Astral Flow

Chapter 26

Darkness, a soothing warmth, the feeling of being embraced.

Was this truly the end?

Had Ryder's one mistake really led to his and Melia's end?

Such a rookie mistake... he wasn't fit to be a champion at all.

For a while he just stayed there, waiting for... well, anything to happen.

To see the great beyond, or have his mind blink out of existence.

That's not what happened though, no, quite the opposite.

He felt more and more alive, the sound of a crackling fire filling his mind.

Soon more sounds and scents began to fill his mind.

Wood being whittled away into a new shape.

The scent of grass and rain melding into one.

A light bubbling sound mixing with the crackling of the fire.

It was all so vivid... had he not died after all?

He was so very tired, but he had to be sure.

Had to know if he was still alive.

So he began to try to wake up, to force his body to work.

His body was still asleep, not wanting to work, but that didn't matter.

All that he needed was his eyes to open.

If he could get them open then he'd know for sure.

All he had to do was wake up.

Slowly his eyes began to open, a stream of light shining in and blinding him, making him wince in the process.

It was a good sign though, either he was alive or there was some life after death.

Soon though his eyes began to adjust to the light, new shapes and colors came into view.

He was still in the cabin.

He wasn't dead after all!

A few feet away from him, asleep but clearly breathing as well was Melia, she hadn't passed on either.

The fireplace was glowing with a brilliant orange flame, it danced and lit up the room nicely, warming Ryder's tired body in the process.

Hanging above the fire was what looked like a tea kettle, someone was here, preparing a drink of some kind.

Right, a figure had shown up and saved them, one wearing all black, Regis?

Ryder glanced around, now noticing what else had been keeping him warm.

A long black cloak had been draped over him, being used as a makeshift blanket.

It was surprising but made him smile a bit as he looked for the owner.

Yet that feeling sank as he saw who was sitting there, back faced to them.

It wasn't immediately obvious as Ryder had never seen them without the cloak before, but he'd recognize that sword anywhere.

Sitting in front of him was none other than Lord Hunter Shade, silently whittling something away as he waits for the water to boil.

Without the cloak it was easy to see some of Shade's features now.

He had unkempt black hair that reached just past his chin, it looked like he hadn't brushed it in awhile.

His skin was surprisingly healthy looking, with only one visible blemish being a scar under his right eye.