Karasi of Pelnora

The Stone (Talesothedeep Prompt)

The thrill of finding my "sea legs", was completely overshadowed by the view of our destination.

Prepared to see an icy glacier, I was awestruck to see a colossal section had detached itself from the original formation.  A wall of ice stood glistening before us; hundreds of feet high.

What should have taken months or even years to discover, was almost laid bare for us. Through exploration, we had discovered a stoney, underwater cavern, behind the massive exterior wall of ice. Having had to swim below the overhanging wall, I now stood ringing out my hair, staring at strange carvings in the icy structure's stone interior.

I was examining a carving in the wall when my ears were assaulted by shouts and curses. Realizing I was now alone, I quickly followed the sounds to find the others in defensive stances before a statue.

I froze, entranced by the statue's familiar form. Curiously, the crew were jabbing the statue with metallic devices. Before I could call out to them, I caught the motion of the statue rising a huge stoney paw, and swatted the devices from their hands. My breath caught.

The stoney creature turned its attention to me. When the sphinx's gaze met mine, I felt a sudden squeezing along my clavicle. I clutched at the necklace that had slowly embedded itself in my skin over the past year. The creature ignored Harkof's crew and seemed to stare at me with an intriguing intensity.

As the searing pain continued, I watched the crew throw items up, over, and around the creature. AS each item arched in the air, glowing tendrils burst from them and festered together. The magical netting restrained the creature's movements. It fell to its knees, but never stopped staring at me.

I let out a breath as I realized the pain had stopped, but found myself on my knees, too.

It was Harkof who finally broke our trance and led me to our makeshift camp.

...

The majority of the crew now slept, as if they had not seen the majestic creature. I had tossed and turned, awaiting Harkof to turn in. Not able to wait any longer, I left the comfort of my bed roll and decided to observe her and the creature.

I approached quietly, expecting to find Harkof in a moment of worship with the creature. Instead, I found her holding a handled device as if ready to throw it.

She whispered angrily to the creature. The creature refused to answer, and I watched as Harkof quickly brought her arm down in a striking motion. As the Professor did so, a metallic tentacle shot out of the device. The whip-like tentacle arched through the magical netting and struck the creature.

It cried out in muffled pain, silenced by some form of sound barrier.

Unwilling to creep forward, I hid behind a stoney jut out. I silently winced at every arch or crackle the whip made in response, or lack-there-of, to the creature. After an hour, the show concluded.

Once Harkof rounded a corner, I crept out of my hiding spot and took a step forward. The creature immediately turned its eyes to me, but made no other movement. Breathing slowly, I walked towards the creature. It watched every move, patiently. When I finally stood next to the barrier, I spoke gently to it. "Do you have the stone she seeks?"

The sphinx nodded and continued staring.

I continued, "What is it that she hopes to do with it?"

The sphinx only frowned.

I rubbed the necklace in thought before asking, "Do you know why I've been dreaming of the stone?"

The creature replied "Only when the beacon receives knowledge, shall the blessed seal the fate of life."

I blinked in confusion, "Sorry, a little simpler, please?"

The sphinx chuckled, "You will find your answers. But for now, you must brace yourself for the danger and trouble ahead of you, Karasi of Pelnora."

I gasped, "How do you know my name?"

The creature smiled, "A grantor never relinquishes the memory of a fateful gift," and glanced down at my neck.

My eyes widened as I realized her meaning and finally recognized the old woman's face who had given me the necklace so long ago.

Before I could respond, an explosion erupted behind me. The Earth shook and I fell forwards.

The necklace suddenly seared into my skin. Reaching towards the agonizing pain, I realized I had fallen within the confines of the barrier. I scrambled to my feet, clasping the unembedded parts of the necklace and watched as a creature made of fire stormed into the room. Its unseeing eyes targeted the sphinx behind me.

A vengeful Harkof, puppeteering the fire creature, bound into the room. As she bellowed a command at it, the creature raced towards us.

The cavern began to crumble, and I was struck down. Before I could stand, I realized my legs were pinned and I was unable to move.

In a dizzying motion, a marble hand yanked the jagged boulder from my legs. I held back vomit as I looked back at their mangled forms.

Blood pooled around us, but shock seemed to keep the pain away.

The sphinx suddenly held me aloft and quickly twisted me around. Face-to-face with the sphinx, I could only gasp as I focused on the amazing stone detail of her face. Her unemotional mask kept me from giving into the terror pumping through my veins.

Fire blazed around us as the golem began pounding the sphinx, and she pulled me closer. A green glow oozed from her chest, as something fell from her stony skin and floated between us.

In the commotion, numbness slowly worked its way through me. I felt myself reaching for the glowing stone.

My vision blurred.

Wind, or maybe a breath, washed over me.

Green light and fire merged into a kaleidoscope of colors.

An agonizing pain erupted through every fiber of my being.

Then... nothingness.