Into the Shadows
1106 Words
Ethan had never seen as he passed the gateway. Not like running into a door or even falling, it was as though the whole fabric of reality twisted and bent about him. Terrible felt lightless for some while; his eyes turned to whirling shadows and flashing lights.
Ethan lurched forward, stopping almost in time to stop falling, when the globe at last rested. Under him was cool, polished obsidian; the air smelled slightly of mud and ozone. Blinking, his eyes adapted to the monotonous, alien light all about.
"Where are we?" His strangely echoing voice inquired.
Standing close by, Seraphina looked stiff and strained. She said, "This... this is the Crossroads," hardly more than a whisper.
Ethan raised his eyebrows in wrinkles. "The crossroads!--?!" "What exactly is it intended to mean?"
Kael's voice stopped behind them, soft and softly laughing-tinged. "It dwells between worlds." It is not holy or mortal but everything in between. He developed, and his broad coat swept the ground. "This is a neutral ground where revelations of secrets and negotiations find a place."
Turning around, Ethan took in his surroundings. Unlike anything he had seen, The Crossroads was an unbounded black and grey expanse lit by strange, floating orbs of light hovering in the air like will-o's-the-wisps. Like a sophisticated network, brilliant stone roads opened out in every direction.
Ethan muttered, "It feels... wrong," and shivered automatically.
Quietly, in a voice, "That's because you don't belong here," Archangel said. "This place was not created for people."
Kael said quietly. "Relax," his smile bright. "The Crossroads will not hurt you." Unless, quite reasonably, you can justify it.
Ethan fixed him a stern glance. "Comfortable".
Ignoring him, Kel waved for their coming. Fit them. You have to gratify one individual just.
The air got cooler as they moved; the slight buzz of the glittering balls disturbed just the limited silence. Ethan held the relic more closely; its golden glow was weak but steady.
Approaching the middle of the Crossroads, they travelled what felt like an age on a large circular platform cut with delicate run-throughs softly glittering with liveliness. A black robe-wearing individual with his face hidden by a large hood right on the brink of the platform.
"Who is that?" one wonders. Ethan talked gently and pleasantly.
"The Keeper of the Crossroads," whispered stiff back Seraphina. An entity older than time itself.
The Keeper turned slowly; shadows from their hood stretched just enough to catch two brilliant violet eyes. Their voice had great resonance and force when it shook Ethan's spine.
"You bring mortals to my domain, Kael," the Keeper stated, their tone austere but stern. "That's a poor choice."
Kael raised his head gently yet firmly. This mortal is not like other mortals. He owns an Orb pulled from Orithia.
Ethan felt strange pressure as though the Keeper's sharp eyes pointed at him while their point of view was pulling back the layers of his own soul. Still, after some time, the Keeper said. Though he doesn't yet see its importance, the energy of the sphere clings to him.
Ethan shivered quietly under close observation. You know, I am standing right here. Maybe you might want to try talking with me instead of about me.
The Keeper fixed his eye without wavers. What would a mortal say as well? You are a moron to touch what you cannot grasp. Alternatively, you are now enmeshed in a fate far beyond your control.
Ethan started to respond, and then Seraphina sharply cut him off. "Enough." We arrived here not exactly for mysterious lectures. You could help us, Kael said.
The Keeper turned their face toward her; it was opaque. "Help is not freely available, Seraphina. You should know among all others.
Kels stepped forward, his language flawless. "Keeper: Our first priorities are not charity. We are here, ready for negotiations.
Ethan sensed his gut turn in strange directions. "What various kinds of trading?"
Pulling a tiny black bottle from his coat, Kels turned away. Rising it for the eye of the Keeper, he said, "This."
The Keeper slanted their head slightly to examine the vial. Their voice piercing, they said, "a fragment of shadow essence." "Where did you come upon something like this? That's not important," Kels shot back. " Its worth is most important here." More than enough to cover the greatly sought-after repairs.
Silence for some time preceded the Keeper nodding. Outstanding. Regarding your questions.
Kale pointed at Ethan and Seraphina. "They have to know how to cut the bond of the orb before it consumes them."
Ethan grumbled. "Wait: What then?" requested. You have a somewhat unique approach. Kael turned to check sidelong after cutting the cable. "Until you would want to let it eat you?"
The Keeper advanced, his glittering eyes fixated on Ethan. "The orb spun right into the fabric of life; it is old and strong. Cutting its relationship will not be easy or free from consequences. From what kind of nature are the repercussions?" Ethan asked warily.
The eye of The Keeper darkened. "should the tie break incorrectly, the power of the orb will be unleashed upon the Earth free from control." It might wipe everything in its path as well as you.
While his mind swirled, Ethan tightened the ball. What, then, should our actions be?
The Keeper answered quietly but with relentless clarity. "You have to go exactly in the middle of the Fae Realm to see the remnants of Seraphina's palace. This page contains the orb's power source as well as control systems.
Saint froze. Not currently in any defence covering the Fae Realm. "That is your decision to make," the Keeper said, hunting just next to our route. "Know this: the power is waking under the orbs. If you do nothing, you will both walk empty-handed.
Ethan looked fast at Seraphina; she seemed stern. "Look like our replacements aren't very good."
Keal came back shining. It settled at that, and then on our way to the Fae Realm.
Ethan turned to meet him, his eyes focused narrowly. And from this, what then benefits you?
Kael smiled broadly and had gorgeous silver-blue eyes. Right now, I have unresolved business in that industry. And should our turn out well? You could live long enough to ask one more.
Ethan could hardly reply as the Keeper waved their hand, a terrible, greenish glow before him.
Said the Keeper, he should "walk through." "You still have to go on a road trip."
Heart racing, Ethan firmly seized the ball. "Here we go again," he said.
Keal, Seraphina, and he crossed the gateway; the shadows closed once more.
- Writer
