Buq 16th, 4288: 113 Days in the Mortal Realm
This morning I came across everyone debating about what we should do with Isaac. As Raæin and I approached the conversation a hush fell over them as they nervously looked at me.
“No need to stop on my account,” I said, “What’s the plan?”
“Well, with your dad’s shadow clinging to him, we’re not sure how to remove him or if he’s truly the culprit behind what happened last night. However if he is being possessed or has gone evil on us, I’m not sure what we can do about that,” Rekka explained.
“I could cast protection from evil on him,” Raæin offered. We all murmured that that would probably be the best we could do for Isaac.
After Raæin warded Isaac it was clear that the shadow was confused. He still clung to the sheep form of Isaac, but seemed repulsed at the same time.
As a group we discussed whether or not to continue our trek to Rehm. It was roughly 5 days away still, but with Isaac in an uncertain condition, it was deemed a good idea to get back to civilization. I was torn between the two. We had come so far, but it would be wise to seek help for Isaac and it’s not like I knew if Rehm would hold any answers.
“I could just take you to the island,” Raæin suddenly said breaking up the discussion.
“How?” I asked.
“I can take you anywhere in my forest,” he responded.
His forest!
“How?” Gideon asked.
“Everyone would need to place a hand on me, then I can teleport us there.”
“Why didn’t you tell us this sooner?” Cortanna asked.
“No one asked,” Raæin simply said. I hadn’t thought to ask. I thought Raæin had a special connection with me that allowed him to teleport to my location, but considering he teleported me back to the party, I should have caught on then.
“So... you remember?” I asked once more. Raæin knew what I meant and gave a nod of his head. I beamed, grateful that his memories were restored.
While I continued to relish in the knowledge that Raæin could remember, Rekka set about hiding the fortress and placing the cube in one of her coat pockets. We now had a faster way of travel and so we all stood around Raæin with a hand on him. Raæin took one step and suddenly we were standing on a smooth, rounded hill in the midst of a large lake. The waters appeared rough and choppy, as though a strong wind was storming about. In the very middle of the island was a stone hut. It kind of resembled the homes I remember in Rehm.
“Raæin, is there anything about this place you know about?” I asked.
“It’s horribly evil,” Raæin announced. The hairs on my neck prickled.
“Do you know who the hut belongs to?”
“Either Erythnul, Heironious or some other evil deity.” That news set my heart racing. Was I really standing near Their door step? There was no way I was going to go up to that building and confront them again. Dagger or not... I was just too terrified of Erythnul and Heironious. A living nightmare I could do without... though if I’m to take them down, that would mean confronting my fear. Maybe what scared me most was feeling powerless to them.
I braced myself against Raæin feeling myself grow a bit faint from not breathing in my shock. I barely caught word of my companions debating about going to the hut or not. I stated that I’d rather leave before going quiet as they continued to discuss. As they did that, I forced myself to focus on something else. Something good. Raæin had his memories back, or at least a good portion of them.
“Do you remember your name?” I asked him.
“Would you believe me if I said it’s been Raæin,” he said. I looked at him with a smile. That was evidence enough that he was part of my past. I somehow knew to call him Hayarijn Raæin even though I couldn’t recall a time with him before finding that Plainer portal.
Movement caught my eye as Cortanna began to pace.
“So are we leaving?” I asked. As soon as those words left my mouth I realized Gideon and Jessica had reached the hut and rapped their fists on the door. My heart sank, scared for their sake.
“Why’d you let them go do that?!” I hissed at no one in particular.
“We didn’t!” Rekka snapped back, “I was just saying to Cortanna it’d be a waste if we just left after working so hard to get here and noticed, like you just saw, those two off knocking!”
Intently we stared on at the profile of Jessica and Gideon and a look of surprise followed by a warm smile spread across their faces.They walked in and we could hear the echo of the door shut. The rest of us quickly scrambled after them. Part of me wanted to knock sense into them for being so stupid, but once we reached the door and knocked, we were welcomed by a familiar face.
