The cold... it fades.

No longer biting.

I reach out. 

Fingers trembling.

My body seeks freedom.

So I dig.

Despite my body’s compulsion to obey, I stand tall. I can’t help but feel that it might be a test, but I’m proven wrong as Piros strikes the back of my knees with the back of his blade.

Pleased, the lich begins to talk.

“I’ve been watching you. Ever since that matter with the black skeleton, and I have to say I’m quite pleased.” The black skeleton? A sharp pain assaults my head. An image of a golden haired blue eyed youth flashes in my head.

Then to a skeleton, cut in half, green orbs dulling as the life leaves her. Pain, anger, loneliness. The sounds of a fight. Bones scattered everywhere, cut clean. A hulking figure as it pummels me into a wall.

Rage. My blade meets a fist. It’s black, devoid of skin.

I grip my head, teeth clenched as information overloads my brain.

The lich gazes down at me. The hollow rasp of his laughter filling the room.

“The intervention of my benefactor, and her guidance to me. I am blessed to receive such great materials to work with.” His benefactor?

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“Now, be good. I promise the death will be swift.”

“I… will not..die.” I respond, only to have Piros draw his blade. Placing it on the back of my neck. The heavy pressure from Karalis denying any movement on my part.

“Seems you still need some convincing. Kill him.” As Piros begins to swing, my eyes alight upon a nearby altar.

“What.. is that?” I manage to say before the statue atop it begins to shine with light.

“Alistaire!” Karalis shouts as the light wraps itself around me.

I suddenly find myself standing upon a plain of clouds. Warm rays of sunlight dyeing the surroundings in shades of red and orange.

“So, they call you Alistaire.” A deep voice from behind causes me to whirl around.

The man who spoke to me looks to be no man at all. The first thing I notice are his wings. Three pairs curve around his body. A full helmet and armor covering the rest of him in its radiance.

“And you are?”

“A being who shares the name.”

“I’m not sure I understand.”

“I am Alistaire, and you are… a conjoined soul.”

“A conjoined soul?”

“An imperfect merging of god and man.”

“Wait, the quest...”

“The Call of Lumox… was it not? I was merely dangling the promise of your memories in front of you to get you to rush towards this meeting. You just needed to get to one of my temples. I was quite alarmed when you followed some undead to the heart of their lands.”

“The quest told me that…”

“The quest system is not infallible. That was a careless mistake on my part. Nox most likely altered the message.”

“Why would she-”

“To protect her own champion. That accursed black.”

“The battle… the one in the mires. What happened to turn me the way I am?”

“You offered yourself to… yourself I suppose, and as you approached to join your champion as an avatar, someone interfered. Trapping your body on the mortal plane.”

“But-”

“No more questions. You will know all you need to know once you wake. Oh, and do change your name.” Alistaire speaks as he grabs my head in his hands. A searing pain flows through my entire being, and I black out.