The Asterian Dream

XXII: Spirit of the Shadow

The guards dragged Conrad down the stairway deeper into the cavern. Winding through dimly lit halls, Conrad could not keep up with where he was. He was thrown into a tiny cell with barely enough room to stand. Once he had gotten his bearings, the guards were gone.

Standing up, he took a look at his surroundings. The cell was tiny, with little room for him to even lie down. He sighed and was about to lean back and get as comfortable as possible when he noticed something strange. They seemed to have thrown his sword into the cell along with him. As he looked at the blade, the same horrifying visions flashed in his memory. He turned away and pushed the sword off to the side, trying to ignore it. Curling up in the opposite corner, he tried to get some sleep, however, the tiny cold cell did not offer many opportunities for rest. He finally dozed off after what had seemed like hours, expecting to wake at any moment. However, he fell into a deep sleep as an extremely vivid dream filled his head.

It seemingly began as a nightmare. He saw all the same visions of the blood he had spilled, and once again found himself standing atop a mountain of bodies. However, he felt someone grab his hand. Turning, he saw Fasela standing there, looking extremely worried for him. The carnage around him faded into a beautiful landscape of mountains and fields covered in flowers. Fasela reached out and brought him closer. He could see the concern in her eyes, but there was a spark of something else. A spark he had certainly seen before. Leaning down, his lips met hers in a moment of pure bliss. The two of them stayed there for what felt both as a short moment and an eternity. However, the happiness was not to last, and just as they pulled away Conrad was awoken by a rough banging on the bars of his cell.

"Get up, draugh!" the Dragonborn guard shouted. "You've got a long, long day ahead of you."

Conrad hurriedly scrambled to his feet. "And what are Dindrun's plans for me?" he asked.

"Master Dindrun wishes to speak with you," the guard replied. "He has something important to show you."

Conrad appeared apprehensive but slowly nodded. "Okay, take me whenever you wish."

The guard nodded and opened the cell door. "Bring that sword with you," he said. "You'll need it."

Surprised the guard was letting him carry his weapon, Conrad took a moment to pick up the sword. Trying to not look at the blade, he fastened the scabbard to his belt and made sure the sword was secured. Two more guards approached and began to lead Conrad out of the prison block. The group was soon out of the cell block and weaving through the halls of the fortress once more. 

However, instead of heading to Dindrun's throne room, Conrad was led down a different passage. One which became increasingly brilliant. The walls were made of pure crystal and the light of the torches danced all about. The hall eventually lead to some kind of massive chamber also made of the illuminated blue crystal, where Dindrun was standing along with Greydor. Greydor did not give Conrad the usual sneer or disgusted look, instead, he simply lowered his gaze and did not look him in the eye.

"My son, I missed you immensely!" Dindrun exclaimed. "I heard about the incident last night. Don't worry, Greydor has been duly reprimanded for aggravating you, we will move you to more comfortable quarters soon." He then turned around and pointed further down into the chamber. "There is something I wish to show you, my child. Look closely."

Conrad peered over in the direction Dindrun was pointing, and what he saw nearly made him fall over. What he was looking at was some kind of spirit. It was trapped by four chains that held its arms and legs, and it constantly let out ear-splitting screams. And as Conrad got closer and gave it a good look, he saw that it carried Ludex's appearance the same as him.

As he looked on, he felt something awakening within him. A power he had not felt in five hundred years. His eyes began to light with a violet spark as a ravenous hunger filled his entire body. This was his spirit. And he needed it to be whole again.