Consciousness returns slowly, awareness rushing up through layers of foggy half remembered dreams. I feel groggy and disoriented; there isn't much light filtering through the heavy drapes drawn around the bed.

Only later I will learn I'm inside a labyrinthine underground temple, inhabited by countless robed acolytes; transient seekers of knowledge, scholars and mages from innumerable worlds and aeons, all only given the barest glimpses into the secrets of this timeless realm; and contract bound workers along with a host of diverse automatons who see to the day to day operations of the vast complex, and with me being the only current acolyte summoned by unseen forces, and not one who made the arduous journey through realities of their own free will.

I rub my eyes and slowly get up from the bed, taking stock of my surroundings and realising that I'm inside an ornately carved stonework bedroom. The sheets rustle as I sit up to look around the room, carved wooden furnishings, inlaid with gold and silver dominate the space and on the walls are paintings, busts, and other artworks, all depicting robed figures in submission to a single amorphous entity.

"What the hell kind of place is this? I must be dreaming." I think to myself, still awed and confused in equal measure by the opulent and unfamiliar surroundings.

Whilst looking around the room, I hear steps coming from outside, the clack of boot heels on stone. I am at a loss as to how I got here, what this place is, or even if it is all real, so I decide to stay where I am and wait for whoever it is to appear through the only arched entranceway, if they meant me any harm then surely they, whoever 'they' are, wouldn't have gone through all this trouble, if thiy did then I most likely wouldn't have even woken. Though maybe they have some sort of taboo against summary execution? Would I have even waranted such a thing?

The footsteps grow closer as my apprehension and fear rise, soon a figure rounds the corner dressed in a heavy robe, hood pulled low to ward off the damp chill that permeates these forgotten halls. Their face is mostly obscured except for some hints at soft lips, plush cheeks, a strong chin, and brown hair peeking out. I can tell from their body type and the hints of facial features that they're female but it's otherwise impossible to tell what she looks like. She sees me sat up on the bed and rushes forward with joy, excited to be seeing her new acolyte.

"Bound one, you have awakened at last! What of the flesh mender? When..? How long has it been since you regained your mind?"

Memories of half forgotten nightmares crawl through my skull, of being cast into an impossibly black void, of falling past otherworldly beings clinging to the walls of some vast cliff of jagged mottled stone.

"I-I don't know..." I say pressing a hand to my forehead, feeling a throbbing pain and the rough scab of a healing wound. "Where am I? What happened? I've gotta, I've gotta get to work, the train should be here..." I trail off in a mild state of shock.

"Quiet, quiet Bound One. Do not fret over trivialities such as work, our acolytes need worry about nothing. Come, let us talk outside, we have yet to gather your things."

I swing my legs over the edge of the large four poster bed and realise I'm naked.

"W-wait, where are my clothes? Why am I naked?!" I shout in confusion.

"You arrived with naught but a torn set of filthy rags Bound One. We deemed them unfit and discarded them to preserve your honour. Come, you must see the beauty and majesty that we have crafted for your use."

The woman extends her hand towards me. I quickly wrap myself in the sheet and after a moment of thought, I reach out and grasp it, feeling her cool soft skin brush against my own clammy hands. She pulls back the curtain hanging by the door and leads me into a hallway filled with lit braziers and busts of robed figures, their hoods pulled back to reveal worn faces lined with age. Paintings hung in every alcove depicting dizzyingly complex artifacts.

Taking my arm in hers, the robed woman begins to lead me down the ornate corridor.

Softly she begins to speak, as if afraid to disturb the solem stonework figures. "For time beyond time we have been here, waiting, preparing. Entities, distant and aloof, bid us forge a home fit for one of great purpose and potential. Though the bodies of mortals may wither and fade away, we live only for the day when we may finally understand the workings of this place. And then you appeared Bound One, stumbling out of the dark abyss of time with only strange ragged clothes to your name! Sigil of the Knower burned into your forehead!"

"What does that mean?" I ask, perplexed. "Sigil of the knower? Did you brand me!?" I pull away from the strange woman and feel the healed wound on my forehead.

"No! We wouldn't dare do such a thing." She says almost pleading.

She takes my hand again before continuing. "We know not from whence you came, what worlds you called home. Though now that you are here, we must be certain of your motivation."

Pulled along by this strange woman, my thoughts swirl and ebb like the tides, panic and confusion vying for dominance in my mind.

We stop before another curtain and she turns to look at me again.

"Many acolytes come and go Bound One, exceptionally rare are those brought to us by forces unseen. Some stay for mere days, others months or years. But always do they pass on, leaving us behind once more with only memories to guide our actions. This saddens us Bound One, it hurts us. For while their souls continue onwards ours are trapped in these halls, unable to rest until the day comes when someone enters and does not leave."

Stolen story; please report.

I feel uncomfortable listening to this monologue, unsure of what is actually happening to me.

Suddenly she brightens and grabs onto my shoulders, spinning me around to face her. "But Bound One... You are different. Your mark, it is unlike any we have seen before, it burns brighter than any star and shines with power untold. When you came tumbling from the shadows our hearts sang with joy and hope. Never before have we laid eyes upon such radiant sigil! With you Bound One we can truly understand the workings behind this place!"

With a flourish she parts the curtains leading outsie. Bright sunlight floods the corridor, momentarily blinding me. Rubbing my eyes I blink furiously as spots dance across my vision, trying to clear away the glare. A massive garden stretches before me, extending into a haze.

No, not sunlight. Looking closer I see it is a massive cavern, curving walls closing in impossibly high above. At the dome's peak hangs a crystaline construct, bound by chains to the stone above.

I shade my eyes, unable to bear the brightness. An arm slips under mine, pulling me forward. As we step onto the grass warmth radiates throughout my bare feet. A breeze ruffles my hair and tickles my skin, carrying sweet scents to my nose. Looking down I realize that my body bears no marks or scars despite waking with one still fresh. In fact...

