Back in the Dining room -
After speaking with Nightingale, everyone at the dining table was full of questions. Unfortunately, the best I could do was deflect questions as I wasn't sure how much information Nightingale was willing to share with all of them. I did however explain to all of them about the mysterious skeleton, Raven who had been following me previously. Bastien was specifically interested and kept asking questions about Raven as if I knew him personally. I had to keep telling him I had no idea what or where the skeleton came from. Before long I made sure to change the subject and started asking everyone questions about what their plan was now that we had escaped the prison. Kimo was the first to answer, "I plan to go find my family. I'm sure that they must be searching frantically for me. My father, once he figures out who took me I'm sure he will hunt them down mercilessly…" She said in a serious tone. "How exactly is your father?!" Questioned Bastien. This seemed to embarrass Kimo initially as I think she didn't realize how serious she must have sounded. "Haha sorry, I know that must have sounded harsh. To be honest with you all, my father is someone of great importance from Dragon tooth Island. I come from a family called the Sokudos. I guess you could say I am kind of nobility there ha ha…" She said while blushing. Henry nearly shot out of his seat, "What!? Kind of nobility?? Aren't the Sokudos considered a renowned family of sword masters!? Your blessing makes so much sense now!" He exclaimed in excitement. Lillez chimed in, "Wowwww Kimo you're so cool!" She said as she hugged Kimo affectionately. Kimo looked even more embarrassed. "How in the world were you captured then Kimo? If you're from a family like that, it couldn't have been easy to be taken." Bastien asked curiously. Kimo's embarrassed tone quickly became somber, and tears began to well in her eyes. "Well… My older sister and I were on a diplomatic trip… We were visiting a region north of Dragon Tooth island in hopes that we could secure good relations for trade… My sister is an amazing emissary, we were sure to succeed. But on the first day we got there, I wandered off in the town square because I was so fascinated by the town's architecture… I was so stupid… That was the last thing I remembered until I woke up in a cell." Kimo said while she began to sob. Lillez comforted her and told her that it wasn't her fault. None of us could have known what that man Silas can do. I finally spoke up and said, "Kimo, you don't have to worry anymore. We made it out of that place, and you'll be able to see your family soon." I remarked with confidence. Kimo wiped away her tears and smiled at me. I could tell that she was incredibly grateful, no words needed to be exchanged in that regard. Bastien then asked Henry what he was planning to do now. Bastien seemed like he didn't really know what he should do himself. There was definitely uncertainty in his voice. "Bastien, wherever I go you'll have to join me right? I mean, I need some eyes if I want to go in the right direction y'know." Henry said with a smile. Bastien immediately looked excited as if that's all he's been waiting to hear. "Of course! I'll always be your eyes!" He shouted with tears of joy. Lillez and Kimo started laughing at Bastien's dramatic reaction, I also couldn't help but chuckle. Henry then turned towards me, his eyes still covered by a cloth and said, "Ivan, what is it you're planning to do? I can tell there's something on your mind. You don't have to tell us everything but we atleast want to know that you're alright." Henry said in a concerned tone. I understood what he meant, when I first got back I was just deflecting questions but for the most part I haven't necessarily been participating in the conversation. I did have a lot on my mind. "My goal from the start has always been to find my sister Oli and my friend Sid… but now I've been given the opportunity to learn from Sir Nightingale. If he can make me stronger, I'm sure I'll have a better shot at finding them wherever they may be. So for right now, I'm going to stick with him and learn as much as I can." I said with firm resolve. Just as I finished speaking, Jewel returned to the dining area with an annoyed look on her face. "What the heck are you all still doing up? Go to bed already!" She said firmly. We all listened and headed to our respective rooms. I went back to the room I first woke up in and slowly started to drift to sleep. I never would have expected what was going to happen while I slept…
