In the steps of Eternity

Forward: Part 2

Unknown to me, time slipped past as I laid at the foot of Elvithal's crystalline body. A cold breeze shifts through the darkness around me before the sounds of foot steps could be heard.

Hearing the foot steps I turn to look down the hall, only to see a figure in the likeness of Elvithal standing there with his hands on his hips with a smile plastered to his face. In confusion I look at the Crystalline structure and then back to the hall.

Rising to my feet I try to call out to the Elvithal, but before I manage to even utter a sound, he shakes his head and motions for me to follow him.

The slow tapping of feet echoes through the halls as I follow behind the Elvitahl's figure with my eyes all but glued to his back. I don't quite know where we are going in the nest but I do notice one thing that makes my chest heavy.

The ebon light that shimmers around the figure is slowly fading as time goes while the figure is starting to become translucent before my very eyes. My feet seem to speed up a little only to realize the figure has stopped to turn around.

Look at where we stopped I realize we have come to the the Grand gate that we had used to enter so long ago. Looking back at the figure just in time to see it place its fading hand on the surface only to be absorbed slowly.

Looking towards me the Figure just smiles and nods its head just before it had completely faded into the door, leaving behind a single ebon feather.

The door glimmers and comes to life, opening slowly to reveal an almost blinding light while the breeze grew in strength. Enough so that it kicked the feather up into the air for me to catch.

Understanding the want and desire of the Fragment of Elvithal's will, I held the feather tight to my chest and took my first steps out into the world once more.

Covering my eyes until they get adjusted I find that behind me the ruins have ceased to exist and the once marvelous Gate had begun to vanish from the world as well.

I almost step towards the gate, in fear that I would lose Evlithal's nest forever but a gentle power ripples from the feather in my hands causing me to stop.

Looking at the feather in my hands it fades from view as well, but instead of just vanishing it seems to be absorbed by my body letting a calming warmth spread through me.

Looking around the ruins that once stood with the majestic gate are no where to be seen, but something else catches my eye.

Outside of this lush plateau there is nothing but sand for as far as the eye can see. Rolling mounds of sand making numerous ridges and many steep falls. I can only wonder which way to wander off, or if I should stay here and figure out if there is a direction that I SHOULD be going.

Almost as if on cue a breeze rolls past my head as it whispers in my ears. “To the north.” it tells me, though I don't understand which way that is the breeze whips up as if to direct me.

Facing what I assume to be north at this point I begin to walk to the edge of the plateau to find that there seems to be a natural path way down. A very... Long way down...

Making my way down the winding path from the top of the plateau I begin to feel warmer and warmer while the greenery on the pathway starts to turn dryer and dryer. It felt like a transition that should be normal, but for there to even be something green in the middle of a sand ocean just felt out of place.

Closer and closer to the sand I start to feel more and more uncomfortable. Before it reaches the peak as I stand firmly on the sand. At least for a moment before my foot sinks into the sand, making me topple over almost face first.

Sitting up on the sand after falling I spit out the sand that managed to get in my mouth. Though it has no taste, it just feels awful having it in my mouth. P'tui P'tui I spit once more as I try to get balanced on my feet.

Looking around I make sure I am facing North and start to walk as I adjust to the crumbling surface beneath my feet.

Hours seem to roll by as the scorching heat starts to abate and the sky starts to turn dark and yet there doesn't seem to be any change in the landscape before me. But I continue walking regardless.

More time flies as the sky turns pitch black, but I don't feel exhausted. Not even one bit, which seemed odd to me. For while I was in Elvithal's nest, I would regularly become tired just from doing nothing at times.

Before I could complete my thought I hear flapping. Quiet at first but the sound gets louder and louder as the number of flapping wings increases.

Looking into the sky I see the dark red shimmering outline of many small creatures wings with almost rat like bodies and faces. But just as I noticed them, they too seemed to have noticed me as they started swarming in my direction.

Unable to figure out what to do or where to hide they create almost like a whirlwind around me full of screeching and flapping wings. From time to time one passes by me through the center of it all before returning to their swarm. Each time I can see faint trails of light that follow them coming from my body.

Every pass they make I realize I start to feel a little weaker and weaker. As this realization hit me I try to run forward through the swarm itself, though the swarm tries to stop me I just remember to circulate my remaining Anima.

Gaining a boost in strength and speed I sprint in a panic to escape the beasts. Not looking where I am going I come face to face with seems like a solid stone wall.

Rebounding off the wall I find myself on my butt once again staring at this mountain of sun burnt stone in front of me.