Before I managed to react, and possibly kill somebody, a voice that I knew very well, but heard only a couple of times in the form I did at that moment, reached my ears and made me stop.
I realized at that moment something about myself. The hostile environment that I was forced to live in for so long changed me. I became feral, cautious, and maybe a bit paranoid. Constantly looking for the enemies around me, without even realizing that. It was a shocking revelation since I used to think about myself as calm and composed.
The last mysterious figure took off their hood, but what I saw underneath was not a familiar view I was expecting. His face was heavily deformed. One eye was missing completely, and a large scar was covering the whole side of his face. It was of darker green color than the skin. I also quickly noticed he was using only his left hand, giving me an idea that he might not be able to use the right one, or maybe even didn't possess it any longer.
- He might not be able to do that, but I am - he said with power and conviction that made the whole room completely silent, and gathered everybody's attention.
I didn't reply to that, just watched with my mouth open, as my brain froze. His appearance was so shocking, that I couldn't even think.
- It's good to see you, Peter - he added, and tried to smile, but only the left part of his face moved.
- It's good to see you too - I finally squeezed out of myself.
My mind was flooded with questions I wanted to ask him, and I really needed to get some answers. With all the confusing shit that was going on, I needed some explanations.
- You probably have many questions - he continued. - And there will be a time to answer them all, but it's not now. Right now we need to move. My powers right now are quite limited, but what's worse is that she can track me the moment I use them, so you will have to take us from here. I know you can do that
He was right. If I had my powers back, I could use them to get us all the hell out of that place.
- To where? - I asked.
It was more of a reflex than a legitimate question fueled by curiosity.
- To Loistavadvaar. She didn't find it yet, so we should be safe here, but there are also another two reasons. I can make the Tree block her from entering the city, just in case she will be able to somehow tell where we are, and also we will need the city to defeat her.
- O-ok - I nodded. - I have many questions, but I guess those can wait until we are safe.
- Yes - he agreed. - Come closer. I need to touch your head.
I followed the instruction, and he placed the three long fingers of his left hand on my forehead. The very moment he did that I felt a powerful intrusion penetrating my mind. My muscles tensed. It felt like somebody was pushing a red hot nail straight through my brain. I let out a groan, as memories started flashing in front of my eyes.
There was something there that tried to resist the alien presence of The Great One, and I felt the two powers clashing, but the effect was crystal clear from the very beginning. The presence of the high queen got annihilated by the overwhelming force.
The very moment it happened, I could feel relief. Like somebody finally took a collar from my neck that was preventing me from breathing properly.
- There is no time - said The Great One. - Take us to Loistavadvaar.
He was visibly exhausted. Like a balloon from which half of the air escaped. I immediately noticed that he was struggling to even stand.
- Everybody, grab me - I instructed.
They all followed and I could feel their hands grabbing my clothes, then I finally shadow walked for the first time in a long while.
Everything went black. For a very short moment, I could feel the presence of The Void, and its hunger, neutral towards me, but nevertheless very strong. It felt like it missed me. The herald, spreading the darkness into the physical world.
We all appeared close to the Tree, with the silver light shining from above, and enveloping all of us in its cold light. It was a familiar view, that woke up some memories in me. It made me feel emotional, but I pushed the emotions down since there was no time for them.
Tihana with an open mouth slowly turned around, watching the jade architecture of the alien city, which looked incredibly in the cold, silver light. The rest also couldn't help, but look around, although they didn't reveal their emotions so easily, as she did.
Even Tam was moved. He escaped the girl's grasp and rushed towards the gates, then stopped, and twisted his little head to look with one eye at the strange alien worlds visible in each of those windows.
- This place is beautiful - said Daniel.
The Great One on the other hand didn't waste a moment and took the first step towards the Tree, but his legs gave upon him, and he almost collapsed. Fortunately, Druoag's reflexes were sharp enough to catch him in time, and the massive warrior held the fragile entity firmly until the strength in The Great One's body returned. But even then he was escorted to his destination.
We watched as he places his hand on the sphere, and closed the one eye he had. Then the slowly moving ball changed. It wasn't so obvious, but I noticed it, just like everybody else. It's hard to explain, but when you watched one of those strange devices for as long as we did, you just knew if it was doing something or not.
- It's done - he informed us.
And for the first time in a long while I felt safe. So incredibly safe.. I just fell on my ass and started laughing.
