All indications point toward it. I’m hearing and seeing things. Is this a consequence of my fear? Of my powerlessness? I’m soterrified to be here, close to such monumental danger that I’m making up scenarios in my mind.
Rest does not come easy after that.
The hours pass, merging together until I am no longer aware of time.
I simply sit still in my spot, staring up ahead, terrified by every little sound.
The image of the bloody lady is ingrained in my retinas, and no matter how much I try to forget about it, I cannot.
What did she mean that there are three thousand years of misery waiting for me? That is a consequence of my own actions? What actions? That I was born? Is this still tied to the curse of my birth.
Was the bloody lady sent by my mother?
Terror ignites inside of me. Does my mother know where I am? Did she somehow find my whereabouts and instead of coming for me, is she devising of ways to torment me until I cannot continue living?
The two moons rotate in the sky constantly. Sometimes they’re close together, signifying it’s night, and sometimes they’re at opposite sides of the sky—the start of a new day.
The pattern continues until three days have passed. Even as new food was handed out, I could not bring myself to take any. My body shows signs of hunger, but I quench it, the fright much more powerful than my declining bodily functions.
Low tremors appear at the surface of the ground. At first, they’re barely perceptible. A sudden quake pulls me out of my self-recrimation. Elysand dashes to the shore, his focus knife-sharp.
“Get in positions!” He yells.
The ground quakes again, this time faster, stronger, until it causes ripples in the Lake.
The others scramble to take their positions as I finally shake myself and go to my assigned spot.
Small ripples give way to a big whirlpool at the center of the Lake. The water becomes a deep shade of red, the center of the whirlpool entirely black. And from that darkness, a figure rises.
Fear slams through me. I expect the scarlet lady to make another appearance, but as the water cascades over the body, it reveals a male torso.
It’s him! The individual who entered the Lake. He made it!
The shock of the revelation wears off quickly as Elysand quickly prompts us to get into our positions. In its place, a new type of fear appears: I am the only one withoutanystrength in this lineup.
I’d tried to tell Elysand this, but he’d assured me I would be safe, that my presence was required only due to the nature of the artifact he was going to use against the Lake individual.
“Get in formation! Quick! Once he reaches land, surround him!” Elysand shouts.
Water still clinging to his form, the individual levitates over the surface of the Lake. As the last drops of crimson flow down his face, revealing his features, I note his empty look. He’s still not fully aware of what is happening.
I see why Elysand insisted on acting quickly.
There is a delay in his regaining consciousness.
Everyone takes their position. I’m in the back with a few other very low level colleagues. The six ones with higher levels surround the individual.
Elysand reveals a box from which he takes out a gilded amulet with a red ruby nestled within. Infusing his spiritual energy into the amulet, bright, fiery light erupts, surrounding us all.
The male has now moved into the perfect position, right in the middle of the formation. As the light from the amuletdiffuses, red threads emerge from the ruby, winding up in the air and aiming straight for the male.
The threads surround the individual, transforming into strong red ropes as they attempt to bind him.
His eyes flutter open. Oh, no! He’s regaining consciousness!
At the same time, a ball of energy appears in his chest, fighting against the ropes.
“Don’t move, everyone!” Elysand yells. “He’s a level nine already. Any movement might break the formation.”
