My mind is spinning; I can't focus at all! What is it with this creature? Its presence is crippling my senses, causing my focus to diminish with each passing second. How the hell do I fight something with such an immense presence?
Honestly, I have three options right now, and each one is frankly worse than the last. First, I could charge at it, but there is a ninety percent chance I end up dismembered. Second, I could shoot at it with my last arrow. This option keeps me at range, but its speed leaves me open to a counterattack. Third, I could run away like a coward. Aside from the dishonor this brings my ancestors… wait, who cares about them? I'm about to die! Anyway, I guess I'll run for now.
Without wasting another second, I turned and bolted in the opposite direction. Each step felt like an eternity as the adrenaline coursed through my veins. My legs screamed in protest, threatening to buckle, but I forced myself onward, deeper into the evergreen. With every stride, the fog in my mind lifted, and I could feel my senses sharpening.
It's rather strange. Although just seconds ago, confronted by the beast, I was frozen in fear and unable to think straight. Now I feel eerily calm… No, not calm; I feel happy, almost ecstatic… no, that's not it either. Strangely, at this moment, I feel completely euphoric. Time seemingly slowing down as I took in everything around me; each sight, sound, and smell bringing me infinite bliss. In this one fleeting moment, I feel as though I can see everything. High on my euphoria, I began to call out to the forest.
"Tell me more! Enlighten me, oh great forest, show me all the truths I've been blind to all these years!"
As the words left my lips, a profound silence settled over the forest, as if it had heeded my call. Warm sunlight, tinted a mid-day orange hue, poured from the dense sub-canopy, casting ethereal patterns on the forest floor. I stood still, eyes closed, breathing in the crisp, fresh forest air. The sweet, earthy scent of soil filled my lungs, grounding me in the moment. The sounds of life danced around the forest, each of its numerous oddities composing the symphony of the evergreen. The softly rustling leaves warned of the gentle breeze that later caressed my face, bringing with it a profound sense of peace.
My mind began to clear as I slowly became more aware of the forest. all my past worries seemed so meaningless; my introspections on life, death, friends, and family were so shallow, so devoid of meaning and fueled by my own selfishness. Now I know what it means to live outside myself. Now I know what it means to be connected to something greater. now I know the truth.
I continued to dance, eyes closed, as I embraced the peace of the moment. Unbothered by my troubles, I took a deep breath to soak in the serenity of the forest. But instead of the expected freshness of evergreen, a deep, heavy scent of blood and smoke filled my nostrils, almost throwing me back from shock. What is this? I wondered. Opening my eyes to make sense of it all, what lay before me was not the peaceful evergreen that I had been dancing in, but a domain of death and destruction.
I had no time to worry about how exactly I got out of the forest; first, I needed to understand what exactly this hell was that I was experiencing. In front of me lay the piled corpses of hundreds of people, lit ablaze probably to be rid of their smell; the dead were not given the respect of a proper rest. To my right, I could see women, both young and old, being captured and chained; the few that their captors fancied for themselves were brutalized and raped. To my left were the men, imprisoned in cages, forced to watch their wives, daughters, and mothers as they were assaulted, just before they themselves were either executed or chained. I slowly turned around, only to be ravaged by the sight of what these demons did to the children. The fortunate ones were deemed invalid and executed swiftly; the unfortunate ones, male and female alike, met their end after being raped. The few who were literate or knew magic were chained and imprisoned in cages.
I can't b-b-believe this; this is horrific. What e-e-even is this? All around me was a reality much more terrible than anyone should have to endure. Unable to keep myself upright, I dropped to my knees. Panicking greatly, I clasped at my head and began breathing fast. Inhaling with such force only backfired, as the scent of the dead once again filled my lungs, making me want to vomit. Unable to take the sight anymore, I launched my hands towards my face, almost gouging out my eyes. Crying heavily and screaming incoherently, I was left a disheveled mess on the floor. Just as I was starting to regain my senses, one of the bandits looked towards me. The fear that gripped me in that moment could not be understated; I felt as though a fate worse than death awaited me. I got up as he drew closer, panicking more as he began unsheathing his blade ready to swing.
"Please don't kill me, p-p-please!"
I begged as I raised my hands to intercept the blade.
As his sword came crashing down, something unbelievable occurred—the blade passed straight through me. In utter shock, my mouth was left wide agape. Just as I was processing the lifesaving miracle, a loud scream erupted from behind me. I turned around to see a woman who had been shielding her child from the chaos, now with her abdomen ripped open and her hands slashed off. The child stood motionless, completely in shock, eyes fixed on the lifeless body of her mother as it fell to the ground.
"Don't be sad, love. Your bitch mother isn't here any longer to keep a pretty little thing like you away from me. I know, I'll cheer you up by giving you some of my love," the sick bastard called out to the girl with a smile on his face, licking his lips as he unfastened his belt.