That night, I expected to experience a nightmare as I often did… But this time the dream was entirely different, almost like it was really happening. I was in some kind of dark room with only two small hints of light ahead of me. The ground I stood on was uneven and shifting. It was so dark, I couldn't make out what I was standing on. The lights ahead appeared as a dull purple tone, but they almost seemed to be flickering as if they were flames. The atmosphere of the room was chilling and I could even see my own breath through the faint light. I stepped forward on the loose and uneven ground, closer to the two lights ahead of me. After stepping forward, I immediately stopped as I heard something in the distance. It sounded like breathing… There was a deep Inhale and exhale. "H-hello? Is anyone there?" I questioned, as my voice echoed through the empty room. For a moment, nothing happened. Then suddenly the two small blue lights began growing in size until they were clearly two bright flames of purple fire. A deep and powerful voice rang out in the room, starling me and causing me to jump back. "Boy. I have made you wait for far too long. It was a necessary plite, but no longer. Your path will be arduous, know that I am with you. No evil shall burden your heart any long, for I am here." The deep voice shook the room, it was full of power. I couldn't even tell where it was coming from, as it filled the room from every angle. My instincts were telling me that the purple flames were not ordinary lights… I was sure, they were eyes. "…Who are you? How do you know me?" I asked the mysterious being. ".... I have always been aware of your existence. For I have gazed upon your life from its start. You who have braved hardship and struggled valiantly, have gained my favor long ago. This world will inevitably face calamity, for death is constant and unyielding….. There are those who have broken contracts and flaunted their power in arrogance. This…. I shall not allow. I am the oath keeper, the power that revokes evil and leaves nothing behind. For I am all that is left, the one who remains… If you wish to learn my true name, you must also face death without fear of what you leave behind… You must know that when all is said and done, I shall still remain. If I am, then you are. What faith do you hold? What resolve do you breathe? What pride do you eat? What fear do you see? ….. Can you face death, Boy?" The voice boomed aloud. From his words I was able to learn many things. I had an idea of who this was, but I did not expect them to appear in a dream. I didn't know why it had taken so long for them to try and speak with me… I didn't know exactly what they meant by facing death. Their words were cryptic and unclear, and yet simultaneously powerful and meaningful. I felt like I had already faced death many times in my life at this point… In each situation my answer always remained the same. "It doesn't matter how many times I must face death. I will not give up on trying to find my family. Even If I die… I swear I will come back and find them somehow. No matter what it takes, I will be an unrelenting force. Even If I die a thousand times, I will not break. That is my answer!" I said with fiery determination. "I admire your will, your fight, your struggle. Endure this, and you shall remain…" As the mysterious being finished speaking, the entire room began to shake. I could feel myself barely keeping my balance. The eyes ahead of me became giant balls of purple fire that began to light up the surroundings of the dark room. As everything became illuminated, I finally saw what I was standing on. It was bones, a massive and endless mountain of bones… The sight of it all sent a distinct chill down my spine, and a pit of anxiety and fear began to form in my stomach. The mountain of bones was shaking and began collapsing as I stood atop it. The sound of bones clattering against each other as they fell, echoed loudly all around me. From the distance where the being's eyes watched over me, I suddenly saw something emerge from the darkness. Six, no possibly eight enormous skeletal hands reached out in my direction. As the mountain was collapsing beneath me, it took all I had to remain standing in place. Even with the massive hands coming towards me, I stood there preparing myself for whatever was about to happen. I roared out to the mysterious being, "BRING IT ON!!!" As the purple aura I had grown familiar with, began encompassing my body and filling me with strength. As the gigantic Skeletal hands approached me closer and closer by the second, I then began to feel boney hands grabbing hold of my legs. They were pulling me down into the mountain of bones… I tried with all my might not to fight it, and instead release myself of the fear I was holding within myself. I accepted my fate, and allowed them to keep pulling me further and further into the mountain of bones. Just as I was almost entirely consumed by the mountain, the enormous skeletal hands came crashing down on me… All at once. I once again roared, "UUURRRRRRAHHHHHHHH!!!!!"…. Then, in an instant… I was crushed to death.