“Welcome,” Barrok said warmly. He then took a step back to let us in. His home was quaint. It reminded me of my neighbor Bor’s home. It was cozy and warm. Then again, why did I keep doing that? Comparing the present to my past was meaningless. Knowing crucial things have been forgotten, why would the smaller, insignificant things linger too? Whatever trauma I went through in hell or else where, my mind had done a fascinating job at sugar coating it...
Once everyone had found a spot in the living room around the fire, Barrok wasted no time getting down to business. First he took care of Isaac by removing the shadow from him and turning him back into his normal self. The shadow seemed to flee to some corner of the room, but I forgot about him once Barrok spoke.
“You got the dagger?” he asked looking around at all of us equally. I was hesitant. Raæin did just say that some other evil deity lived in the hut and with Barrok asking so forwardly about it, I didn’t want to admit to having the only dagger I could assume he’d be talking about.Yet it was Barrok... the blacksmith who has aided us so abundantly, it would probably take all our wealth and then some to repay him.
I gave a single, defined nod.
“Good. I figured if you had gotten this far you might have it.”
“Why does it matter if we have the dagger?” I asked.
“As you know, Heironious and Erythnul forged their deal and what not,” Barrok began, “One of the things they did was open up portals to the elemental plane of evil. This way Erythnul’s presence would be transfigured so all would forget about what had happened here. However to balance this, so Heironious can be himself, ‘all good’ and what not, they've opened similar portals to the elemental planes of good. Yet, as one should expect, Erythnul's people have closed some of the good ones to let his power have more reign.
“Now,” Barrok said looking at me, “that dagger is a sure way to open these portals. One can seal them with the blood of a deity or blood of its natural opposite, like Raæin. Depending on the portal’s size, it could very well take the life of the creature that helps.”
My heart sank and I bit my tongue. I couldn’t lose Raæin! I wouldn’t loose Raæin! He was my past! The only being who could remotely understand what I was going through! Couldn’t I sacrifice myself? I didn’t think I could bare the loss of another loved one.
Yet, what if that’s what Raæin desired? What if he wanted to be a sacrifice?
I bit my tongue to try and maintain control and push past those thoughts. Barrok must have noticed my struggle to not get emotional for he added, “ I would be willing to seal one of those portals, particularly the one here. I also know of two others; the one in the mine near Podunk and one in Threll. Now, helping seal one of these portals would be at a risk to my life. It will weaken me and if Heironious or Erythnul find me... they could absorb me. I know if the Unicorn were to do it, it would kill him.”
I looked at Raæin. Please don’t want to, I thought.
“Raæin...” I began to ask him in Sylvan. My heart felt heavy, as though it had turned to stone, “What do you want to do?” Raæin thought for a moment. He looked at me as though part of him would be willing, yet he shook his head.
“I don’t know,” he responded. He was solemn about it. I was grateful he was indecisive. It made it easier to choose Barrok to seal the portal here over Raæin. Hopefully this would also buy us time to find another naturally good creature willing to aid our cause, or deity for that matter.
Another thought struck me though. That initial thought I had about Barrok potentially being evil came up again. Why was it he was so willing to help us? Was there ulterior motives? Everything he said so far hadn’t come across as deceitful.
“Barrok, why are you helping us so much? What’s in it for you?” I questioned. He looked at me thoughtfully.
“I am the last of the Sangrail deities,” he said. Barrok let that hang in the air.
“So you are Rekka’s dad!” I blurted. Rekka looked at me and shook her head.
“No he’s not!”
“Being a Sangrail isn’t necessarily limited to the bloodline. Anyone could be born one. With that,” Barrok then looked directly at Rekka, “you have the potential to become a deity.”