Intent on stopping him, I lunged at him, trying to hold him back and give the girl a chance to escape. What had once been a lifesaving miracle had now become my curse, As the same intangible hands that had protected me from the previous attack phased through the rapist, I realized I was powerless to help. I could only call out,
"Wait! Please don't do this! Hey! Stop this, you bastard, LET HER GO!"
The rapist only continued with his assault, unbothered by my shouting, or perhaps unable to hear me. He showed no signs of stopping, only proceeding to do away with the girl's clothes. Unwilling to watch, I buried my head in my hands, cursing my own weakness. I could only cry as the sounds of the girl's muffled screams filled the area. Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? WHY?! What the fuck is this? Why am I being forced to watch this? Why can't I do anything about it? It's not fucking fair! Is there no salvation for these people? What could they have possibly done to deserve this?
Left with no choice, I began to plead with the mysterious power that brought me here.
"Whoever you are, I know you can save them. No matter the price, I'll pay it; Just put an end to this madness, I'm begging you!"
As if hearing my call to action, a mysterious figure emerged from the flames and smoke that engulfed the area. His green, sleeveless, priest-like robe hung loosely around his gaunt frame, torn and scarred by intense battle. Horribly sun-beaten, both the man and his attire seemed to be losing color. Only his eyes shone vividly through the leather mask that concealed his face, glowing with an ethereal, otherworldly blue hue. His long, snow-white hair flowed down to his shoulders, partially concealing the symbols intricately tattooed on his neck. His hands, marked by horrible scars, bore the remnants of wounds healed by magic—a sign of his mastery over the arcane. His softly tanned skin appeared sickly; at a glance, he seemed weak and timid, a stark contrast to the strong pressure he exuded.
Unwavering, he confidently strutted to the center of all the madness and destruction that lay before him. Indifferent to the chaos around him, he kept marching forward, each step rocking the very earth—this man was a true monster. Raising his right hand in a calm and bold fashion, the figure undid the leather mask that shrouded his face. Now getting a better look at his features, I could see the eyes that had previously caught my attention; they were much more mesmerizing up close. Bowing to offer a prayer to the fallen, this man exuded an aura of nobility with every action, carrying himself in a dignified manner. I could not understand it; the pressure I felt from what seemed to be an ordinary man was crippling. I could not imagine the things one would have to do to obtain such strength. Wanting to know more, I watched closer—desperate to see if he had was the savior I was begging for.
Raising both his hands slowly, the man reached towards the sky. He then called out loudly in a broken and unknown language; Unsure, I hypothesized that it was the runic language, one used by ancient mages and high scholars. As if smitten by his chanting, the sky awoke to his call. Clouds began swerving and twisting into a dark mass, shrouding the land below in blackness. This was not the power of a mere mortal; by his own power, the man bent the world itself to his very will. The bandits, now alerted by his chanting, began to encircle him, lusting for his life.
"A mage!"
one of them yelled out in a terribly raspy voice.
"His blood should fetch a good price,"
another interjected as they drew closer to the man.
Screaming death threats and shrieking horridly, the sight of their savagery sent shivers down my spine. Unlike myself, the man remained calm; he only looked at them with sorrow in his eyes as he raised his hand towards the foolish bandits. A strange sound and blue energy surged from his outstretched hand, causing the once-boasting bandits to freeze in fear—unfortunately for them, it was far too late. In an instant, a bright blue flash enveloped the area as powerful surges of lightning struck the raiders dead, transforming their bodies from flesh and bone to dust and ash. After finishing off the bandits, the man continued his chanting. The storm he called forth only grew stronger, enveloping the town and killing all present—innocent or otherwise. Unmoved by the death and destruction he caused, the man resumed his walk, calmly making his escape.
Surely this can't be, I thought to myself. It just doesn't make any sense. Was he not their savior? Who then was he, and what was that terrifying power he displayed? Desperate for answers, I attempted to chase after him. It was then that I remembered: I wasn't truly in this place; I was but a powerless spectator forced to witness this chaos by forces unknown. Determined to resist, I once again tried to chase down the man, but it was as if I were underwater; my whole body sluggish and unable to grip the ground I knew was surely there. Once again, I was rendered powerless, forced to observe.
Turning back as if to acknowledge my struggle, the man glanced at me with a hollow gaze and nodded softly, greeting me in a strangely polite fashion. His actions disturbed me, only confusing me more. Could he perhaps see me? Was that even possible? I wondered. No matter how I looked at it, nothing about this man made any sense. Seizing the moment to make contact, I called out to the enigma that lay ahead of me,
"Wait! Who are you? Why did you do this and how can you even see me?"
Unwilling to answer my questions and unbothered by my presence, the man only ignored me and kept on going about his business. His impudence only angered me more, causing me to cry out in frustration,
"Hey, you! I know you can hear me. You greeted me just now; none of the others even knew I was here."
The man only kept marching forward, not even sending a glance my way.
"Were you the one that brought me here?"
