The alchemist's journey.

Preparations

Back at his home Artimus enters with a sigh. Not a sigh of frustration, nor one of fear or doubt. His exasperated exhalation was one of peaceful bliss. He hadn't seen the above world in weeks. It seems it may have lifted his spirits, but little does he know he'll need it. As the night grows on and his eyes weigh heavy he goes through his nightly routine and sombers to sleep.

As he lay sleeping, visions encompass his mind. Darkened clouds, lighting, bellowing howls of creatures unknown. He sits up not knowing how he got to this place. It was chilled and damp with fog heavy on all sides. He cupped his shaking hands to his mouth and shouted. Waiting for a response he hears foot falls behind him, moving in random directions. Suddenly after frantically searching for the source of the footsteps he hears nothing. Fog still encircles him.

As he turns around, staring at him is a cloaked figure in a blood red mask. Artimus yells to him to show him self but to no avail. The cloaked figure lunges at Artimus inevitably pinning him to the ground. In a dark rumbling voice the figure spoke to him. Only two words venturing from behind the mask in a whispered tone "Sanguis Dominus." Terrified, Artimus had inadvertently closed his eyes when hearing those words. Artimus opened his eyes, the figure was gone, nowhere to be found.

A sudden knocking woke Artimus from his sleep. Quickly rubbing his eyes he regains focus and gets some basic clothes on. The knocking continues. A voice is heard outside the door, it's Daemus. "Hello old friend, come inside please, and don't mind me I just awoke from a terrible dream." Daemus gave him a small chuckle while shaking his head, "Artimus, you actually have dreams?" "Why yes my dear friend I do in fact have dreams a plenty." But he passes that conversation to save for another day. Artimus then asks Daemus what it is the task is in which he's needed for.

Daemus lays a hand on his shoulder and looks him in the eye. "Artimus I need to know if you're willing to risk life and limb, and know I hate asking such a feat of you." Artimus nods as accepting that information, still feeling his friends strong grip on his shoulder. He never thought a crafters hands could be so strong. "Artimus... The task I ask of you is to bring a specially crafted blade to the blacksmith in the kingdom of Aeon. Can you do that for me?" Artimus agreed but asked what was so special about the blade and why it needed four people to escort it to it's destination. Daemus gave no answer, just that it needed to get there. And before Artimus went to speak again his friend had left, leaving a quick note. On the note it strictly states to not open it's encasing.

A day passes and Artimus is ready to embark on his journey. His pack loaded, filled with rations, apothecary equipment he hand made for traveling, a mat to lay on and coverings for the colder nights. As he opens his door to step outside, he looks back, hopeful that he'll return. The three other people he was to set out with awaited him at the top. And with a final goodbye he closed up shop, locked it up tight and regrouped with the others.