Act 1-1

In the middle of a frosted forest, a dark mage stands. Gravestones more ancient than the surrounding trees lay broken and weathered away. Plants have already started to reclaim the tombs and snow has covered all the graves.

On the island of frost and snow, a ritual was taking place. The sun was at its zenith and the dark mass of ether was flowing out from her hands. Soaking into the ground, the snow started to darken and the body laying atop an alter started to twitch.

Clouds started to congregate above and rumbles of thunder echo aloud. The sun was blotched out and the surroundings became still. All the animals have hurried away uneasily. Silence prevailed the area.

Raising her white hand above, a dark fleshy lump was pulsing in her hand. Faces started to appear on the mass and silent whispers were carried into the wind. Each cursing and promising damnation on the mage.

Shaking she allowed the fleshy pulp to levitate in the air. Emitting dark ripples, distorting the surrounding. Satisfied with how her ritual is coming along she started her chant.

From the grasp of death, I call upon thee.

Listen to the voice with in your self and heed my call.

The one who have slumbered for far too long shall rise again.

I as the medium shall guide my chosen back. Listen with in yourself and come forth…

A black bolt of lightning flashes towards the corpse. The twitching turned into small spasms. The floating fleshy lump started to dim. The whispering voices started to blend into one. A males voice became more distinguished.

Another black streak hits the corpse, rendering it immobile. On cue, the fleshy mass turns into dust, carrying it’s way towards the altar.

Gritting her teeth, she knows this is the most important part. Wishing for her ritual to work with all her heart, she stares in anticipation.

With a groggy jerk, the male body moves. Opening its eyes, a scream escapes. Intense pain racked the beings body. It prayed to the gods to end its suffering. Rolling and flailing its limbs, the man falls off onto the stone below.

Frightened the mage runs towards the man. She doesn’t understand what went wrong. He’s alive, but it wasn’t suppose to be like this. The sorrow and pain in its screams unsettled her. Moving her black hair out of her face, she holds the being in her arms. Cradling it like a mother would.

Embracing the warmth flowing into it, the screams started to peter out. Twitching it’s eyes, he glances at the girl. Her raven hair and golden eyes were entrancing. Her lips and voice of comfort was a sanctuary the man desperately clung to.

Noticing the man’s intense stare, she smiled. Getting up, she laid him onto the alter once again. Turning around, she felt her hair raising. Looking up another black bolt crashed onto the alter, tearing the man apart.

“NO!”

Screaming, she rushes back. However, it was to late. The man despaired as it watched his limbs slowly turn into dust.

The pain he felt was numbed by the terror it felt. Shoving his head into her arms, it began to whimper. The man was scared from how she reacted. Frightened by what was happening to it. He could only lay limp as his body disintegrated.

The weight in her arms disappeared. Only a pile of ash laid at her feet. The ritual was a failure. Along with her dreams and hopes. Never again would she be the same and will forever be damned for defying nature’s natural order.

Picking herself up, she notices the sun breaking out from the clouds. The brightness lit up the defiled graveyard, pushing away the darkness which was there. Animals started to come back, still cautious of what has transpired.

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Wiping a tear away from her golden eyes, she packed her belongings. Their was no point in being here and everything she attempted was for naught. With this burden on her shoulders, she left the island of ice and snow.

***

Darkness surrounded it. Everything was a blur: the calling from ‘her’, the awakening to pain and the terror it felt lingered in the void.

Now it drifted inside the abyss. Lost and confused about its very self. Only the golden eyes of the mage lingered inside his memory. The happiness and the despair she felt was transmitted to his core. Only thing it can do is wait to see where the darkness brings him.

***

Days passed and a tombstone fell forward. The ground around it was distorting. A hand slowly rose up from the mud. Dragging it’s nails across the earth, another hand arose and started to pull its self out from the ground.

A body covered in dirt emerged and laid flat on the frozen ground. Twitching it’s body, the numbness started to fade away. Grasping for breath, it puked up gravel and decomposed matter.

Holding itself, it shook from the cold.

“Ahh… Aughh….”

Attempting to talk, only groans escape his lips. The phantom pain from earlier was still prevalent and his throat was parched.

Grabbing a handful of snow, he shoved it into his mouth. Repeating this a few times, he finally was able to fix his thirst.

“I, hurts.”

Scrambling to gather his thoughts, all the new senses he felt was overwhelming him. He can only lay still, allowing his brain to catch up.

Using his full concentration, he began to move his limbs. His arms creaked and his legs cracked from being still for so long. Brushing the dirt off his body, he leans against an ancient tombstone.

Who was he?

Recalling, he remembered he was a farmer at some point. Also a knight and a husband. But also a woman and prostitute?

What was going on with him? Each fragment he was able to piece together, showed a different vision than the last. He was young, old, man and woman. Each was a different person which represented ‘him’.

Clutching his throbbing head, a dribble of blood splotches the snow. Pushing out all the wondering thoughts, he came upon a more vivid memory. It was of a mage with golden eyes.

For some reason, this person stuck out the most. Was she the one who brought him here?

Wiping the blood off his face, he staggered towards a fragmented alter. Brushing his hand against it, he can feel subtle pain growing from his body. Removing his touch, the pain disappears into thin air.

Unnerved by the alter, he backs away from it. Looking around, he realizes he was inside a graveyard. Numerous tombstone surrounded him and an eerie feeling started to creep onto him. It was beckoning him, asking if he would like to rest.

With a few goosebumps, he looked upward. In the sky was smoke floating into the air. In the distance the sun was starting to set, signaling for the monsters to awaken.

“I have to get out.” Glancing around. “I can’t stay here.”

The unnerving pressure he faced was increasing. Something wanted him and was angered from the waiting.

Backing away from the cemetery, he picked up his pace. Heading towards the smoke in the sky, he figured civilization must be over there. If he didn’t want to face any monsters, he need to get over there quick.

Dragging his weak body, his head throbbed. Multiple memory fragments were still assaulting him. Picking up his pace, he can only hope to sort through them once he was out of danger.

Rushing into the icy woods, he can hear beasts stirring awake. Howls and growls started to echo around him. The further he got from the cemetery, the more at ease he felt.

However, he could feel a few eyes staring at him, being cautious of the unknown being moving through their territory.

The marching ached his battered body. It was unused to the rapid movements he was performing. Overexerting himself, sweat started to freeze onto his body. Dropping his temperature, making breathing difficult.

A fever was starting to take control. With blurry vision, he can only stumble forward. Hoping he was going in the right direction.

A growl sounded next to him. Before he could think, his body reacted by itself. Dropping towards the ground, a gray wolf smacked a tree. Rolling over, he unsteadily went into a protective stance.

Eyeing each other, he waited until the wolf reared back. Noticing the beast was about to lunge, he pulled his right hand back.

In a flash, the wolf was already upon him. He had only a split second to thrust his fist forward, before being ripped apart.

His hand flew in a straight line. Aiming straight into the wolf’s mouth. A small crack echoed out and then a loud explosion followed.

In front of him was a wolf torn in two. His hand was slightly red, but nothing broke the skin.

Staring at his arm, he was astounded.

“What?”

In the memories he was able to see, nothing could tell him what happened. His strength was draining fast and the sudden ambush pushed him past his limits.

Now all he can do is lean against a tree, fighting off the fatigue and cold sweats.

His eye’s drooped down and in the distance he could see a lantern making its way towards him. With a slight smile, he knew someone was coming.

***