Alexander laid both hands against the cold, damp stone.
Looking through the vertical hole on the wall he could see it — a small paradise.
A stone structure that resembled a sort of monument, in the middle of the circular room. Water circled around it, making it look its own small island.
Beyond the water, grass stretched all the way to the walls, where it slowly faded into the typical stone floor.
The hidden cave looked extremely different in Alexander's eyes. He remembered the first room he arrived in, without his [ Darkness ] skill it was extremely difficult to see.
The monument in the middle had a light shining from above. The way it hit the monument and water reflected upon the walls, creating a dancing light effect.
There was no opening above. Just the golden radiance showering trough the middle of that paradise.
Magical light?
The green grass looked lush, the air clean. The water itself was perfectly transparent, and seemed to be flowing.
Through the light that came down on the monument he could see glistening particles floating around, creating a breathtaking scenery.
Alexander took a step back, and tried holding the short sword with two hands which proved difficult.
With as much precision as he could, he tried widening the crevice.
That portion of the wall was luckily thin.
Little by little, he chipped at the crevice, small stone fragments falling down on the small bridge they stood on, or inside the small paradise.
After ten minutes, the tip of the sword broke as he struck it against the stone.
Fuck.
It luckily broke toward the end, so 4/5th of the sword was still in place, but the short sword was still shorter, now.
He brushed his hand around the hole he carved, pushing away the debris and dust.
It wasn't that wide, but it was enough to squeeze through without tearing his clothes.
He threw the sword in; it fell with a soft thud on the grass.
After taking one deep breath, he stepped inside — and the moment he did, everything changed.
Pressure on his brain that felt like the new normal dissipated, the heat he grew accustomed to suddenly vanish.
It wasn't gradual, it was instant.
The moment the pressure was relieved from his head, the burning of the mark on his chest was suddenly relieved as well, something else he had grown used to.
It felt like he could breathe again.
He closed his eyes for a moment, inhaling deeply and holding the air in.
The smell was heavenly. With his eyes closed, he could've made himself believe he wasn't deep underground.
The grass and pure water brought a slightly humid but pleasant smell. It wasn't thick, it felt like the room had been able to breathe, saved from the stagnant moisture.
It even had a slight breeze.
He opened his eyes and walked forward where the grass was thickest and fell to his knees.
He grabbed the grass with his hands, then let himself fall flat on the soft ground.
With the pressure gone, it felt as if weight had finally been taken off his shoulders.
It didn't take long, he fell asleep the moment his eyes closed.
—
Alexander didn't know how much time had passed, it felt like he slept for a lot longer than 8 hours, yet he didn't feel sluggish or slow.
When he opened his eyes, it felt like his body had forgotten what exhaustion was; he felt like a new person.
He sat upright, and blinked a few times as he inspected his body.
The cuts are gone?
The cuts inflicted by the goblin were gone, the deepest one he couldn't even feel anymore despite how much he touched around.
If there's light…
He looked at the water. With the light above it, there was a chance he could look at his reflection.
He got up, and walked toward the monument in the middle, bathing in the light it offered.
This feeling…
He stopped in his tracks, holding his hands up.
Not only he felt better and rested — he didn't feel his previous hunger or thirst.
He looked up, it was impossible to see where the light came from, but it was a blessing.
He then took a few calculated steps toward the water, and looked down.
He almost jumped, repeatedly blinking as he watched himself in the reflection.
Who… is that?!
What stared back wasn't a face he knew.
His hair, which had been black his whole life, had turned bright white.
He quickly grabbed it, as it reached his shoulders in his back, bringing it forward.
My own hair? How?
His heart was beating faster and faster. He quickly turned around, looking at where he was sleeping moments ago.
No, no, no…
The grass, all around his body, was significantly taller than where he slept, it looked as if someone carved the grass around his body.
He could see the dirt, with the few lucky strands that survived his stay.
Close to where he had been sleeping was the girl, sitting while holding her knees, facing the crevice while staying still.
He looked at his hands again, then grabbed his face and nose.
His skin was considerably paler.
How long have I slept?
His hair was short and dark before he entered his inner path, why it turned white he had no idea.
It's not like he slept his whole life away, he still looked young and his hair wouldn't just reach his shoulders, they would be at his feet.
Has this place turned my hair white and aged me? Or maybe…
He looked outside the crevice, his thoughts lingering on the black sun.
The goblin he had fought looked like an extremely pale shade of green.
The only conclusion he could come to was that the black sun slowly took colors away, while the paradise he found had him asleep for an extended period of time.
Alexander kneeled down, still fascinated by his reflection as he reached with both hands to bring some water to his mouth.
As he thought, it was the purest liquid that graced his lip. It felt like drinking the freshest water coming out of the cleanest glacier.
But through all the peace he felt, one feeling remained.
That 'pull' he felt, when he found this place.