Eril's Story

Day 9

I made good headway along the path during the next morning. My sleep had lasted the entire afternoon and night of the previous day, being thoroughly exhausted from my encounter at Miran.

A strong feeling of optimism was now in my chest as I set out, dawn just breaking.

The land was becoming increasingly more wild and untraveled as I journeyed on, few people came this way except for the more rural sort, those people who wished to live in their own company.

Now, the road was little more than a part of its surroundings as it was choked over with grass and stones, little more than a small depression in the ground, roaming ever on. After the ash plains surrounding Miran, it was nice to see nature reinstating its presence with a vigor - the land was now dotted with an abundance of young trees, many of which were bearing good fruit which I eagerly indulged in along the way.

Seeing a large wooded grove in the distance, I decided it would make for a good place to spend some time for a meal, and possibly a soak for my sore leg. The large cluster of aged trees stuck out from its surroundings, appearing quite old compared to its surroundings, having an almost mystical aura about it. Ancient looking moss covered everything alive in the vicinity and the air was thick and fragrant. Every living thing had a noticeable sway to them that made the forest feel alive, as though it were breathing.

Stepping past the outer trees felt like stepping into a whole new world - one that was beyond the clutches of time, especially the present which I occupied. Vines hung thick from trees, and parts were extremely dense, forcing me to find alternate routes to press on. When things did open up there were small aquamarine pools and open meadows of golden grass scattered throughout.

I came to a peaceful pond that was hedged all around by foliage, a small gap in the roof of branches, letting the radiant sun's rays pass through to dapple the still water. Languidly I dipped into the water, sighing with pleasure. Then dripping I flopped onto the bank, leaving my injured leg in the pool, closing my eyes for just a quick nap in the glorious afternoon warmth.

Judging from the sun when I awoke, I had been asleep only a couple of hours - still giving me plenty of time left in the day to put on some distance. As I stood I felt my shoulder pop. Oddly, I noticed that I felt sore all over, and that my legs felt weaker compared to earlier in the day. Looking around, I tried to find out if I had slept on a rock, or if some protruding surface had been the culprit, there were none.

It almost felt as if I had woken up in a stranger's body. Everything was the same and I felt like myself, but body functions were just a bit off.

Looking at my arms I saw that the skin there was old and wrinkled, not my own. Quickly I ran my hands over my face surprised to feel a long beard. Now very worried I walked to the water's edge to see if I could catch my reflection, this time walking with slow and shuffling steps.

Peering into the water I saw a long-lived old man staring back at me. The features were mine but drooped and stretched, duller. My hair, normally black and streaked with silver, a sign of advancing age, was now gray and tattered, and a boisterous and wild beard was on my face to match.

Some of the vegetation around me had changed too, lots of the bushes were bigger than before and others were dead and decomposing, already halfway soil, adding their lives to the rich loam covering the ground.

Looking back into the water I saw before my very eyes, a full cycle of life happening in mere minutes as a tadpole went through metamorphosis, becoming a toad and catching a few bugs before succumbing to age.

The more I looked around and paid close attention, the more I noticed changes around me. Grass growing and dying in a perpetual everlasting wave. Baby critters that were mature within hours. It seemed as if time had no hold here, and if that were the case, then lingering would cost me years, and maybe even my life.

Initially as I was walking out of this mysterious place I felt robbed, as if my life had been siphoned from me. But the more I thought about it, I realized it had still been me who woke up beside the pond, even if it was a different body to the one I had known previously - there was something, a part of me, that transcended time and this body of mine. An epiphany hit my mind, and I knew that whatever part of me that consisted of, was going to persist even when the natural physical way took its course. And just as when you are born, your consciousness is ignited, similar to rising from slumber each morning, so the sleep of death was necessary to be able to awake into new life.

The thought was comforting as I shuffled my way forward, more cautious and ginger then when I first came through, tromping in strength and fitness. The golden haze that lingered thinned out as I neared the edge and I felt the presence of the outside world reach my senses. After leaving I looked back and saw the leaves of the trees changing color in spectacular fashion, going from the cool greens of spring and summer, to a brilliant fiery orange. It was magical to behold.