We all stood a little stunned. It would make sense now why she’s the one to undo what the Gods were up to, yet I couldn’t help but feel some nervousness about it. I suppose it was that same fear with Heinul... they’re just so strong. I’m powerless to them... what will happen to me the next time I piss Rekka off? I suppose I needed to improve upon my own temper or come to accept my inevitable and impending death somewhere in the unknown future.
“I’m a deity?” Rekka questioned. She seemed equally surprised as the rest of us.
“Not yet, but once you’ve unlocked that power you’ll know,” Barrok simply replied, “just remember, what makes the Sangrail so different is we don’t need followers to gain our power. Followers would make us stronger, but it is an unnecessary qualifier.” We stood there for a moment before I remembered the questions I had asked hadn’t been completely answered.
“You didn’t fully answer my questions,” I reminded.
“Isn’t it clear Araja? They are afraid of the Sangrail. I being one means I am in danger too. I don’t agree with what they are doing but it is not my place to fix it either,” Barrok said. I was convinced. He knew what we had to do and I should be thankful for his aid. So with that I made up my mind to use Barrok’s assistance and seal the portal at present.
“Let’s do this then,” I said, standing and looking Barrok in the eyes. He gave me a nod and lead the way out.
“How quick will you be able to hide and how long until you’re well again?” Cortanna asked as we walked out.
“Time is a curious thing. Being immortal, one doesn’t pay attention to it,” Barrok answered. It sure seemed to matter to me. Hence my journaling and trying to remember timelines and what not. Eh, maybe I wasn’t in the heaven’s long enough... “Also,” he continued, “If I survive this, I know I will be able to free the soul trapped beings here.”
Barrok stopped at a place central to the little island. He looked at me and gave a nod. I whipped the dagger out and then looked to Barrok uncertain what I should do next.
“Just stab the ground and pull to open a hole,” he instructed. That part was easy. Earth was lifeless, without feeling or at least nothing resembling blood would come rushing out at me. However it was curious as I stabbed the earth. It seemed to pull away from the dagger as I sliced a foot long gap into its surface.
Once the portal was open, I stood up and looked at Barrok. This was the tough part. I now had to stab him.... but where? Could I slice his wrist? His arm? Barrok looked at me and pulled his shirt down enough to expose his chest.
“Right here Araja,” he said tapping his heart. A premonition of my sister flashed before my eyes, in which she tapped at her heart. I knew she didn’t do that, but the image was there and it made me hesitant. I shook the image from my head. It had to be done. This was one step closer to bringing Them down.
I gripped the dagger firmly and forced the blade into Barrok’s heart. He gave a soft grunt but then stood still, eyes closed, as the blood gushed around the blade. I began to withdraw the dagger but Barrok grabbed my wrist, holding my hand in place. I felt my sanity begin to slip as the blood kept flowing, some getting on my hand and the image of Meryth flashing in my mind one more.
As I closed my eyes, to remove the image at present from view, I began to mentally talk to myself. It was a good thing. Barrok willfully was helping us. It would bring us closer to destroying them. It wasn’t Meryth. You’re not killing him...
“That’s enough,” Barrok said in a whisper. It felt like it had been an eternity standing there, waiting for the portal to be satiated with the blood needed to seal it. As I looked around, it became apparent that change was happening. The aggravated waters were now closing in on us. As soon as I had removed the dagger from Barrok, he vanished. I could only hope he was able to find a safe place before Heinul found him.
As a group, we all flew into the sky to avoid the rising water; Rekka carrying most of the party in her dragon form. The higher we got the easier it was for us to see what was happening. The land around the edge of the lake was rising, pushing the water in ward. After a few minutes the entire land had shifted, the water had disappeared and below us laid a somewhat familiar sight: the lay out of my home town Rehm.
As I stared at the familiar ruins from above, a blinding light suddenly pierced my mind. Thoughts about being high in the sky meant nothing. If I was falling, there was nothing I could do to stop it as the light overwhelmed me.
✻ ✻ ✻ ✻ ✻
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