Before I managed to react, and possibly kill somebody, a voice that I knew very well, but heard only a couple of times in the form I did at that moment, reached my ears and made me stop.
I realized at that moment something about myself. The hostile environment that I was forced to live in for so long changed me. I became feral, cautious, and maybe a bit paranoid. Constantly looking for the enemies around me, without even realizing that. It was a shocking revelation since I used to think about myself as calm and composed.
The last mysterious figure took off their hood, but what I saw underneath was not a familiar view I was expecting. His face was heavily deformed. One eye was missing completely, and a large scar was covering the whole side of his face. It was of darker green color than the skin. I also quickly noticed he was using only his left hand, giving me an idea that he might not be able to use the right one, or maybe even didn't possess it any longer.
- He might not be able to do that, but I am - he said with power and conviction that made the whole room completely silent, and gathered everybody's attention.
I didn't reply to that, just watched with my mouth open, as my brain froze. His appearance was so shocking, that I couldn't even think.
- It's good to see you, Peter - he added, and tried to smile, but only the left part of his face moved.
- It's good to see you too - I finally squeezed out of myself.
My mind was flooded with questions I wanted to ask him, and I really needed to get some answers. With all the confusing shit that was going on, I needed some explanations.
- You probably have many questions - he continued. - And there will be a time to answer them all, but it's not now. Right now we need to move. My powers right now are quite limited, but what's worse is that she can track me the moment I use them, so you will have to take us from here. I know you can do that
He was right. If I had my powers back, I could use them to get us all the hell out of that place.
- To where? - I asked.
It was more of a reflex than a legitimate question fueled by curiosity.
- To Loistavadvaar. She didn't find it yet, so we should be safe here, but there are also another two reasons. I can make the Tree block her from entering the city, just in case she will be able to somehow tell where we are, and also we will need the city to defeat her.
- O-ok - I nodded. - I have many questions, but I guess those can wait until we are safe.
- Yes - he agreed. - Come closer. I need to touch your head.
I followed the instruction, and he placed the three long fingers of his left hand on my forehead. The very moment he did that I felt a powerful intrusion penetrating my mind. My muscles tensed. It felt like somebody was pushing a red hot nail straight through my brain. I let out a groan, as memories started flashing in front of my eyes.
There was something there that tried to resist the alien presence of The Great One, and I felt the two powers clashing, but the effect was crystal clear from the very beginning. The presence of the high queen got annihilated by the overwhelming force.
The very moment it happened, I could feel relief. Like somebody finally took a collar from my neck that was preventing me from breathing properly.
- There is no time - said The Great One. - Take us to Loistavadvaar.
He was visibly exhausted. Like a balloon from which half of the air escaped. I immediately noticed that he was struggling to even stand.
- Everybody, grab me - I instructed.
They all followed and I could feel their hands grabbing my clothes, then I finally shadow walked for the first time in a long while.
Everything went black. For a very short moment, I could feel the presence of The Void, and its hunger, neutral towards me, but nevertheless very strong. It felt like it missed me. The herald, spreading the darkness into the physical world.
We all appeared close to the Tree, with the silver light shining from above, and enveloping all of us in its cold light. It was a familiar view, that woke up some memories in me. It made me feel emotional, but I pushed the emotions down since there was no time for them.
Tihana with an open mouth slowly turned around, watching the jade architecture of the alien city, which looked incredibly in the cold, silver light. The rest also couldn't help, but look around, although they didn't reveal their emotions so easily, as she did.
Even Tam was moved. He escaped the girl's grasp and rushed towards the gates, then stopped, and twisted his little head to look with one eye at the strange alien worlds visible in each of those windows.
- This place is beautiful - said Daniel.
The Great One on the other hand didn't waste a moment and took the first step towards the Tree, but his legs gave upon him, and he almost collapsed. Fortunately, Druoag's reflexes were sharp enough to catch him in time, and the massive warrior held the fragile entity firmly until the strength in The Great One's body returned. But even then he was escorted to his destination.
We watched as he places his hand on the sphere, and closed the one eye he had. Then the slowly moving ball changed. It wasn't so obvious, but I noticed it, just like everybody else. It's hard to explain, but when you watched one of those strange devices for as long as we did, you just knew if it was doing something or not.
- It's done - he informed us.
And for the first time in a long while I felt safe. So incredibly safe.. I just fell on my ass and started laughing.