I called out once more unwilling to give up, but he only ignored like the last time. Finally at my wits' end, I abandoned my tactful act and poured out all my frustrations and rage at the stranger. Shouting with a heavy heart,
"Even if you refuse to tell me who you are, at least explain why I'm here watching you murder these people!"
"Are you not a savior? A hero? I was certain you could save them after killing those bandits, but then you murdered them all! Men, women, and even children—innocent lives you showed no mercy. At least tell me why!"
The figure halted his advance and turned back to stare at me. In the middle of the now levelled city, only the two of us remained. Alone in the eerie silence, my gaze met his. In that moment, I could feel his intense aura even more clearly than before. Slowly, his lips parted, and he began to speak. In a drab and melancholic tone, he retorted,
"Those who know nothing should not speak on matters beyond their understanding. If you truly seek the truth, then find the one who sent you to 'watch me murder these people.' Perhaps then, you will find peace, child. I can assure you, chasing after me will only bring you more suffering."
I could not accept his indifference. After watching all that chaos, my mind was completely shattered; and here was, the only person with any capacity to explain it all telling me he knew nothing—I simply couldn't accept it.
"Don't give me that high and mighty bullshit…"
I yelled out as tears began to stream down my face.
"I just spent the last ten minutes in hell, only for you to come here, wave your hand, and offer your empty platitudes. The least you can do is end my suffering and send me the fuck back!"
Unimpressed by my pleas, the man only maintained his stoic expression. After some contemplation, he gave me his response.
"How truly ridiculous. 'End your suffering', you say. How is it that one who claims to have seen the true horrors of the world could think so selfishly?"
Shocked by his response, I leaned back. Before I could say anything, he continued.
"Have you no shame at all, boy? Wipe those tears and open your eyes; Everyone here died suffering! What makes you, the only one who lived, even worthy enough to ask for my help? Is your life not enough for you?! And as for going back, that is completely up to whatever sent you here; your return home is none of my concern."
After concluding his speech, the man turned away from me, unwilling to say more. I began to ponder what he had just said. Was I truly selfish and thinking only of myself? What was my role in this, and why was I even sent here? The burden of all these thoughts sent me into a spiral. Nothing made any sense; why weren't my questions being answered? I tried once more to call out to the man, seeking the identity of the one who sent me here. As I began to utter the words, I felt my mouth seize, the words sharply stopping. Clawing at my face, I could no longer feel my mouth; whatever sent me here was seemingly silencing me, wanting to stay anonymous.
The man, oblivious to my plight, stopped walking and began chanting once more. His hooded head was enthralled in a strange blue light, whilst a halo of runes began to encircle it. Recalling the magic history classes I took as a child, I finally realized who it was I had been watching all this time. My initial suspicion that the man was not normal was a great understatement of the truth. The man before me was one of the conduits, a group of few mortals who held the powers of gods and deities as their own. Although certainly real, people talked about them as though they were myths. Never in my life did I think I would see one, much less converse with one.
Before I could marvel more at his power, the world around me began to fade, signaling my exit from this nightmare; just as suddenly as I was thrown into this strange place, I was being sent back. A bright, white emptiness replaced the world that I stood in. Shielding myself from its blinding effects, I closed my eyes whilst putting my right arm over them. Before long, the brightness began to fade, and I felt assured in opening my eyes again. With my eyes fully open, I now found myself lying unharmed in the middle of the forest.
After looking around and frantically touching myself and my surroundings, I became certain that I was finally back, breathing a sigh of relief. The calmness I felt after returning did not last long, as I soon began to recall bits of my time away. The flashes of chaos and disorder brought me immense pain, leaving me crying and shaking violently as I rolled around on the ground. Falling deeper into despair, I began to wonder how I could ever live normally after seeing those terrible things; what's more, returning to the forest meant returning to the crippling isolation I briefly escaped during my time away. The bleakness of my future and the hell that traumatized me left me isolated, truly afraid, and longing for an end.
"So even a child such as yourself can glimpse through the eyes of the forest?"
A seductive voice pierced through the silence, resonating from an unknown place and breaking my thoughts with its advent.
"Be a good boy and wait for me; I'll make sure nothing eats you while you're passed out cold," the voice teased while chuckling gleefully.
Confused by what I heard, I hurried to my feet, swiveling my head around in search of the lady I undoubtedly just heard. Shamefully, just as quickly as I got up, I found myself about to come crashing down. No longer could I stand, my legs giving way under the weight of my body. It was now clear to me what the voice had been referring to when it said I would be 'passed out cold'. Distracted by my encounter with the conduit, I completely forgot the long chase I had with the beast from before. Now mentally and physically fatigued, my body completely gave out as everything went black.
With my consciousness slowly fading, I could do nothing to stop myself passing out in the middle of the forest like a fool. All I could do was hope that the voice would have answers to the many questions that still seared in my mind once I awoke.