hand wandered, resting on his abdomen after warming his stomach, and Klein's body tensed in response, a strange mixture of discomfort and pleasure spreading through him.
It had been five long years since he was in any contact with anyone other than monsters or wild beasts, and even before that, his game had never borne much fruit. Needless to say, Elowen's touch was stirring feelings far more uncomfortable than warmth.
As Klein feared, or perhaps hoped, it happened—her hand slipped beneath his waistband, and her fingers found the unmistakable hardness there, clutching it reflexively.
"Elowen!" he croaked, his voice barely escaping his throat as he stirred, desperate to wake her.
The half-elf blinked blearily, her mind slow to catch up to the situation. She gazed at him with sleepy eyes, then down at her hand. It took her a moment to realise what she was holding.
"Sorry!" she gasped, her face flushing a deep red as she withdrew her hand, mortified. Her cheeks and neck burned with embarrassment.
Klein lay there, torn between relief and regret. He stared at her, his thoughts muddled.
"I'm sorry," Elowen repeated, her voice small as she stared at her hands, still warm from the touch. "I was just… you poisoned… I wanted... you warm, and…"
"It's fine?" she asked, her voice unsure.
Klein didn't know what he was hoping for, but he nodded. He clasped her palm, trying to reassure her. After a while, she snuggled back next to him. She avoided eye contact but continued to clutch his palm, pressing her body against his, trying to keep him warm.
Her method worked, as Klein felt a lot warmer than before.