Darkness.
Erembour was surrounded by darkness. He didn’t know how long he was in this void of murkiness until he saw, in the distance, a tiny pinprick of light. Once spotted, he immediately felt swept up in some unseen current and heading toward that miniscule beacon of hope. The small light grew larger and brighter as he was drawn closer until…
Erembour’s eyes snapped open. Eyes that quickly adjusted to a room filled with nothing but a bright, white light surrounding him. But it wasn’t all white, nor was he alone. There was a woman in front of him wearing a flowing and off-white dress sitting on a simple, wooden high-backed chair. Her eyes were wide, startled at his appearance.
Noticing that he was also sitting in a wooden chair, he checked himself and discovered that his body was whole and unmarred. The longbow, which he had used to try and hurt Erobus, was leaning against the chair’s right arm. His left hand rested on the pommel of his short sword. Before he could fully grasp what had happened the mysterious woman asked, “Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be fighting a shadow dragon?”
“I should be fighting,” Erembour replied. His right hand suddenly clenched onto the arm of the chair as if trying to crush it, body coiled and ready for a fight. “But I was dying. I lost.”
“You did,” she said, frowning. “I apologize for your loss.”
“No more sorrier than I am,” he replied, his body going limp at the reminder of recent events. “I failed in my mission. Yet, I am alive. Why is that and why am I here? Wherever here is.”
“I have brought you to the world of Elysium to propose an interesting offer,” the mysterious woman said. “Can you give up all that hatred and all that envy to start again?”
“I am willing to start again,” he said,” but only if I can go back.” He paused, looking at the woman sitting across from him. “Is this possible?”
She cocks her head to the side, still frowning.
“It is possible,” she said. “But I was hoping to dissuade you from the hard life you have lived. You grew up in a place trapped by evil and evil ended you. I wanted to give you the opportunity to start anew in a place free from such things. Where you could be the champion you were always meant to be.”
“Champion,” Erembour said, an eyebrow raised as he scoffed at the idea. “I am no champion. I was…am…a ranger whose only goal was…is…to avenge the deaths of my parents. One at the hand of an elf and the other consumed by the flames of the same dragon who killed me.”
The words spilled out of him, as hot as a dragon’s flames. Quickly he doused the anger within him and continued more calmly, “Your proposition intrigues me.”
He was puzzled at this turn of events and was having a hard time coming to terms with what was happening. The only thing keeping him focused was the hope that his mission was not over. “But, as much as I want a new life. I cannot forget or let go of the old. If there is a mission for me in this life…in this world. I will fulfill it. But in the end, I must return.”
“Then I give you this mission,” she said, piercing green eyes staring into his. “Protect this new, fledgling world from all the evils that attempt to invade it. Including beings such as Erobus. And when I feel that you have sufficiently defeated the Darkness, I will return you to your original world. Where you will hopefully be strong enough to deal with Erobus.”
“Then a pact has been struck,” Erembour said, “For mark my words. I will return to my world where I shall not fail a second time.”
“Do my bidding here and I will return you.”
“Then so shall it be.”
Satisfied with his answer, she smiled and said, “Is there anything you would like to take with you?”
“How many things may I take with me to this new world,” he asked. The thought of parting with any one of the items on him filled him with sadness for the memories and value they contained for him.
Holding up a single finger she said, “One item only you may take with you from your past life.”
Maintaining a calm demeanor on the outside, it felt as if the floor had fallen out from under him as he answered, “A tough decision. I must choose between the sword of my murdered father, the bow of my slain mother or…“ Erembour’s hand goes to the amulet he is wearing. A black, purple-tinged, hollowed-out scale belonging to the shadow dragon that killed his mother which contained the combined ashes of his parents. “I shall take this dragon scale amulet with me. Another reminder of what I have lost.”
Having made his decision, he looked forlornly at the other items he must leave behind. A shortsword, simple but functional, that belonged to his father. The only thing new about it was the leather strips on its wooden handle but the blade still looked newly-forged. An elegantly carved bow with the name “Nyana” engraved on it which had been his mother’s. Made from the branch of an ancient Moon Oak tree. These he would have to leave behind and hope that he could quickly find weapons to replace the ones he must abandon.
“If that is your choice, “she said, a hand reaching to push back stray tendrils of her hair which was like the color of palest blue ice. “Then I shall send you on your way.” The woman began to make a gesture with her hand but paused and added, “But please, learn to let go.”
Upon completion of the gesture, Erembour immediately finds himself in a new location surrounded by an assortment of strange people. Some who were having an argument.
Author’s Note: This story is inspired by my D&D sessions. These are being quickly written, when I have the time. Who knows? I might turn it into a novel at some point. But let me know what you think in the comments below!
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