"Am... Am I taller?" I wonder aloud.

My guide laughs quietly beside me, her voice melodious and light. "Yes Bound One, our craftsmen ensured you would retain a form pleasing to you. Such was their primary task prior to your arrival."

"What do you mean craftsmen? The uh.. The flesh menders you called them?"

"Later Bound one, I will answer all questions soon. But for now there is something me must do, as of yet you have nothing but that sheet. As fine as the cloth is, a suitable garment for you it is not." She finishes the dismissal with a light laugh, tempering my worry.

A flock of birds flies by overhead, circling downwards and landing within an orchard to our left. Other acolytes move between rows of flowers and herbs tending them with near mechanical speed and precision. Many pause upon spotting us walking together and bow low in reverence before resuming their work.

Looking past some bushes lining each row I notice other buildings nestled amidst fields of crops growing wildly tall and thick.

The robed woman gestures broadly before speaking once more, pride filling her voice.

"All this Bound One; trees from worlds far beyond, fruits that smell of honey yet taste like winter berries, beasts of legend kept tame enough for even children to ride, we have crafted this sanctuary to provide everything needed for an acolyte such as yourself."

She leans close and whispers conspiratorially. "We heard rumours Bound One, tales whispered amongst travellers, and legends written of in crumbling tomes. Of an ancient race capable of crafting wondrous realms for their gods alone! We searched high and low until finally finding an unclaimed world in which to build yours Bound One, hoping the lessons learned could someday grant wisdom unto us."

"But I'm not... I'm not a god, how could I possibly..." My thoughts trail off as I struggle to comprehend what has happened to me.

She laughs again, softer than before, shaking her head slightly. "Nonsense Bound One, none save true acolytes are sent hither."

We turn right onto a winding path that leads towards the largest building within sight: a sprawling compound built atop pillars sunk deep into the ground below, rising twenty stories high and stretching outward to form an inverted pyramid.

"But indeed you are not a deity, neither though are you mortal. This place changes you in time, it does to us all."

Raising her free hand she pushes back her hood revealing short brown hair framing smooth pale skin dotted with freckles, a rounded jawline, and large brown eyes glittering with excitement. Full pink lips part slightly revealing pearly white teeth behind them. Her beauty strikes me speechless, prompting another quiet laugh as she notices my stare.

"Ah yes Bound One, we adopted forms similar to those yo preferred whilst dreaming. Truly your tastes run simple Bound One, perhaps due to your newness among acolytes."

"What do you mean?" I ask hesitantly, nervous about learning further truths regarding this bizarre place.

Her smile widens further revealing dimples dotting flushed cheeks. "Time moves differently here Bound One. Days can fly by outside whilst weeks pass in your rooms. Such is the price paid by acolytes stuck beyond mortality, blessed yet cursed to walk eternity forever."

Panic wells up inside my chest, threatening to burst forth in a hysterical scream. Questions swirl about within my skull struggling desperately to break free, tearing apart reason and logic alike.

'Why am I here? Who are you? Who made this place?! WHAT IS GOING ON?!'

Before I can vocalize any concerns she squeezes my arm tighter and speaks reassuringly, her tone gentle and soothing.

Panic subsidies as I cling desperately to her words like driftwood in a storm. "Do not fear Bound One. Everything will become clearer soon, once acclimated." She says with a hint of a smile. "Once inside we both will undoubtedly learn much of your place here. Now come, make haste."

We walk beneath towering colonnades flanking both sides of a grand stairway leading upwards toward open double doors. Standing between columns are statues of robed acolytes, hood thrown back showing sharp noses and stern expressions watching intently as we approach. Large glass windows embedded into walls above depict scenes from stories unfamiliar yet oddly nostalgic as though recalled during dreams. Each panelled image tells a tale ending in triumphant victory over an unnamed and unseen enemy, surrounded by worshipful crowds cheering loudly while raising offerings high above themselves.

Atop each staircase lie two immense metal statues clad in ornate armor clutching spears crossed over chests adorned by crests bearing symbols of arcane power.

The robed woman kneels before the statues, pulling me down gently to do the same.

"Shadowed halls and hallowed chambers are to be entered by one new to the fold. I guide this young acolyte in his first steps along this path of discovery." She intones in a voice barely above a reverent whisper.

Grinding stone and creaking metal is the only reply as the archway between the towering automatons seems to fold in on itself, stone blocks as large as cars slide back into the structure forming a tunnel of jagged corners and faces of jet black obsidian adorned with a dizzying array of interwoven sigils and glyphs.

"We must go." The robed woman says quickly before pulling me to my feet and rushing forward down this newly formed passageway, gripping tightly onto my hand all the while.

My heart races in my chest as adrenaline courses through veins pumping hard pushing away confusion replaced by primal instincts screaming warnings throughout every fiber of muscle memory drilled deep into bone marrow over countless generations predating recorded history itself.

Voices echo within the shadowed corridors ahead calling out incomprehensible phrases in languages dead millennalia prior, drowning out all rationality attempting vainly to reclaim control.

We sprint faster down narrow halls lined by torches casting flickering shadows upon floor tiles etched with unknown runes alongside walls engraved with flowing scripture written by forgotten authors centuries past.

Light fills the corridor ahead, banishing the oppressive darkness chasing behind us leaving naught but emptiness devoid coloration beyond deepest black absent colour entirely rendering all visible merely shades varying between hues darker than night itself.

Rounding a corner brings forth blinding whiteness obscuring all save vague silhouettes standing silhouetted against brilliant luminance.

Pulling back her hood, the robed woman turns to me and smiles demurely, the terror of our flight receding into inconsequentiality.