The sound of a light splash resounded in the dark swamp as a small bamboo boat pushed through the swamp until it found itself sitting soundly in the middle.

Eldar watched carefully in anxiousness. As the black water and the green algae remained unfaltered Eldar released a sigh of relief as he began to lightly place his bamboo raft into the blackened water of the swamp. The cold winds struck him from the side and the cold swamp water drenched his black silk robes. Eldars right hand shivered and tightened its grip on the roughly-made paddle as his efforts made but a small angle as he desperately paddled.

The slow and tedious journey to the other side put Eldars mind in terror as he urged the winds to go north and for the invisible beast sleeping within the depths of the swamp to never wake up. Eldars teeth trembled as he continued his rowing.

It was after a long time that Eldar finally saw a change in the atmosphere.

An unwanted change at that.

A bird flew from the bamboo forest towards the ravenous cliffs, as if a skillfully acted reenactment, the original bird from last time charged from the sky and bit the bird.

'Damn it. If it drops into the water, then I can wish my life away right now.'

Eldar swung madly as he tried to swim away.

But fate did not change lanes for anyone.

Soon the bird fell but as if god himself was directing it it flew towards Eldar.

Eldar felt a small tear fall from his left eye as a small bird landed in his hand, a large chunk had been stolen by its aggresor and its blood dribbled down Eldars hand.

Was fate helping him?

Eldar paddled his raft, he had reached around halfway and could definately make it with a bit of hard work. Eldar kept his paddle streak going hoowever a small change caught his attention.

At first, it was the wind. Then it was the waves. Then it was bad eyesight. Then it was reality.

The bird was twitching.

It was still alive.

Eldar stared at the bird eye to eye.

'Don't do it.'

"Caw."

The bird flapped its wings, Eldar moved his right arm to press it down however, his last reserves of energy were put in and his arm was sore and hurting from the bird plucking and snapping at it.

Eldar had to make a choice.

Keep the bird down and move with his legs or let the bird go although it might attract the other bird and awaken the beast.

Neither choices were in Eldars best mindset however he couldn't afford to take on anymore injuries after a mutilated arm, and a malnourished body.

Eldar threw the bird as far as he could and utilized his paddle once more with his now blue-blood drenched arm.

Eldar kept on paddling until a small splash sounded behind him.

'Just the wind.'

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And another light splash soon sounded.

'Lots of wind today.'

'Almost too mu-.'

Elder watched as he and his make-shift raft were lifted upwards by an invisible force.

Eldar could only look down in despair as he fell into the monsters mouth.

Or so he thought.

As if a little hungry, a certain bird flew down and stole Eldar from the monsters embrace.

Eldar soon felt himself flying through the air towards the cliffs or he would if his entire chest was not being chomped on.

Eldar had seen his saving grace yet his light in the darkness had started eating him. It would of been more pleasant to die to the invisible monster at least he could peacefully fall and die in a second rather that being slowly eaten by a big bird.

Eldar grunted in pain as he felt at least a few things break.

Eldar looked at his right hand.

He still firmly held onto the paddle.

Eldar flipped the paddle to utilize the sharp end.

Instincts alone let Eldar know which end of the paddle was which as his vision was blurred and his body was screaming.

Eldar could not think straight however he could move. Albeit barely.

Eldar moved in the darkness and with everything he could muster, plunged the sharp bamboo into the birds right eye.

Blood splattered over Eldars face before the Bird released its grip for a second to release a cry.

Eldar smiled at his victory before remembering he was falling.

"Wai-"

Eldar found himself falling down a tall spiked cliff.

'I nee-"

Crash.

'Hurt-'

Crash.

'Ga'

Eldars thoughts were interrupted as he fell down the cliff.

Eldars whole body was broken,bruised and bled and his consciousness slipped as he felt himself reach the bottom.

His body was exhausted,broken and in a terrible state leaving him nothing but the option to feel himself bleed out as his vision cut to black.

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I didn't even want to do that stupid quest of getting across the swamp.

Given a few more days or weeks I could of easily gone around.

Now I'm pretty much dead and my body hurts like hell and I don't even know if I've been sent to the shadow realm for not working to avenge my clan..

Wait, why am I not hungry? Did I really die? Why can't I see either.

Goddamn it I really went and died didn't I.

I've got to atleast try and move. Right?

----------------------------------------

And try Eldar did.

Eldar pushed every muscle in his body to move, it hurt like hell and he exhausted his energy but he did manage to slightly move his body.

"Don't move yet."

A calm and clearly experienced voice soothed Eldar.

"Did you really just kidnap me?" Eldar rebutted his kidnapper.

"You are extremely injured and I have been helping you."

"Sure." Eldar lied down.

And just like that, several weeks passed.

"So can I move now?"

Eldar waited for a response as he rested his head on his hay bed.

"Yes." A sigh came from the old man, his grey hair and sword collection were shined and waxed.

Eldar slowly rose from his hay stack and got up.

He had been in a wooden cabin for the past few weeks and fed stew and broth.

His body had been healed by some odd magic however it was nothing the village healer couldn't do. Eldars body was slightly worse for wear than his body a few weeks ago however it was more than useable.

"Thanks Old man."

"It's nothing."

Eldar looked at the cliffs in the distance.

"Have you ever seen the shimmering light from that gap."

"Every once in a while. But you wouldn't want to kn-."

"What is it."

"Hell."

"Be serious."

"I am."

"Expand." Eldar sighed, now was not the time for games.

"That is a place where you can become a new man. However once you leave, you lose your newmanity. Inside there, you can learn and achieve power that those outside can only dream of however you can only keep it if you remain in the tower or sign a contract with Satan."

"Expand."

"If you're like this old man, you can keep your humanity and a few of your powers, however if you become greedy, you shall gain powers to become a new man, at the cost of losing yourself."

"How do people enter."

"Through the passage or through the dream. People like you and I can see the light. The light itself will materialize as something different for all of us. However normal people receive an invitation through their dreams."

"Thanks."

Eldar walked away in silence.

'So that's why this curse wants me to go there. To achieve power to avenge my clan. And to beat that man. Well, I really don't have much of a choice, do I?"

Eldar chuckled to himself.

'Might as well, try to get stronger?'

"Old man, would you teach me some swordsmanship if I said I was heading there?"

"It wouldn't work for you anyways." The old man sighed.

Eldar tilted his head.

"I use two swords and well."

Eldar looked at his left arms remains.

"Just teach me that then. I''ll patch up the holes."

Eldar looked in promise.

"Please, Old Man?"

"Not Old Man." The Old man put his arm down on Eldars shoulder.

"Master."