Veradis stepped past Daganon, his greatsword clasped tightly in his hand, dragging it along the ground as he advanced further into the hallway. His footsteps echoed, but otherwise, nothing changed. There was no sound, no sights, only an unyielding emptiness stretching ahead for many paces. Suddenly, he encountered an invisible wall, something he could feel but not see. Its essence seemed to draw him in, and he had to summon all his will to stop himself from stepping through. He paused, considering what might await him beyond. Could he truly survive whatever spirits Drazic had sent his way, especially with so little understanding of this world's powers? Yet, after a moment's hesitation, he knew he had no other choice—this was his fate as Galvacaniva's chosen.
He crossed through into the domain, and the world shifted around him. The first thing he noticed was the stench of death, the hallway's floor littered with hundreds of corpses stretching to the staircase at the far end. The second was a nearby spirit: a black, shadowy figure in a vaguely humanoid shape, larger than any man, its mist-like form hovering rather than standing despite the presence of legs. The only feature on its face was a pair of vivid red eyes. The third was a woman under attack from the spirit, fending off its strikes with a mace and shield. Clad in heavy steel armour, she blocked most blows, but Veradis could tell she wouldn't last much longer without help.
He sprinted forward, his cumbersome sword weighing him down yet driving him toward the woman. The spirit, too focused on its assault, didn't notice him approaching. Seizing the moment, Veradis swung his sword in an overhead arc, striking the creature's head just as it lunged at her. His sword cleaved through the spirit, splitting it in half as its essence dissipated into the air. He felt as though his blade had sliced through nothingness, but its magical properties had clearly done the job. Thank you, Daganon, he thought.
The woman stood still, perhaps in shock at the unexpected assistance. From beneath her helmet, brilliant purple eyes met his gaze through the slits.
"Much appreciated, stranger," she said, looking him up and down. Her voice was surprisingly soft for someone so fiercely armoured. "Though you are not quite dressed for battling against terrors."
Veradis felt his cheeks flush but steadied himself, raising his sword. "This weapon is all I have found so far in this world. Luck tends to be against me." he explained, earning a chuckle from her.
"Well, I could use all the help I can get. Care to stick together, at least until we reach the room of the First Consort?" she asked, and Veradis was relieved. While he was accustomed to solitude, he found himself welcoming the idea of companionship.
"Of course," he replied. "Lead the way, and I will cover your back."
With a nod, the woman turned, leading them further down the hallway.
Aside from the two of them and the bodies scattered on the floor, the hall appeared empty, though Veradis knew better than to trust the calm. As they stepped over corpse after corpse, her armoured footsteps echoed, breaking the silence. He inspected the fallen, hoping to find armour that might fit him, but most pieces were either too small or too large. Eventually, he came across some black robes made from a thin, flimsy fabric. He slipped them on, knowing they would provide little protection from serious blows, but every bit of cover helped. The robes fit loosely, allowing full range of movement, though he still yearned for proper armour.
"What is your name?" the woman asked as he adjusted his new garments.
"Veradis," he replied, gesturing for her to continue. "And yours?"
"Janiva."
They continued down the hall, nearing the staircase. Veradis glanced back, half-hoping to see if Daganon lingered by the entrance, but there was no sign of him, a reminder of the domain's strange nature. He was about to ask Janiva some questions about the world they were in when, without warning, another spirit appeared ahead of them.
This spirit was similar to the last, though taller and more slender, with a hunched posture. One of its long arms hung limply at its side, while the other held a sphere of growing white energy that seemed to twist and pulse, like lines tangled upon themselves. Janiva instantly raised her sword, positioning her shield in front, while Veradis shifted behind her, gripping his sword in a two-handed hold.
"We cannot allow it cast that spell! We've no defence against magic," she called over her shoulder, breaking into a cautious jog toward the beast.